Hello again! I don't know about you but today has been a day!!!
I woke early this morning and hurried around so I could get to Des Moines and back before the wind got too bad to drive. All the way up there, I was just thinking about the weather so my mind was pretty distracted. Well, between the weather and the rock concerts going on in my car! Belting out some tunes while keeping away from any semi's that may or may not decide to blow over on top of me. I noticed a lot of troopers out today. That's something I'm not used to but then again, it's a day thing!
Got up to the John Stoddard Cancer Center and hoped and prayed I could remember the code to get around to the radiation department. Success! It was as clear as the nose on my face. So glad they didn't change that on me! I got the totes of gifts unloaded and into the main hallway and called Jenny... the happiest woman on earth. I have always called her that. For what she does... and she is called a navigator for oncology so she does A LOT... she has the happiest disposition of any person I have ever met. As I was taking totes and boxes loaded with gifts into the hallway, I kept meeting people coming and going. I smiled and then realized I had a mask on so they had no idea. Then terror hit me. "How am I supposed to greet these people?" I couldn't, for the life of me, remember how we were "looked at" when we were the ones coming and going on a daily basis. Then I started saying hello to everyone and telling them to have a nice day. (Don't tell me what to do I always thought, with a laugh)
I did not go into the waiting room for radiation nor chemo because I wasn't sure how it would hit me and the last thing I want to do is break down in front of people that are already dealing with more than they want to handle. Jenny and I loaded up the cart and she took them away after a couple of hugs. That felt good to give back to the caregivers. I know they are going to enjoy their little gift bags of smiles.
I forgot to add that when I cleared the entrance gate, I said outloud, "Quintin I got in! Phew!" So then when I left and had to go through yet another gate where there was always a big pothole, I said outloud again, "No pothole Quintin! They fixed it!" And just as I passed through that gate, BANG, right down in a dang pothole! Ha! I guess he showed me! I headed home and got down to the interstate when I realized I was taking the exact same route home today that he and I took all those days he went for treatment. The same route every single time. I don't know why I didn't ever change it up. It felt comfortable to me so I stuck with it. If it aint broke, don't fix it!
I got about 10 miles west of Des Moines and the tears just started rolling. I couldn't even tell you what I was thinking about. I just couldn't stop crying. I know he would be so happy that I did that project and he is smiling at those that had a hand in helping me. I really do have the best friends! I cried all the way to Stuart and then had to get out of my car so the wind dried that up real fast!
The rest of the day I didn't have anything to do and for me that's a long, sad day. Made the bed (because the dogs weren't ready to get out of it when I did this morning), cleaned the car out, and then just sat here. I found little odds and ends things to do but nothing major. And let me tell you, it was one boring day! Well, as the wind picked up, these three dogs of mine got anxious and they kept wanting to go out, come back in, go out, come back in, etc.. This is why I have a doggy door but geez that was annoying!
We were laying on the couch watching the final episode of 2 Broke Girls when the tornado whistle went off. They looked at me and I said "let's go!" I had so many things in place in case the weather went off the rails it wasn't funny. Those little odds and ends that I was doing earlier? Yeah, bottled water and a dish downstairs for them. An energy drink for me (yes, I did). 2 blankets and a pillow down there just in case we had to REALLY take cover and a phone charger. I was going to have juice in my phone for as long as the electricity would let me! I meant to grab some hot dogs but forgot. Even I'm laughing but dang it, if we would get stuck down there, at least we wouldn't starve, right!
So it ended up being less of a storm than predicted and that's ok. The wind though? Yeah it has been right on. I made sure I had all my outside stuff in the garage before we tucked ourselves in for the day.
And then just a little while ago, I went out to the garage. Went in through the side door and left it open so the dogs could come in after they pottied. Because it wouldn't be fair if I did something they didn't know about! I was out there looking through something and sat down and all three dogs were in there with me. All of a sudden the dogs go C-R-A-Z-Y. I couldn't see what was going on. Next thing I know a stupid bat is flying around above me and it can't seem to find it's way out. Oh Lord!
You all know how I feel about animals that fly! You have never seen a big girl move like I can move when I need to. I screamed "Get out!" and they all headed out the side door probably wondering if this squirrel had just lost it's last nut. My head all the way down to my knees, running around the car and waving my hand above my head to make sure that stupid thing didn't come near me. The dogs were looking at me like I had lost my mind! I opened the outside garage door and I hope it went out. I closed it and nothing moved so we shall see!
If I show up to work tomorrow with pissy pants, they will know that stupid bat was still in my garage! I'll run for it and jump in. Heck, I may get in the passenger side and climb over! That's it. Done with the garage for the night!
We came back inside and the dogs are all crashed out and I finished up my Christmas baking for the season. Just have to frost some cookies this week and I am D-O-N-E!
If you made it this far without falling asleep or pissing yourself, I hope your day was safe. I know I was texting my people to make sure they were safe. Oh yeah... that smoke smell... that's all the way from a Kansas Wildfire. Can you imagine? I can't believe there isn't a trail of fire all the way across the midwest the way the wind has carried the smoke. Unbelievable!
If I don't get back here before then, I hope you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
