Day two of my adventures in blogging

As I have said to many, I am not a writer, I listen, so bear with me… Unfortunately as this is a short trip there is no beverage service and the blog attendants have run out of flaming walnuts. A thousand apologies. Yesterday I visited my friend Diana’s blog (you can find it in my links section). Diana is taking care of her father who is fighting cancer and struggles with his care, her school work (she will be a fine doctor some day), her husband and trying to find a few minutes to herself. There are no words Diana, but know that I love you. When I did so I was confronted with emotions and thoughts I have been struggling with. For those of you who don’t know, my mom is in an extended care facility receiving treatments for cancer. We have no delusions, we are not looking for a cure... but the goal is giving her time, and keeping her comfortable. I am a soon to be 37 year old mother of a darling, sweet and bubbly 8 year old Chicklet who loves Uncle Travis’s story and is convinced he should open a story factory (I know… too precious). I’ve been her primary (read sole) caregiver since she was 3 years old, and my entire life has revolved around her. Her father lives in a neighbouring city and she spends time with him what works out to be every other weekend. And now I have become my 86 year old (yes you read correctly) Father’s keeper. I’ve always been Daddy’s girl. Always. Although he has a pacemaker and is legally blind, he has a disease called macular degeneration and it robs you of your eyesight, daddy does pretty well. He still lives in the house that I was raised in. And I have the help of my former high school teacher who goes to see him every day and makes him lunch and checks up on him, even helping with things around the house and running an errand or two… Teachers, seems they are always a godsend. Dad misses Mom more than I can say (so do I and the Chicklet). They talk on the phone several times a day. They are “connected”. They are the example of what a true partnership between a man and a woman should be. They are the ideal I strive for in a relationship (but that’s another topic altogether). And with all their troubles, they still worry about me. About whether my work is too much, about whether raising my daughter alone, helping her with homework, being involved in her school is too much when it’s compounded with the new role I have been assigned. I am an only child. I am self sufficient. I am a mother. I am a daughter. I am a woman. I am made of steel. But I am also human. The love and friendship of the friends I have made online (this is the part where people roll their eyes) has lifted my spirits and feels like a warm blanket and a roaring fire on a cold February day - believe me, being Canadian I know a lot about what keeps you warm in a cold snap. I want to thank them for making me laugh, for the sometimes silly chit-chat (who am I kidding ... sometimes!! *snarf*), for sharing of themselves, for caring, for being there. "Love sought is good, but given unsought is better." --Shakespeare Thank you my Soul Patrol Brothers and Sisters. And a word of thanks to the lovely folks who left comments or e-mailed me about this blog. Much appreciated. Yes Turnbaby, it's pink... it is after all my signature colour! Blush and Bashful! (That's me!! hehehe!) The whole blog looks like it's been coated in Pepto-Bismol! (rent Steel Magnolias if haven't a clue why this is called Anndi's luggage folks!) Now, being who I am, I can’t just drop this on all of you and leave it on this note.. So … Revisionist History On this day in 1845, the 1st baseball team was organized. Unfortunately the effort was not doomed to failure despite the seemingly endless argument as to Who's on first, What's on second, and I Don't Know’s on third. And we are now stuck with discussions about magic numbers and the color of some player’s socks. For my baseball loving friends... And in 1991, Doogie Howser loses his virginity. O.K. I’m not touching that one… If anyone wants to play with it, I’ll be in the bathroom washing my brain with bleach. ;) More Stupid Stuff…. Ridiculous Headlines IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS QUEEN MARY HAVING BOTTOM SCRAPED IS THERE A RING OF DEBRIS AROUND URANUS? PROSTITUTES APPEAL TO POPE (If I comment on this I’ll go to hell… ) PANDA MATING FAILS - VETERINARIAN TAKES OVER (Doc to take matters into his own hands? What dedication!) NJ JUDGE TO RULE ON NUDE BEACH (Joisy huh?... snarf!) CHILD'S STOOL GREAT FOR USE IN GARDEN (it’s ok dear, you can go in the bushes…) ORGAN FESTIVAL ENDS IN SMASHING CLIMAX EYE DROPS OFF SHELF SQUAD HELPS DOG BITE VICTIM DEALERS WILL HEAR CAR TALK AT NOON (Oh My! Has the Hoff been invited?) ENRAGED COW INJURES FARMER WITH AX (Um, Dana…is Bessie happy? Or does she have an axe to grind?) LAWMEN FROM MEXICO BARBECUE GUESTS (Southern hospitality?) MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH (people just have no dedication these days!) TWO SOVIET SHIPS COLLIDE - ONE DIES TWO SISTERS REUNITE AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS AT CHECKOUT COUNTER NEVER WITHHOLD HERPES FROM LOVED ONE (share with the one you love?) NICARAGUA SETS GOAL TO WIPE OUT LITERACY DRUNK DRIVERS PAID $1,000 IN 1984 AUTOS KILLING 110 A DAY, LET'S RESOLVE TO DO BETTER (we're under our quota people!!!) IF STRIKE ISN'T SETTLED QUICKLY IT MAY LAST A WHILE (how insightful!) WAR DIMS HOPE FOR PEACE SMOKERS ARE PRODUCTIVE, BUT DEATH CUTS EFFICIENCY (how inconsiderate of them) COLD WAVE LINKED TO TEMPERATURES (he went to meteorology school and got a degree for that! - oh, and the weather today will be seasonal!) BLIND WOMAN GETS NEW KIDNEY FROM DAD SHE HASN'T SEEN IN YEARS MAN IS FATALLY SLAIN SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN JET CRASH, EXPERTS SAY (they need an expert, nay experts, to figure this out?) Seriously… Who writes these? I Love you more than my luggage! Hugs, Smooches and Gropes