I HATE HOSPITALS & TESTS

 

I have to go in for blood work today. I always dread doing it because they never can hit my vein the first try. I tend to walk away with bruises and a multitude of band aids. I tell them I need them to use a pediatric needle. They look at me like I’m crazy and don't do it. I hate when they ask if a student can draw my blood. I have to say no. Because if they did, it would make an already complicated procedure worse. I’ve been told my veins are deep and small. So I guess that’s what the problem is? I just know it’s a trauma every time I go. They are supposed to take 5 vials of blood today. Good luck with that. They'll be lucky if they fill one tube. I kid you not. I will hydrate. Wear something warm and massage my arm hoping the veins plump up. But I bet you, it won’t help. It never does. Keep me in your thoughts. I suspect like usual, I’ll become a giant pin cushion.

KINDNESS & GROCERIES

 

Today was a day like any other.  Health concerns are overshadowing everything we do. Our problems are too numerous to mention. So I won’t. Because we are retired and usually need an afternoon nap… and with Covid19 lingering everywhere… we don’t stray too far from home. Didn’t have much of an anniversary or birthday celebrations this year.  But such is life. All of us are in the same boat. The high point of our day is usually going to get groceries. People tend to be in a hurry there. Get in, Get out. More masks sit below the nose than cover it. And that’s disconcerting to me. Worried germs are going to spread everywhere. And I might catch them. So I pray I don’t. I literally play a game of dodge ball with other shoppers, trying to socially distance when they aren’t.  When I was ready to check out earlier, the lines were long. Everybody it seemed had full carts and I didn’t. I use a scooter, so the basket has a limited capacity and it was filled to it, but not as much as the regular shopping carts. So I chose an aisle with least amount of products in carts. But unfortunately it still had a lot of people waiting. I figured it would be a while. And then kindness happened.  The Hispanic couple in front of me, smiled and told me to go ahead.  I asked if they were sure, and they said absolutely. I  thanked them profusely. It was a sweet gesture and I was touched. As I continued to wait… I noted the person now in front of me was androgynous, spiked short hair, with earrings in places I didn’t know you could put them, and tattoos, head to toe.  As they finished up with their order… they too smiled at me, and said here, let me help you…  reaching into my cart, putting my items on the conveyor belt. How nice was that? One can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Another random act of  kindness. Imagine that? I was surprised. Twice in one day. Lucky me. I paid for my groceries and headed out to the parking lot. I’m always a little leery of my surroundings, when it’s late at night, so I stayed alert to any potential danger signs. Suddenly… a young Indian man, in his early 20’s rushed towards me. At first, I was alarmed and dropped my purse between my feet on the bottom of the scooter, out of sight.  He said, “Please let me do this for you. He edged around me, to open the van door. I was still a little shaken and slightly suspicious, but he seemed innocent enough. And on the up and up. So, I unlocked it… and he proceeded to gently put all my packages on the floorboard behind the drivers seat. He shut that door and held open the front one for me to get in. I was shocked. A man hasn’t held a door open for me, in many years. He told me to enjoy the rest of my evening and said he would take the scooter back inside the store. It was beginning to drizzle and I thanked him, from the bottom of my heart. Another act of kindness. Wow. Three in one day, less than an hour or so apart. When you wake up each day, you never know what’s to come. You see all the bad stuff on the news and are dismayed. You think to yourself how can there be such hatred and lack of empathy when we are all in this world together?  Then something like this happens.  KINDNESS. Random Kindness. It restores your faith in humanity and gives you hope. In this case, it made my day. Pass it on.  It could be the sunshine  somebody  else needs.

A Hodgepodge of Thoughts and Decorations

Been having a general feeling of malaise. Dealing with so many health issues between my hubby and I, and rest of family, that frankly it’s too depressing to write about. So I  won’t. Instead I will show you pictures of my mishmash decorating style for the autumn, Halloween and Christmas holidays. Doing the whole shebang, all at once. 

First off, remember the tree that’s lights stopped lighting last year?  Well it got replaced with a new Christmas Tree in April. And four months in, it’s lights stopped working too. So it was returned as defective. Still waiting for my credit card to be reimbursed $180, including shipping.  It was a real pain in the tushy taking it to the post office. Heavy as hell. Meanwhile, I’m on the lookout for another tree. 5ft prelit multi, flocked, pencil shaped. So far… the search is not going well. They are impossible to find. So fingers crossed, one turns up between now and November, so I can put it up in time for Christmas, providing it doesn’t cost a fortune.

Throughout the house I have scattered an assortment of holiday things. You probably think it looks a bit tacky. But I don’t care. It brings me joy.

And joy is what I need… this year, as it winds down

hopefully, into oblivion.

On my mantel… I have my Limoge trinkets and pretty lady figurines, alongside Dollar Store ghosts and pumpkins. Also there, is a Goodwill autumn garland I found for $1.99.

 I sent back the one I planned on using,

from QVC for 36 bucks.

 My thrifting roots always pay off in the end.

 Across the room… a skeleton, jack-o-lantern, deer, snowman and Santa… line my sideboard full of coffee cups.

 Mrs. Santa, one of my many Annalee dolls... sits on a small curio cabinet by the front door.

 And my favorite witch is standing with a sweet jack-o-lantern on the tall CD stand. I wish she could cast a spell on all this upheaval in the world and bring good health and harmony. Wishful thinking, I know.

 The angel fountain is adorned with another faux garland from Goodwill and a pumpkin from there too… with Santa and his plaid pup... standing nearby, ready to spring into action Christmas Eve. (By then, all the autumn and Halloween stuff will be hidden away again.)

 The bedroom is a bit other worldly. I have a galaxy, not ours… on my ceiling. Planets and stars everywhere. With a tree and odd mix of knick-knacks adorning my dresser top.

 Don’t try to make sense of it, you can’t.

Just sentimental things to me, throughout the years.

 Over in my kitchen… there is a tree and wooden pickup truck… on top of the microwave,

to keep the multi holiday theme going.

 

“Oh my Gourd.” 

Not going to show you the bathroom, cause really who needs to see that? Too many pill bottles, ointments, toiletries, etc. At some point, when it’s clean...

I’ll sneak a Santa in there, along with the

wooden snowman my dad made me, decades ago.

 And last but not least…The family room has

 an eclectic mix of everything...

 to finish the photo parade, of my holiday vignettes.

 It’s my favorite room. Feels more comfy, cozy than anywhere else in house. I like to sit there at night and meditate.

 The tree in there has been in place, as is… 

for the past 15 years or more.

And it still lights. 

 And the other displays around the room... 

 with my Fenton trees, Anywhere Hobo, 

 fireplace ladies, cat, reindeer, piano player,

beach Santa and silver tree...  

 stay up year round too. I confess to taking out

the jack-o-lanterns after Halloween.

And then the snowmen, penquin and other Santas

 after the 12th day of Christmas.

 Still digging through boxes to find my ceramic turkeys for Thanksgiving. And the electric Chanukah Menorah.

They are nowhere to be found.

Maybe that’s a sign?

 This year has been so CRAY CRAY... that I just threw all the holidays together and decorated accordingly, super early. I felt a sense of urgency to do this... cause you never know what tomorrow might bring? So come what may... I have all my bases covered. Just trying to spark a little enthusiasm for our Twilight Zone existence, that keeps lingering on, in homes across the country. I keep thinking, “Next year all our troubles will be out of sight. Til then, we’ll have to muddle through, somehow.” Playing that song alot, these days. Hope you’re getting by and enjoyed this little holiday blog distraction. 

Stay safe. Take care. 

And remember to wear your mask. 

and COVER YOUR NOSE, please.