I drove east today to do a little pickle business and pick up my brother who flew in from L.A. In my lifetime I've made the drive from Abilene to the DFW Airport roughly a billion times and that's a conservative figure. I got lost today. Really lost. That particular side effect really frustrates me because it's something relatively new and so completely out of character. In the past I could navigate neighborhoods all over Los Angeles and now a trip to the 7-11 around the corner is dicey.
If there's a silver lining it is that the additional drivetime allowed me to chat up a whole lot of people that I DO REMEMBER and I REALLY LOVE. Also, when I finally got to the freaking airport I had some clue why I was there (partially because I wrote it in Sharpie on my hand...aka "The Palm Pilot"), so that's good news. Anyway, Bry and I had a good, uninterrupted talk about everything and nothing (the very best kind).
Tomorrow morning I go to the dentist which, for most people, is fairly mundane and relatively unpleasant, but I can't wait. After radiation and assorted other treatments, months have to pass before they will do something as simple as take x-rays, drill, etc. If you've ever lost a filling or had to wait on having a cavity filled (like 90+ days), then you know first-hand that it's pretty uncomfortable. That said, I was cleared to go and I'm totally looking forward to some QT with the dentist.
There's also a slight chance I'll get the banged-up Benz back from it's 3-week "spa treatment" tomorrow. If you haven't heard about the pre-Thanksgiving accident, it's a story for another time. Suffice it to say that the whole thing WAS NOT my fault (thank God) and the poor man who owns the body shop where it's been kept is convinced I'm the most horrifically aggressive woman ever. He's mostly right and has been a great outlet for all that pent up hostility. I prefer to think of myself as the impetus for him appreciating his wife that much more.
By the way, Happy Hanukuh. Given that one crazy night is hard to come by these days, I'm guessing 8 are out of the question. I did, however, buy 1 quick pick at every gas station I pulled over at to ask directions while lost today, so that's 6 chances at 50 mil. I'll let you know... or perhaps not.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Auspicious beginnings...
At first I figured people were asking me to blog because of one of two reasons... First, many of you have actively expressed concern for my health (what with the pesky cancer and all) and well-being (general sanity probably). Second, I never answer my phone and most everyone has thrown in the towel when it comes to reaching me that way. However, the more I think about it, I really believe that the actual reason you want me to blog is far simpler: my stories are just better than yours. Fair enough - you win.
So, for very public consumption, here begins the journey. Or, more accurately, here's where it picks up. After all, I've been around for 34 years and that's a lot of manutia. As my brand-new therapist (who recommeded this) explained to me today, chronicling current experiences and revisiting past ones adds and reaffirms value in one's life. And in the midst of change, challenge and confusion (not to mention the anxiety of impending mortality) apparently that's a really good thing. As I sat across from her wishing I had something pharmaceutical to curb an onset of ADHD, I realized that this was not a woman who had ever spent a night in the Lampassas County Jail. But she was lovely, soft-spoken, nurturing and sincere... all amazing qualities, none of which I posess exactly. In all seriousness, here is the in-depth medical update for today: I feel pretty good. Lucid, no headache. I remember everyone's name... well, selectively and as it suits my purpose, of course. I still remember that I love Cheetos but need to wash my hands after eating them, so I think that's a victory.
As for where the heck I am and what's been going on, I've been in Abilene a lot with side trips to places with voodoo doctors and old friends. My house is on the market in Austin, so my being there dirtying it up is inconvenient and after all, the holidays (religious, cultural and manufactured) are a time to drink. I mean a time to be near family. So, I come back to Austin occasionally for about 48 hours and then head west to recoup.
As for most recent events, many of you know my Austin homegirl Amy, who shares my April 4th birthday and therefore is referred to (pretty much just by me) as the "good twin" (it should also be noted that I was born like 100 years earlier than she was). Well, the good twin came to West Texas for a brief visit over the weekend which was delightful and I was touched that she would work the 3.5 hr drive (each way) in to a busy holiday schedule. She was here for all of 20 seconds before she leaned over and said (in her sweet Amy voice), "Woah, you really don't fit in here, Rach." You have to watch out for any statement that begins with "woah" and frankly, it's true, true, true - but more on that later. To reward her for making the trip I proceeded to do what any good friend would... serve up an inordinant amount of alcohol and then drag her to a loud, packed country bar with the promise of seeing a midget line-dance. There actually is a midget. He does line-dance. Sadly this was the one night the guy stayed home. Nevertheless, the two of us always seem to have a good laugh and this time was no exception. There really can't be enough said for the value of a holy-crap-I-might-have-peed-myself-as-I-outed-my-own-jackass-behavior hee-haw. In fact I would venture to say that laughter is one of the few contagious things that people are really ok with contracting. Anyway, it was terribly sad to see Amy head back to Austin while I stayed here to figure life out. But I had new-therapist-woman to see today and about 6 legal pages filled with pertinent to-do's(dating back to Nov.'04) to potentially do (I crossed off 3 things).
