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

Like a top ten song, I had it all.....

 As it's now the last day of 2023, it's time for....

My Top Ten List Of 2023!

These was quite a bit that happened that didn't make the list but were important: no measurable snow over the winter; lunch with Canadian Tam in Frederick; supper with Kathy aka Mama who I worked with at Borders 20 years ago and haven't really seen or talked to in 15 years; Chiefs comeback in the Super Bowl to beat the Eagles; some problems with Belle resulting in new tires for her; the new sofa; the issues with getting rid of the old sofa; finally getting the treadmill out of here (to the thrift shop where mom lives where it sold within three days); all the binges of TV shows I saw (Loki, The Kids In The Hall, L.A.Law, Succession, Critter Fixers, Grantchester, Peaky Blinders, all the Untold sport documentaries, an all eight Harry Potter movies too!).  

But enough of what did NOT make the list.  How about what DID make the list? 

10. COVID scare

Just a little over a week before Christmas, I had a COVID exposure at work.  Was talking to a guy there, had trouble hearing him, leaned in, had my ear about 6, 8, 10 inches from his mouth while he explained what he wanted.  I answered him, and less than an hour later, I found out he had just then tested positive for COVID!  I was convinced I had been infected. (you can see from the above pic, that was not the case).  But after almost 4 years of social distancing, wearing masks (even now some places), vaccines and boosters, I just knew I had it.  And that it would fuck up Christmas, cause if I WAS positive, I'd not go out to mom's Christmas Day.    But again, the test, after 5 days of secluding myself as best I could, came back negative.  Thankfully, it turned out that way!

9. Mom's 80th Birthday

Back in March, mom turned 80!  Eight freaking decades!  She had TWO birthday parties: One, on the day before her birthday thrown by her 'friend' Howard out at the village where she lives.  It was mainly people she knows from out there, although mom did want me, her brother, sister and their spouses there too.   And there was cake and ice cream and someone played the piano and it was fun.  I got to meet some of the people she talks about all the time.   The Second party was the next day, Saturday, March 17th, her actual birthday.  I threw that one, as a surprise.  Howard got her out of the house and again, her brother and sister and their spouses, and all their kids and most of the their grandkids too were there.  It was for lunch, we have pizza, steamers, chips, cake and ice cream.   Lots of balloons and a couple gifts and everything.  She wasn't really surprised, for various reasons, she had figured something was up.  But still a fun time was had by all. 

8. Mary's Retirement

There have been a LOT of changes at work (see below), but one deserves it's own entry.  One of the first people I met and who befriended me when I started working there was my Work Mom, Lil Mary (named Lil by me cause she stands only like 5'4 or so).  She been there the whole 28 years I've been there, becoming, as I said, my Work Mom: friend, confidant, rant-receiver, conspirator, a sympathetic ear and a sharer of political beliefs in a place rife with tRump supporters.   Well, this year she was 83, and still in good health (and still working!).  Until, over the summer she had a medical emergency at work and was in the hospital in critical condition for several weeks.  There was no guarantee she would survive.  But she's a tough ole bird, and she did.  And is not living at home.  But she decided that was enough for her and as of December 1st, she retired.   I'm glad for her, she didn't really enjoy working there anymore, but she didn't really want to retire, prior to the medical stuff.   Still, I'm glad she got out.  But damn, I'm gonna miss that ole lady!  It's just not the same without her there. 

7. Tooth issues

My teeth are crap.  This is, I'm sure, not news to anyone who's read the Palace before.  And they're not getting any better.  This year, part of my bridge cracked and later fell off.  So we put a temp thing over that part, and the next day THAT temp part fell off!  I had to have a crown put on.  I need to get another tooth pulled, cause I had a crown there, but it fell off and there's really not enough of the tooth left to put another one on.  I'm pretty sure I'll have to get that one pulled sometime this coming year, but it's a molar and my molars are bitches to get out.    I just hate it, my teeth are such crap....

