In my city, I'm a vibe girl, I'm a Top Ten.....

 As it's now the last day of 2025, it's time for....

The Top Ten Things Of 2025

There were other things that occurred this year that didn't make the Top Ten list.  Things like weird weather (sub zero temps in January, Autumn temps and conditions in August); renewing my passport and getting it back in the mail in only 3 weeks!; reading the new Dragonlance Books and re-reading the old ones from 40 years ago; anxiety, depression and apathy at various times throughout the years; stomach issues (nausea, diarrhea, cramps) which I'm attributing to the Ozempic, happening at various times during the year; binging the first 17 seasons of Law & Order and binging all 8 seasons of Bewitched.  Things like those.  But onto the top ten list.... 

10. Mom Fell

Earlier this year, on a Sunday, I got a call from mom that she fell out at one of the buildings in the retirement village she lives in.  I hurried my way there and got her, she seemed okay except for her shoulder and said I needed to take her to the hospital.  The end result was that she was fine, except for a bruised shoulder and arm where she landed.   They gave her a sling and some pain killers and sent her home.    Thankfully, that's all it was.  (that's a generic pic by the way, not mom or what happened.)

9. Retina Study Ends

Back in 2021 I was sent to the Retina Specialist and they told me I had a retina edema and I was a perfect candidate for a study they were conducting.  So, I got a port put in my right eye and it got refilled every six months as part of the study, which I still had to get a shot in my left eye every month. 

Well after 4 years, they told me study was over.  Once the study ended however the company running he study would no longer pay for anything.   So while over the last four years I had everything done for free now I'd have to pay.  And the FDA had approved the port, so that was all good, but since it was new my insurance said they would not cover treatments for the port.  So it's a shot in both eyeballs now, which insurance will pay for, but there's a copay now.   So I suppose there's both good and bad news  for this result.

8. Deaths

This year had some deaths of people I knew, some more disturbing than others.   There was Puntabupeep Mikey.  There was Sis, the grandmother of a good friend of mine who, 37 years ago, I spent a LOT of time with at his grandparents house, especially on Sundays when she cooked dinner and the whole family was there to eat and play cards and stuff.   There was my mom's cousin Bonnie, who was her age and who had grown up with her.  Also, when I was a younger, they, their husbands and their kids would get together at each other's houses at least once a month.    There were other deaths, but these hit the closest and hardest.  Sadly, as I get older, there will be more of them.

7.  New Doors

When I bought the house the front and back doors (and upstairs balcony door) were all old and wood and drafty.  Finally, after all these years here, I decided to get them replaced.  The new doors are metal and have new door frames so they fit perfectly, no drafts.   They lock a lot easier and unlike the old ones, they have to BE locked, they don't automatically lock when I shut the door behind me, so no more accidentally locking myself out of the house.

6. Reconnecting with Borders' Friends!

I worked at Borders bookstore from 2000-2003, and not only was it the best job I've ever had but I met some amazing people.   The ParisPekings and Ghostie are all from Borders. I still keep in touch, online, with others.   Well this year, one of them, Candace contacted me about going to see Ken Burns give a speech in Gettysburg.  And we went and had a great time together.  Then another one, Kristen, saw me post about it online and since she lives in town, contacted me and we went to the Waynesburger, had a meal and caught up.  It was great fun, too!  I hope to keep in touch with them more this year. 

5. Tooth Issues

Once again, I've had a bunch of tooth issues: problems with a bridge, a big cavity between two teeth, part of a tooth cracked and I had a filling put in, which dropped out, and I had a replacement put in, which later fell out, so I decided to a crown put on it...which I'm still waiting to get put on.  So yeah, like every year, my teeth are crap. 

4. Colonoscopy(s)

So this year, it was time for my second colonoscopy.  After my prep in January I wasn't cleaned out enough so we had to reschedule.  At the reschedule in March, and after a TWO DAY fast and a different prep...I STILL wasn't cleaned out enough.  But after TWO enemas later, I was good to go.  However, one of my nurses said the problem may be that I'm on Ozempic.  So even though I went off it a week beforehand both times, the next time I have one, I'm gonna see if I can stop it for a month, so that i CAN get cleaned out properly.  But on the positive side, they found nothing, not even polyps like last time.  So that's all good.  In the end.  (ba-dum-DUM!)

3. Work Changes

So at work, there's been some changes.  A few people retired.  A few people left under....less than ideal circumstances.  And some 'linear' movements.  One of the other two people in my department decided she wanted to move to a different department.  Which is fine, good for her.  But what it did is open up that position in my department.  Which meant that now, in my last couple years here, I'd have to retrain a new person, and wait for them to hire a new one, and while I waited for that to happen, two of us would have to do that work of three people.   How horrible.  But luckily, there was a guy in another department who had experience in the things MY department does, and he took the open position.  SO I didn't have to totally retrain him, as he already knew quite a few things.  And he's been working out very well. Thankfully. 

