December 2018

my surgery scar

DECEMBER 2018
PA, DE, NJ


1- SA- PA-  It's only been 5 days since my gall bladder surgery but I am so over this event that I threw caution to the wind and I drove to Bryn Mawr, PA to meet friends for dinner and a movie (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).  I will have to remember to forget to tell my doctor that I am driving before I got clearance from her. On a different note, I can't believe we are in the last month of the year.
2- SU- PA- I feel so great that it is hard to believe that I even had surgery last Monday. I stopped by to see Phyllis and Steve and they invited me for dinner.  It appears to me as if I ate Steve's portion of salmon.  He just ate pasta.
3- M- PA- I am trying to file a claim to cancel my trip to Dubai.  It's too much work. On a positive note, I was out and about throughout West Chester today and it was great to feel so damn good.
4- T- PA-  I got a clean bill of health from my doctor.  I am finished with this event of getting my gall bladder out. I met up with Kathy Flatley and saw Beautiful Boy, the story about a father and son and drug addiction.  It was a horrible story to watch.
5- W- PA- I had intentions of going to Bombay Hook today to see the snow geese but it snowed in the afternoon.  So I stayed here and just hung out. I watched some of George H.W. Bush's funeral.
6- TH- PA- I went to see Bohemia Rhapsody with  Jaye and Dom.  I have never been a Queen fan but I loved this movie.
7- F- DE- I went to Bombay Hook Wildlife Refugee and saw 100,000+ snow geese.  They filled the sky. They are just magnificent.
8- S- PA- DE- we had a Haiti meeting and this effort is going nowhere.  I want to let go of this group but then I just can't cut loose.
9- SU- PA- Sharon and I went to see the King's College Choir at Penn.  They were excellent.  We met up with Glenn later and had dinner at the 4th Street Deli where I ordered a $24 pastrami sandwich.  This sandwich will be good for at least 4 more meals.
10- M- NJ- I drove to Montclair to see Heather, Steve and that beautiful Elliot.  I love that kid and he can say my name now.
11- T- PA- Heather and I took Elliot to a playground.  He was walking next to me and then in an instant, he got away from me. I need to pay more attention.
12- W- PA- I stayed in bed all day.  I just didn't have any energy.
13- TH- PA- Tricia, Lauren and I went to the Overbrook School for the Blind Christmas show.  This show always inspires me.
14- F- PA- I got a call from Bill McRae.  He had an extra ticket to see Willie Nyle at the Ardmore Music Hall.  So off I went.
15- SA- PA- I was a lazy ass today.  Deb Green wanted me to see a movie but I didn't feel like driving in to the city.  So I just hung here.
16- SU- PA- I ushered at the Uptown Theatre for Lend Me a Tenor. It was a matinee so we had a packed house of cotton heads from the retirement house nearby.
17- M- PA- I had dinner with my high school friends.  It is so funny that we didn't see each other fro 40 years and now we are friends again.
18- TU- PA- Jaye and I went to Longwood Gardens in the afternoon and I finally got to use my new camera and feel good about it.  It is too complicated for me to use.
19- W- PA- I finally started my damn Christmas shopping.  I hate this holiday. Then I went to a Christmas party at Diane's apartment. It was a small group of nice people.
20- TH- PA- I wanted to drive to Cherry State Park today to see the stars. It's the darkest spot in PA.  But it's cloudy today so I will just hand here and go to the Beer Club tonight.
21- F- PA- I hung in the lobby and chatted up Deb and Jeff.  And, of course, I did a little Christmas shopping.
22- SA- PA- Dinner @ Deb Green's house and then we went off to see Roma.  I am not sure if I liked it or not. We stopped at the Grog to have a beer and try to figure out all of the symbolism in the movie.
23- SU- PA- I made another attempt to do my Christmas shopping.  I think I am finished. Or at least, I'm not going out again to look for things.
24- M- DE- I went to Jaye and Dom's annual Christmas Eve party.  They are good friends.
25- TU- PA- The Anderkos, Hakes and I had Christmas dinner @ Sharon's house. I booked a flight to Haiti for a weekend visit in Feb.
26- W- PA- I am without energy today and I can't figure out what damn day it is.
27- TH- PA- I went to the movies yet again to see The Fovourite which was a little strange.
28- F- PA- I drove in to South Philly and had lunch with Rosina at the Samson Street Oyster House.
29- SA- PA- It would be my parents' 67th wedding anniversary.  I've been an aunt for 38 years now as it's Kevin's 38th birthday.
30- SU- my depression has gotten the best of me over these last three days. I couldn't make it to the family holiday party.
31- M- the last day of the year.  It was a pretty good year.  I didn't go out to celebrate the New Year as I just didn't have the energy.

