Back in the High Life

I made this thing private because there is some issue with each picture in the posts which I've blogged directly from Flickr.
I thought I'd fix it and go public again, but then realized it's probably going to take more time than I have right now, and so I just went public again.

Gah!

(If you click the actual picture that says it's not available, it takes you to the real picture, which is available...wtf? Just read and click, read and click...)

I Love James Woods as Much as I Despise Kent County Hospital

There is a small article in today's Providence Journal announcing that James Woods has sued Kent County Hospital over the death of his brother in 2006. The lawsuit claims his brother received negligent medical care.

Here's the link to the article (from the Boston Herald - not the Projo link because their website SUCKS): http://tinyurl.com/yzg2f8o

I now love James Woods even more than ever, and I'm a longtime fan. Before you all start in on me with tales of how he's a douchebag (as happened when I last broadcast my love), let me say this - he's a Rhode Islander. That, in itself, explains it away. We are a little rough around the edges, and don't mince words.

He grew up in Warwick, and so did I. He's had surgery at Rhode Island Hospital, and so did I! I even had x-rays on the same day as he did one day in late July 2006.
Now we have even more in common. Kent County mistreated one of our family members.

While we did not pursue any legal action for various reasons, my mother was definitely the recipient of negligent medical care at KC Hospital back in 1997. She would have died anyway, but I firmly believe that had she been given appropriate attention and care she would have likely suffered less and perhaps lived a little bit longer. Botched care. That's what it was, plain and simple.

So, I am rooting for James Woods to prevail over Kent Hospital when the trial begins this coming Monday.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Setting: Urban condo, modern day. I am in the kitchen making dinner; my man is on the couch watching television and drinking Maker's.

My man: "I want a Lap Band."

Me: "Why do you want a lap dance? From who?"

My man (laughing): "Lap Band. Because I'm fat! Not lap dance!"

Me: "I've never given anyone a lap dance. You don't have much of a lap!"

My man: Lap Band. I just saw a commercial for the Lap Band!"

Me: "You want your black pants? You split the crotch when you bent over in that hotel room in Italy, remember?"

My man: "No! Not my black pants! Lap Band. Lap Band! I'm too fat! I split my black pants, and there's no room on my lap for a dance."

Me: "What's a Lap Band?"

We need either an open kitchen or hearing aids.


(In case you don't know what it is either, here's the website for the Lap Band system:
http://www.lapband.com/)

Goodbye to Grilling

Grilling - A Retrospective
Originally uploaded by whatstepheats

It's that time of year again - when the grill first gets gradually neglected, then altogether ignored, and finally just put away until spring.

This always saddens me, because grilling is probably my favorite method of cooking. And it's not so much an issue of the days being too cold, just too short!

Since we turned back the clocks, the sun has been shining so brightly with temps in the 60's most days this week.
Great! I think of what to grill...

But by the time our stomachs are rumbling for dinner, the sun has gone down. I know I'm pretty adept with a spatula and some tongs, but even I can't cook in the dark.

Farewell, my friend the grill. Have a restful winter's nap, because I'll be giving you quite the spring training workout!

Coping, as Daylight Saving Time Ends

Last night we had to turn the clocks back and turn the page on the calendars forward. Being the neurotic freak that I am, I did this all 12 hours earlier than necessary, confusing everyone in my midst.

I don't cope well with the annual slide down the slope to winter, but I'm getting better. Here's an example of how.

There was a time, after I had surgery on my leg in June of 2006, when I would use Bailey's Irish Creme as creamer in my coffee. Every morning.

(I didn't see anything wrong with this. I guess it just enhanced the effect of all the other meds I was on, and my doctor did tell me to 'snow myself' so I'd stay still enough to heal...)

That spring turned to summer, and summer into fall. As winter approached, my man would come home from work at times to find me under the covers with the heat turned up to nursing home levels and all the lights in the house off. I still don't know why he stuck around, but it's likely due to his generousity, kindness, and self-awareness. No one is perfect; we all are broken in some place.

I must remind myself - as the days grow shorter and colder and grayer, and things that should be resolved by now drag on and on with no resolution in sight - that my coping mechanisms have improved since those times 3 years ago, however marginally.

Though sometimes I still have a craving for Bailey's in my coffee.