2. tRump Clown Circus

I refuse to spend a lot time on these deplorables, but the damage they've done to this country, and in fact the world, will last for years for not decades.  And who knows how long it will take to correct once we've finally rid ourselves of them.  America has a very BIG reckoning coming to it, and I don't believe it will be pretty.  And it WILL get worse before it gets better here.  Sadly.

1. Cedrik

 

Of course he's number one.  He made my year, and changed my life.  He's the first man I dated that I introduced to mom as my boyfriend.  He's the first man I introduced to my closest cousin and her son.  We spent most weekends together.  And then, well then it became clear it wasn't going to work. At least now.  So we split.  But that doesn't change how I (and I assume he) feel.  And maybe sometime in the future we can make it work.  But regardless, he's had the biggest impact on my year. 

POLT

ARE YOU READY FOR 

FOOTBALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Tonight starts the NFL season for 2019.  

The opening game is the Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears.  it's the 100 season of the NFL and these two teams were both around 100 years ago.

I dont really care about this game, but I'll watch some of it.  And then Sunday we have most of the other games, and the ones I do care about.

Ghostie, ALCMDPP and I are all betting on the games each week.  I'll try to keep up with posting our results each week.  And hopefully I'll win and get a nice chunk of money at the end of the season.

POLT

You're in a game, but you don't know it.....

So, as you may know, my favorite board game in the entire world is The Road To The White House.  When I was back in my apartment, I would play it frequently, a few times a months, with Ag, Phoenix, and Johnnie...or sometimes more than one of them.  But since, as friendships do, the time I spent with them over the years as waned, and I stopped playing it.  

From the time I bought the house in September 2009, I had never played the game here.  Until last Fall. Ghostie had expressed an interest in playing it, and since I taught him, he and I have been getting together to play probably twice a month.  And earlier in the summer, at his request, I took the game up to VUBOQ's cabin and we played a game.  

Anyway, last year for Christmas, I thought of buying Ghostie the game. I originally, in 1991, paid $30 for it.  I found some place online that had the game, still in original wrapping, for, I think, $25.  So I got him one...and ordered myself one too.  They're not easy to find (or so I thought).

About ten days ago, I was wasting time online looking for spare cards for the game, when I came upon the guy on eBay, selling the game for $4.95 each!  Still in it's original wrapping!  Now the shipping was $9.90, but hell, that's still less than $15 bucks.  So, once more, I ordered two of them!  And they came in two days!

There they are!  I've already decided to give one to VUBOQ to keep at the cabin.  The other one?  Who knows?  I've still got another one upstairs from Christmastime that I haven't opened.  

But as I said, I THOUGHT they were difficult to get.  That's why I have so many.  Don't know if I'll need anymore at any point in the future, but I'd hope not! 

POLT

So......

My weekend.

Friday, after work, Ghostie came over and we played a game of my favorite board game ever: Road To The White House.  In fact, since the first game went by so quickly, we played two games. I lost both, but I didn't care because 1) I LOVE that game (it's my favorite, have I mentioned that?), and 2) I drank an entire bottle of gold digger wine. The first game ended with a very close margin, but the second one was almost blowout.  But eh, it's a great game, and I was tipsy, so it's all good.

Saturday, I got up (slightly hungover, if I'm being honest) and got to work.  But as planned I only worked half a day.  I left at noon.  I came home for a while, with the possibility of a 'gentleman caller' stopping by for some fun (which didn't end up happening).  So I spent time reading, on the computer and actually napping a little bit.

Then, at the appropriate time, I got up, changed my clothes and headed out to my friend Michelle's.  From her place we drove to Frederick MD and ate at Casa Rico.  She and I had eaten there about a year and a half ago, and I've been wanting to get back there since there....but haven't been able to get there.  So back we went this time.  And it was just as delicious this time as it was a year and a half ago!  We had a great meal, she had great drinks, we had great conversation and a fun time!

Following this, we drove to the Other Voices Theater.  There, we saw "Chicago".  And from the front row.  I love that musical, and it was great to see it so close up.  Especially with the 5 hot, scantily clad college-aged guys who had minor parts, but lots of dance scenes.  All in all, the show was fun and entertaining!

I dropped Michelle off at her place and came home. I got a call from my fuckbuddy Derick on the way home, and once I was here he stopped by for a quickie.  Afterwards, I was laying on the sofa on my phone playing a game or what have you, and I fell asleep.  And I spent all night on the sofa. With the a/c on and the ceiling fan blowing.  And that dried out my head and gave me a small nagging headache. 

