Regrets…I’ve Had A Few

I do believe I’m stressed.

Last night I dreamed that I had enrolled in a math class and then never went. I’d forgotten all about it. So I was going to get an F on my transcript, and it would drop me below the required amount of hours to qualify for insurance. I’d brought things to class that were falling off of my desk. There was a random skerfuffle with me and another girl who was talking trash about the PseudoSister’s niece.

Oof.

I do have a lot to do. I do have a lot to get done. I am behind on reading from last week. Work was busier than ever, blessed time with family was more important than homework, but now it’s here. It’s due. It’s time.

Time.

Time management.

Sometimes I regret the way I manage my time. Or, I regret the consequences from the way I manage my time.

But at the end of the day…I do think that a trip to see friends is better. I do think that family time is more worthy. I think that gaining .4 this week was worth all the steak and mushrooms and hashbrowns that we ingested, because along with that came laughter and memories and love refilled.

Learning a lesson from friends like Chris and Audra and Cindy and Roger and Ma…emails and texts and social networking posts…taking the time to read them and to write back and to connect in some way or fashion…I don’t regret that at all.

Today we celebrate Chris’ birthday! YAY! Happy Birthday my beautiful friend. . .piece of my family. . . our Obi Wan. It’s a blessing, this day. Each day. Each year. And we shall celebrate many more. I know it.

Chris is the one who says “Don’t wait for a special occasion to use the good coffee…use it NOW! Don’t put off doing something that makes you happy…do it NOW! Live this life. NOW”

And that lesson, it seems that I’m finally learning it, learning what it means

to LIVE

Without regret.

Luck of the Draw

I’ll tell ya when it comes to cousins…to family…I drew the luckiest hand of cards ever dealt.

It is something that breaks my heart for my nephews, that I didn’t give them this experience.

I got to spend some time with my Cali Cousins this week. Under sad circumstances (of course because it’s still 2012) but still. Facetime is rare and sacred and we gobbled each other up and came back for seconds. We’ve got a family wedding at the end of the year that, seriously, is the bright spot in my future. I am so happy to have a scheduled visit, that doesn’t revolve around death, with these people.

And we weren’t playing with a full deck this week. My family wasn’t here, Patrick and Toni were in Cali, but Steph and Jerome and I got some much needed laughing and time together. Enough to declare that we have GOT to get our proverbial shit together and just start planning gatherings.

Great Wolf Lodge came up several times. A weekend here, a weekend there. Timing is an issue but we are a smart group of kids. We can figure it out.

So.

my house is quiet. Auntie Carla and Uncle Bryan are wrapping up their trip with other bits of family. Jerome is en route to Brooklyn, Steph is on the road to Austin. Brokedown Palace is once again inhabited by three cats and a Ridiculous.

I was going to go get my treadmill today. But I really cannot afford to take the time. I’ve got a novel and a play to read by tomorrow, four stories and a paper to write by Tuesday, and another paper due Wednesday.

This is the week I either tread water or sink.

But man oh man, it was good to laugh, it was good to refill on the love. It’s so good to be loved by people infinitely cooler than you are.  I can walk a little faster, and stand a little taller this week as we fight the good fight.

Happy Sunday ya’ll. Superbowl, eh? I’m not invested. It will be on for commercials, and I may just turn it to Downton Abbey. Which makes me sad because I do love Superbowl. Just not this year.

Whatever you’re doing, do it well. Be kind to each other. Surround yourself with good people. It can heal the soul.

 

We Band of Brothers

We have a new plan. We’ve decided to fight.

These were the words I was met with this weekend. These words and a hug that I can still feel this morning.

The trip to Kansas City was a long one, and I was distracted and edgy. I was worried that I would immediately burst into tears and collapse on the bed. I was worried about what Chris would look like. I was worried about how Cindy would be feeling. I had no idea how to wrap my head around the situation that was awaiting me. Is this goodbye? How do you prepare to spend a weekend with people you love with more than your whole heart, and know what it really is? There’s no way to know. There’s no way to understand or to dig into your wheel house and use the tools you have…they don’t exist at this point. So. I just prayed.  For strength. For the words. For the actions. For the tools.

We have a new plan. We’re going to fight.

