Substitute Plan

Since I had kidney stones on my birthday and my guy had stomach flu at the same time, we decided to celebrate my birthday this last Sunday. He took me to see True Grit. Okay, it's a known fact I really don't like westerns. Not in books, movies, or video games. However, True Grit is a classic and it got rave reviews. Plus I had to see if Jeff Bridges could fill the rather big boots of John Wayne. He did. And then some. This may be the very first western I've ever liked. It came across as real and authentic. A true piece of Americana. I would recommend everyone see this movie—even people like me who don't like westerns. It's that good.

The theater we went to is this huge place with all sorts of maze-like hallways and dozens of theater rooms. Of course the movie was playing in the very last theater in the back. So I grabbed the seats while my guy got the popcorn and drinks. The line wrapped half-way across the lobby, it was unreal. On the way out, after the movie, we stopped by the concession to get our refills on popcorn and drinks, since at those prices you want to get your monies worth. It was while in the line that my guy snapped this pic of a young woman with what looked like giant curlers in her hair. On closer inspection, we realized they were coke cans. Honest. I hope this is not a new fad or trend among our youth. ::shakes head::

Although I did love her friend's jacket. Looks like a shark. lol. I may have to see if anyone in SL can make a jacket like that for me, since I am Cassandra Sharktooth in SL. :P

Until next time...

~Cass

Snafu City Monday

SNAFU Baby!

Situation Normal All Fucked Up.

Monday has become my day to clear and resolve snafu it seems. Whether it's my own or a family members. The latest revolves around my late mum's early Yule and Christmas gifts to the family. I honestly did the best I could, but my sister still hasn't gotten her last gift from my mum. The item mum picked out for her apparently was out of stock and put on back order. This was back in October/November a couple of weeks before she passed away. I asked her what I should do?

She told me that sis and her hubby wouldn't be coming to visit until Thanksgiving at the end of Nov. and surely the item would be in by then. Of course, given the situation and the turn of events, they came in earlier than planned, mum passed away, and then chaos ensued trying to work out all the logistics for all that followed. The last thing I cared about or thought of was my sister's last present from our mother. But after sis flew back home and Thanksgiving passed, then Yule and Christmas, I was like "Where the hell is my sister's present from mum?"

I called and was told it was still on back order but the estimated shipping time would be January 7. Now I get a mailer card from the company saying that the new shipping date is January 27. At this rate, if they keep adding time to the shipping date, she won't get the item until Mother's Day! Argh!

I called the company to complain, and they asked if I'd like to cancel the order. I had to sit here and explained about the circumstances and how important it is that my sister get the item. That it was hand-picked for my sister by our now deceased mother.

The guy in customer service said he understood, but their hands are tied by the distributor and the manufacturer. I said I did understand (barely).

I mean I could have raised two freakin' sheep, had them 'get it on' and had a litter of lambies, shorn them, spun the fleece into wool, and knitted the f'ing thing by now! I mean, geeze.

So now we sit and wait and see if they actually send the damn cardigan or if they send another reply card telling me the shipping date has changed yet again.

Patience is a virtue I may lack. At least in this instance. Guess I better stop blogging and start watching for sheep. Ooh, spotted one! Here little lambiekins. You look like the same shade as that sweater...

Until next time~
Cass

Typing One Handed

I used to be so good at multitasking. Not sure when it changed. All I do know is yesterday morning I decided to make a large pot of homemade vegetable soup. I also needed to get my vintage computer warmed up for timed writings I had planned in SL with Cora. In addition, I needed to finish laundry and a few other minor incidentals. No problema. I can handle a few measly chores while I wait for ye olde computer to calculate it's ones and zeroes.

