TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

  In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Spread a Little Sunshine

Some days you just get everything right. Before the holidays, I had promised to take Ma to get her hair done. Between the holidays, bad weather, and my hairdresser being booked, the plan never happened until Friday.

There was a threat of bad weather, but the storm fizzled and a snowy mix turned to rain. Himself went to pick Ma up and bring her out. I’d take Ma to have her hair done, and then bring her over for lunch. Dad would have a welcome day off. That was the plan.

Himself called me just as he was getting on the offramp from the Pike. It was getting close to Ma’s appointment time so he dropped her off at the hairdresser’s and I bolted out the door to meet him. We executed a perfect Keystone Cops drill with the cars.

The hairdresser pampered and catered to Ma. She did a beautiful job cutting and evening out her previous do which Dad had done for Ma. That was the reason for getting Ma to the hairdresser. My bad, just didn’t think about her hair. Didn’t think Dad and a pair of scissors was a good thing. I could just imagine one wrong “you’re stupid remark” and pffft! Sweeney Todd.

I had also decided to invite Prissy over for lunch. I figured Ma would have a new face to talk and sing to. Prissy would have a change of pace. It was a win win.

Lunch went well. The weeble ladies had a nice time chatting with one another. As Hannibal used to say, “I love it when a plan comes together.” Let the sun shine!

Adventures of the Poor, Little Boob

   This journal is about my journey with DCIS which began in January 2024. Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. A form of breast cancer. I didn't tell many people. Family, a handful of close friends. I didn't even tell my bosses at the museum where I teach. Somewhere along the line after much prodding and poking, I decided the My DCIS Journey was too boring so retitled the journal Adventures of the Poor, Little Boob.

The Poor, Little Boob has been cancer-free since June 0f 2024, and still has another year of taking hormone therapy and being monitored by an oncologist. My target date for ending the medication and this journey is June1, 2027

The surgeon's office contacted me to say the insurance company approval didn't cover the consult I had with the surgeon on February 5. They wanted the insurance company to back date the letter.

More hurdles to jump over. Maybe it would have been better if I had just kept my mouth shut and gone to be treated with the doctor's group of my primary care physician. Since the cancer is slow growing and rarely moves from its location, maybe just not bothering with treatment.

The insurance company said they couldn't back date the letter and to just submit as a reinbursement form. So many worries for the poor, Little Boob.

T Stands for Brunch at the Omelette Factory

 

One of the place Teague and I hoped to have breakfast/brunch at

was The Omelette Factory. In all the years the Two Old Ladies have been going to Ogunquit, Maine, we've never been able to get in to the restaurant. It's a very cozy restaurant (tiny), popular, and always crowded. Since the weekend before Halloween was pretty much the last weekend of the season before things shut down, we figured we might have a chance.

and we did. I had a Monte Cristo which is a ham, cheese, French toast, spread with homemade strawberry jam and a side order of home fries. I also had my second cup of tea.

The owners of the Omelette Factory are at the center of a controversy with the town 

over metal roosters that their six year old daughter fell in love with and now adorn their home which is next to the restaurant. You can read about the controversy here.

Because of the controversy many of the businesses and neighbors have their own roosters to stand in solidarity. The movement has been named the Roosters of Ogunquit. 

One of the things I asked to do was to be able to see some of the roosters as we drove around. Teague obliged me

Since a lot of them adorn the main road, it was hard to photograph them from a moving vehicle.

They just sort of popped up

I missed these skeleton roosters the evening before so was really happy I was able to photograph them as we went by and Teague tried to remember where she was them.

The Omelette Facory sells swag which benefits The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton-Winn Farm until the family can establish their own non-profit, The Roosters of Ogunquit

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Monet and Me

 

and Miro and Bruce admire some happy mail from colleague, Dave the Mailman. Spooky lettering on the front and the cancellation mark is spooky, too. It looks like it got stuck in the cancellator. I wondered if it was a seasonal cancellation. I can make out "Dog Bites". The cancellation mark features a Labrador Retriever and is to highlight awareness about dog bite prevention to US Postal workers.

More spooky writing on the front of the card

Inside, Bruce loved the pun. Thanks for the fun surprise, Dave.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

How a community rallied around a little girl and her love for roosters

Two Old Ladies On the Road are back in Ogunquit, Maine. I hope as we drive around town, we get to see some of the Ogunquit Roosters. The matter with the town hasn't been resolved yet.

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

7 Projects From Paper Scraps I Almost Threw Away

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. We watched Phantom of the Opera starring Claude 💖 Rains.

2. We watched another Claude 💖 Rains movie, The Invisible Man

3. Hooray for new toys. The portable paper cutter arrived. It handles paper that is 6 inches and will fit in my art journal travel kit.

4. After a couple of weeks of her not feeling well, I finally had a fun video chat with the Young One.

5. Two Old Ladies are on the road again.

How was your week?