Well ok. That’s the thread I needed to hold onto. That’s the crumb that would lead me back onto the trail and take us to a better place. Ok. Fighting. We can do that. We know how to be bull headed and stubborn. We know how to be thinkers and to move outside the box when needed. We know how to embrace plans that look like chaos and to decipher thoughts that sound like noise. This particular wheel house is full. Chock full of tools. We can do this. Let’s figure out how.

Reversing liver damage sounds like an episode of House. Made up Hollywood magic. But it happens. Cases upon cases have been reported, have been recorded. There is proof.  The internet is full of scenario upon scenario. People awaiting transplants who are now running marathons. Complete reversal of cirrosis. Why should we believe it will happen for us? Why shouldn’t we?

We have a new plan. We’ve decided to fight.

Both nights, as we were piled up in the big bed, Chris laying there with his eyes closed talking, and snarking, and holding court as he navigated the waves of pain that would sneak up on him, I thought “this bed holds so much love”. Amy had been there the week before. Traci had been there before that. We had all piled on and just been present, giving love, holding hands. Tiptoeing through this strange new world we find ourselves living in. Together. Together.

We have a new plan. We’ve decided to fight.

There were moments when I worried that our will was stronger than Chris’. That this thing we’ve decided was going to be too hard, too much. That it just wasn’t going to happen. There were brief moments of raw fear that were masked as anger and impatience and frustration at all of it…what if We want this more than He does. It’s a valid fear. One that is based in the most dark, bottom dwelling murkiness of fears. I saw it on Cindy’s face in moments, and I saw it in Chris’. And then we laughed. About something. About anything. And that’s when I thought…man. Pull through this baby, and we will make it worth your while. I promise. I promise you.

We have a new plan. We’ve decided to fight.

This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say “These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.


Join us, won’t you? You don’t need to be in crazy great shape to be on this team. No boxing skills necessary, no running necessary, no Sons of Anarchy gun thrashings necessary. We just need your power. Your thoughts. Your prayers. Your energy. Focused on reversing this liver damage. Each thought between thought. Each moment between moment.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers…

We have a new plan. We’ve decided to fight.

 

 

What is a week-end?

It was a fast and furious trip to KCMO, but well worth it. Being in the same space as Chris and Cindy, getting to lay on the bed and talk, feast my eyes on their selves, their perfect house, their new neighborhood and favorite places…it’s was healing.

I’ve more to write, but am pressed for time. I’ve got to get some reading done before class today and found out this morning that I’ll also get to feast my eyes on my cousins and perhaps some family at the end of this week. It’s under sad circumstances that they are all merging from California, Austin, Brooklyn…2012 is a bitch. Maybe the Mayans knew something afterall…

So today on the list is clean the house, return some calls about the stupid insurance, pay some bills, (good Lord, it’s mortgage time already) make deposits in the bank, get some groceries. I was so excited for a poached egg this morning. . . flop. nada. Tonight I get a meal with Audra and Joe. Thankful for that. I can’t wait to get all the details of being a restaurant owner and just to see them. SEE them.

I’m getting a treadmill this Friday! A friend of Trisha’s is giving me the one he’s had and replaced with an elipitical. I’m so excited. I’m down 2.6 for the week, and as amazed as I am by that, I know I could do better if I was moving my body. Health. I will never take it for granted again.

I am thankful. Thankful for one more day to have a list of things to do.

I’m thankful for each one of you that send me an email or a text this weekend, I was afraid I was going to be a slobbering hot mess, but Cindy and Chris can attest, we had none of that. We laughed. We talked. We learned some things, and mostly we just coveted each other. I told them about each one of you, sending your love, sending your strength. Some of you they knew…some they knew in name only through me. But each one…we felt the love. We felt the strength.

It was an amazing grace.

We’re Still Here

I made it to KCMO. Safe trip. Long drive. Desolate. Lord but it’s some desolate land in the state of Kansas.

I’m here. With Chris and Cindy.

And there is much ado, and much to tell at some point.

There has been laughter.

There have been hugs.

There’s been food and drink and the softest pretzel you’ve ever tasted.

There’s been draining of bags and venting of hearts.

There’s been strategery.

There’s been youtube videos and more laughter.

but there have been no tears.

So all of you, who have text or emailed or silently sent up a prayer of strength?

It’s working.

We’re still here.

Heading Up

Heading up to KCMO to see Chris and Cindy this weekend. I’m so ready to breathe the same air as those two, and scratch Hooper and just soak up their presence.