But when you try to rush some things and multiply others, the universe usually sends you a little note saying, "Slow down nimrod. Or you'll hurt yourself." I didn't get the message, probably because I also had on my 'feel good' morning wake-up tunes blaring from my writing room. So yeah, I did some slice and dice and never with a knife. If you're gonna goof, why go for second measures? lol. I did my slicing with the ragged edge of a tin can that didn't want to cooperate with my can opener. Can you say, yowl? 'Cause I sure did! :P

I guess I'm simply trying to say (in my own round about nutty way) that while I'm still trying to complete my various stories, it's not as smooth or as fast when using one hand, your nose, and your right elbow. lol

If you get the chance and you're free tonight, stop by my book discussion and storytelling hour in SL. It should be fun since I'm on freakin' horse painkillers and saying all manner of funny shit. :P

Storytelling Event Tonight!
6-7pm SLT (Pacific); Excerpts from the book, Cup of Fate by Cassandra Curtis will be read, followed by a brief discussion with readers and fans.
Location: Elementals, http://slurl.com/secondlife/0%200%20Meleda/129/160/23

Top Ten Movies in 2010 According To Cass

I sat down and checked my naughty and nice list twice, so here are my top ten flick picks for 2010.*

10. The King's Speech

9. The Book of Eli

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

7. The Inside Job

6. Easy A

5. Tron: Legacy

4. Kick Ass

3. Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of The Dawn Treader

2. Shutter Island

1. Inception

*I didn't get a chance to see True Grit yet, and I had no desire to see The Social Network, so keep that in mind when viewing my picks.

What movies are on your top ten picks for 2010?

The Last of the Out-of-Town Rellies

Well, the last of my out of town relatives, my middle sister, has left and is now on the way home to her house in Oz. No, not the prison show or the fabled land from the Wizard of Oz, but Australia. I keep waiting for her to acquire an Aussie accent, but no dice. She's still got her American one. I bet they love that over there. lol.

It's been great having her here, but the reason totally sucked. I imagine it's going to be awhile for all of my family to get over the grieving process. Our mum was a huge part of our lives, the grand matriarch of our clan, and our best friend and confidant. ::sigh::

I know she wouldn't want us to be sad all the time, but be happy. For her sake, and the sake of my own sanity, I have to try, but not a day goes by when I don't think of her. I hope all my friends and other family will be patient with me as I relearn what it takes to be happy. :)

I really have no interest in Yule or Christmas this year, but again, I have to try. I know Bear is looking forward to the normalcy of putting up and decorating the annual tree, so I guess we'll get one and I'll go through the motions.  He lost his father several years back, on New Year's Eve. We'd just celebrated Christmas and got the word on the 26th, that his dad had been rushed to the hospital and they didn't expect him to make it to New Year's Day. We raced to Charlotte (where my in-laws lived at the time). From that point on, he declined rather fast and I believe was simply holding on until all the family came in and all goodbyes were said.

I've tried to make an effort since then, to brighten the holiday spirit for him, and keep him active around the holidays. My own favorite holiday was and has always been Halloween, although I do enjoy Yule. This year both Halloween and Thanksgiving were bittersweet. And I know it will be the same with Yule and Christmas.

As a very good friend of mine said yesterday, we are the living, and we have a job to do. To keep living and loving and enjoying the gifts we are given--because anything less would be an insult to our deceased loved ones who cared about us just as deeply as we cared about them.

Jammed

When my sisters and I cleared and cleaned out mum's refrigerator and cupboards, I never realized before exactly how much my mum loved jam and preserves. I think I managed to get the lion's share, but OMG. lol. I have enough seedless blackberry jam to last five years! And strawberry, and blueberry, and raspberry, and orange marmalade, and grape, and apple butter, and apple jelly, and apricot, and several other flavors I never knew existed!

The entire bottom shelf of my pantry is nothing but jams, jellies, and preserves! lol. Anyone care for a biscuit?

A Generation Gone

Dad and Mum with one of their race horses. Circa 1954.

These last few days I've been at my mother's small apartment, going through photos and other belongings...all her little treasures.

Even the most mundane of things, an address book, held hidden glimpses into my mother's daily life. With each new discovery, I felt both excitement and sadness. Today is the final moving day.

All her precious items, now boxed and marked, must be moved to someone's house or garage, to be sifted through yet again. My unasked for winter project is now scanning all her photos into my computer so I can burn CD's for all the family. Some I will print out and others will require special care and retouching, like a rare photo of my great grandmother I didn't realize mum had kept safe in one such album.

As I looked through some 50 photo albums and 75 envelope packets of photos, I came to a harsh realization. My mother was the very last of her generation in my family and now my sisters and I are the oldest generation.