Sunday for lunch, mom and I were supposed to go get lunch, like we do most Sundays.  But with the nagging headache I didn't feel like it.  So instead, she went to KFC and bought us lunch and brought it here.  I spent the rest of the day on the sofa (like i hadn't spent enough time there) on the computer, reading, or again, napping a bit.  Also, later in the day, I had a visit from a another gentlemen caller and we had some fun.

Following that, I paid some bills and wanted to get them in the mail.  It had been stinking hot and humid ALL DAY, but as it was then after 7PM, and I wanted to try walking and see how my toe did, so off I went.  (See the walk post below)  My toe did okay, and I had a good walk.

That night I slept in my bed.

Monday morning, I got up and went to mom's.  She then drove us to Chambersburg to a specific show store my podiatrist had recommended.  He said the people who work there are professionals and find a shoe that fits your foot.  We walked in, the place didn't look like it was there for long, kinda thrown together, and the two people working there were college kids.  I thought, "Great, these two aren't gonna know ANYTHING." 

Well the girl came over, I explained was going on  and that the doctor recommended we come there.  She measured my feet and then went into the back.  She came out with five boxes of sneakers.  She tried them each on me, stringing them up, putting them on, etc.  I can't even remember the last time someone PUT shoes on me!  Since college, perhaps high school, I've been going to Super Shoes or Payless and buying my shoes on my own.  I remember as a kid going to shoe store downtown, but geez, that HAD to be circa 1980 or earlier.

Anyway, the girl did know her shit.  She said she went to Lockhaven and she's going to end up being a Physician's Assistant when all is said and done, and so she likes doing this kinda stuff.  Well, she did it VERY well.  I ended up buying two sets of sneakers, one that was on sale (she brought one of those over herself without me even asking).  They felt so comfortable!

Following this, mom need to go to the AAA, next door to it is the new Comics World  store location. I just wanted to wander around and see what's there....and I ended spending money buying some graphic novels!  I have no self-control.

Following this we went to Wal-Mart, and then we came home.

I started doing laundry, and discovered I had no dryer sheets.  So after putting a load in, I went to the grocery store.  To get some.  To just get dryer sheets.  And then, two bags and $58 dollars later, I left the store.  *SIGH*

And so that gets me to where we are now.  Now, I plan on finishing the laundry, reading some more, doing more stuff on the computer and then going to bed.

A good weekend.

POLT

I've got books lining my shelves, day and night...

Books 2018

Today, I was off work.  Ghostie came over, we went and had Italian for lunch, stopped by Ollies (where I bought some books), and then went to a comic book store, which is moving, and they had a $5 graphic novel sale. I bought one graphic novel at regular price ($19.99) but then I bought $258,90 dollars worth of graphic novels for $50 not including tax  Nice bargain.

The two books I actually bought are:

Wonders Of The Invisible World, by Christopher Barzak
Roots, The Saga Of An American Family, by Alex Haley

Here are the yearly totals:

Jan 4: 6 books for $73.73, average of $12.29 per book
Jan 10: 28 books for $129.02, average of $4.61 per book
     Total: 34 books for 202.75, average of $5.96 per book
Jan 10: 9 books for $32.91, average of $3.66 per book
     Total: 42 books for $235.66, average of $5.61 per book
Jan 25: 4 books for $15.86, average of $3.97 per book
     Total: 46 books for $251.52, average of $5.47 per book
Jan 28: 5 books for $27.51, average of $5.50 per book
     Total: 51 books for $279.03, average of $5.47 per book
Feb 10: 10 books for $42.49, average of $4.25 per book
      Total: 61 books for $321.52, average of $5.27 per book
Feb 11: 10 books for $38.30, average of $3.83 per book
      Total: 71 books for $359.82, average of $5.07 per book
Feb 18: 14 books for $44.38, average of $3.17 per book     
      Total: 85 books for $404.20, average of $4.76 per book
Feb 25: 11 books for $40.16, average of $3.65 per book
      Total: 96 books for $444.36, average of $4.63 per book
Mar 3: 10 books for $38.05, average of $3.09 per book
     Total: 106 books for $482.41, average of $4.55 per book
Mar 18: 2 books for $7.40, average of $3.70 per book
     Total: 108 boos for $489. 81, average of $4.54 per book
Mar 22: 5 books for $52.99, average of $10.60
     Total: 113 books for $542.80, average of $4.80 per book
Mar 26: 1 book for $1.06
     Total: 114 books for $543.86, average of $4.77 per book
Mar 28: 9 books for 32.76, average of $3.64 each
     Total: 123 books for $576.32, average of $4.69 per book
Mar 31: 6 books for $49.62, average of $8.27 per book
     Total: 129 books for $625.94, average of $4.85 per book
Apr 28: 8 books for $84,91, average of $10.61 per book
     Total: 137 books for $710.85, average of $5.18 per book
May 7: 6 books for $52.17, average of $8.70 per book
     Total: 143 books for $763.02, average of $5.34 per book
Jun 10: 7 books for $50.57, average of $7.22 per book
     Total: 150 books for $813.59, average of $5.42 per book
Jun 13: 13 books for $80.53, average of $6.19 per book
     Total: 163 books for $894.12,  average $5.49 per book
Of these books, 31 are actual books, 132 are graphic novels

And then afterwards, we returned back and played a game of Road To The White House, which he won in a VERY close game: 273 Electoral votes to 261 Electoral votes, with 4 tied.