6.  Broken Porch

  

A portion of my front porch has been deteriorating for a bit and needed work done, but as always, I'm just a procrastinator, and then, in the fall, when it was stepped on, this board cracked.  Luckily I had that lil bench that I could put over that board.  But the cracking made the porch repair a priority.  I was in contact with four different handymen....two never called me back, one never came for two separate appointments, and the last one came and took photos of what needed done, and then...nothing.  even after contacting him later and him saying he'd get something to me....nothing.  So finally I had a guy show up just last Thursday. He seemed a bit more...professional, more like he wanted the job.  he took measurements and stuff and said he get an estimate to me.  It's only been a few days, so I'm still holding out hope I'll hear something.   This made the list because of the difficulty in even finding someone interested in doing the work, and also, there's more work that needs done around herel, so if this guy works out, doesn't good work and isn't crazy expensive, I'll have him look at the other work the needs done in the coming year. 

5. My A1C 

I FINALLY got my A1C under 7 this year!  It was down to 6.9 in January and then 6.4 in May!  First times it's EVER been under 7, or at least in the ten years or more that I've been keeping track of it.  In December it went back up to 7.1, but neither I, the endocrinologist, nor the dietician were overly concerned about that number, because it's not that much over 7.0 (below that is where we all want it to be), and I know what to do to get it back down.  But still, it was great to have my long term blood sugar where I want, and need, it to be. 

4. My Cataract

Last year, I noticed I was having trouble reading, couldn't do so without my glasses, couldn't see tiny print things, driving at night was very  difficult and a bit scary.  Found out the end of last year I had a cataract in my right eye.   Was scheduled to get it removed the end of May.  Had all this testing done, including a MRSA test swab of my nose.  That came back positive.  I called the doctor's office, left a message asking was their something I should in the two weeks before the surgery.  Heard nothing back about it, so I though okay it must not be a big deal.  Then two days before the surgery, I get a call from the doctor's office, they can't do the surgery because I have MRSA in my nose and I have to get that taken care of first.  I...was...LIVID!  But it got the ointment and the spray and used it and finally got the surgery rescheduled to August.  And the MRSA testing then came back negative, so it was a go.  And the surgery itself?  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  Oh I worried about it and stressed, as I do, but in the end, the whole thing took less than a half hour and I was home (mom drove) with no pain or discomfort. The worst thing was having to wear that damn sleep guard for a week.  But after a few days, when everything cleared up, I can now see as well as before the surgery.  I have a cataract on my left eye too, but it's what they call a 'dirty windshield cataract'.  I can see through it okay.  I'm sure at some point I'll have to have it removed, but for now, I'm good. 

3. Retirement Plans

At work, they have this retirement program called the DROP Program.  I joined it August 1st.  Basically, I am technically retired as of that day, and they calculated my pension based upon figures at that time.  However, I have to option of working for up to 5 more years.  And during that period, all the money they would have been paying into my pension goes into a separate fund.  And when I actually retire, be it in 5 years, or 3 or whenever, I get all that money (minus taxes of course).  I knew that was the deal, but in May some shit at work pissed me off so much I was ready to leave right then.  So I contacted human resources and had them run the numbers.  And when I went down and saw those numbers, it was like my jaw hit the floor and my eyeballs bulged out of the sockets.  I couldn't believe just how much money that actually was!  And in the meantime, while I'm working I'll still get my regular salary and any pay increases too (although those increases won't affect my pension, which is locked in).   The bottom line is, August 1st, 2028 will be my last day at work, when I will retire after 32 years (if I stay that long).  And then I'll get my pension monthly, I get that lump sum from that fund, and my excellent county insurance will continue, with me paying only a lil bit more each month, for another 5 years. (they end their insurance at 65 and we have to get private or go on Medicare).  But anyway, yeah, 5 more years, (if I stay that long) and I'm outta there. 

2. Mom's Health

Mom turned 80 in March (see above).  Less than a month later, she fell and broke her right hip.  The top pic is her the day after the surgery, giving the thumbs up.   She had the surgery the day after the fall, then she spent a few days in the hospital and then went to a rehab center for a few weeks.  And three weeks to the day after the fall, she was back home.  She still had to use a walker, and then a rolater, and then a cane.  But she was up and moving and soon driving and getting around pretty damn well, if a bit slower. 

