Finding the love ......

One of the wicked uglies of Parkinsons is the way the body deals with synthetic LDopa in relation to the protein consumed.  Further adding to the raving uglies is *what* protein needs to be considered, not just how much.

We discovered that Jon doesn't deal well with proteins from red meat.  Pork is becoming an issue as well.  Enter the salmon.

not to be confused with Enter the Dragon.....

Not a big fan.  I love tuna and tilapia and rockfish and cod and tons of others but salmon always was blech nasty.  I've discovered that meant it was over cooked.  So now I embark on a new cuisine - learning to cook fish and embrace a more mediterranean cuisine.

At least it's healthy.  We have a new grill so I foresee many hours of instruction learning to grill things I never tried before.  The one bonus (ok there are two) is that it involves Jon as he has to help me being a novice with fish, and the second I guess is its healthy?

We broke down and purchased an electric mower for the back yard.  I can't swing a weedeater (well not the big one we have) and Jon can't anymore so we went the logical route.  I also foresee more time lazing about in the yard watching the critters.

....but I do not intend on offering salmon to even the most industrious and inventive of our feathered friends....

not unless they ask nicely ;)

Photo above is from one of my recipe sites.

Where everyone goes but nobody knows your name

This is a photo from Great Lakes Medieval Faire from 2007.  Funny, a couple of years after that everybody that we knew was singing the praises of this little faire.  Apparently we were ahead of the curve. Even with difficulties, they're advertising for 2012.  Maybe they'll keep afloat.

I'm going somewhere with this.

I remember the old days of Yahoo 360.  I remember when they abruptly shut it down.  Everybody was going to Facebook (which I had been on a couple of years already) and Twitter and it seemed everything was "sum up your life in 50 characters or less".  So Yahoo canned it.  I'm certain there were other reasons but still I cannot help but think if they had held on a couple of years longer, they would see what we're seeing now:  the reappearance of The Blog.  People have found that to share a fast snippit with everyone may not be as satisfying as sharing a moment in time with a few.  Better to have a visit with friends that a quick howdy to strangers.  Nice to go where everyone knew you.

Of course Harold knew that all along.

Now the kool kids are wandering over to wordpress (a blog I've had for many years - and found that the site wasn't that user friendly) but I think I'll just stay here in familiar surroundings.  Harold is predicting that we will be more to sharing your blog via multiple social media outlets.  I've not quite decided about that.  Then again, he often thinks about this One.Big.Site that will host anything you want from any platform you want so just go one place.

Or maybe he's just being silly.

Meanwhile, I'm obviously here - at the confusing name of Anonymous Spaghetti, and if you wander through Live Journal, you can send me an invite (or comment here and I'll find you) and I believe that's that.  Live Journal is where I share the things that really aren't for public consumption.  I may cross post this blog but LJ will NEVER be crossposted.  It holds too many secrets and too much pain.

So for now, supper is cooking and we shall see if Harold's predictions come to pass or not.

it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

Hiding from work

...and if you're reading this Work - I'm just kidding

Things are cruising along.  Just like they are wont to do.  Jon is on disability, I work too many hours, and even though we have severely curtailed our social life, I'm still tired all the time.

My doctor tells me it's stress.  ok - don'tcha love that?  then they don't tell you what to do about it.  OK, well mine did.  I have a script for xanax for stress induced insomnia.

Slowly, Jon and I are settling into our new life:  that of the one wageearner household.  He's still on short term disability until mid this month.  Then we fight the battle of long term disability.  That should prove to be interesting to say the least.  In the era of recession, more and more disability claims are being scrutinized to bare bones or - worse yet - completely denied.  While Parkinsons is pretty straight forward as to it's disability status, due to his early onset, we might have issues.

It will be what it will be.

Meanwhile, I shall be taking Harold again to the DC 101 Chili Cookoff in May.  As you recall, he had a blast last year.  This year there shall be more photos but - no I promise - none of the bikini / ugg boots combo that we saw all too much of last year.

it's worth giving up a nap for I must say :)

Irony - ain't it a blast?

Wendy's - yeah gotta love it.

But onto the irony.  As the fates would have it, we found out around 10 a.m. Friday that Friday (that Friday) would be Jon's last day.  His disability starts Monday.  It was either that or take a demotion/pay cut on Tuesday.  It was a no-brainer and his team lead was very supportive of his decision.

We made plans this weekend to just stay home and heal.  Neither of us felt particularly outgoing given the circumstances.  We're thinking of things Jon can do to keep him from being too bored until he settles into a lesser level of activity.