Tomorrow (or now today, as I've rambled on forever) is looking full as well. My older (and much cooler) brother, Bryan, flies in from L.A. and I am acting as his shuttle service from the Dallas airport. This will give us 3 hours together in a car which we probably haven't had since 1978 when my dad rented a Winnebego and drove us to Disneyworld. Maybe I should pick up some Mad Libs and Cheez-Its for the ride like we had back then. Either way, it will be fantastic to have him around... Bryan's a gentle soul, quiet and an even keel balance to my tazmanian devil personality. We have such completely different qualities that when we're together it's easy to feel like everyone's brought something unique to the table (even if, in this case, it's still the kid's table).
Okay, well, given that "lots of water"... "lots of rest"... and "don't stare at a computer for too long" are part of my perscription for feeling good on a daily basis, I may not have done so well today. Luckily I'm wearing a crash helmet while I type, so no imminent danger there.
Bear with me... I'm sure that life will proffer some decent material as I fumble through the blogging process. Eventually I will address the serious side of medical stuff (or, maybe not), future plans, etc., but I really try my best to keep that compartmentalized (as some would tell you, much like Pandora's box just waiting for one-too-many glasses of chardonnay). You're all amazing - you wouldn't be here if I didn't think so and I greatly appreciate your patience, your concern and your interest in my life. At the very least it has always been that... interesting. See you tomorrow.
So, for very public consumption, here begins the journey. Or, more accurately, here's where it picks up. After all, I've been around for 34 years and that's a lot of manutia. As my brand-new therapist (who recommeded this) explained to me today, chronicling current experiences and revisiting past ones adds and reaffirms value in one's life. And in the midst of change, challenge and confusion (not to mention the anxiety of impending mortality) apparently that's a really good thing. As I sat across from her wishing I had something pharmaceutical to curb an onset of ADHD, I realized that this was not a woman who had ever spent a night in the Lampassas County Jail. But she was lovely, soft-spoken, nurturing and sincere... all amazing qualities, none of which I posess exactly. In all seriousness, here is the in-depth medical update for today: I feel pretty good. Lucid, no headache. I remember everyone's name... well, selectively and as it suits my purpose, of course. I still remember that I love Cheetos but need to wash my hands after eating them, so I think that's a victory.
As for where the heck I am and what's been going on, I've been in Abilene a lot with side trips to places with voodoo doctors and old friends. My house is on the market in Austin, so my being there dirtying it up is inconvenient and after all, the holidays (religious, cultural and manufactured) are a time to drink. I mean a time to be near family. So, I come back to Austin occasionally for about 48 hours and then head west to recoup.
As for most recent events, many of you know my Austin homegirl Amy, who shares my April 4th birthday and therefore is referred to (pretty much just by me) as the "good twin" (it should also be noted that I was born like 100 years earlier than she was). Well, the good twin came to West Texas for a brief visit over the weekend which was delightful and I was touched that she would work the 3.5 hr drive (each way) in to a busy holiday schedule. She was here for all of 20 seconds before she leaned over and said (in her sweet Amy voice), "Woah, you really don't fit in here, Rach." You have to watch out for any statement that begins with "woah" and frankly, it's true, true, true - but more on that later. To reward her for making the trip I proceeded to do what any good friend would... serve up an inordinant amount of alcohol and then drag her to a loud, packed country bar with the promise of seeing a midget line-dance. There actually is a midget. He does line-dance. Sadly this was the one night the guy stayed home. Nevertheless, the two of us always seem to have a good laugh and this time was no exception. There really can't be enough said for the value of a holy-crap-I-might-have-peed-myself-as-I-outed-my-own-jackass-behavior hee-haw. In fact I would venture to say that laughter is one of the few contagious things that people are really ok with contracting. Anyway, it was terribly sad to see Amy head back to Austin while I stayed here to figure life out. But I had new-therapist-woman to see today and about 6 legal pages filled with pertinent to-do's(dating back to Nov.'04) to potentially do (I crossed off 3 things).
Tomorrow (or now today, as I've rambled on forever) is looking full as well. My older (and much cooler) brother, Bryan, flies in from L.A. and I am acting as his shuttle service from the Dallas airport. This will give us 3 hours together in a car which we probably haven't had since 1978 when my dad rented a Winnebego and drove us to Disneyworld. Maybe I should pick up some Mad Libs and Cheez-Its for the ride like we had back then. Either way, it will be fantastic to have him around... Bryan's a gentle soul, quiet and an even keel balance to my tazmanian devil personality. We have such completely different qualities that when we're together it's easy to feel like everyone's brought something unique to the table (even if, in this case, it's still the kid's table).
Okay, well, given that "lots of water"... "lots of rest"... and "don't stare at a computer for too long" are part of my perscription for feeling good on a daily basis, I may not have done so well today. Luckily I'm wearing a crash helmet while I type, so no imminent danger there.
Bear with me... I'm sure that life will proffer some decent material as I fumble through the blogging process. Eventually I will address the serious side of medical stuff (or, maybe not), future plans, etc., but I really try my best to keep that compartmentalized (as some would tell you, much like Pandora's box just waiting for one-too-many glasses of chardonnay). You're all amazing - you wouldn't be here if I didn't think so and I greatly appreciate your patience, your concern and your interest in my life. At the very least it has always been that... interesting. See you tomorrow.
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