Then after that, she kept using the cane even once her hip was better because her knees, specifically her left knee, were bothering here.  Basically, it was bone on bone, and very painful.  The end of November, after Thanksgiving, she had that knee replaced.  The second photo is her the night after the knee replacement, sitting up already and giving a thumbs up.  She came home the next day.  And while it did hurt her alot, she doing much better now.  Still walking with the cane when she's outside of the house, just in case.  But she's driving, and walking around, albeit slowly, and in therapy now and getting better. 

The one thing I noticed after both of these though, is a word I never associated with mom before: frail.  I mean, she's not in general frail, but she has shown signs of frailty that I've never seen in her.  Granted she IS 80 (see above), but I've never seen her frail before.  And what else this has done was reenforce she's not going to be with me forever.  She probably had years ahead of her...but who knows?  

And honestly, that scares the everloving SHIT out of me.  I don't know what I'll ever do without her here.  I try not to dwell on that, cause it'll happen it happens, but its not easy to be confronted by it so head on. 

1. Work Changes

Oh my God, the changes.  Personnel wise, three people retired in June, 5 others in October.  One person in each group I was very close to, for years.  And there were good friends in the groups as well.  There are 3 people in my department.  After the June retirements, one of us applied for and got the job of basically 3rd in charge of the building.  So the remaining person and I had to do the work of three people for four months.  Finally in November a new lady started.  And she's smart, and professional and doing great, but still it's a change.  There have been changes with a lot of policies and procedures and personnel.  Parts of my particular job got easier, one two parts have gotten more of a pain.  Thanks to the promoted co-worker, we actually got a lot of, what I think are great, changes.   One of which was moving the three of us, our department, onto a different payscale.  This means, we all got a nice pay increase and we were given our own 'department' uniform to wear every day.  But all of these changes, especially the last half of the year, have been very stressful and really caused a lot of uncertainty. 

I mean, the changes are going to have a big influence on my remaining 5 years, in both good and probably, bay ways as well.  And that's why this became the number one thing that happened this year. 

POLT

 So I had a crown in one of my upper right molars that fell out in early 2021.  I was going to make an appointment with the dentist to get it put back in, but there was no rush to it.  I thought.   Back in, I think April of last year, while eating, I chipped a piece of the tooth off and now the crown would no longer fit.  SO then, too late to do things easily, I made an appointment with the dentist. 

He confirmed the crown would not fit and there wasn't enough of the tooth left to put a new crown in. (the tooth was like an upside volcano: just a rim of tooth and empty inside...an upside down cone)  But he did put a glob of the stuff used for fillings in it to fill in and make it...solid-ish.   And everything was fine.

Until earlier this year, when they glob of stuff fell out.  I made an appointment in early May to just get the tooth pulled.  When I went in, the dentist looked it over and said, it's a dead tooth, but I could have it for another 5 years or more without problem.  He's pull it if I wanted, but he didn't see a reason to do it right then.  SO we didn't.  And he put another glob of that stuff in it.

In last June, that glob fell out and there was bit more of the tooth that went with it. So I made an appointment just to pull it.  I wasn't eating on it, and obviously, it wouldn't last 5 years like this. 

Thursday was the day to get it pulled.  I had him prescribe me a valium to take before my appointment.  I love my dentist and everybody who works in his office, but I HATE going to the dentist. Always have, he's my third dentist in my life, and by far the best one, but I felt the same way about them too.  And the last time I had a tooth pulled, while we waited for the Novocain to take effect I was so nervous, I was pacing around his office, rubbing my fingers together obsessively.  I don't know that the valium did all that much to calm me down, but hey, I did set peacefully in the chair and not pace, so that's good. 

When he got to work, I felt no pain, but I could feel a lil pressure and what he was doing.  I had told him ahead of time my molar roots are really weirdly shaped and he said he remembered from the last time.  So he tried pulling it normally, with no success.  And then he got the drill out.  He told me later he had to cut it into three pieces and pull it out separately.   Honestly, it sounds a whole lot worse than it was or felt.    And it didn't take long at all.   I got to his office at 2:45, he took me almost right away and I was back home (i live right across the street) by 3:09.  I think the total time of the extraction was like 5 minutes or so. It seemed a lot longer in the chair, but I don't think it was any more than that.