POLT

So this weekend....many plans!  Tonight, seeing Deadpool 2 with ALCMDPP and Ghostie.  Tomorrow VUBOQ is coming to town to run in the town 10K and the Beer Fest afterwards.  And Sunday, I'm driving a friend, his sister and his niece to see Infinity War.  Tickets for tonight and sunday have already been purchased.

So....that was the plan....

Tuesday, I had a cough.  A cough deep in my chest, felt like I was moving phlegm and stuff around down there. But by Wednesday the cough was gone.

Wednesday, I wanted to get the spare bedroom ready and tidy up the house a bit for VUBOQ's visit, and at work, I got most of my pressing work done.  Plus, I had a nagging little headache.  Coulda been the weather or sinuses, or whatever....  But with all these things together, I just decided to leave at noon.  And so I did.

I came home, had lunch and did a lil bit of moving stuff around.  ANd then, my stomach got all screwed up.  I was nauseous, I was not feeling well at all. I slept for like an hour and a half on the sofa, and felt a bit better then.  But because of how I felt I didn't get a lot of stuff done that I wanted to.  So I in the evening, I called in and took Thursday off too.

Thursday I still got up kinda early for a day off work. I got coffee from Rutters, did a few things around here, and even went to Wal-Mart to get a few things.  But in the early afternoon, like two-ish, my neck, shoulders and back got all achey.  And then, I got all hot and feverish.  Oh I felt terrible!

I went to bed early-ish, like 830.  And I was asleep within the hour.

I got up on time today, and still felt like shit.  But since I wasn't going in tomorrow, I wanted to go today.  OR at least for half a day.  I showered, shaved, even put product in my hair.  But when I bent over to put my socks on, and my back and shoulders SCREAMED in protest, I was like, "Nope."  Not going in.

So I called in and took today too.  I also had to cancel on going to the movies tonight, hopefully ALCMDPP and/or Ghostie can find someone else to take the ticket.

I've been taking painkillers every four hours.  I spent the vast majority of the morning asleep on the sofa.  I'm just hoping I feel better after doing nothing but resting today.  I dont want lose anymore fun plans this weekend.

I mean, there's NEVER a good time to be sick, but damn, this is really kinda the worst time for me. I spend most of my evenings doing nothing but reading, or on the computer, or watching TV, so why did I have to get sick when I had a full weekend of plans!?!

typical.

POLT

Review the situation, take part, take over.....

So it's the end of 2017, and that means it's time to review the year and give you My Top Ten For 2017.

10. Turning 50

I'm half a century old!  My God, it just doesn't seem possible.  Course, I'm relly not complaining about it, because a LOT of people don't even get to turn 50, they die beforehand.  And the birthday itself really wasn't bad and quite uneventful.  Which is, frankly, just how I wanted it to.  It's just crazy to think I'm that freaking OLD!


9. Road To The White House

My favorite boardgame, for the last 25 years or so, has been The Road To The White House!  I loved this game.  When I lived back in the apartment, I played it at least once a week I'm sure, usually more than once a week. Ag would play it with me. Phoenix, when he and I hung out, would usually play it.  Anytime Johnnie visited, we'd play at least once game.

But for the last ten years perhaps, and certainly for the last 8 (because that's how long I've lived here in the house, and I never played it here), I've not played the game.  Until this fall.  

When Ghostie graduated Law School and took the bar (which he passed, congrats Ghostie!), I told him now that he had free time I'd teach him to play.  I was joking, but he said he wanted to learn.  So he and I have been playing it since....October?  Perhaps September.  We play about once every other week.  And it's still as much fun as it always was!  Whether I win or lose is irrelevant, I just love playing the game!

8. The Flu

I get the flu once a year usually.  Feel sick for a few days, rest, drink a lot of fluids, and then I'm over it.  Not THIS year!  I started feeling sick on a Saturday in January, and I'm telling you, this flu kicked my ass!

                                          

I was sick for like ten days.  I was off work and entire week.  I have NEVER in the 21 years I've worked at this job EVER been off sick anymore than three days at a time.  I just couldn't beat this thing...without a trip to Urgent Care and some anti-biotics and things to help with my cough, I don't know that I could have beaten it.  I don't know what it WAS that I had, but damn, I NEVER want it again!

7.  The Theater

This year, I went to the theater multiple times....and enjoyed myself at each and every one!