2006

2006

Springfield, PA and

Carpenter’s Point, MD

My age: 50- 51

Work- Principal- Springfield High School Springfield High School, Springfield, PA.  There are 1200 students and 100 staff members.  Opioids were problem for some students and the community denied that there were any drugs in our community.

Music
Beyonce, Danity Kane, Evanescence, The Game, High School Musical Soundtrack, Il Divo, India.Arie, Jack Johnson, Justin Timerblake, Jamie Fox, Johnny Cash, Mary J. Blige, Rascal Flatts and Rihanna were artists who released big hits and I really only know Johnny Cash (the old man). I was not current in my popular culture.
The Biggest Pop Artists of 2006 include

Movies

• Little Miss Sunshine- a sad and funny movie.
• Letters from Iwo Jima-  I am always stunned at the bravery of our soldiers.
• The Lives of Others – If I lived under communist rule, I would be in trouble with the government all the time.
• Babel - I didn’t like this movie.  It didn’t hold my interest.
• A Prairie Home Companion – After watching this movie, I have a burning desire to go to the theater and see a live production of this show.
• The Last King of Scotland – what a horrible human being. 
• The Queen-  Helen Miran is one wonderful actor. It was hard to distinguish her performance from my perception of the queen.
• An Inconvenient Truth – this movie was more about Gore than it was about global warming. I felt like I was watching one long, drawn-out political commercial.
• The Science of Sleep- I did not understand this movie and I would not recommend it to anyone, unless the person had insomnia and couldn’t fall asleep. 
•  The Illusionist - clever.
• Borat- juvenile, boring and silly.
• The Da Vinci Code – intriguing.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest I love watching anything Johnny Depp does.

Popular Television- I heavenly watched one of these shows: The Office.  I am not current with the rest of the world.

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 
• Malcolm in the Middle 
• Survivor 
• The Weakest Link 
• Yes, Dear 
• The Simpsons 
• 24 
• Fear Factor 
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent 
• Pop Idol 
• Smallville 
• The Amazing Race 
• The Bernie Mac Show 
• American Idol 
• CSI: Miami 
• The Bachelor 
• The George Lopez Show 
• Without a Trace 
• Arrested Development 
• Cold Case 
• Hope and Faith 
• Las Vegas 
• NCIS 
• Queer Eye for the Straight Guy 
• The O.C. 
• Two and a Half Men 
• Boston Legal 
• CSI: New York 
• Desperate Housewives 
• House 
• Lost 
• Postman Pat (UK) 
• The Apprentice 
• The X Factor (UK) 
• American Dad! 
• Doctor Who (UK)
• Everybody Hates Chris 
• Family Guy 
• Grey's Anatomy 
• My Name Is Earl 
• The Office 

Travels

• I went to Mongolia in July and watched the Naadam Festival and sat on the hills in the Gobi Desert. What an isolated country.
• I went to Aruba for Winter break. My parents went here for their 10th wedding anniversary.
• I went to Georgia for a long weekend. My cousin's daughter got married on St. Simon Island and much of my extended family was there.

News events

• Nancy Pelosi became the first female House leader and the highest-ranking woman in U.S. political history — second in line behind the president. 
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• We continue with our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and most of these trudges dont effect us so we dont even talk about it anymore.

Family and friends

• Mr Flatley died.  He was friends with my parents and his kids and my sosblings were all friends. I've known Mr. Flatley since 1962.
• I bought a second home in Carpenter’s Point, MD.  It’s near the North-East River and this will be an easy and accessible place to kayak. I cant wait to spend time in this sweet, little house.
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I Hate When This Happens!!!!