So I came home and I bled all night.    Went to through all the gauze he gave me.  When I saw it was running low I went to CVS and got more.  I bled a lot longer than I thought it should have, but then I'm on a daily aspirin regimen, so that's probably why.  I took the anti-biotics (so I wouldn't get dry socket had that once before, oh GOD the pain) and the Tylenol with codeine for pain.  There's been a dull ache that grows stronger or weaker periodically, and that sucks, but it could be worse.  And I'm putting a cold compress on the outside periodically too, cause that's sore when I smile or laugh or talk sometimes or chew sometimes.  But that's kinda more muscular than the other pain.

Anyway, it's been over 50 hours since I had the tooth removed.  All in all, it's not something I'd want to go through again (although with the way my teeth are, I'm sure it WILL happen again), but it wasn't as bad as it could be, I guess .

POLT

 Since later today I have to get a tooth ripped out of my head, there will be a theme through all of today's posts.

Update: Tooth was removed in less than half an hour.  Because of the weird roots my molars typically have, he tried to pull it out regularly, but when that didn't work, he got the drill, drill it apart and pulled the pieces out separately.  It wasn't pleasant, but it didn't hurt...thank God for Novocain. 

I'm not sitting here, binging Dr. Pol and changing the bloody gauze every half hour.  

I didn't notice anything different with the valium I took before the appointment, but I wasn't pacing nervously around his office, so I guess that's something.  I just took the anti-biotic (to stop dry socket) and the painkiller (tylenol with codeine).  The Novocain has worn off, cause my jaw is a bit achy...but since he did have to wiggle and yank (kinda) the parts of the tooth to get them out, I guess that's to be expected.  Hopefully the pain killer will keep the pain at bay. 

Nothing to do now, but not rinse, spit, or drink through a straw, eat light easy foods today, rest and recover. 

POLT

 So, this afternoon, I went to the dentist to get a tooth extracted. 

After stressing about it and dealing with my anxiety ALL FREAKING DAY, I was quite relived to just finally be there and get the whole thing over with. 

The dentist, called me back, and asked me which tooth we were taking out.  I told him, and he looked at it, and reached it and felt around it.  And then said, "Hold on" and went to look at the x-rays.  Then he cam back and looked at it again, and then asked, "Why are we taking this tooth out?"  

I told him it was because he said there was only roots left and it should come out.  And he said, "Well yeah, eventually it'll have to come out.  But is it giving you pain?" No.  "Do you have any problems eating with it?"  No. "Well if it's not giving you any trouble, I don't see any reason to take it.  I CAN take it out, if you want me to, but you may have a good five years or so still with what remains of this tooth.  We could just wait until it gives you problems."  and I was like, "Well, yeah!   I'm all for that!"

And so, I didn't actually have to get it pulled.  And immense relief followed that! 

All that worry for nothing is kinda frustrating, but NOT dealing with a tooth being ripped outta my head makes it all worth while!

POLT

Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me (Part 699)...

 Frenching Fridays

Well, today's the day.  This afternoon, I'll have a tooth ripped outta my head.  (groan).  So this week we have Almost Kisses Showing Teeth!

POLT

Like a top ten song, I had it all....

 As we know, today is the last day of December AND the last day of 2020 (thank GOD!), so it's time to go over my....

TOP TEN LIST OF 2020

(not necessarily the best things to happen this year, just the biggest things)

10. Paid Off Credit Card

I got my first credit card somewhere around 33 years ago.   I currently have a Discover card that I used most of the time, and a VISA card that I only use for my med purchases and nothing else.

On the Discover, I have had up to as much as $3000 on it.  I usually use it starting in September when I begin buying gifts for Christmas, run it up over the fall, and then after the New Year, start paying it down.  I have used it for other emergency purchases (like the air conditioners last year).  Well this year, one month, I paid off the Discover card and I pay off the VISA each month, so at one point this year, I had zero credit card debt!  Of course, the next month, I put something on the Discover card, and I am currently carrying a balance.  But that's fine.  I'm just happy to have paid it off once...once in the last 33 years.