                                                       

Saw this in January (right before getting that horrific flu, see above), with Michelle, Lynn and Susie at the Kennedy Center in DC, and featuring a meal beforehand with them and VUBOQ!

                                                    

Saw this in April with Michelle at the Kennedy Center in DC, and I'm pretty sure this too included a meal with VUBOQ beforehand!

                                            

Saw this in May at the Old Opera House in Charlestown WV, with Michelle, her mother Betty and our mutual friend Celeste.  It was a....different play.  Unusual.  But entertaining.  And one of my old fuckbuddies had a small part in it as a butler!

                                                     

Saw this at Williamsport High School in April with Michelle. (We go to see their productions every year, not only because we like supporting high school theater, but the co-directors of the plays are the wife of a co-worker of mine, and the other one is an occasional fuckbuddy of mine)

                                             

Saw this in July at the Maryland Theater in Hagerstown with Michelle, Betty and Celeste again.  The same fuckbuddy who co-directed Guys And Dolls played the Scarecrow in this one.

                                                

Saw this in July at the Kennedy Center with Michelle and Lynn.  And even though the play, food and company were fantastic, the rides down and back were HORRIBLE.  Traffic jams, Metro closings, shuttle buses, torrential downpours, closed Metro stops.  Just horrible.

                                                      

And finally, I saw this in December at the Hershey Theater (in Hershey PA, duh), with Michelle. Not the best performance we've seen of Kinky Boots, but it's always a fun time!

6. Home Improvements

I had several things done to the house this year to improve it.

In May I had the old wood of the back porch replaced with that vinyl stuff.  No painting or rotting of wood like before.  And, since the old carpet on the porch floor was green (like the shutters) and getting ratty, I had it replaced with this spiffy new grey color! 

In June I repainted the front porch.  It was last done in 2010 and it was faded and chipping in places and very much needed it.

In July, my old fridge finally went KAPUT!  So I bought a new one. 

In November I FINALLY got the trench in basement fully filled in.  The plumbers had to dig it up to replace a pipe back in January of 2012!  I didn't start filling it in until Last fall, I think it was.  It took six different times and I have no idea HOW many bags of sacrete to fill it in.  But now it's done!

5. Physical Therapy

My left shoulder and bicep have been bothering me since the spring of 2016.  I finally mentioned it to the doctor and he got me to physical therapy the end of the last year.  I went three times a week, starting the first week of January through the end of February.  I was improving so much, the therapist cut it back to two times a week.  And then, in April....I plateaued.  I wasn't improving anymore.  I could feel it, she knew it.  So the beginning the May, after doing another assesment, she said she was discontinuing my sessions, as I wasn't improving.  I still had several sessions left that my insurance would pay for, if I needed them for anything else the rest of the year.  But she gave me directions and long rubber bands to take home and to keep practicing with and wished me good luck.  And I did the same to her....

...and promptly did no more exercises.  At all.  And now, not only has my left bicep reverted to the way it was last year, but now my right bicep hurts the same way.  Don't know what the outcome is gonna be on all this, but that's where it stands now.

4. Anxiety 

Yep, my old enemy anxiety came back this fall.  And at times, with a vengeance!  One night, I couldn't get to sleep and I think I had a panic attack in bed.  But I got through it.  At times, it was almost crippling. Still, it wasn't as bad as it was a few years ago when I had to go on meds for it.  And in the last two/three weeks or so, it's kinda subsided and gone away.  But for most of the fall, it was a continual, unwanted, companion. 

I guess this is something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. 

3. Visits

I had a number of unexpected, yet wonderful, visits this year!

In April, FDot visited for a week!  We went to the Gettyburg and Antietam Battlefields.  We took a tour of my workplace.  We walked along Carroll Creek in Frederick MD.  We ate at many local places.  He met and got a meal from Mama Polt.  I had an amazing week, and I hope he did too.  And I'm looking forward to a return visit sometime.

In June, I got to hang out with two very old and dear friends.  Thirty years ago, there were five of us who inseparable over the summer and beyond.  Now, we've all kinda drifted our own way, as happens.  My friend Duff and I still see each other every year for the Super Bowl, he hosts a party at his house.  We've done this for over 20 years.  But I've not seen the other three for years.  This year, Scott tried to get us all five together for a meal, but only three of us could make it.  So me, Scott (in the middle), his son, and Duff (on the right) had a breakfast/brunch one Sunday morning in June.  It was amazing to catch up with them (well Scott specifically, since Duff and I are kinda caught up).  Scott mentioned doing it again, and we both were for it.  Hopefully it happens.

In August, Long Island Travis came down for a weekend visit! What a great time, of fun, hanging out, bedtimesexxyfun, walking around, waching tv, and eating at the Waynesburger and from Rutters.   He loved Waynesburger so much we had food there all three days he was here.  For his Christmas present, I got the Waynesburger logo and made him a t-shirt with it on.  Hopefully he too will make it back for another visit sometime soon!