Facebook post
September 16, 2017

I HATE when this happens!!!!

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November 2018

November 2018
PA, DE, MD, Canada

1- Th- PA- finally, finally, finally, after 5 years, I went to the doctor.  I hate our health care system in the USA. But I am having some sort of stomach issue so I had to break down and seek medical help.

it's dark in the AM

2- F- PA- today beat me up.  My house that I am selling came under value from the appraiser and now I have to take another $5000 lose.  I went to get my drugs at Rite Aid and was told that my insurance company wouldn't let me buy drugs from Rite Aid or Walgreen so I have to find a new pharmacy. I went to complain about my mail delivery problem and was told I have to call a particular number but that I should not have any expectation that someone answers the phone.  And then I got a call from the doctor that my blood work indicates some liver problems.  Damn.

3- SA- PA- Jaye, Dom and I took a road trip to State College to watch the PSU game with Sharon and Glenn.  The game was dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.  I'm sorry I watched it.

4- SU- PA- it was a beautiful drive home from State College but I was lethargic so it was a perfect afternoon of napping. The effects of daylight savings reared its ugly head today as it was dark by 5 PM.

5- M- PA/MD- It looks as if I probably have Hepatitis C.  I got a call from the doctor's office and had to get more blood work and schedule an ultrasound for my liver.  I hope this isn't the end of my beer drinking career.  I met Betty Ulrich for a movie (A Star Is Born) and dinner.

6- T- PA- Election Day.  As usual, I am so damn tired of this election season.  It's a killer.  But the Dems won the house and 100 women were elected in to congress so it was a damn good day.

7- W- MD- OMG, I hate my house.  Betty meet me in the late afternoon and helped me clean the place out.  I can't wait to get rid of this damn house.

8- TH- PA- I had an ultrasound on my liver and gall bladder.  I didn't have the test until 3PM and I had to fast for 8 hours.  Damn, I was so thirsty and hungry by the time the test was finished.  Then I ran off to usher at the Uptown Theatre for some TEDTalks.

9- F- PA-  OMG, I hated this day.  I got a call from the doctor to tell me that I have to have surgery on my gall bladder.  She doesn't think I should go to my Polar Bear trip next week.  I have news for her.  I'm going.  And then I found out that my furnace is out of  gas and can't be fixed because of this new situation and I can't get gas for another three days and so I had to run down there and add 10 gallons of diesel fuel in my tank and it was pouring down rain and I was miserable.

10- SA- PA-  Penn State redeemed itself this week with a win against Wisconsin.  I joined the Anderkos for dinner as we celebrated William's 28th birthday. And after that, I headed up to Yardley, PA to get ready for Caitlin's big wedding tomorrow.

11- SU- PA- the weather was beautiful and perfect for a fall wedding.  Caitlin married Kevin so now their blended family consists of two parents, seven kids and a puppy. I officiated the wedding.


12- M- PA- I can't comfort myself today.  I have too much anxiety about the settlement for my house and I see the surgeon tomorrow about my damn gall bladder.

13- T- PA- I met with the surgeon and she does not think I am in immediate danger (unless I pass that big ass stone) so I am going on my trip.  I feel a big relief off my shoulders.


14- W- DE- today was Jaye's father's funeral. It was nice to spend the day with her. And I finally sold my damn house.

15- TH- I'm heading to Canada to start my trip to see the polar bears. My first stop is Winnipeg and the old Fort Garry Hotel. I can hardly wait to see the polar bears.

16- F- Winnipeg- Damn, it is cold today.  It dropped to 10F but it was so windy that it seemed even colder.  I had intentions of walking around town but it was just too unpleasant so I found a brewery instead.  The Little Brown Jug Brewery served just two beers and both were not very interesting.  We had an orientation dinner and there are 30 on this trip. The guide indicted that the bears have left land and are now on the ice.  It is unseasonably cold and the bears have left in search of food.  We are all trying to keep our spirits high.

17- S- Churchill, Canada- we are heading to the Arctic Tundra and it feels like Christmas morning to me.  I am so damn excited.  At our first stop, we saw an Arctic hare. As we got to the lodge, it became more clear to us that the bears are gone for the season.

