A Day in the Life

I'm full of dread over my colonoscopy next Thursday; the idea of the prep is daunting, and the restrictions are intimidating to keep track of. Happily, John is coming over tonight and we're going to splurge on LOTS of vegetables, some pizza and two beers apiece. What a life, eh? Soon I'll be in no fiber, nuts, raw vegetables or fruits mode, and Wednesday...well, I don't even want to talk about it. How many synonyms for horrible can you think of?

 

 

I've been getting ready for his visit by mowing the lawn and moving the flowers up on the deck (which needs work, I know). I cleaned off my glass table too; I'll put the cushions on the chairs tomorrow since I don't leave them out to collect moisture or bird crap. They were expensive, thus I don't feel like replacing them! Tomorrow we're headed over to his younger daughter's place at 9 a.m. because that was the only time she could "fit him in for a couple hours." I couldn't read the tone in his text very well; for easy-going John he seemed a little disgruntled. I would have been! The poor guy has been gone for a month and hasn't seen those granddaughters for longer than that. I would never ask although I'm curious about how much time that daughter and family spend with John's ex-wife and her husband's parents. Yet whenever they need help with household projects, guess who they call? I was never divorced so I undoubtedly don't understand the politics and juggling of the people and situations. Perhaps there is drama in every family? Mine included of course.

 

 

Although my back yard looks reasonably nice, the neighbor is having work done in his master bathroom; he's quite unhappy that the workers left the old bathtub in our shared grass. It just makes me laugh and joke around about turning it into a planter. Another neighbor recently suffered a massive leak from a pipe breaking, so my cul-de-sac should properly be known as Plumbers' Plaza these days. 

 

 

In my front yard I noticed that Old Copper, my sole rhododendron, is getting ready to bloom. As for the bearded irises in the back, a number of them will be going up to the cemetery, even though none of the recipients died in battle. The trip is partly because my mom can't handle bending over to put the flowers in the cups/vases and also because we haven't been up there for a while. Plus, it's Memorial Day weekend and one of my late brothers would have been 62 on May 10th. As for my husband, he told me clearly when he was dying that if I placed anything at his grave, it would be for ME, not for him--since he would be dead and oblivious. For me, I'm decorating his niche with two irises: the deep purple and the light one, both of which he planted a lifetime ago for each daughter.

 

 

Speaking of daughters, Younger Daughter is on a quick budget trip to Maui. Did you realize that you could rent an Airbnb car for a campground? I did not, nor would I be interested! I'm more the swanky hotel type. ;)

 

 

I've been admiring their beautiful photos though. Palm trees and water are so delightful, yet I could never work in that environment. Palm trees scream out (to me) VACATION!

 

 

Like Younger Daughter, I love fruity drinks and Hawaii's fresh fruit can't be beat. In the meantime, I'm caring for her cat Carol and watching over her/my house. It's a nostalgic feeling to be back in the place where I spent over a decade of my life. They were mostly happy years, and the memories are precious. 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Anne@HeadFullofBooks]

Wow. Maui on a budget? I don't think it is possible. Everything is so expensive there, even the cheap stuff.

[Anne@HeadFullofBooks]

I finished HORSE yesterday and think it will be a very good discussion book...if the paperback version has questions. The hardback doesn't.

[Joanne Noragon]

Your yard certainly looks tidy for John's visit, Hope the trip to his daughter's is as tidy.

[Deb]

Well you're gonna have a fun week! YD must have a travel agent on speed dial- and major skills on finding cheap vacations. She goes a lot. I wonder if that will change in the future?

[Maureen]

Having recently gone through 'the prep', I noted that they give the same dose to everyone, and I certainly didn't need the the cleansing power that a less active, much larger person would require. I wished I hadn't taken all of the vile liquid because it was clearly overkill, if you know what I mean. I hope the peace of mind you'll get from taking care of your screenings will carry you through rough bits. It is also the best nap ever.
What a treat for YD to enjoy Maui even though it's car camping - perfect for young adventurous folks.

[AC]

I. Know there are other versions of the colostomy, buy my guy had me drinking about 42 gallons of vile liquid. That and two days sans coffee IIRC. The procedure isn’t bad with no after-effects that I recall.

[sillygirl]

A tip to get that vile liquid down - use a really fat straw and stick it to the back of your mouth to suck it all down. You don't taste it that way. Someone gave me that tip and it works.

[Bruce]

Yes, the pre-colostomy treatment is much worse than the actual procedure. Nuff said.

And I too wonder what a cheap trip to Maui is like. I've never been to Hawaii but I've had friends much richer than I who've told me about it.

[Susan]

Everybody agrees, the colostomy prep is most vile. Why can't the docs invent a better way? Maui is paradise. YD is lucky to be vacationing there. Your lawn and garden always looks beautiful.

[Luftmentsch]

Good luck with the colonoscopy.

Putting flowers on graves isn't a Jewish custom. We put stones on them, although I've heard different explanations why.

[Marie K]

Your title of the post is also the name of my blog. I think it's still there, just hasn't been updated for many years. It's probably a great time for YD to be taking a little vacation. Is John driving you to your appointment on Thurs?

[Pam J.]

My husband just had a colonoscopy last week and the prep was much, much simpler than the prep I did just 4 years ago. None of that nasty Gatorade to force down. Just something called suprep that you mix with water. Good luck.

[DougM]

Budget trip to MAUI?? Margaret I very much admire YD. Well, you're only young once! Anyway, I hope John is in better spirits and I enjoyed your joke about the bathtub planter and anxiously await to hear how your colonoscopy went! If you remember, I had one two months ago and was cleared for 10 years. Sure hope yours is the same. 👍

[Pixie]

It sounds like you're going to have a shitty week:) I hate colonoscopies. I only had one and that was enough. Does your doc not to FIT test, fecal immunoassay tests? If blood shows up, then you have to have a colonoscopy but if you FIT test is fine, no need. I hope it goes well.

Your daughter is lucky to be in Hawaii. I love Hawaii, the big island and Maui, not Oahu though.

[kayak woman]

I am not in a book club but I LOVED Horse.

[Steve]

Colonoscopies are no fun but alas, they are a necessary evil. How great to get a "budget" trip to Maui, which seems inconceivable to me! (Being on the other side of the planet!) By "renting an Airbnb car," do you mean a camper, or sleeping in an actual car?!