MY FRIEND PAUL

Yesterday I needed to have our van worked on and since the dealership is near my husband's place of work, that is where I ended up. Almost 14 years ago, I worked there too. It is a big facility with many different buildings. As I wound my way through the cubicles in my husband's building, I met up with quite a few people I knew from the past. I was struck by the fact that although I haven't seen these people for years, most of them started complaining to me about the office politics. Giving me specific details of who was mad at who and why they were mad! I began to think they were indeed mad, but in a crazy sort of way!

One of the secretaries asked me if I missed working. I told her that there were things I missed and things I didn't. I definitely don't miss the fights and bickering. I think that I get less of that from my kids! This day was making me appreciate my husband more for what he does. His day starts with an hour long drive with high strung crazy drivers, continues with a bunch of bickering babies and ends with the same hour long drive taking an extra half hour because of the tourists heading up to our area. Somehow he keeps waking up everyday and going to work. He can even find enjoyment in his work. I think his technique is to keep his head low and fly in under the radar. The actual work he gets to do when he's able to avoid the craziness is satisfying.

After eating breakfast in the cafeteria with my husband I made my way to my old cubicle. There I found my friend Paul. I rarely see Paul since he is never there when I stop by but yesterday there he sat. Just as the other people had slipped right back into whining and complaining like they had so many years ago, Paul and I slipped right back into our friendly chatter. As we caught up on what our kids were doing and how our feeble "old" bodies were failing us, I couldn't help but smile. I sat by Paul the entire six years that I worked. We both had our quirks, but we somehow worked things out. As we talked, I told Paul that I missed our fun conversations. He told me that he did too. We had rarely talked about office politics and mostly our topics were light and fun. An oasis in a world of negativity. If I could guarantee that I could stay in that safe little cubicle cocoon I would be happy to go back to work but that's not reality. Its so hard to ignore the bombardment of unhappy people. I see my husband struggle with that all the time. You can't hide from human nature and when that human's nature is misery they are always looking for company.

Thank you to my husband for what he does everyday and thank you to Paul for being my friend.

I'VE BEEN SUCKED IN AGAIN!

Before I had my first kid I found out that I had a pituitary tumor. Then after my second kid was born, I went into the hospital and had that tumor removed. When all this happened I felt sucked into a never ending medical mish mash. (I paused in my typing for quite some time to come up with THAT term!) Recently, I've had some "womanly troubles". Okay, okay, my periods are coming more frequently and I've been getting migraine headaches with them. Since the tumor messed up my period and headaches are a symptom of pituitary tumors I immediately was concerned. I contacted my neurosurgeon who removed the tumor and he recommended an MRI and blood tests and a visit to my endocrinologist. I hated my endocrinologist. So my plan was to go to my gynecologist and have a check-up and convince him to give me the orders for the MRI and blood tests. Instead he did a PAP smear and ordered a mammogram and a pelvic sonogram. The sonogram is for the fibroid tumor(s) he thinks I have. Sigh. He wouldn't give me migraine medication until I see an endocrinologist to check for the return of the pituitary tumor. Sigh. So, after one appointment with the gyno, I have three new appointments. And at the end of those three appointments I still won't know if the pituitary tumor has returned. That will require more appointments. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to my next migraine.

What a medical MISH MASH...sigh.

STORIES FROM THE TOILET

While camping at Disney World I made a trip to the bathroom. While in there I overheard two girls 7 and 9 years old in the handicap stall next to me. They were in the midst of quarreling. The 7 year old was trying to put on a bikini and seemed to be having quite a bit of trouble. The 9 year old was supposedly trying to help but the 7 year old was not allowing it. The 9 year old was telling her sister that she was 7 and should know how to put on a bathing suit, but since she was 9 she could help her. "You never help me the right way!!" "Fine, if you won't let me help you then I'm leaving!" "Fine!" "Fine!" Then I hear a couple of resounding slaps! I'm not sure if slapping each other snapped them out of the battle but then I heard the 9 year old say "Okay, if you don't tell on me then I won't tell on you!" The 7 year old answers "Well, that's just fine with me!"

Not too long after that the mother shows up and in an annoyed voice says "What's going on in here? What's taking you so long?" The 7 year old calmly says "I was having just a little bit of trouble and after I tried to put on my suit for awhile I just said 'Bre, could you please help me put my bathing suit on?' and then she helped me put it on."

I'm in my stall hiding and trying to muffle my laughs....the mother was suspicious but I guess what she doesn't know won't hurt her!

NOT THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

We are finally back from all our "vacationing" and let me just say that Disney World is fun but I have to say its not really the "happiest place on earth"! The best thing about vacation can be coming home.

A significant portion of our vacation was spent in traffic, lines or mushed among a crowd of people. Sometimes during this time I would look around and think "do these people enjoy this?" Is it just me who cringes and feels claustraphobic when the crowds get too big. Its very interesting to me to see that city folk seem to thrive in what I consider overpopulation. Although I don't understand the attraction I'm sort of happy that people like to crowd together into tight places.....all the more room for me to spread out!

My idea of entertainment is watching a wild turkey attack a fox to protect her chicks. Surprisingly, the turkey won that battle! Then watch as she walks around clucking to call all eight chicks back to her. We could hear the worry in her clucks and then the happy loving sounds she made as they showed up one by one. They excitedly peeped their version of the adventure. Yes, I live in my own "magic kingdom".