Calm Before Friday

Things are calm after yesterday's floods and tornadoes--remnents from Hurricane Hermine. I could go on, like I think I saw Movie Man in the Wal-mart parking lot walking to he store, while I looked for a parking spot. I wonder if it really was. We've not seen him since December. Yes, I could talk about a Season of Separation.

I really don't want to.

I could go on how I have to write some 2100 word paper for school due in a week, about my Personal Model of Helping.....my what? Yea, I gotta learn what that is.

Really don't want to talk about that either.

I could go on about New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings played the first game of this new NFL season tonight, yet the REAL first NFL game of the season is between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins Sunday night.

Hmm. Well---maybe, but I don't wanna talk about that either---yet.

What I will say, the calm is after the storm.

It's almost Friday and I gotta have Bob Seger tell me about "Hollywood Nights"

March 13, 2006 was Monday

And on this day in 2006, it was Open Heart Surgery for Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement Eve. Yes, the last night I would ever NOT have a scar on my chest, a keloid one at that. or pop six pills a day or realize some of my hair fell out or hear my own self tick when all is quiet or have EKG and PT/INR mean more to me than just letters for Scrabble.

That Monday night I walked my last visitor, of the day, Movie Man to the hospital elevator. He had stayed past visiting hours, which was common. Tears were in his eyes. I tried to smile and told Movie Man everything would be alright. As I watched the elevator doors close on Movie Man's wet eyes it signaled it was almost here. I turned and walked alone back to my room. Even with my trust in God, I wondered if He would just let sleep tomorrow and call me Home.

Fast forward to this day in 2010. WEDDING! Not mine. Heck, I'll be 100 before THAT happens. Nope, my chum who I baked the peach pie for her bridal shower, a couple Saturdays ago, got married. It's a bet overwhelming. I've had other friends marry, yet this one...hit me hard. I'm not old enough to be her mother, will--I coulda been, if I'd been active at a real younger age. There's a 14 year age difference between us. I've told her, when she was born, her family celebrated in her birth, while my family, just a 6 days later cried at the death of my mom. So maybe one is to live while another dies. I've seen my chum grow up, from a brat, when we could not stand each other, to this intelligent, business and independent woman. She really is like my baby sister, and we started our spiritual journey about the same time, so we grew in Christ. That was good.

When I arrived at the church, after overshooting the parking garage, the groom's mom (we bonded at the bridal shower) took me up to see the bride. My chum and both started to tear up as I told her how proud and beautiful she was and then she blubbers, "You're crying, I've never seen you cry!" We both laughed. It was a nice moment, and later at the reception one of her sister's showed me the picture she took of the two of us at that moment. Nice day, nice day indeed.

Now, if you will excuse I got me some left over wedding cake to snarf down and a Lifetime movie to watch.

I am blessed.

Task Tuesday

Took the day off. OK, so where is the task in that?

Well, it was six months check up with my cardiologist. After that I headed for my coumadin checked aka my POKE test. Honestly, I am always nervous when I go to the doctor. My blood pressure spike proves that. Even with that, I am doing wonderful on both the valve and coumadin. My doctor says my valve sounds good and is happy I'd increased my exercise level. Which tonight includes my first aerobic class at the rec center. Also, last night I chatted with my chum Maria about our resuming our weekly racquetball meet. Maria will go back to normal hours next month--and we both look forward to that! I've missed r-ball alot!

So the doctor was my main task today. Then tonight will be the aerobic class, however in the middle I treated myself to a movie. I thought of seeing "Star Trek" a second time. Then I thought, 'go see something new! So I ventured to a movie that two critics glowed about on TV: 500 Days of Summer. The kicker, it wasn't at any of my usual theater--which translates into the moving picture show less than 5 minutes, up the street from my house-nope. This was a theatre I'd been to, maybe twice with Movie Man--and he drove. I just consider it "out in the field'--because if you don't know it's there--you miss it. Like I did. I stopped and asked directions, because calling the 411 on my cell phone wouldn't let me talk to a real person.

For the movie? Very cute. Not so much a chick flick and I felt for the main guy. I liked it alot. And liked more the fact I did see something new--however I will get beamed up again by Star Trek in the near future...

As for another task-gotta enjoy the rest of having this day off. Being home during the day still conjures emotions I had during my 2006 recuperation--I like doing what I want and need to do on working days...yep--need that home business...

Stay tuned.

Shout it Out!

Because it's Friday---finally! And also my day to visit Hogwarts and Harry Potter and chums in the Half Blood Prince. /Excited about it--and of course I didn't get the book finished. Almost though-yet not all the way. And I realize some people will think I am so wrong to not have finished because I had so much time to read it. Oh well. Doesn't mean I'll enjoy the movie any less!

The thing is, I think I started the book way over a year ago. Perhaps before I moved. Enjoyed yet, yet seemed to get all too wordy. Plus the 7th and last Harry Potter? I've yet to even purchase it. I admire what JK Rowling conjoured--especially because it looks like she started out in longhand on her books. I will get the 7th and last Harry Potter because I really don't know what happened. And besides I got another year or so to try and get through it-before the first of the last two movies are released. :)

In the meantime, let's get back to it being Friday and "Shout It Out Loud"--with a little help for that oh, so conservative band; KISS!