9. Uncle Randy

In March, my mother's youngest sibling, Randy, died.  He was diagnosed with cancer last summer, and it had already spread by then.  And it just took him in about 9 months.  I wasn't terribly close to him recently, but 40 years ago, he had an above ground pool at this house and I spent nearly every summer day over there, at the pool, hanging out with the neighbor kids and my cousins (his kids).  He was only 15 years older than me.  His second wife (my favorite of his three wives) was only 10 years older than me.  They were a lot of fun back then....but Randy had a rough life.  Mainly his of his own doing, and there's no point in going into here.  But he also got me a silly birthday card and laughed with me as I opened it every year.  And he was fun.  And he'll be missed.

8. Seeing Hamilton

Not on the stage, unfortunately, but on Disney+.  On Independence Day, my theater buddy Michelle and I went to mom's for a socially distanced, masked cookout.  And then, afterwards, we returned to my house and watched it on Disney+.  She had seen it on stage at least twice (lucky bitch), and she told me how I'd love it.  We didn't get to see any theater this year, but she knows what I like, and she was right: I loved it!  Especially Jonathan Groff as King George.  I know he's not in it very much, but he steals the show.  But anyway, it was a great performance, and I enjoyed watching it with her...the last time we got to see theater...and the last time I've seen her in person.   We've talked on the phone several times, but not hung out due to pandemic restrictions.  But hopefully next year, that will change!

7. No Sex April

Okay, so no, I didn't really become chaste, but due to the pandemic, but due to self isolation/social distancing, I had not sexual contact (other than with myself) from St. Patrick's Day until Mother's Day....nearly two entire months!  And no contacts at all during the calendar month of April!  When was the last time I went that long without a gentleman caller?  Who knows?  I don't.  I'm certain I forgot all about it...or tried to repress that previous time!

6. Meeting Turner

I've been friends with Turner online since something around Christmas 2018.  I'm not at all sure how we met online, but we've been following each other and having short conversations since then.  He lives in Alabama, so I though there's no way we'd ever meet, and that was fine, I have plenty of online only friends.

Then in July, I saw he was traveling.  On his own and alone, he booked a week's vacation at a seaside hotel in Maine.  And he was driving up himself.  We figured out he's going on an interstate just 8 miles form my home.  And I was roughly halfway between the two (about 9 or 10 hours each way from my house to Alabama and Maine).  He was driving up without stopping other than to catch short naps in rest stops.  But we decided he'd stop here on his way back and spend the night.   And then head home to next morning.  He got here late, we did his laundry at 1AM, he bedded down on the sofa and slept a good 6 or 7 hours.  Then showered, packed his stuff up and left.  But we did, while doing laundry, have time to sit and chat.  He's got such an adorable lil Southern accent.  And he's much smaller than I thought he would be.  But it was fun meeting him and hanging out for a bit.  I doubt we'll ever meet again in person, but we still communicate online.

5. Dental Bridge

 Of course, I had tooth problems, when don't I?  The back bottom molar cracked in July.  I went to the dentist, hoping he could something easy, but he said since I had the space next to it open, but not just do a bridge.  After discussing  it I agreed, and he prepared the two teeth.  We didn't have enough time to get the bridge and installed that day, but I could come back the next day and they'd do it.  I was already off cause it just so happens, this was the day Turner arrived.  So I had a temp on that night, Turner left the next day, and then at lunchtime I went over and he put the bridge on.  And it's worked quite well since then....thankfully, it continues that way.

4. Binging shows

So yeah, even before the pandemic, but especially during it, I binged a lot of shows. 

All 15 seasons of ER, 6 of the Practice, 2 of Discovery, 7 of The West Wing and 7 of I Love Lucy.  I watched a bunch of other stuff as well, more than usual, but these were the series I binged.

