Friday, February 8, 2013
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 11:59 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Thirteen Years
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 12:00 AM 10 comments
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Project That Consumed My Summer, AKA RV Remodel
Since the first day A and I pulled the RV in the driveway, we've discussed ways to improve it and make it ours. Not that we didn't love the little beast but still it was utilitarian. It lacked personality and was just plain blah inside; dark oak paneling, retro 80's sea foam green upholstery, old yellowed light fixtures.
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 11:10 PM 24 comments
Monday, August 27, 2012
Contrary to What You've Heard, I'm Not Dead
Day-Lilies |
I can hardly believe it's been months since I've posted. I logged on and had to spend a few minutes just re-aquainting myself with Blogger. The spring and summer have flown by in a blur and thinking back I wish I would have been writing all the experiences and feelings down. Sadly I would come home from work so mentally and emotionally exhausted that I couldn't even find the words.
Spring started out crazy. I work in a small town dental clinic with 2 doctors. Early in March, the senior doctor came to work one Monday complaining of a headache. We all just figured he had a migraine; we would just push through the day and tomorrow would be better. I worked with him all morning and could tell something wasn't right. By lunch time his speech was starting to slur and the corner of his mouth started to droop. We called his wife who took him to the ER and after a CAT scan and MRI, they confirmed it was a brain tumor. Brain tumor: that sounds scary enough until further testing confirmed it was a glioblastoma multiforme; a highly aggressive malignant tumor with an average survival rate of 12-14 months.
To say that the wind was knocked out of us is an understatment. Here we were all trying to deal with the emotions while remaining professional and continuing to support our one remaining over-whelmed doctor. Some staff were in total denial, some bitchy, while others just showed more clearly how selfish they really were. We lost staff; some I was sad to see leave while others it was a blessing. Five months later and the office situation has improved even if unfortunately our doctor has not. He's had a rough summer and the emotional aspect continues to affect us all from time to time.
Sunset over Lake Shetek |
As far as life at home, A and I are still doing well. In just a couple weeks we will be celebrating our 13th anniversary. It doesn't seem possible it's been that long or that I could love her more every day but somehow it's reality.
Our summer has been busy with good things too. We've been camping, fishing, gardening and spending time with friends.
We've also celebrated many happy birthdays (including A's 50th) all while doing a full remodel on our little RV.
In general we are finding ways to enjoy the simple pleasures that life offers.
The last six months I find myself being thankful for the good and letting the negative slide. Despite the moments of sadness and stress, life is good.
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 2:15 AM 4 comments
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Ramblings of a Foggy Brain
The time just keeps creeping by me. Another Valentine's day come and gone. Really though, I have to say that I'm so spoiled that A does everything in her power to make me feel special everyday. My feelings for and dependence on her are so overpowering sometimes.
Several weeks ago she asked what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go to celebrate. My choice was to have dinner at home and I made her promise no flowers or candy. We already exchanged gifts a couple weeks ago. I had the day off from work but unfortunately A got stuck at work late so when she came home she asked; "How much is your heart set on lobster tonight? I'm too tired to cook."
No problem here...I settled for a V-day dinner of pizza and then some messing around. The lobster tails are still in the fridge. No worries though, this weekend is supposed to be nice enough that she can grill them. Mmmmmm.....
Last week started out with an evil boss and a lost puppy I found in the middle of a deserted country road (he wasn't hurt and later reunited with his owners). Then Wednesday I got a call from my mom to tell me an ex had died. He and I dated on-and-off for a year or so. Our personalities never did fit, we couldn't get along and basically had a "fight-or-fuck" relationship. Very unhealthy and dysfunctional and I broke it off when I came to the realization that I was only repeating the patterns of my parents and found myself morphing into a person I didn't like.
Anyway he was only 39 (just turned at the end of December) and the obituary said he died in his home. Yeah the small-town rumor mill was running full force that he had committed suicide. We had vaguely kept in contact through the years but it had been over a year since I talked to him last even though he lived only 6 miles from me.
Mom and I went to the wake Friday night and even though it's sad when someone so young passes, I was relieved to talk to his family and find out it was "natural causes". He had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart recently, had a heart attack in his home and was dead by the time the ambulance arrived. At the wake I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in years and we visited and shared memories with family and friends. The worst part was dealing with my mom who is so high drama about everything. I listened to her and tried to be patient but when we were standing in line at the funeral home and she turns and says to me in that accusing tone; "Mel, don't you feel anything?! Do you even care that he died." Ugh! That was when I had it with her! Just because I don't bawl and blubber for the whole world to see. *rolls eyes*
The whole experience did color my mood the rest of the weekend. I was discussing with A the realization at how much I compartmentalize my memories. It seems that when I'm finished with a chapter in my life, I shut those memories away and just don't think about them anymore. Most of my memories these days start when A entered my life because that's the chapter I'm in right now. Having to open the chapter from that part of my life just threw me for a loop. I don't know if I'm even describing this in any way that makes sense but I suppose it's a very unhealthy way of dealing with things. I bet it will back up on me someday and I'll end up on the shrink's couch. :)
A and I spent the whole day together Saturday in Minneapolis at the RV show. We're not in the market for buying but love to go see what's new on the market. When the time comes to upgrade I highly doubt we will be buying anything new anyway but will have a really good idea of what options/layout we want. Last year we spent the day looking in EVERY motorhome, 5th wheel, trailer and pop-up there. This year we focused.
It satisfied the need we are both having to bring our little RV home. We have definite plans to finish painting the interior and some other minor upgrades. We already are planning trips; heading to visit my brother early June and back out to the Black Hills in South Dakota and Wyoming at the end of September.
So I guess once I got writing, I seemed to have overcome my block...who knew! We added 2 members to our ballooning family since the start of 2012. I adopted Cassie in early January and A adopted LuLu in early February.
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 1:07 AM 7 comments
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
3.5 days in Vegas Equals 1 Week of Recovery
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 12:25 AM 5 comments
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
32 Hours
Do you ever feel like your life is full-steam ahead and you're just stumbling along trying to keep up? That is the position I 'm finding myself in these days. I truly thought that by January my schedule would slow but things that were once months away are now the day after tomorrow; 32 hours until takeoff.
Posted by Mel's Way or No Way at 11:55 PM 4 comments