A Forced Abstinence

This morning Dr. Parillo called to give me the results of my last week's visit. I don't go easily to the doctor given my past history, however, having nearly two months of trouble finally convinced me that it was time to put aside my silliness and seek help. Well, it was just as I suspected---a return of C-diff, minus the colitis, or so I hope. I wrote about my previous saga here.

I don't know which is worse-- taking the antibiotic Flagyl, which is beyond horrible tasting, or no wine for two weeks. The truth is, both are bad. You may recall that drinking even a drop of alcohol while taking Flagyl will make a person violently ill so there is that. Furthermore, at least to me, taking a bitter pill three times a day for two weeks is torture. But then again, it is not chemo therapy which is something I will remind myself of in hopes that I can manage. Going through what I've been experiencing is another very powerful incentive. Now you know why, especially lately, I have been a serious homebody!!

Speaking of home, what do you think happened the day of this sunrise, which is foggy because of humidity on my lens?

Well. of course it rained and rained like mad! So crazy much, making up for last month's dry weather., the pool is now nearly overflowing!

I feel so bad for our new young neighbors next door because during Saturday's massive rain and wind, a huge tree limb, as in it covers about a third of their back yard and pool, fell, leaving them with some hard choices. Their insurance deductible is $2, 500! As well their patio furniture and the baby fence around the pool is damaged. I remember those days well when unexpected expenses occurred, and it is not a good feeling.  On a different note I finally was reimbursed for the sprinkler repair after making about ten phone calls. Grrr.....

Meanwhile, over at Bill and Fallon's home, Bill had spent most of the day tidying things up outside. So much for that following the storm. Lasting nearly an hour, it did stop with enough time for him to tidy up again, but that' s no fun is it? They were having a party to celebrate Fallon finishing her book work for nursing school. She has spent countless hours studying, and with that in her past, she will now begin doing all her clinical rotations at the hospital. Hurray for that, and hurray that she is number one in her class!

Longtime readers will remember how I struggled to keep Bill's pool looking decent. Well, these days it looks way more than decent!

We chatted, we played corn hole while David used his wrestling announcer voice, commenting on the matches, and Bill made a fire. Most of my photos were not fit for prime time, and the one below is just barely, but I do like Fallon's smile so I'm sharing it regardless.

Do you remember when people began using the word suck, as in this sucks, and that sucks? I do. My twins began using it ,and I was aghast, saying it sounded so vulgar. Well, I suppose you can get used to just about anything because I thought this sign, I saw posted in someone's yard, was fairly amusing.

Bruce removed the screen from my kitchen window for me so I could get some clearer shots of the birdies. Why didn't I remove it, you ask? It was stuck, or so it seemed to me! It is that time of the year when the birds are molting, looking somewhat bedraggled. I can't decide if this is two males, or a male and female Red Winged Blackbird.

Riding my bicycle over to Irene's yesterday morning, following our visit, I decided to ride a few extra blocks over to the nearby peacock neighborhood . Lo and behold, there were little ones!!!

Oh my goodness they are so cute!! Generally they are born in early July, making it a very pleasant surprise. There are a number of July babies roaming around as well.

Can you believe how lucky I was?

It appears as if the adult peacocks molt just like our song birds.

Look what else I saw recently!!

It has been quite some time since a Passion flower has made an appearance in a Camera Crazy post. These blooms never cease to amaze me!

As much as I don't want to, I'll leave you for now to go pick up my prescription along with some sort of food that might disguise the taste. Someone wrote about using applesauce to mask it, but now I'm wondering how something like sherbet or ice cream might work.....

Teetotaler for two weeks,

Gail

p.s. Here is something fun if you've got nothing better to do.

The Dog Days Have Come

"Amy Falls Down" by Jincy Willet proved to be a lot of fun to read. Unlike the last novel, this one won me over right away, and kept me reading long past my bedtime. Perhaps it was the cover with the adorable birdbath drawing, or maybe it was because I identified with the protagonist, whatever the reason, I think I've found a new author. Have you heard of her before? I had not, and now that I have, I'll make it my business to read her other novel and book of short stories.