In October, my Fairy Godfather Mark, who moved back to Michigan more than ten years ago, made a trip back here.  He stayed with friends of his in Hagerstown, but he came up one evening to visit me.  We ate at Waynesburger and hung out at my place catching up.  It's like he hadn't even been gone that long, we got on so well.  He says he going to try to come back once a year, and that would be great to see him more often!

In November Dr. Ryan With The Cupcake, who lives in San Diego, was in DC for a conference.  I made the trip down once Saturday evening and we had a fun time, going to the National Zoo, walking the streets of DC and eating in a Chinese restaurant.  I've met most of the Puntabupeeps, he was one of the last I hadn't yet met (Mel and Mush I think are the only remaining ones).  And he's just as much fun and great company as you'd expect of a guy who mailed a banana cross country to Craiggers in Long Island a few years ago!

2. tRump destroys America

Everything this man and his administration are doing to this country, from legitimizing neo-Nazi, to vilifying the Free Press, to throwing 24 million Americans off their health care, to gutting social programs so billionaires like him can get obscene tax cuts, to throwing a lighted match onto the dry tinder that is the Middle East by moving our embassy, to making us the laughingstock of the world, to insulting all our allies while cuddling up to the world's dictators (in Russia, Philippines, Turkey, etc), to daily violating the Constitution's emoluments clause by having foreign governments spend money at this businesses, to lying every single time he opens his mouth....everything they are doing is destroying the fabric of this country.  Even if we are lucky enough to get a Democratic Congress next November that can halt his destruction, it'll still take decades, if not generations, to repair the damage these people have done to the foundations of our nation.  It is indeed a dark time.  Other than the Civil War, it is certainly THE darkest time we've ever had in the USA.

1. Diabetes

The end of may, my lower left leg went numb up to my knee. 

I started immediately eating even better than I have been and walking more.  And it went away.  Although since then, I have periodically had numbness and tingling in my toes, foot, ankle and lower leg.  It's VERY scary.   And it shows me how UNseriously I have been taking my diabetes in the last 17 years.  I've been trying to do better.  And have succeeded, somewhere.

In March, my A1C (long term diabetes number) was 9.4.  In July is was 9.4 still.  In November though, it was down to 7.6!

7.6 is still not an optimal number, but it's a helluva lot better than 9.4!  I hope to keep it lower or even get it lower still.  It's not been the best over the holidays, sometimes, but that's to be expected.  After New Years, I can get back to what I was doing in the fall and hopefully get and keep the diabetes under control!

So that's my list of events for 2017!  I hope everyone has a great New Years celebration!  I'll seeya all in 2018!

POLT

SO...

My last ten days or so....

Last Saturday, I worked, as usual.  Then right after that, I went out to mom's.  We packed up and went to the old folks home out there.  They have a room there that mom reserved and that's where we had our family Christmas.  Delicious food.  Lots of Family.  Lots of fun.  Gifts exchanged.  Laughs had.  A great time.

Following this, I came home, dropped off my gifts, and then headed out again, to Michelle's house.  She had her annual Christmas Party/Birthday Party For Her Stepson.  Was there for about a hour and a half.    Had some food, did some talking, ended up only having a shot of bourbon, nothing else.

Sunday morning went to moms and then together we went to Chambersburg to get some last minute shopping done and eat lunch.  Afterwards, came home and watched football all day.  Got a surprise text from a fuck buddy I haven't been with since like April.  He came over and we played for a bit, both of us enjoying the bedtimesexxyfun.  Then after he left, I watched Dallas beat the Raiders....and just barely do so.

Monday, I got up and took my car out to get the oil changed.  Mom came and picked me up and then we took the cookies, peanut brittle, fudge, and garlic pretzels she had made and we had packed up, over to my place of employment (as we do every year), and gave them to my coworkers to enjoy.  Then we did a bit more non-Christmas shopping in Hagerstown.

Tuesday, I took my gifts for some of my coworkers (six of them actually) in and handed them out.  I also got a few gifts back.  It was also the Christmas Party at work, so we had a pretty good lunch.

Wednesday, after work, I met up with the ParisPekings at the movie theater, and we all saw Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  My review?  I enjoyed it, although I'm not raving about it.  It dragged horribly for the middle third of the film, but at the end there were several things I did not see coming, nor expect, and I enjoy surprises like that.  And the film was visually astounding in!  Just beautiful.  But I'm not raving about it, due to some other problems.  Still, I'd give it a A-/B+.

Thursday after work, Ghostie came over and we played the election game.  That night, I won a VERY close game, 272-266 electoral votes!