I thought of what my mother must have felt as her sisters and brothers passed before her, her husband passing too. And I looked upon my sisters and knew we too would go through the same thing, as each of us passes into shadow and leaves behind the next generation. I can only hope that they will be as proud of the long line they come from as I have been, and that they share more than the physical family traits passed down through the centuries. I hope they also share the magick and the love.

Making 'Lemonade' from the Lemons of Life

Mother's stroke left her weak on the left side. But now they think she also has pneumonia. Last night I sat reading to her from one of her favorite books, Gold Star Wife by L.K. Campbell. Her other favorite author is Karen Marie Moning.

I think being able to escape into a good book can be the very best therapy. :)

So I'm taking a big box of books and promo goodies up to the hospital today for the nursing staff and patients.


Who knows, it might generate future sales for my books and the books of my friends, in addition to helping someone pass the time as they heal. :)


Yeah, I know—I am such an Aquarian. lol.


Love, light, and laughter to all,
Blessings,
Cass

I may be scarce for a while...

To all my online friends and readers:

I may be scarce online for a while as my mother's situation has deteriorated. She had a stroke today. Her left side was affected. In the meanwhile, all the family is coming in town to see her and I will be trying to coordinate hotels, flights, etc. Often acting as driver, general errand girl, and all around troubleshooter.

If anyone needs anything regarding the Midnight Moon Cafe, please contact Cora Zane at corazane @ aol.com

I will try to pop in and update when I can. Be good to each other. ((hugs))

Cass

The Serendipity of Life

After a four hour visit to see mum in the nursing home, I tried to leave but was stopped by the sound of a fire alarm going off. 

I was shooed back into her room by a nurse and stayed until we got the all clear. Then as I head out to get in my vehicle and leave, I notice the person in the spot next to me left no room for me to squeeze in and open my door. 

I had to walk back in the the nursing home and wait another 35 minutes until the person in the white van was located and came to move it. I swear, it was almost like something didn't want me to leave the nursing home, at least not during that time.

I finally manage to leave, sighing with relief, and pull onto the on-ramp for the highway and hit bumper to bumper traffic. What fun. I turn on the radio, and that's when the serendipity is revealed.

A horrible wreck ahead some 4 miles, had traffic backed up all the way to the main road where I'd come from. If I had left when I'd planned to, I would have been very likely in the same area where the accident occurred and at about the same time.

Can I just say that I love my guardian angels and I think they should get time and a half for covering me. You just know they probably draw straws and are like, "Oh shit, I got the short straw! Anybody wanna trade?" lol

Monday, Monday...

Getting very psyched for Samhain and Halloween. I'm seriously thinking about dressing up as a zombie. I think I've got the walk down pat. :P These last few weeks have been crazy, trying to be at the hospital or nursing home every day, then coming home late in the afternoon and flopping into the recliner the minute my feet hit the living room floor. It's not that I'm doing that much. But there is something about just sitting at the hospital or the nursing home. After about two hours, my butt is numb, and my brain isn't far behind. *pun intended*

Mum always gives me a list of things to bring. Today, my list consists of phone calls to make on her behalf, and paperwork snaffu to resolve.

Tomorrow, I'll fix salmon croquettes and take them up for her and the nursing and aide staff. Yes, the nursing and aide staff. You see, mum likes to promise things on other people's behalf. That way you can't really back out or back down when she hits you between the eyes with her latest gambit. lol. But it's okay. I have about eight cans of salmon sitting in my pantry, waiting for me to figure out what to do with them, so it's all good. :)

Plus, if she feels well enough to play her usual games, then she's getting at least a little better. :P

I can just picture it, me carrying in this large serving platter of warm salmon patties, and like 200 cats following me as I walk toward the entrance to the nursing home, taking turns under my feet, trying to trip me up, so they get a free meal. lol

If I don't make it back, you'll know I was catnapped and taken to their secret lair, forced to become their chef. :P

Bon Appetite
Cass

Reflecting On School Daze: Bullying

In between running to and from the hospital (to see mum), I had a chance to drop in over at Stars Will Cry, my bff Cora Zane's blog and weighed in on her post: http://corazane.blogspot.com/2010/10/purple-wednesday.html

Seeing some of the news stories these past few weeks have brought back memories. I hurt inside for those kids and their families. School shouldn't be a war zone. It should be a place for learning as it was intended. A happy place where kids can make friends and work toward their goals and dreams for the future.

