Thanksgiving Etc.

Date: December 5, 2002

      Thanksgiving threw off a lot of things.
      Chemo for one.
      My younger son had chemo on Tuesday - so I took him on to work so I could make my meeting.
      Wednesday I worked until 4 and got home around 6.
      Thursday my older son came up and we had the turkey dinner - not on china and the silver wasn't polished.
      Because my kids, seeing as how most of the Bourbon had gone into the Little Smokies and 1 Cup had made it onto the turkey, decided a shot was in order before the bottle was empty. One for me and one for my eldest. Chemo patients cannot drink.
      Well, that set me off, didn't it!
      I was wrecked for the day.
      (Or just very laid back.)
      After a 3-hour stint making stuffing while also making home-made bread, I was ready for a nappy. My sons retired to the hot tub. I died my hair.
      My older son has been offered the third (old) couch and shown how to repair the arm that flops over (when not propped up by a table). It's in very good condition except for that. (It's a broken board and easily repaired - I just have no idea what they did with my staple gun.)
      He said he would come up with help and get it (and hasn't- needs a couple guys to lift it).
      He also did not eat the 10" deep apple pie I had made just for him (and I would not let yet another pie plate out of my house - he takes them every year and doesn't return them).
      So my younger son and I have been enjoying it - a slice after 30 seconds or so in the microwave - covered in Bryer's French Vanilla----mmmmmm!--- right to my thighs.
      My younger son was on chemo drugs needing a taper plus GCSF all week.
      I was off work Friday - and we did the movies - 007 - and the mall (groan).
      By Sunday, I knew my hard drive was in trouble. Or the power supply.
      I called Apple Care (they think the power supply) and took it into ComputerWare on my lunch hour on Tuesday.
      The computer has been fixed. I have a new video card. I have a new internal hard drive.
      And my printer isn't working!!!!!!
      It takes out the Finder!
      Other then that - I SEEM to be OK. (Except for Netscape, which lost its bookmarks). But then, Netscape does tend to do that on occasion.
      I also now own an 80 GIG external La Cie drive - and I am - REALLY BACKEDUP!!! (I also have backup on DVDs and zips.)
      The monitor however--- also under a fast-expiring warranty - is still flickering, readjusting its intensity at will.
      We have figured out how to get it into the repair. Monday.
      By setting it on a big suitcase with wheels - and dragging it to the car that way. It will have to be dragged to the van since I have no camper shell on the Tacoma.
      It is the big Apple Studio monitor - takes a few people to lift. It came in, my sons lifted it, and it hasn't moved since. That was three years ago.
      So Wednesday (yesterday) is the day I got the G4 minitower back, and Wednesday, my son threw a fever.
      103.17F - 39.8C. (Taken at two intervals).
      I ended up, after working all day, and driving all over San Jose to get the G4, including coming home over the Dunbarton Bridge, lugging in the G4, setting it up (lots of plugs), and doing 51 emails, and --- having taken off makeup and dressed in my flannel nightgown (I love them) and settled in with a cup of hot decaf to relax, --- well, I dressed in a rush and took him to Stanford at 9PM.
      By 10 they had decided he had a virus and we went back home. We were due back at 9AM the next day, Thursday after Thanksgiving. (He's done this before - but one must check.)
      At home, since he had been given 1000 units Tylenol (two extra strength), his fever broke, and he sweated up his bed something fierce. Sopping wet!
      I went in about 1AM and put down thick beach towels, which we use for the shower. (We large people do not do well with conventional-sized bath towels.)
      This meant that the next night, after a long chemo day ---- I would be doing three more loads of laundry.
      I am currently sleeping with five loads of laundry. Except, since I now sleep under a feather comforter, I push the laundry to the floor at night, and bring it back up in the morning. I keep thinking it might just evaporate.
      Thursday AM I am up - unwillingly, and I have my morning Susan Gravor fix (QVC) and then watch Ground force on BBC America. I am slow-moving (tired). I finally get the boy up and into the shower (after my shower).
      I dress, and pack for a long day.
      This is sodas, coffee, instant Revival soy powder, and lollypops.
      I want to take along the current mystery - The Last Precinct - Dr. Scarpetta running around in the morgue solving crimes - And I decide to take along "I Don't Know How She Does It" (of course, I KNOW how she does it) and "There's a Bitch in the House" - 26 essays by professional women about various topics - I'm dying to read that! They forgot to talk to me! Except, the Does It book is missing.
      I search madly - it is hardcover.
      Where can it be?
      I always fixate when something is missing. I tear around like a mad woman, stubborn. I want it when I want it.
      Aha - it is hiding under the laundry. On the floor of my bedroom.
      Prophetic.
      We head off, for we are delivering two big red 3 foot high floppy cuddly stuffed bears to the Clinic and the Day Hospital. My son is supplying them with decorations.
      Something for each holiday.
      Of course, I have a purple bear and he has a blue bear at home. We use then as cuddly pillows.
      And then there is the long green Iguana - same squishy cuddly thing. It matches the old couch. My son fell in love with it when I bought it for the Clinic. Cute paws and waddles under the chin. I had to go get them a bear. Albertson's grocery has become our favorite toy store.
      I also have a red bear for my older son. If he ever arrives for the couch. He was too slow - I have about finished the apple pie.
      At this rate - I'll top 200 lbs. for the fan club meeting.
      No---- maybe not.
      I have a physical next week.
      Maybe fasting is in order.
      My son is back home now, recovering from his chemo, the dose of Benedryl is wearing off and he has a stuffy nose.
      I left the furnace on this morning, and my face is currently as red as the bears! (too warm). Once red, my face will stay that way for hours. (Good blood flow. At the blood test today they said I had good blood color!)
      I have nearly finished the three extra loads of laundry - and I have wrestled his bed back together. That's a mattress protector (not vinyl) with heavy-duty deep corners, a double sheet folded in half, and then a fitted sheet on top. Two feather pillows - recently sent thru the dryer (45 minutes will clean anything).
      The comforter is in the wash now.
      And tonight, we will relax with CSI - after I throw the laundry off of my bed.
      At least I folded the towels.
      The pile is evaporating.
      See, I knew it would!
      The only thing on my mind now is this - with three couches and a big ottoman, a swing machine, two computer tables, multiple bookcases and chairs, an ironing board (for those rare events I either iron something - or sew), and a piano all in my living room - office, where on Earth do I put the Christmas tree?
      Because the weight machines are in the family room with the dining room table.