18- SU- Churchill, Canada- in desperation, the tourist company paid for all of us to take an hour helicopter ride and we saw three bears out on that massive ice. This ride made it abundantly clear that we will not be seeing any bears.  They are gone for the season.  I'm disappointed. We got to see some Northern Lights tonight.

19- M- Churchill, Canada- we rode on the Tundra Rovers for 7 hours today and saw a few white birds that blended in so much with the snow that it was very hard to keep them in my sight. The Northern Lights showed up around midnight.

20- TU- Churchill, Canada- it's -43F and my hands are numbing up, even with gloves.  We are touring Churchill today and the cold is so frightening. I don't know how people can live in this climate.  We watched a bear being airlifted from Churchill to the Hudson Bay. Great care is given to the well being of the bears.We had our farewell dinner but the highlight of today was my hot shower and bath in my luxury room at the Fort Garry Hotel.

21- W- Winnipeg, Canada- heading on on this busy travel day.  My flight is already delayed by 1 1/2 hour and now I have a tight connection in Toronto. Traveling the day before Thanksgiving is stressful.

22- TH- PA- It's Thanksgiving. I always miss my mother on this day because she always made a great feast for us and we were all tighter.  After she died, we split up.


23- F- PA- I had an early appointment to go through pre-surgery things.  My blood pressure was great which pleased me as my readings have been awful the last few weeks.  I guess the fear of the unknown was getting to me.  And then, I was off to the movies to see Green Book, a movie that highlights yet again how racist our country was and still is.

24- S-PA- I shopped for food today to hold me over for next week when I am stuck in my apartment, working on my recovery from surgery.  I have enough beverages to last me several months.

25- SU- PA- Lauren came over and helped me clean my apartment.  I have to get her to help me more often.

26- M- PA- surgery @830AM.  The surgery was fine but the drugs knocked the hell out of me.  I was in a fog until the early evening. But I have no pain.

27- T- PA- a day of recovery at Tricia's house.  Jaye picked me up at the hospital and I was dressed and ready to go when she arrived. I was ready to move on.

28- W- PA- I am back in my apartment and resting. Sharon and Glenn stopped by with plenty of food.

29- TH- PA- I got dressed and ventured to the lounge in my attempt to get back to a normal life after surgery.

30- F- PA- Jim and Joann stopped by to take me to lunch.  I am still being treated as if I am fragile even though I am feeling great after my surgery.  I am over this event.

As the sun sets over the Arctic Tundra. It is -41F. The coldness scared me.

August 2018

August 2018
West Chester, PA

I love this kid.

1- (W)- PA- the day started slowly with no damn energy.  I got up late and then still had to take an afternoon nap.  Things picked up when I went to Bar Avalon with Debbie and Jeff for the all-you-can-eat-mussells special.  Damn, they were good.  We followed that up with a drink at Lemoncello.

2- (TH)-PA- Philly- Woke up to discover a damn bird in my apartment.  He must have been there all damn night as he appeared weak and lethargic. I went to Senator Toomey's office to lobby for CARE. We met with his field representative. We received good vibes but I wonder if our message will get back to the Senator. On the way home, I stopped by the Urban Village Brewing Company for a flight of IPAs.  None of them appealed to me. And then I came home and got a reasonable offer on my house in MD.  YIPEEE!

at the concert

3- (F)- PA- I thought I had a damn dentist appointment.  I am having serious gum problems and have to go every three months for awhile. But it is not until next week.  So I feel like I did on snow days.  I have found time. Sloane and Aiden were going to come over for a swim but the heavy downpour of rain killed that idea.  Sloane, Aiden and James did come over for dinner at the Side Bar Cafe.  I've been there several times over the last two weeks.

4- (S)- DE- Elliot's 1st birthday party. OMG, that kid is so damn cute.  We had a fun event and he was perfect for the crowd of family and friends.

5- (SU)-PA- I laid in bed until early afternoon, listing to a podcast on the Natalie Wood mystery.  I think the husband did it. But then so do a lot of other people. In the evening, I went to an outdoor concert with Tricia.  The band was mediocre. It's Root Beer Day, our family holiday.