Amy is a writer, of what might be termed, "former acclaim." Reading her story, I got to thinking that if I'd been asked as a young girl what I wanted to be when I grew up, it sure as heck wouldn't have been an x-ray tech! Truth be told, I suspect I might have said a writer, although with a brain lacking imagination, I don't know how I would have pulled it off! That must be what's kept me writing this blog for so long. Who else would write 1204 posts for nothing but the satisfaction?

So, that being said, if you come across "Amy Falls Down," you might just find it amusing.

We are definitely in the dog days of summer around here; if we're lucky there will be only about six brutal weeks left. If we're not lucky, we'll have a hurricane! Actually, hurricanes, despite what you may read or hear, are pretty uncommon. Did I tell you about the brother of a new vendor at Winter Garden? A former television weatherman, he told me he regularly got into trouble with the station management for not hyping every little weather disturbance. Figures.

Have you been missing the birds? They have been in hiding I suppose because in the last few weeks they have not been nearly as plentiful. Yesterday afternoon, however, there were four red-winged blackbirds on the feeder in the back yard. Molting season has them looking pretty pitiful!

Mama cardinal doesn't look much better!

We've not had even ONE drop of rain since our rain-out at the market, with temperatures in the low 90's  this week. Isn't that always the way?

I've been in the pool just a little bit ,and while there I saw the craziest bug!

Look at those back flipper! Not only does it swim, but when I got too close, it up and flew away.

After such a good sales days over the weekend I spent a good little while on Monday working on my order, a process I don't much care for. While doing so, I went through 1,500 pictures Roger had put together in a web album for me to help me with the ordering process. There is so much junk in there I barely see the good stuff! Marking each and every one of them, whether to go or stay, I'm hoping in the near future it may become easier. Selling at the same places, week in, and week out, poses different challenges--people are always looking for the latest and greatest and I try to keep up with their wishes, although at times I feel as if I'm doing nothing worth printing. This would be one of those times.

A trip to Whole Foods was in order to buy dog food and while there I came across this amazing bunch of gladiolas for $3.99. Don't you just love the whole 99 cents ploy? Do they think customers can be so easily fooled? I took this Tuesday afternoon, and you should see it now!

Our lovely anniversary flowers from Matt and Tom in all white inspired my purchase because they were spent. Not forever though. While Sue was over the other morning she hung the roses to dry; hanging them upside down from a clothes hanger with clothes pins, apparently the trick is to keep them separated. Pretty soon I'll have a lovely keepsake.

We went to another funeral Tuesday night. One of our neighbors died this past Friday. 80 years old, Frank suffered the last few years, so it's really a blessing for everyone. Have you heard of Moose Lodges before? I've driven by them, but as far as I know, I'd never met someone who was a "Moose." That is a thing of the past. Four of Frank's lodge brethren directed much of the service, with another neighbor officiating. What most saddened me about this particular funeral, aside from the brow beating altar call given by Kent, was that if not for the neighbors, there would have been very few people. Plus, I forgot, the casket was open throughout! Nothing like an open casket to add to the misery of a funeral. A note to my children: keep me covered!

Finally, as I continue riding the same streets, especially in the heat, my picture taking has slowed down somewhat. Thank goodness! However, most days something speaks to me, as in story form. I rode by the yellowest, if that is a word, house the other morning, and then noticed the garage door with three samples of yellow.

I understand yellow is a difficult paint color to get right. Once upon a time, I had a sunflower theme going in my kitchen and the paint to go with it. I still remember being in the midst of the painting when one of the twins and their friend came in. They did not have nice things to say about my choice. At any rate, are there new owners here? Has the shade of yellow just become too much? If so, why pick it again? As you know, I'm pretty easily amused...

Here's looking at you kid:

Is there such a thing as "cat days?"