Friday, work was work.  But afterwards, I went and ordered the pizza for work the next day and also went to a used book store to look for a last minute gift for mom. I didn't even have the idea until Thursday night.   I went over lunch to a nearby used bookstore, and they didnt have it.  But there was the second one near the pizza place, so I went in and they HAD IT!  Got that and a few books for myself (of course).  

Today, work was light.  I wore my Christmas tie.  Every year, I buy myself a Christmas tie and wear it to work the Saturday before Christmas, then it goes in the closet with my other Christmas ties never to be seen again. I think I have about 13 of them or so. (although this year, I wore and old one to the family Christmas, so I may start doing that....who knows?)  Also, at lunch, the pizzas were delivered for all my co-workers to enjoy.  The big, big, BIG boss let us go two hours early since it's the holiday weekend, so I came home at 2pm.  Ended up taking an hour nap, which was gloriious.  And now I'm watching football the rest of the night.

Tomorrow, mom and I are going out for lunch, like we usually do.  I then plan on spending the day watching football.  Although Derick is supposed to come over, we'll exchange gifts and he's supposed to spend the night too.  That'll be sweet.

Monday is of course Christmas.  I'll be going out to mom's to exchange gifts and have her home cooked Christmas meal.  Then spend the rest of the day doing nothing.

Tuesday and Wednesday I have off work too, and then back to work Thursday.

Been a busy, but not hectic, last week or so.

POLT

So Memorial Day, 2017.

Unlike nearly every year, I did not go to the parade.  When I woke up, it was wet outside, I thought it might rain again and it might be canceled.  I was still tired, having been up late last night.  And it was pretty darn comfy in bed.  So I just stayed there, read a bit, was on my phone a bit and even slept some more.

When I finally got up and showered, afterwards, I got my coffee from Rutters and then went out to mom's.  She was having a cookout.  My two cousins, each of their sons, my mom's brother, his wife and his wife's parents, were all coming out.  

We had burgers, dogs, a veggie tray, chips, cheese, pretzels, baked beans, and for dessert, watermelon and a delicious strawberry dessert.  After eating some of everything I knew I'd need to take a walk, so I took my cousin and her son (in a stroller) along (see a post several posts below).  

Following the walk, I had to leave to make it to the ParisPeking household.  Friday, Ghostie graduated from law school!  So Mr. and Mrs. ParisPeking and I all went together and bought him a really nice, professional, monogrammed briefcase.  And this afternoon is when we gave it to him.  And we hung out and talked for a bit.

When I left there, I came back to town and got the groceries I needed for the week (mainly for lunch at work: chicken salad and for the fruit salad, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and clementine oranges).  I brought them home, put them away, then took a shower.  I hung out here, on the computer, watching some TV, reading a bit, having supper.  

As of right now (730pm) there's a possibility Derick might stop by in a bit for a visit.  But it may be more likely that I'll just go to bed a bit early, like 9-ish, cause I am still tired and I have to work tomorrow.

So anyway, I've got a few pics:

Mom's road, lined with little flag along the road, if you can see them there.

Mom's flower garden.  She planted them all herself and maintains them all herself.

My cousin Morgan 'flying' in mom's garage.  He's a plane, see his wings?

Mom found the bowling toy set, Morgan enjoyed playing with it, the pins and the 'bowling ballies'! 

Morgan LOVES watermelon....ate nearly a whole bowl of it just himself.

POLT

Okay, so my weekend.

Friday night, after work, I just hung out here and waited for my guest.  Louis, my cute lil Singaporean friend from the DC area, was on his way for the weekend.  When he got here, we watched some tv, and he had a sandwich.  There was a bit of cuddling on the couch which led to some great bedtimesexxyfun on the bed.  This was following by some more tv watching, and then we went to sleep.

Saturday morning, I got up first, surprisingly, and was reading the paper when he woke up.  After he got a shower, I cooked up breakfast of eggs, sausage and coffee.  We also snacked on clementines and strawberries.   I showered and we hung out here on our laptops until Ghostie showed up.   Then we went to the First Annual Four State Comic Con (or some such name).   What it was, was a comic book convention in my own lil hometown.

It was being held in a roller skating rink, so you know it wasn't that large.  It had a bunch of booths selling all things comic book related or similar stuff (anime, Doctor Who, slasher films, cosplay, etc).  Oh, and they had some 'celebrity' tables.  There was....

This guy, from the original Mad Max movie.

From the Walking Dead's original episode, we had the bicycle zombie girl.

There was another guy there who had played a walker in the Walking Dead, and one of the black guy who played a Blue Power Ranger in one of the various series.  I didn't know either one of those.   Yeah, well they weren't A-List ers, but hey, it's lil Waynesboro PA!  It's amazing we got that many.

