Boobtastic

On to other things, Real Life Things, that aren't nearly as much fun as Vacation Things.

I endured my 2nd boobie biopsy today. This one was a joy, oh joy. I had to lie on a table, facedown, with my titty in a hole. Then they put a clamp on my nipple, pulled it taut (or so it felt like anyway), and advised me to stay perfectly still while they finagled the spot. Then they drilled in a hole, extracted some of my body parts, took it to x-ray to test and ensure they had enough of my body parts, and then I had to go and get a mammogram so they could note where the metal pieces are currently located for future boobie exams, which I was informed now has to occur every 6 months. Piece of shit news that is, and I'm not sure I am even buying into it, especially if all this is NOTHING. Why do we have to continually test a bunch of nothing and expose me to more radiation? But we'll jump off that bridge when we come to it.

So that's that. I'll know in a week. And now that the numbing stuff is wearing off, my boobie has some sharp and pangy-pangs shooting around in it, and I don't like it.

They advised me not to do any aerobic activities for 5 days, or do anything to bounce them around. I'll do my best to curb my exhaustive workout routine, although it will be difficult to just sit in the recliner for a few days and relax, you know how I'm a bundle of go-go-go all the time, huh.

I advised Mr. A that the doctor ordered me to have Popeye's chicken and a biscuit with honey today, and some Oreos and milk, to help me heal. He obliged on the Popeye's, but we didn't make it to the Oreos. Yet. The more my boobie pangs me, the more I think we'll follow Dr.'s orders and get those cookies tonight.

And the worst of it? I have to sleep in a bra and can't shower until tomorrow evening. I'm going to be a Stinky Pete tomorrow. And probably cranky to boot.

The Good Life

Where were we? Well, right here! My toes were in that sand and they were happy feet.

We took a catamaran sail over from St. Thomas to St. Johns island, where we did some snorkeling and lollygagging around. We had a lot of this in our view, and it was good:

I was in this position. A LOT.

And sometimes, we canoodled on the balcony. Canoodle is a word that doesn't get nearly enough play, and should because it's fun to say and type.

Actually, I was on the balcony A LOT. Naked. I like to make that my goal on each cruise, to be naked on the balcony at least once, but I found myself out there every day naked for a little while. You couldn't see over unless you really craned your head around, and if you're that interested believe you me, you'll probably only want to look once. I'm - ahem - not 18 any longer. It's nice to get sun on things that never see the sun.

And we had really pretty nights, too, like this one in St. Maarten:

You can see the island lit up with life for the night, a cruise ship sails off, and the moon casts a beautiful glow over it all.

Because of the weather, we flopped our itinerary a bit and ended up in the Bahamas on the last day instead of the 2nd day of the trip. We went in during the afternoon, 2pm-7pm, instead of the 7am.-1pm crazy times we had originally scheduled. That stop is normally planned so early (not going to happen for me) and doesn't stay long enough, that we never get off the ship.

Since we were leaving during the nighttime for a change we got to see Atlantis lit up:

And we saw the Disney Dream leaving just before us, and it was lit up like a party:

The end.

Saddle Up & Ride

So I came home after dark (from getting my manicure) and did some looky-looing in the window. Could see that lights were on, but everything looked obscured - somewhat. Like you were looking through a gauzy curtain into our life, which I guess is what you're doing (should anyone be so inclined).

One side-affect I hadn't considered: The sheer gauziness of them makes for prime Cat-Peek-A-Boo-Get-Each-Other shenanigans. I just had to use a Stern Voice with Toby & the baby to get them to knock their cat games off. At least knock them off in the curtains.

It won't surprise me if I come home and the curtains are pulled down onto the floor. It will irk me, but not surprise me.

Okay, I just got back from picking up my packing assistant (bottle of Moscato, all for Me Me Me!), and now my packing games must commence. Yes, I saved it til the last minute, late in the evening. Once again. But whatever, I'm relaxed about it (for a change) and know it will all get done. I chose to spend the glorious afternoon while the sun was shining on the back porch with the cats, finishing up the Hunger Games trilogy. Sad. :( That the story's over, that is. And I'm not sure I loved the outcome, but it was okay enough.

Now I hope that the book I've downloaded for vacation doesn't stink because I'm not sure what my download capabilities will be out at sea. If I chose wrong, it'll be one big sad face from me. I don't even know what I picked - I think Freedom by Jonathan Franz or something, it was a recommendation from someone, somewhere...there was a little yellow post-it-note reminder on my desk. Wait, that's not what I downloaded at all! I downloaded What is the What. No wonder I have Reader Reservations, it seems a little deep for vacation pleasures. I fear I'm going to have to succumb to the best sellers list and get a back-up plan in place. Stat. I'm going to throw a couple Harlequinn Romances in my suitcase for backup. And they'll guarantee Mr. A a little role-playing, which he won't object to. The one I bought involves a cowboy. I think he'll be up for a rodeo.