3. Health Issues

yeah, I'm old.  Middle aged.  And like an old, out of shape, middle aged man, I been falling apart.  My sinuses have bothered me all year, with tooth pain, sore throats headaches, etc.  I went to an ENT in July, we did an CAP scan, didn't find anything usual, she told me to use the Nedi-Wash thing.  And I have been, and it's been helping.  Still bothers me sometimes, but that usually helps.  My back has bothered me occasionally since I fell last July.  My feet have been tingly and at one point the right one even went numb for a few days....that's obviously the diabetes.  I have been eating better, my daily blood sugars are lower, and I took a lot more walks, so I hope everything's improving on that front.  But yeah....getting old and falling apart.

2. 2020 Election

Free at last, free at last, thank GOD almighty, we're free at last!

In 20 short, but agonizingly long, days, he will be gone.  And the American Government can back to being run by experienced, capabable adults, and not....well not whatever they hell they've been the last four years.

Joe Biden was not who I wanted to be in the White House, but I'm not upset that he's going to be there.  He's a steady experienced hand.  He'll get us out of the ditch we've been in.  I don't believe he's forward thinking enough to get us where we need to be, but he'll at least get us back to a functioning government...something we've been sorely lacking.

And all I have to say about the orange shitgibbon is....

1. COVID-19

What else could it be?  This thing has affected every aspect of life, of practically everyone around the world.  But since this list is about my personal top ten, with all due respect to the 19 million American affected and 330000 Americans dead (as of right now), I'm just going to cover it's affect on me.

I wear a mask now everywhere I got.  I use a card to pay for everything, I hate touching coins.  I wash my hands much more frequently and use sanitizer.  I go to the grocery store maybe twice a week, instead of almost every other day. And I pick up a bunch of things at once, not just one or two items.  I'm staying a LOT.  I can't recall the last time I was inside someone else's house (maybe mom's on Labor Day?).I've had a few people here, but not many at all.  And visitors are generally masked up and kept at opposite ends of the room we're in....gentlemen callers and I are masked up as much as we can be (don't ask).  The number of gentleman callers has plummeted.  The number of books I've bought and the money I've spent on them has plummeted.  I only get gas about once every 10 days now in stead of once every 6 days.  I don't have any idea when I was last inside a movie theater, or sat in a restaurant to eat.  And I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in a Mall this year, and on two hands the number of times I've been in Wal-Mart.  I prepare a lot of my food at home, so I'm running the dishwasher twice a week, sometimes three times, instead of once a week like it was before all this.  I did not spend Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner with mom (although I did get to eat some of the food she prepared) for the first time in my 53 years and tonight, I will spend New Years not at the ParisPeking house, which I think will be the first time in 16 years.  And I'm certain in February, I will not be watching the Super Bowl at my buddy Duff's house, which will be only the second time in 24 years that I won't be doing that.  Days that I don't work, instead of walking to Rutters for coffee and something to eat, I have instant coffee here at home and have discovered the wonders of Vanilla Chex with 2% milk.  I'm actually saving money because, obviously, I'm not spending it like I was before, and that's good.  I've worked all the way through this (essential job, dontcha know) and they put a large amount of precautions' in place, and we have been SO lucky to not have an outbreak over there.  I know several people who have had it: a 98 year old friend of my mom who had no symptoms at all.  My boss at work, who only lost his taste and smell and was back to work in 14 days.  A co-workers wife who I know who got it and was "the sickest I've EVER been" according to her, but she recovered fully. A lady I used to work with who's been over it for several months...but still hasn't gotten her smell or taste back.  Another co-worker's wife, she I didn't know, who died from it.  A guy who I used to work the election polls with who died from it.  And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.  So, yeah, I'VE been incredibly lucky so far too.  I'm supposed to get vaccinated in early January, second shot a month later.  So hopefully by the end of February I wont have to worry about catching it (although I don't know if I could still pass it on...gotta check into that), so if I can hold out that long from getting it, hopefully, I'll be okay.  

But still....all the changes, not only in my life but in everyone's, it's crazy how everything can change so quickly.  And hopefully, next year, COVID won't even make my list or need mentioning at all (fingers crossed).

POLT

My baby's got a secret (Part 381)...

Secret Saturdays

These come each week from www.postsecret.com

This week, since I just had dental work done, we have Secrets And Teeth!

POLT