Reflecting on my own school years brings back both happy and sad memories. You see, I was one of those kids who got bullied. Always the new kid in school because my parents loved traveling and dad's job required it. Of course, dad could have left us kids at the homestead and came back after each job was done, but he loved mum and loved us kids and for him, there was no other decision but to drag all of us along on all of his assignments.

The problem is, dad would sometimes have two and three job assignments a year, so that meant I often went to two or three different schools in the same year. The cycle repeated every year. In all, I probably attended something like 20-25 different schools in 12 years. That's hard on a kid. Especially a kid who was chubby, had red hair, and whose momma dressed them funny. I kid you not! lol

I was pushed against gym lockers, tripped down two flights of stairs, called names, poked, given a black eye, kicked and more. The thing I hated about always being the new kid actually turned out to be the thing that saved me from depression and possible suicide. See, I could count on one thing—that before long, my family would move again and I would escape the harassment for a short while, as we traveled to our newest home. I would wave bye to the bullies and stick my tongue out. :P

Of course, there were times when a job took longer than the others, and I had to endure. But not alone. Oh no. This is where having a fierce Virgo mom is the best thing in the world. I recall one time she caught me hiding my face when I got off the bus from school, and made me lift my head—exposing a black eye and purple cheekbone. I thought she would be upset but I didn't count on the glorious, righteous anger of a pissed off Virgo with Capricorn rising and a Scorpio moon. OMG!

I remember that day so very clearly. She took me back to school and walked in on the principal without an appointment. Wowsers! And when the principal got all smart-mouth with her, she got in his face, set him down, and called his bluff! Oh yes, she gave him a wicked tongue lashing and put him in his place! I was never more proud of my mum than in that moment.

The kids who hurt me got suspended, and I knew they would come after me big time once they were back in school. Luckily dad (who never came to the school before) picked me up early that day and told me we were moving again. Whew. Only later did I learn that dad asked for a new assignment in order to get me out of that place and away from those asshats. I loved dad for doing that. :)

Of course, we didn't have cyber-bullying back then. Hell, we didn't have personal computers, let alone the internet. Things are so much worse now for kids because of the internet. But it's not the internet that's bad. It's how some people choose to use it. Like anything, it's just a tool. But a tool in the wrong hands can be devastating.

I agree that something needs to be done, but what will stop bullies? They were around in my day, and they were around in my parents and grandparents day too. Probably were around since the beginning of time.

What do you think? Is there a solution to this growing problem?

Running On Empty

Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably already know I've been 'running on empty' for a while. My mother, (who always prefers me to refer to her as mum), has been in and out of hospitals and nursing homes for months. She's now back in the hospital again. I want her well and healed this time, before they discharge her.

The thing is, she's weak, frail, and plumb tired—and anybody would be after almost three months of this shit. But at her age (in her 80's), tired and weak—well, it takes on a new meaning.  The problem is once they discharge her from the hospital, the drs. always discharge her to a rehab/nursing home for physical therapy and/or occupational therapy.

So, after vomiting for eight straight days, is it any wonder she doesn't feel like doing any exercise? Hell, she could barely walk before she fell back in August and got sick. And when I say walk, I mean with an assist walker. Her main way to get around used to be her motorized scooter. Yet now she is expected to walk like a 40 year old in good health, lift weights and pulleys and fuck knows what else.

Yes, I know she needs to build her strength, but can't we get her well first? I am so tired of all these places explaining to me that she has to help herself and move. Well, no fucking duh. But it's hard when you are *going both ways*, to put it delicately,  80+ years old, running a low grade temp off and on, and couldn't walk for beans before all this started.

My analogy of never playing the piano, but suddenly after really working with them in therapy, I can—just sailed over their heads I think.