Enter the irony.  His computer broke.  OK, yes it's an older one.  When I started having to bring work home all the time, we purchased me a new laptop with imbedded 10-key and he took my old one.  It's been not wanting to charge for a while now; picky, finicky, and just plain stubborn.

So thankfully we have the Dell credit and for 20.00/month, we have a replacement one coming for Jon.  He only has to limp long (all puns intended) for a week without it and using mine if he chooses.

Life.  It's funny no?  It's preferrable to the alternative - or so I've heard.

We're still making decisions on whether to hit his 401K and pay off the smaller bills leaving only the utilities, car payment (thankfully paid off next year) and house payment.  Sadly, we shall be selling Baby - my 2002 Jeep Wrangler.  She has 100K miles and honestly, Jon cannot even ride in it anymore, let alone drive it.  Sad because she was the first brand new car I ever picked and paid for.  Then again, she's a bit of a gas hog and his malibu - while I don't care for it - is more commuter friendly.

Sucks being an adult don't it?

I took that photo earlier this year.  He's not hiding his face - he's gathering balance to get up and out of the car.  If fortunes allow, when it comes time to trade in the Malibu, we shall look for a small sized SUV which is large enough for him to comfortably ride in yet small enough not to be a gas hog.  They're easier for him to get into/out of.

extra garlic - tabasco optional

Two random thoughts:

I prefer spicy and savory over sweet
This photo - while not spicy - speaks to me of the relationship between fluid and stationary.

Jon has a meeting today with HR to discuss going on full time medical disability.  It's time.  His work is suffering and his health is suffering.

Still - it's sort of an end of an era.  We knew it was coming but wanted to put it off - and thus embrace the semblence of normalcy - as long as possible.

It's just no longer possible.

Harold - and the changing of the seasons - have helped keep my sanity of late.  Whenever I want to crawl in my dark black hole and hide from events that have overtaken, Harold spots a tree or a bird and I can see the wonder in creation.  That allows time for my type-A overplanning brain to take a break and for me to take a breath.

Amongst the other issues that are more than obvious, is the loss of sense of self that retired persons can face. Jon feels like he's let me down, so I spend an enormous amount of time building him up - his self-esteem, his sense of worth.  It's tough.  It's tougher for him though.

However, as I often remind him - We Are Together.  THAT is what counts.

This weekend we shall wander about The Grove and celebrate being together.  October 15th it will be 10 years since I moved out here.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Harold's Shopping Extravaganza

Sadly it was *my* credit card.  Still my muse knows how to find a bargain ... or is it me?

Either way 4 Lane Bryant shirts for $60.00 and yes 3 of the 4 were black.  It's ok - Harold swears it's my power color.  Frankly I think he likes the idea of black = tortured artist.  Either way, it goes with EVERYTHING so that works.  Then he gently reminded me that Jon loves me in camisoles and it was probably time for a sale at Ashley Stewart and wouldn't you know it was?  4 camisoles for $30.00 and wheeee lots of pretties.  I was looking at the jewelry but I really have enough of it and Harold keeps reminding me that 1) I rarely wear it and 2) The Wild Granny left me a ton of diamonds.

....and according to him everthing goes with diamonds.

Nice at at least one of us has decent taste ;) 

The photo says it all

Perception:

One of the cautions and warnings when you start a new job is to stay away from the friendliest person you meet.  They are a leech.  Beware Beware Beware.

...unless that person is me I guess.

I'm not exactly someone who can just sit by and let things happen.  After a point, I jump in a do it.  Most recently with our revolving door next to my office (on either side in fact), I've been the resident tour guide.  I'm already the go-to person for many things from location of items to information on employees (does such and such work here?  you get the drift) to goverment rules and regulations.  However, with the change in staff, I've become the go-to person for them to locate items, locate people, and touch base.

Is it my job?  no.

Have I been a temp before?  Youbetcha.

In the place I worked before this (a retail type store which is closed now), I was tossed at a desk, handed paperwork, signed on the computer, and not spoken with until the end of shift when I was told to come back the next day.  Lather rinse repeat.  This went on for nearly a week.  Then I was a temp to hire but still it took months before I knew anybody and I had to make the overtures myself.  It's a horrible feeling and one that I don't think needs passing on....

So just add The Welcome Wagon hat to my ever growing arsenal and Take That you assumption making magazine article....

....because you just.don't.know.everything now do you?