Imbibing A Pirate's Drink ...

 ... no I didn't fall off the sobriety wagon. I am three days short of 10 months. But I do feel 'grog'gy ... see what I did there? I don't know why, I usually only feel this way when I wake after taking one of the sleeping pills, but haven't had one in awhile. Plus, I slept an extra 50 minutes after the alarm. Maybe I just woke from a deep sleep too fast? Eh, doesn't matter, it is slowly fading away, and I am almost back to normal (for me).

Today is Day One, again. I made it to about mid-morning yesterday before I had a cigarette. SO starting over again today. So far, so good.

Mayo IR called and scheduled the consult for the TIPPS. It is Tuesday morning at Mayo. I think I am going to opt for it. It should help with the large amounts of ascites I am having to drain every week again. Supposedly, it reduces the number of times I would need to have a paracentesis, if any, to hold me over until the transplant, where it would be removed. It is a an outpatient procedure. More to come after the consult.

Still waiting for the GI at Mayo to contact me regarding my appointment, as in setting one up, for the colonoscopy. I asked yesterday about it, and was told again that someone would call me. Maybe today ...

I am done being mad and irritated about the latest deferment. I have had wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at Mayo, and the access to information, etc. has been phenomenal. But there are a couple things I would have thought they could have done better. Like the smoking. Why not tell me back in February to stop? They said it shouldn't be an issue as I am a light smoker. Maybe it was the results of the angiogram. I don't know. What's done is done, and I need to move forward and keep the eyes on the prize - my health.

I don't think I mentioned it, but a few days ago RM had gotten one of them Farmer's Market-type boxes of mixed veggies/fruits. She had ordered 2 by mistake, and had a large amount of cucumbers and sweet peppers. Of course, she thought of me (I *AM* the favorite, after all) and sent quite a bit with the Wife. As she said in her blog this morning, she needs to cut-up, or whatever, and freeze her supply. I need to figure out something here as well. I'm thinking do some cukes for snacking on, and peppers, too. Maybe freeze some of the peppers diced, ready for adding to a meal prep. Pickles ... I do have a gallon of vinegar currently... I sense some Zesty Italian pickles being made. But I should address that today, or by tomorrow.

We scheduled a bulk trash pick-up for Monday. The Wife has been working on the backyard removing limbs, etc. I feel bad because I cannot get out there and help much. Between being weaker now and my balance issues, I think we would worry more about me getting hurt than what needs to be done. This weekend we will take the bags and other debris out to the street. I can help with that at least, as long as it isn't too heavy.

Quite awhile back RM had mentioned a website she orders physical books from. ThriftBooks.com and they have used books for good prices (hardback and paperback, but one never knows which they have in stock). I spent about $30 the other day and got the book RM has been reading as it sounded interesting. Plus I picked up another self-help that I felt would be a good read for me. Real books. Outside of my author signed copies, I don't really have any physical books anymore. I prefer ebooks now. But I made an exception for these. Other than that, the only books I have are my Bible, the AA Big Book, AA's 12 Steps/Traditions, and some of my journals. I started a wishlist at that site, too, so RM has ideas for Christmas...

And I think that will wrap it up for me today. Happy Birthday tomorrow America!

PeacE

Starting Late Today

 This week has had some HOT and wonderful news already. I got a response from the Company, actually it was one person there, that I had done a BCC of the email I sent. Turns out the email address originally supplied to me, was for Attorney Availability for projects, not the Non-Attorney one that I qualify as. In other words, all those months ago, they thought I was an attorney... I'm not sure how to take that. I know a couple previous Managers I have worked with on projects, have actually asked if I was an attorney, and I always let them know, that no, I was not. All I can guess is that the quality of my work must be pretty darn good! So, now that I have the new email I should be sending off to, Maybe I'll get an actual response, and a project.

Monday evening I had went out to the pub, just because I was bored sitting at home. One of the regulars there I know, had brought in some pickles he had prepared. He does this every once in awhile, and they are good. I got a quart of spicy spears (has jalapenos in it) and he had a quart of pickled hot peppers that I also decided to try out. Not bad for $5 each. Well, yesterday I got a chance to get into them. The pickles were great as expected. Later in the day, I decided to try the peppers. It's sliced jalapenos, and some other 'hot' peppers I don't remember, all having been pickled. I ate about 5-6 of the slices, and had to stop as my mouth was beginning to 'feel the heat'. That finally faded, as did the sweating and eye-tearing, and about an hour or so later, I was headed out to meet up with friends to watch one of the playoff series games (NBA). As I was driving to the pub, my stomach started hurting. Ended up lasting a good hour, and I think it was because of those peppers? I don't know, but the diarrhea I have now is burning my bunghole, so I know something spicy hot has been through my system. I know, I know, TMI....

The Wife got up this morning and got the Youngest off to school. She informed me she was off today as the census at her facility was low enough. In fact, she just came into the office here and suggested a lunch date that I guess we are going to do. It's nice to get out together once in awhile. Don't know where we are going to end up, but it is what it is.

That being said, I guess I should go and finish getting dressed so we can go...

PeacE