We did one circuit around checking things out, took less than 45 minutes.  Ghostie stopped at a booth and was checking out some comic books.  Louis and I were both a little hungry, so he got a slice of pizza, I got a hot dog and some fries.  And while we were eating, Ghostie come to us, bag in hand.  It seems he bought some comic books, some early Wolverines, and spent almost $90 on them.  Yes, Louis and I were quite surprised by that as well.  But even more surprising to us was that he said he was leaving.  He's studying for some law school finals, and so, after about an hour there, he left.

Louis and I hung around for a bit, but since we could get back in because of the stamp on the back of our hands, we left and came home here.  We both napped a bit, he more than me.  We were on our laptops for a time.  And then about 330, we went back to the comiccon.

This was because there was show we wanted to see.  My friend Corey was performing his 'freak show' called Coffinbox Circus (or something like that).  He's quite the showman, with all he was saying.  What he did was, lifted a bowling ball with his ears, lifted a beer keg with his ears, put hypodermic needles through the skin on his arms, and one on his forehead, he put a meat skewer through his cheek and brought it out through his mouth.  And for his finale, he had a staple gun and people could bring bills up and staple them to his upper body.  Yeah, no kidding.  I even took a $5 up and stapled it to his left shoulder.  Yeah, no kidding.  Wow.   But the entire group that was watching him were cheering and yelling him on, so it was a good show...I suppose.

Anyway, after this, they had the cosplay contest.  There were kids, teens and adults.  And frankly, I was amazed at the amount of them, and all the work they put into their costumes and such.  Some of them were really incredible.  Louis and I didn't stay to see who won the contests because he was very hungry.  And he wanted to eat a buffet.

So I said goodbye to Corey and then we went to Bonanza in the Chambersburg Mall and seriously overstuffed ourselves.  Afterwards, we walked a circuit around the mall checking out a few stores on the way.   Following this, we made our way home, driving by mom's cottage to show him where she now lived and how far it was from my house.  And then we came back here.  We watched some more tv and were on our laptops a bit, but then we decided to turn in.

So this morning, he was up before and woke me up.....in my favorite way to be woken up.  And that led to some more great bedtimesexxyfun.  After this I walked to Rutters to get some coffee and a donut.  Louis didn't want that, and didn't want me to cook for him, he insisted on doing it for himself.  So even though I think it makes me a terrible hose, I let him cook his own breakfast.  After breakfast and showers, we spent more time just surfing the net on our laptops (and while it seems like we did a lot of that, and did, we were also showing each other things and talking and such while doing so.)

When lunch rolled around, we went to Applebees and ate there.  Soon after returning home, though, he packed up and headed back home.  It was a short, but fun time.  As it always is when he visits.

So I laid on the couch, read my book for a bit before I dropped into a nap.  A bit after that, I got a text from Derick.  He asked about coming over.  Well, who am I to say no?  So a little under and hour, he got here.  And more bedtimesexxyfun commenced.

After he left, I was online for a bit and then decided to update my weekend here.  And there you have it.  And the coolest part is, the weekend's not over yet!  I got something fun going on Monday evening, and then I'm off work Tuesday so who KNOWS what could be happening the next 48 hours?

POLT

So...

This week's been interesting.  Well boring, if I'm talking about work.  But outside of work...on Roku, I watched and got caught up on "The Legends Of Tomorrow".  Not a perfect show, but I enjoyed it.  Not sure how long it'll last, but I enjoy seeing B or C level superhero characters getting a shot.  And the black guy playing Firestorm is very easy on the eyes.  I also made sure I watched it on Thursday.

I also got caught up on the second season of Agent Carter.  Wanted to watch all the first season, BUT, I have to pay for those, and, nope, that ain't gonna happen.  I saw all the 5 episodes that are out now, and they're all pretty good as well.  Again, not great, but I enjoy it.  I'll make sure I dont miss any more episodes on Tuesdays.

Today, after work, that tall, smooth, hot guy with a kid that I visited in December (and we had to play out on his deck), well he came by the house this afternoon, and we had some bedtimesexxyfun here.  Nice.  VERY nice.

Tomorrow night, I'm going with ALCMDPP and Ghostie and we're going to see Deadpool.  I never really thought I'd want to see it, as I am NOT a Deadpool fan.  But I saw a trailer that had Colossus all metaled up in it.  And I heard there's a LOT of Ryan Reynolds shirtless and nude-ish and stuff.  So yeah, I thought I'd at least take a shot at it.  So we'll see.

Also found yesterday, my 17 year old cousin wrecked his car, and to some extent, himself as well.  He was ejected from the car, and had to be flown to York Hospital.  He's going to be okay, but other than some bruising and cuts, he has two fractured vertebrae in his neck.  He's having surgery on his neck tomorrow morning to put some mesh in.  Also, he'll be wearing a neck brace for a while.  Poor kid.  But at least he survived.

What a week, thought, what a week.

POLT