Composers' Meeting Today
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Daily Living

At the composers' meeting that we had today, I presented a tune that I had "heard" (dreamed, actually) back in June. It was one of those pieces that the main part showed up so complete that I thought I must be plagarizing. Well, none of the rest of the group recognized it, so it isn't too likely to be "borrowed" from somewhere . . . which means I WILL go ahead and finish it.

TGFM.

Where We're Supposed to Be
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Daily Living
Today at a breakfast restaurant, we ran into the parents of an old music student of mine -- who also happened to be patients of Steve's. Turns out that the referral Steve had arranged for him had turned up lung cancer in the husband. He's on chemo and looks great bald, but their uncertainty was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Such WONDERFUL people; such a ROTTEN world! The amazing thing was that we had started to go TWO other places and had changed our minds before going to that particular restaurant. Anyway,  they'll be added to our prayer list.

Mom's Friends
Mood:  happy
Topic: Daily Living
Today, I was supposed to go to a presentation by a Hungarian youth choir that is returning a visit from a local youth choir. Instead, we got a call from long-time friends of my mom's. They were going to be passing through on their way to a wedding, and would it be convenient to stop by for a while? Well, the time frame ended up being DURING a Dr. appt that Mom had. However, we decided that they could come to the Dr. waiting room and visit while she waited. It was great to see them and I'm thrilled for my mom . . . especially since tomorrow would have been Dad's 89th birthday--the first since his death. At least she had something special happening that's GOOD to sort-of take her mind off missing him.

Hybernating
Mood:  loud
Topic: Daily Living

Today is the last of the twice-a-year NASCAR race that is only about 2 miles from our house. Bristol Motor Speedway is a popular race and there are 160,000 seats in the arena. The races are ALWAYS sold out and for the days before and immediately after, our area becomes one vast campground. The main road from the interstate to BMS goes right past our house and we have to time our trips very carefully or we could get stuck in traffic. Usually, though, we just make sure we have enough food in the fridge and hybernate. Makes you wonder where everyone gets their $$. How can they afford to drive all those huge RV's here; are there THAT many independantly wealthy or rich retirees who can come and spend a week or two at the Bristol Races?

TGFM

College Man
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Daily Living

Yesterday we went with Eddie to get him moved into his college dorm. Things were amazingly smooth. We only drove around a few minutes until we found his dorm. There were only a couple kids ahead of him getting their keys. He had reserved his books  online so getting textbooks only took a few minutes, and the parking permit sticker line moved FAST.

TGFM!

Aug. 1
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Daily Living

Our 32nd wedding anniversary was this past Friday. We went out to eat with the kids on Thursday and then I tried my hand at a real home gourmet meal for our actual anniversary. I even made up a printed menu for the occasion, and when I sent Eddie to the store for sugar-free ice cream, he also brought home a vase of roses and daisies. I think Steve was impressed; he even skipped his ball game to eat in the dining room with me. Here's the menu. TGFM.

Today’s Anniversary Menu

 

Starters

 

Swiss Family Robinson Caribbean Fan

(Jicama, Carrot and Celery Fan Garnished With Swiss Cheese)

 

White Grape & Cherry Nectar

 

Entrée

 

Herbed Grilled Steak

served with Corn on the Cob and Oven-fried Potatoes

 

 

Dessert

 

Fresh Blackberries

Served with Ice Cream & Drizzled with Warm Chocolate

And

LOVE

 

BUSY
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Daily Living

Guess I'm not doing very well with my updates. I've been trying to catch up on the work, but I'm always slower at working than the rate of expansion of what needs to be done.

On July 16 our whole family, Steve & I, Eddie, Renee & Dustan, went to meet Steve's parents for a few days. Because of work and/or school, the "kids" hadn't seen their grandparents since 2005! It was really good to see them. His dad was actually looking BETTER than he had over the last few years.

Then when we were on our way back home, we got a call from our pet sitter that our 16-year-old husky Terra had died. He said that he'd found her curled up in her favorite napping place next to the fence--but dead instead of asleep. I guess if you're going to lose a pet, that's as "painless" as it's possible to be.  I suppose I should finish a song about God and animals that I started 4 years ago when our shepherd Rex was having surgery. I didn't finish it after he died, but maybe I can, now.

TGFM

Progress
Mood:  happy
Topic: Daily Living

For the last few weeks I've been seriously dieting and am about 6 pounds below my top weight. Unfortunately it's still above 9 months pregnant weight, but it's progress. Now if I can only keep at it . . .

Derailing the Gossip Train
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Daily Living

The "gossip train" appears to be alive and well and as inaccurate as ever. One of my out-of-town friends heard from her mother, who attends my  former church, that I now had cancer on the other side. I wonder where "the other side has cancer" detail came from--it certainly didn't come  from me or my doctors. (Perhaps it was speculation because I've been going to my mom's church for the last year or so.) Of course I worry about a recurrance but it hasn't happened so far. Yes, I did have more surgery last week, but that was the next step in my reconstruction--taking out the tissue expander and replacing it with an implant. I'm quite sure they wouldn't have bothered with reconstruction if there was more cancer. While there is always the possibility of having microscopic cancers, there is no visible evidence of active disease at this moment.

TGFM. 

More Insurance stuff
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Daily Living
Yesterday I spent more time talking with our local health insurance agent--who assured me that our insurance WAS supposed to cover the charges that the customer "help" person said weren't in our policy. Sure enough, the revised explanation of benefits was in the mail later in the day. I hope that worse than useless "help" person either gets his act together or finds another job. But there are obviously too many non-productive people in both medical billing and in insurance. It seems as though there's some sort of problem with at least half of our health care bills and straightening out some of the problems has taken multiple phone calls. And we wonder why health care costs are increasing . . .