The nursing home/rehab place before this last one complained of the same thing. She wouldn't cooperate and hold her head up. In the meanwhile, she ran a fever and was sick, wouldn't eat her meals, and didn't cooperate in therapy. Hmm...then they finally got a brainstorm and the nursing home dr. finally sent her to the hospital, where her real doctors could see her, and immediately said, "OMG—this woman has an inflamed and diseased gallbladder! We gotta remove it STAT! Why didn't they send her to the hospital sooner?"  Yeah, why the fuck didn't they?

After a week and a half at the hospital, they released her once more to a nursing home/rehab...to get stronger. Instead, she got sicker and weaker and the entire cycle started again, with her sick and *uncooperative* in therapy. They even mentioned it being partially behavioral. Over a week passed this last time before the exact same nursing home dr. (but at a different nursing home) finally figured something else might be wrong and sent her back to the hospital (different hospital too).

I stayed with her in ER for nine hours the other day and come to find out, she was running a low-grade temp and that after a CT scan, her diverticulitis had majorly flared up. OMG.

Today, the hospital nurses are talking to her about discharging her once more to a nursing home/rehab center for additional care—to strengthen her.

Now, I am not dissing the nursing care staff at any of these rehab/home places. I know they do the best they can with limited resources, but damn, this is getting old, ya know.  I want to break the pattern for mum and see her really improve. I can't stand watching this horrible decline.

And I gotta say if I were her, I'd be damn depressed too and not want to lift my head.

Oh—I gotta love the threat they all use on the family. "If she won't participate, we'll have to discharge her."

Okay, discharge her to where? Her home? Hmm, if she gets well, you'll discharge her home, and if she doesn't cooperate you'll discharge her home...see any difference? I say cut her the fuck loose and I'll give her the care she needs. Geezeus.

Of course, the problem there is that I am battling my own numerous health issues and my writing would have to go on a back burner indefinitely.  I'd miss my writing since that is my only real outlet for creativity, and it takes away some of the chronic pain I'm in, putting my mind in a better, healthier place. Hmm... I could share some of that natural pain-reducer (writing) and do what my mum has always wanted—write her memoirs. I bet that would get her mind off her own pain. I doubt it would ever get published, especially in this economy when the only real non-fiction sellers are autobiographies of the rich and famous—neither which can be said of my mum. Infamous possibly. At least in certain circles. :P

Ah well... I'm heading up to the hospital today to check on her. ::fingers crossed:: she is hopefully feeling better.

Until next time...
~ Cass

Purse Lust

Something you may not know about Aquarians is that we have this tendency to crave things. Not just anything. But one specific thing. Until we get that 'thing' we are insatiable and dissatisfied with everything. I speak true.

I have craved peanut butter filled pretzels and driven my family nuts while I when from store to store for my current 'must have.'

I drank four gallons of inferior soda to quench a thirst for Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max and yet remained parched, waiting for my real fix.

My latest craving was for a black leather purse. Ahh, but not any black leather purse would do. It had to have dual shoulder straps, have lots of zippered pockets and a nice wide space for my cell phone that would make it easy to access. I obsessed for weeks, driving my sister crazy. After so long, the odds were against me finding my perfect purse, especially at a quasi-outlet mall né country square tourist trap in Alabama, yet that is exactly what happened.

As I rummaged the walls of ye-hoe-down, I spotted a purple purse to die for. Studded and sparkley, ribboned and bowed, the purse made my little heart sing...except for one thing. It was purple. Wah!!! I want, need, desire a black purse. I checked the price tag. $69.99. Too much to pay for an imperfect purple bag. Imperfect because it wasn't black. Dare I risk buying it and dyeing it?

Turning toward sis for advice, I spotted the same purse only in black, half hidden behind a hideous white purse with rhinestones and patent leather prom night ruffles. The price was even better—$39.99! I snatched it up and felt this immense relief and satisfaction only another Aquarian could possibly understand.

I love my new purse. But ya know, lately I've been eyeing my old beat up checkbook wallet and it soo doesn't match the new purse...
;-)
Until next time ~
Cass

Weak Kitten Blues

image courtesy of glitter-graphics

Achy, tired, sore, bruised, and exhausted from battling a kidney infection, kidney stones—and a UTI from Hell. OMFG, which deity did I piss off?

