At least you can keep the foot

On our last day of the cruise I started to get a little sick, left sided low abd. pain. By time we finally got home my re-occurring Diverticulitis was flow blown again and off I went to the Doctors office where he agreed that was my problem. I have had this happen, now 4 times, over the last 3 years so I knew the road I was on. First I would have to take a couple of antibiotics, but one of them was made by satin himself called Flagyl. It can make you sicker than the illness, constant nausea, dry and metallic tasting mouth, and gut pain . But this time I was told it was time to see a surgeon about possibly having the infected piece of colon removed.

I have had other disposable organs removed, hysterectomy, gallbladder ,appendix and tonsils. I wasn’t so sure the colon was considered disposable. I guess the Lord gave us these types of body parts just to mess with us here on earth, because it sure seems like a waste of effort just to give them back in the here-after.

1st surgeon visit I was informed I was still infected, and needed a CT scan to make sure, and was put on more of satins pills and come back in one week. I did as I was told. My version of what I thought would happen yesterday at the appt. You are still infected (the pain is still present ), you need IV antibiotics and then we’ll talk about surgery (in my own time frame). The real conversation at the appt. You are still infected, I don’t think this is going to heal on it’s own you need surgery ASAP, before it gets worse and ruptures. Tears. More satins pills.

Then I was put on the conveyor belt of admission preparation. I was asked every personal question known to man, gave my blood, and my $$$. So Monday I am having a partial colon resection. And to add insult to injury I have to have a 2 day bowel prep, also devised by the devil, and clear liquids for 2 days. No birthday cake this weekend at the 2 parties.

So about my foot. As I was waiting in pre-admission a little older man was wheeled into the area and his wife sat down next to him and he said “not very good news it is?” she said “at least you get to keep the foot.” I am losing another disposable organ, one I am reassured I will do fine without, not one I wouldn’t do so well without. So as we all know “It could be worse” and count the blessing you have, and I have many.

Final note to self, get a perm today and anyone want to buy a ticket to Florida for next week.

This morning bright and early I headed out to a locally owned grocery store, Kent’s, for their Early Bird special. I actually needed things they had on sale so I knew even if they were busy it would be worth it. I have always liked their meat, cheese and produce.


Well all of Roy must have wanted to save some money too because we were all there. I got there 90 min. after they opened and the parking lot was packed, but one funny story was in-order to get a shopping cart you had to wait outside the door and help someone leaving the store, load their groceries, and then take their cart. I didn’t mind this at all and I visited with the women and we joked about the situation as we loaded her car, and I got my cart.


It is a very small store, very organized but very crowded. My shopping took about 45 minutes, and my line wait was 45min. But I visited with the women in front, and the couple in back and we would move each others carts if we wanted to go get more items, remember is was a great sale

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Second funny story (or at least interesting), as I was leaving there was still a cart shortage and people waiting to help you to your car, plus now the store had a couple of young girls out their helping too, to make sure the carts came right back. So a very very large 30ish man asked for the cart, followed the young gal and I to my truck and stood with his arms folded while she and I unloaded the 2 heavy water boxes, the big box of frozen chicken breasts and all the other heavy and multi bags of stuff, (I even took all my reusable bags), he didn’t left a finger to help us, just watched. What a gentleman. I am sure he didn’t want to get in our way or intrude on our fun at all. You can come up with your own conclusion.


After thought. I have not banned Wal-Mart as many others have, it’s not my favorite place to shop, but they are usually cheaper and have a large variety of non grocery stuff, but it is so nice to see other stores and especially little local guys, still able to compete and make a difference in our ability to save money, and stock up.


I am grateful that in this “recession” we are still able to work and provide for our families needs and as Kim and I have often joked, as we have needed to purchased new things for our home, we are “doing our part to help the economy”. And I continue to pray that everyone will be able to do the same.

Travel Log

Warning: Could be boring!

Kim and I got home Sunday night from a 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise. We went on the (Bed creature, different each night)

Serenade of the Sea. We really had a good time. Having never done this before we weren’t really sure what to expect or how things were done, but there are people at every step of the way to make you do it right and never get lost.

We spent a night in San Juan before we boarded the ship and that was pretty uneventful. We did wander around a little on old San Juan but we didn’t see or really do anything. But once we boarded the ship we did a lot of wandering. They are huge and this one carries 2800 passengers and 900 crew.

(rooms looked like RV trailers, but they were very comfortable)

Each day we went on a different adventure and if that didn’t take all day, you could always shop. Shopping is something they want everyone to do. Especially shopping for diamonds. I have never seen so many Jewelery shops.

We went snorkeling on St. Thomas, which took me a little getting used to. I haven't done it since Hawaii (24 years ago) but it was fun. I don’t think we saw as many colorful fish and coral here but it was still a good adventure.

The next day we took a tour bus into the hills and all around St. Lucia to see the Pitons mountains. We also saw so much poverty and unemployed young adults and men, the homes were the size of many of our garden sheds, or single car garages. Everywhere we went people were trying to sell “stuff".

We couldn’t decide what to do on Antigua,

so we took a cab with some other people and went to a very beautiful beach and just hung out for the day. Kim was able to eat some authentic food, which just the smell made my mouth burn and eyes water, so I just ate his coleslaw. I have to admit I have never seen Kim just relax and hang out at a beach before so I kept asking him if he was bored and surprisingly he always said "no."

We split up on St. Maartin, because I didn’t want to go Scuba Diving.

(Kim getting on the ship just in the nick of time from Scuba Diving)

Kim went and had a good time and was able to “breath under water” something I do just fine above the water. But I went to the shopping area and learned how to ride or drive a Segway or people mover. I was totally surprised how fun and easy it was. We had one women chicken out, she kept telling her husband she wasn’t coordinated enough and just walked away. It took a little getting the hang of it, but after just a few minutes I had it down and off I went. (famous beach, where movies are frequently made, I don't know what movies)

We went on a 4X4 adventure on Barbados to see the Green Monkeys and other tropical forest type animals, and on the way there our guide told us all about the Real-Estate and how much everything cost and where famous people stayed and owned homes and got married, it was interesting but I’m not sure it was really the Island Tour speech he was supposed to give. He did however live up to the 4x4 adventure part by taking us off road through a sugarcane field and factory and about knocking all of us of the back of the truck. Not so fun! (Milton and Mary)

(watching Kite Surfing)

All in all I had a good time, I loved spending time with Kim and eating fancy dinners and having waiters remembered your name and meeting new people. Jodi said on hers they were Mormon magnets, we were not, and as far as I know we never meet or ran into an LDS person, but trust me I kept looking for signs, like no liquor in one or both hands, clothing that night be considered semi-church appropriate, the obvious “lines” under the clothing, but we still really enjoyed the people we did meet. (dinner companions and waiters)

2 single ladies at our dinner table cruise at lest 2 times a year, they have been doing it together for 15 years, since their husbands both died, and had done this same cruise 5 times, only because they love the ship, shopping and beaches. That seems a little much for me, but to each their own. We had a few nights of great entertainment, we never ate until we were sick, and never slept in.
I am grateful for the opportunity to go and be with Kim, to not worry about home and work and everyday things and just be together, but I was also glad to get home to my kids and baby.So Happy Sailing for the next time.


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