I have to throw some clothes and whatnot in a bag and be ready to leave after my appointment tomorrow, and right now, I just want to sleep.

See previous post.

It’ll get done. I’ll get up right now and do it. Because I’ve got to be at work at 830 tomorrow to squeeze another client in…no leeway in the schedule.

but then, I’m probably just going to sleep.

yawn.

Sleep

I’ve been sleeping. A lot. And when I’m awake, I’m either in class or watching Sons of Anarchy. Thanks to my sweet cousin Stephie, I’ve finished the series, am caught up until it comes back on this year.

And now…well. I guess my dealing mechanisms…I know the sleeping is a thing. Go to sleep. Dream. The world is better when you’re sleeping. It’s not healthy, really, but it’s better than overeating and binge drinking. So there’s that.

I’ve got a metric shit ton of reading to do for classes, looking at applying for scholarships and that’s an application process in itself. I’m going to try to get all my readings finished before heading to KCMO on Saturday, but I may have to bring some with me.

I’ve been craving sweet…which is strange because usually I crave chips. or cheese. or potatoes. But I’m still cleansing all the sugar out of my system I think and it’s bound to rear up. Gonna make myself a smoothie, low calorie, and have some chia seeds in it. Have you done the chia seed thing? they’re interesting little creatures. Very filling. Very pro-cleansing. I like all of it.

I’m watching last weeks Glee. One of my friends said this episode caused him to promise more public declarations of love to his husband…I get it. But I think my heart is on such severe lockdown that nothing is getting in.

So, I’m going to watch a little tv and I’m going to jump back into some Fitzgerald tonight. I took a two hour nap this afternoon, so my sleep schedule is wonky, but I feel like I could crawl into bed right now and be fine.

It’s so boring over here. Sorry for that. When I figure out how to get some energy, some happy, some spark…I promise I’ll write it all out with joy abundant. Till then…naps are good.

Tuna Salad and Homework

The car is in the shop getting my Christmas present installed today. Remote Starter, yo!!! I’m excited for that.

I made an amazing quinoa tuna salad for lunch ate it on a plate of spinach. I’ve been unsatisfied with my food choices lately. Bored. And it’s not even that I want some cheesy pizza, because that sounds like crap, too. I dunno.

I finished my tonight’s homework, and am working on readings for Monday. I’ll be coming right to class from the trip to KC, MO, so I have to get it all done.

It’s rainy here. Rainy and sleepy. Stormy is on the couch with me and we’re snuggling and reading while Parenthood plays on the tv.

I need to work on my dishwasher. It’s not washing dishes. Nothing is clean. So. I’ve done a titch of research, and I think if I just clean the filter…maybe…we’ll see. Right now dishes are just in the damned sink. Which I hate. Years of living with Dion has me trained that the dishes in the sink are gross. So…that’s in my future.

Ok. I’m back to the working and reading. That’s all from Brokedown Palace, ya’ll.

Bad Therapy

Ok. So. I start fresh TODAY. Because I sucked it up last night.

I went out and met some friends last night. I got to see Hope…sweet sweet Hope who buried her Rudy last week. She’s so stoic. She wants no fuss. No extra attention. I get that. We talked. We laughed. She showed me her new truck. . . or pickup, I’m not sure what it’s called really. She’s such a country gal, with her big rides and shiny things she attaches to them. It was good to hug her.

But then my club soda turned to Miller Lite…and clearly that’s just not something I can let myself do right now. No control. Not really. Not enough for me.

Hitting the drive thru for more therapy in the form of fake cheese in a styrofoam container happened next.

I know my mechanisms for dealing. And I’ve got to find a way, figure out how to get new ones.

Trish has said time and time again, Long John Silvers and Taco Mayo ARE therapists…just the really really bad ones that molest you on their couch while wearing a mask of your dad.

right?

bad. bad. therapy.

I’ma figure out some good therapy.

There were good parts, I got to have some time with PseudoSisters #1 and #2, with MGirl who I just miss with my whole heart. We talked about Rudy and life, current shitty situations, boys, school. It was good to laugh and cry with her, too.

The Good of 2012….Audra’s restaurant, upcoming weddings of people that I love, new relationships and happiness for other people that I love…I’m focusing on that. It’s not been all bad. The great things have been really dang great.

And now I’m going to go make some coffee and a 200 calorie breakfast and read some Aphra Behn.