The Deer Head Inn

6- (M)- PA- I had a dermal planning treatment on my face.  That means someone took a scrapper and scrapped all of the peach fuzz and grime off my face.  I look 57 days younger.

7- (TU)- PA- I had a hydrafacial treatment today.  My face was vacuumed by a technician who sucked all of the dirt out of my pores. I had dinner with the Springfield faculty @ Sissy Steager's house.  I invited about 8 of us to her house and she made dinner.  It was great.  And then I got to bring home big pile of leftovers.  We are going to have to do this again and soon. When I got back to my apartment I realized I did not have my damn fob and couldn't get in to the garage or the building until the drunks came home from the bar and let me in.

8- (W)-PA- Stroudsburg- drove up to see Sue Frantz and to go kayaking but I took so damn long to get up here that it was too late to go out.  So we pick up Lisa Latham and went to a Thai restraint for dinner and then headed over to the Deer Head Inn for drinks.

9- (TH)- PA- Stroudsburg- we drove up to the Promise Land State Park for an afternoon of kayaking and the day was just perfect.  It water was warm, the sun wasn't too  intense, a breeze followed us the whole time. Sue made a quincnio salad.  Lisa brought peaches and we sat on the beach and ate our munch.  I'd like to have more days like this.

10- (F)- PA- went to he movies with KF.  We saw Eighth Grade, a sad but honest portrayal of the dreadful life of thirteen year old girls in America.  I started listening to the podcast: Atlanta Monster.

11- S- PA-OMG, I can get hooked on binge listening at times.  I stayed up until 3 to listen to the Atlanta Monster and then I listen again mid-morning until the series was finished.   It's raining like crazy which has been a deterrent to the big bike race in town.  But it's still on. Tricia and Bill are coming in for dinner and the race.

12- SU- DE- Jon and I talked Lucia to drive us to the Wilmington Brewery Works so we could spend an afternoon of irresponsible drinking.  Jen Hogan and her daughter joined us. Later we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner where I had veal and artichokes.  And then I came home and went to bed.

13- M- PA- it's a rainy, rainy day and other parts of the area are experiences flash floods.  I am pouting because my balcony furniture is too wet to sit on.  I usher tonight at Uptown for a kids' movie.

the coffee machine

14- T- PA- PMG. I went to see BlackKKKlansman and it drained me. When the movie ended, everyone sat there in silence and despite. What has become of our nation?

15- W- PA- I met Deb and Lisa in Phoenixville and we hit two breweries: Root Deep and Stable 12.  I love to sit in a bar and drink beer. A new coffee machine showed up in my apartment lobby and everyone is abuzz in more ways than one.

16- TH- PA- the day started very slowly. Finally, around 4 PM, I wandered down to the lounge and ran int o Jon and convinced him to have a barbecue dinner for a group of us.  We did and it was great fun and ended with several of us watching an Eagles game.

17- F- PA- Lucia is moving within the week so I was summoned to her apartment to pick out the last of her possessions.  I left with toilet paper and beer. Then I spent the afternoon at the pool.  I don't know why I don't go to he pool every damn day.  It's so pleasant. Aretha Franklin died today after a long battle with cancer.  Everyone seemed to mourn her death.  The death of celebrities seems to be the only thing that unites our country anymore.

18- SA- DE- I met up with Jaye and went to the movies at Theatre N.  I like this theatre because they serve beer.  We watched the Catcher Who Became a Spy. Then we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I had chimichangas which I love.

19- SU- PA- Damn, it really rained today.  Jon and I went to the Hidden River Brewery.  It's right on a creek and I would love to kayak down this creek and stop in for a beer.  It would be a great, fun, potentially dangerous way to spend an afternoon.

20- M- PA- I didn't go to bed until 6:15 AM.  I have got to do something about my sleep problem. We had our beer club here at the apartment and everyone brought beers that I liked.

21- T- MD- I went to my house to MD and discovered that my kayak was stolen.  FUCK!!! I am so angry.  I went to the police and reported it and they seemed a bit more optimistic than me. I had take-out sushi with Joann. I came home and ripped my apartment apart, looking for the title for my kaka.  No luck.  Now, all of my junk is all over the place and it will be forever before I put it all back.