I managed to pass two stones, but that elusive third one still resides in my kidney, tucked away and sleeping like a dragon. Not to mention—although I am—the supposed summer cold I got while down in Florida. The sucker punched my lungs and I am coughing approximately every two point five minutes, with a hacking cough duration of approx. three minutes each time.

You'd think I'd learn that when my family says "oh, it's just a summer cold" or "it's nothing, just a little under the weather," that I should run very very fast in the opposite direction, grabbing vitamin C and facial tissues as I go. Whewee.

Night view from my hospital room.

I will say one thing, the care at my hospital is beyond par and they put up with my demands and whiny sick self better than most. Ya'll done good. Now if only I can pass that last damn stone...on second though, maybe I better tip-toe and let that sleeping dragon simply stay right where it is.

Until next time...

Cass

Glad to be back...

I'm back from my trip to Florida and although I had a great time, I am tired and tuckered out. Whew-wee, ya'll. That is one long damn road trip. I swear I never realized Alabama was such a long state! When I wasn't helping my sister decorate her new condo, I was playing mermaid in the swimming pool. :P

The good news for all is that I managed to find some cute stuff for the MMC Paranormal Trick or Treat grab bags this October, so you'll want to enter all the contests next month for your chance at some way cool prizes. :D  I also plan to have a few contests here at my own blog. :)

I got to catch up with some of my old pals in Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Destin, and Tallahassee! ::waves::

The shark feeding place was closed when we got there, but it still made for a cool picture, don't you think? :)


More later, but now I have to finish unpacking.

Until next time,
Cass

Days of Wine and Rehab

Not that kind of rehab, but gotta say I love Mum's physical therapy rehab center. I mean—what other rehab serves the patients and their family beer, Manhattan's or a glass of wine? Truly, my kind of rehab! rofl.

If Life is A Highway...

Not sure, but if life is a highway, I think I just got a speeding ticket! :P

I actually took a notepad and pen up to the hospital, thinking I might have time to squeeze in and work on a new idea for a book. Sure. As if I am not already overwhelmed, I piled on more things to do. Oh yep, I do believe I am a glutton for multitasking.  But instead of brilliant new ideas, I have notes on my pad to remember to call all these people mum wants called. Oh and to drop by her rent, and call the office for her that handles her home health nursing, etc... There are pages and pages of notes and none are writing related. I really must be delusional to have thought I could find the time to write something or even think beyond the situation at hand.

The best news I can give is that she's been downgraded and was moved late yesterday into a 'regular' room. Whew. Another hurdle jumped and cleared. She also seems more cognizant, albeit in serious pain since they stopped her pain meds. I am upset she is not on anything for pain, but glad she is coming back to 'herself.' The drugs they were giving her made her hallucinate and she was sure Hollyweird was in ICU filming a movie the last couple of days. She would smile at the nurses and such, then once they left her room, she would turn to me and say, "She's another one in on it. She is part of the CAST."

Yep, a new movie, and setting is the hospital. A crazed gunman takes over ICU and trades shots with members of a SWAT team and one of the doctors tries to rationalize with the gunman and is shot. But she assures me the doctor is really okay, because another patient told her they only use rubber bullets.

Hmm, you know, maybe I could work mum's hallucination into a book? You think it would fly? :P

In the meanwhile, mum's new room is in the farthest wing of the hospital, and the nearest elevators don't lead to any parking lot I can park in, so I am hoofing it down long corridors yesterday and my asthma kicked in. Lovely. I so do NOT want to be a patient there. My sister also has asthma and heart trouble, so I am checking on her as we walk the 'blue' line down the hallway, both of us wheezing. lol.

I've got some appointments of my own later today, so I am trying to catch up on my emails and snail mail and updates to this blog so the extended family and all my friends and readers have the latest skinny.

Oh speaking of skinny, I got on some scales I saw at the hospital and have lost 3 pounds! Woot! At least some good is coming out of all of this. Now officially at 50 lbs weight lost this year! ::lives for silver linings::

Until next time...

~ Cass

Stressed and DeStressing

My mum fell in her apartment Sunday morning about 2 in the a.m. and no one knew since she lives in an independent senior living facility. If her neighbor hadn't awoken early and heard a pitiful cry for help around 7:30 a.m., my mum would have been on the floor for more than the 5 1/2 hrs. she'd already spent. She is doing best as she can and I am going up to hospital every day.