Saturday Shine

Headed to see "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke today. I remember Mickey, back in the 80's, when the best was yet to come was right in front of him. And Mickey was smokin, sizzlin HOT. Something happened. And not all good that detoured his path. All those trials, all those consquences got Mickey to this day. And to be the star of this film. A darn bright good one at that.

Well--maybe one more Tuesday Thought...

OK--I had to make a quick mention when I realized Donny and Marie Osmond open their Vegas gig tonight---a Tuesday night at that. My chums who read this blog just chuckled, rolled their eyes and said, 'Yep, I knew it--Donny Osmond--again!"

Yes, there are 'grown up' things on everyone's mind. Our troops, so faraway from home. This history making election--if strategies will back fire. Sure, I wish Tom Hanks would call and say, "I like that story--lets get a movie deal together and make us some magic." I do agree only if Whoopi stars. So, yea, I got all this 'grown up' AARP stuff in my head---but....

Then there's the whole Osmond thing. What can I say? Good memories. Good times. No apologies. This picture was taken in Des Moines, about forever ago. My glasses could be mistaken for blue stop signs. The day this pic was snapped was a good day. Donny and family were pretty much in my own back yard. Meeting him- again, made up for our yuck concert seats that night. But ya know, I bet those concert tickets were probably at best, 10 bucks.

In Las Vegas, on this Tuesday night, I bet there a bit more than $10.

So I do need Tom Hanks to pay me movie rights for a movie that will win us the Oscar. Then I won't care about the cost of concert tickets or the fanciest cat food on the market.

Oh, and did I mention that Donny was not originally my favorite Osmond?

Stay tuned.

Saturday's Alright For Fightin and Then Some!

I'm on my way to play racquetball with Movie Man. I got some fight in me....uh...I hope he doesn't read this before we meet. He's got this funny thing about me runnin around the court like it's good for me..... :) Call 911. I'm looking forward to it tho. Racquetball is good battle to have with yourself. To test your improvement. Call 911.

After that, I'll head home , get all fresh and clean so I can head to some thrift shops. Since I have a new ride where I can actually carry something in it--I may be able to get some stuff instead of waiting for Movie Man and other truck chums. My DIY magazines gave me some ideas. I hear my chum Texas Tanya's hubby laughing at that! :)

In the meantime, I'm off for my racquetball date...Saturday's Alright For Fightin...hey, cue Elton!

Burgers and Buds...

I met my chum , Movie Man, for a tasty burger with even more delicious onion rings, last night. We hadn't been able to chat, face to face of late--so we were long over due. Movie Man, is just that--a Movie Man--he can tell you anything and everything about movies in the last 30 or so years--box office, director, producer, behind the scene stuff. He can tell you every movie we've seen together, plus the theatre and if the sun was up or not that day. Yea, sometimes I think he visits the Land of Oz more than he should, yet he's one of my bestest, goodest chums.

So we sat there last night. He listened to me ramble on. Movie Man will keep mental tabs of everything I say. I gabbed on about the 50th birthday bash from last week, threw out several names-he remembered them all. He's good like that. He gets kinda ticked when I don't remember as much. "Mad Cow" I say. I told him about my one classmate suggesting--urging me on to go into public speaking.

Movie Man agreed. He checked off a list of topics I could speak of. He even mentioned to speak about being the only black kid in my class of 150--how many people know about that? What did I encounter? Born with microtia. The writing. Losing my mother when I was 13. Movie Man was great---so supportive. Encouragment. Just like my classmate.

Only one major difference. A little eighteen year difference. Movie Man was born in August 1976. Three months after I graduated from high school.

We have our differences. Certainly. There are times I want to hit fast forward, so he'll grow up faster. Then I'm sure he wants me to re-wind so I can remember what it was like. Movie Man keeps me on my toes, even at times I want to kick him with them. He gives me insight of things, at a different point of view--a different generational point of view.

We went to Barack Obama's rally here in Dallas a few months back. Our discussion after was fruitful. Just as it was last night. It astounds me, how conversation with someone who was five years old when the first Indiana Jones movie came out and I was just thinking "Wow, Harrison Ford is hot and I wonder how much beer I can drink tonight?" can be so good.

Movie Man is more of man than he gives himself credit for. After all, after my surgery in 2006, he made sure I celebrated my birthday. I couldn't drive yet, so he picked me up, took me to lunch and made sure I enjoyed the day. We actually sat in a grocery store parking lot, while I gave myself my daily IV. He sipped a Mountain Dew. It couldn't have been fun, for him, to see a friend of his, impatient to regain her strength. Yet he made it through. We both did.

Now it's 2008. We chat. We laugh. We tick each other off. I still don't remember as much as he'd like. Movie Man still remembers everything. I asked him last night if he's up for some racquetball, since he injured his calf a couple months ago.

The kid says, 'Oh sure. I won't have to run around that much to beat YOU."

Yep, one of my goodest, and bestest chums.

Game ON!