You're Soaking In It

I survived the boobie biopsy today. I cried. Even before they did anything, my eyes started puddling up when I saw the lump looking so Big and Scary on the ultrasound machine. But the actual procedure didn't hurt, it was just the thought that they're checking you for CANCER that hurts. That blows.

But we go on vacation in the morning. I shall have wine tonight while I finish up around the house.

So what did I do last night, to prepare for vacation? Well, all practical things, naturally. I decided that was the night I just had to hang up the new curtains I purchased back in JUNE. JUNE. They've sat in the Target bag on a living room chair for 3 months, and the night I should have been packing for vacation? That was the night they had to get hung up. Now, to shed a little light on why they sat in a bag for so long, remember that bad back I had? Well, I wasn't really up to climbing around on chairs. And while I could have had Kenny do it, let's be real here. He doesn't excel at household activities.

They are very sheer. Much more appropriate for when I purchased them over the summer than as we head into winter. A really pretty gauzy linen, but I do need a couple more panels to fill them out, and they probably aren't still selling linen curtains in October. I hope they are, though. The room does look a lot more airy and bright, which we both like, but I do wonder how much of us walking around the neighbors can see. Because I tend to walk through the house naked every morning, after I've taken a shower, as I'm getting ready for work. It's my alone time, Reader. No one's up but me and the cats, and the cat's don't judge. But now the neighbors might. We're going to have to do some reconnaissance and see what they can see.

I really need to plan more vacations, they motivate me to get shit done around the house. I actually have the can of paint out to do some light touch up work that's been neglected for the past 3 years or so. No sense rushing around to do it.

I think the reason I get all motivated to do stuff before vacation is that I want to have something pleasant to look forward to when we come home. We stay in really nice places, I don't want to come home to a dumpy mess. Maybe we should switch our travels to camping. That way, the house in it's natural state of duress would be just fine.

Cats are out on the patio today, soaking up some sunshine. I think I will go join them and read for a half hour or so, before I get busy packing up. I need to get that done, so I can enjoy the evening with a manicure as the hardest thing I have to do.

Know When To Hold "Em

I'm just so tired lately. I know, everyone's tired, but I'm tired!-tired. I can't get enough sleep, even when I should have more than enough sleep. The least little activity has me pausing for a little break (like now, I just carried up some laundry and fed the cats, needed a break). I think I'm abnormally tired and I fear it has something to do with the abnormality going on in my boobie area. Yes, that still hasn't been resolved. Tomorrow. I get Test 1 tomorrow. Then Test 2 on the 18th. So we'll know by Birthday Month if I am troubled & worried or celebratory & carefree.

And I hope to find out that I'm tired because I've just been so lazy for the past year(s) and it's finally caught up with me. Sitting leads to Sit-some-more syndrome, so I've been told. I've got that for sure.

Okay, I'm hauling up to go and do some things on my To-Do list, which involves more laundry (pre-vacation laundry, hooray, I love that), and tidying up the homestead.

I'd love a glass (or three) of wine, but can't have alcohol before the boobie probe.

In other, much much much more exciting news, Kenny was selected out of the 4000 people who applied for the new casino!! VERY EXCITING! They loved his exuberant personality. I figured it would either work for or against him, but luckily it was FOR. He starts 240 hours of unpaid training in December. But I think he's going to love it. And really? He needs to work at the new casino so he won't be able to gamble there. That'll be the only thing standing between him and 1-800-Gambler.

What's Cookin'

Nothing much to say to round out the weekend activities here. I was tired this weekend. Slept til noon on Sunday, and had to make an effort to get myself out of bed at that. Sluggish all day, but made some food. Whipped up a pot of chili that was an experiment of sorts. We are low on groceries and not stocking up prior to our trip next week (hooray!). I added pumpkin to the chili per The Healthy Hoff. It's tasty.

I also roasted beets. Lookout, blood-red poop!

And I roasted some red-skinned potatoes with garlic cloves. They are okay. I was just using up stuff in the fridge.

I've got a big pimple on the tip of my nose. Kenny said it's starting to make requests. Tonight it requested Oreos and milk, so I guess he's right.

More later...I know, I know, you can hardly wait.

Party Animals

Kenny: "How is it that we can have a sink full of dishes, and we haven't eaten one meal at home all week?"

Good question. I have no idea. But we do, and we didn't. The only thing I've "cooked" all week was my morning smoothies, which accounts for the dirty Vitamix sitting in the sink, that I hadn't rinsed out yet. Other than that, nothing was concocted here. Yet? A sink full of dirty dishes sits in the kitchen, awaiting to be addressed.

Kenny thinks the cats must host parties when we're not home. I'm not so sure he's wrong.