At least no bones were broken. So the family is thankful for that, but OMG, I am so mad, and no one really I can get mad at. I can't watch her every second of the day. We try to take turns and someone be with her in the daytime and even some nights, but there is no way we can do a 24/7...

We even got her a special life alert button, but she got a hair up her 'you know what' and canceled the service. She did get a different service, though, but they use only a wrist bracelet button for alert and the 'bracelet' is made of velcro and it digs into her skin and bothers her no matter how loose I make it. So she simply doesn't wear it. She wraps it around her walker. When she fell, her leg pushed the walker about three feet away and she couldn't crawl to reach it. ::sigh::

Needless to say I am under a bit of stress, worrying over mum. The only solution and potential answer to our dilemma is one we do not want to face. I cannot stand the idea of her going into a nursing home, and she has said we are all cursed if we put her in one. Now, I don't think she'd really curse her offspring whom she loves, but then again, she is a cranky old witch. :P

In the meanwhile, the plans to go to Florida have been delayed for a couple of weeks until we see how mum is and if she's going to be okay. Whew.

Last night I sat here and simply couldn't write, so I decided to go into SL and check out a landmark someone sent me and I ran into a mer friend of mine, Peaches. So I poured out my story of woe and we shopped for virtual fantasy clothing. lol. Yes, I know. Shopping is good for the soul. In RL it's more costly, so SL is perfect shopping therapy.  lol. The store is called Evie's Closet and they specialize in medieval/fantasy outfits. The black number I am wearing in the pic is an example of the styles there. It's something I bought last night and threw on then and there. :)

I don't think I asked Peaches where she got those purple boots, but I bet it was at Bootgasm. lol. Yep, virtual dolly clothing shopping is damn good therapy since I can escape the worry for a little while.

Of course, I am heading up to the hospital in a few, so I may have to drop in and shop again tonight. Either that or eat a bag of chocolate and blow my diet. :)

Until next time...

~ Cass

Birthday For A Bear

Yesterday was Bear’s birthday, so I took him out for a movie and dinner. We saw the movie Salt, starring my least favorite actress, Angelina pouty lips. Since it was his birthday, I didn’t try to talk him out of it. It wasn’t a bad movie, although it was rather too violent for my tastes. And of course, being on Team Anniston (yes, I still think of it that way), I dislike Ms. homewrecker pouty lips. But the guys all love her, so what can ya do, ya know?

Later, we went to the delicious feast that is P.F. Chang’s. I love the food there, however the wait is usually long for a table, and last night was no different. Normally after 40 minutes, I would have said fuck this shit, lets roll. But it was his birthday and I left the decision up to him. So we waited while he had his Jack and coke and I enjoyed a fruity and smooth Granny Chang’s Frappé.

The waiter was this really nice guy who told us he moonlights at the Comedy Caravan as a stand-up comedian. He has a great voice and Bear told him he’d be good on the radio.

It’s been ages since I went to the comedy clubs. Maybe I should take my sister as she needs some cheering up and a break from the drudgery of life. It’s good to laugh.

Anyway, Bear told the guy it was his birthday, so we got a dessert in one of those tiny square cups for free, I decided to join him and screw the calorie counting. I mean, we were eating Chinese for God’s sake, so the calorie counting never started yesterday. :P

We both chose the strawberry cheesecakes (see picture above). Very delicious, as was everything they had. I couldn’t finish it all, so we brought boxes of food home, and leftovers are on the menu today. lol.
After the dinner, we came home and I got the birthday cake ready and placed his presents on the table. I mainly got him clothes, since he’s lost weight and needed new things. He went down a size, so I am glad I got the right sizes as it seemed everything fit pretty well.

No writing done though, as the day was all about Bear. Today I have to get with Ms. Cora and go over stuff, also promised friends in SL I’d drop by their place today as they recently redecorated and must also check my visitor counters and rents so I don’t accidentally get kicked out. rofl.

Tomorrow belongs to mum, as does Monday, so I will have to write in between it all somehow and hope it’s enough to finish my book. Wish me luck.

Until next time…
~ Cass