22- W-PA- I went to the dentist this morning.  I am on a three month cleaning schedule now that my gums are giving out on me. Damn, it is a pain in the ass to be getting old and falling apart.

23-Th- PA- Rocco and I headed up to Williamsport to see the Little League World Series.  It was great fun, more fun than I had anticipated.  Now I want to go back next year.  But next year, I am going to plan better and see two games, back to back.

24- F- PA- OMG, yesterday's trip wore more out more than I thought it had.  I slept in until 2 PM. What a lazy ass!!! I sat on the couch in the lounge all afternoon and bragged about my fun day at the Little League game.
And I am covered in poison ivy from my five minutes of gardening on Tuesday.

25- S- PA- the day was about to be a completely wasted day until I discovers the Beer Mill, right down the street.  I spent too much money there and I cant go there again if I know what's good for me.

26- SU- PA- I went to brunch with a few of us in my apartment to celebrate Lucia's pending move to Florida.  She leaves on Tuesday and doesnt want to go so she cried a little bit through the meal.  Later I joined up with the Springfield faculty for an all-you-can eat crab dinner. Surprise, surprise, surprise: I ate like a pig.

27- M- PA- it's hot today and I have plans to go to the pool but not until I go to the Appalachian Brewery Company that just opened up around the corner from me.

28- T- DE- I had another facial today and with a groupon, it only cost $27.  However, the woman was an absolute kook.  I think she had aspergers' syndrome. Then it was off to the pool to escape this damn heat wave.

29- W- PA- OMG, it was so damn hot today.  The heat index had us at 104.  So I grabbed my niece's kids and brought them to the pool.  We spent the whole afternoon there and then wandered down the  steamy hot evening and had a slice of big ass pizza and water ice.  These kids exhausted me.

30- TH- PA- I am a lazy ass. I spent the morning listening to a podcast about a kid who vanished in to thin air when he was five.  It's 45 years later and there is no sign of him.  I have got to stop this damn podcast binge lsitening.  I then wander off to the pool and made unsolicited comments to the men who have taken over the pool for football throwing contests.  I dont think they thought my comments were as funny as I thought they were.

31- F- PA- I typically loathe this day.  It's the last day of summer fun. But today I spent the day with Eileen Cartwright, a teacher from Stroudsburg.  We were both hired in 1988 and I haven't seen her for 25 years.  So we meet for lunch and then went out for coffee and then wandered off to a bar and the her new husband joined us and then we had dinner and then I just had to go home because I had an hour drive and I was exhausted from an afternoon well spent.

Continuing My Obsession With The Pope

Facebook Posting

Continuing My Obsession With the Pope
September 25, 2015
Philadelphia, PA

Pope Francis came to Philadelphia and I became obsessed with the moment.  I had just spent the last two days giving my friends a blow by blow account of what he was doing in the USA.  even thought thousands of reporters were right there on the scene with him, I truly thought people wanted my take on this momentous occasion.

"Regretfully, I am going to have to suspend my blow-by-blow coverage of the Pope until further notice as I have to start now to make my way to Philadelphia for the festivities. I have tickets for both Saturday and Sunday and will be somewhere near 22nd street. I'll post as I can. I leave my home with two goals: (1) I get a selfie with the Pope and (2) I don't get arrested in the process. Enjoy the weekend and I promise, no Pope postings on Monday."

Below are a few responses from friends:

Jennifer Hogan-  Best of luck on your Stalk-a-thon!

Marilyn Lake-DellAngelo My guess is he's hoping to get a selfie with YOU!

Kathy Flatley Bandos Go for the selfie, Kel. Actually, I liked your earlier comment requesting someone to carry your sorry ass to him.

Melissa McCoy Billingsley Have fun, good luck and call if you need bail money!!

Sam Stein I would drop that second goal. It may impede the 1st and depending on the sentence it maybe worth it. I am sure someone would post bail for you so you wouldn't have to worry about the damn spoon and it would, give you a new adventure.

Robert Ford It's good to have a plan B, Bridget.. just sayin' :-)

Manage

Rosemary Touhill No chasin the popemobile this time! Perhaps putting your Merion Academy uniform on may get you a pity kiss😊

 t

Did you get one yet???😜

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