Pussy Cats

April 29, 2013



The kitty saga continues. Last weekend Josh, Jocelyn and I traveled to New Jersey to pick up my new cats. Lucy and Hazel. They looked so sweet in the pictures and the video I received. Their owners were clearly overwhelmed with newborn twins, a yappy little dog and a very small house. The cats were afraid to come out of hiding but eventually we got them into their carriers and Josh gave the "Let's go" sign. They were great in the car. I was able to pet them and they did not put up much of a fuss at all.


However adjusting to a new house with an already established cat was not going to be easy for them. Hazel has major anxiety issues. And one of them involves the litter box. And pooping. I didn't see her for days, not even to eat. Lucy came around from time to time but not Hazel. Of course that might be due to the fact that I spritzed her when she hissed at me. But anyway, I couldn't imagine how they were not going to the bathroom. But then I pulled back my shower curtain and saw what was being used as a litter box. My shower!! Annie thought that was hysterical. She laughs about it ever time we discuss them.


I quickly texted the previous owner who admitted that Hazel "likes her privacy." So off I went to buy the biggest covered litter box I could find. I closed the bathroom doors and hoped for the best. Another mishap occurred because I forgot to close a door but as of Saturday morning I haven't found any misplaced feces. And lots of it in the litter box. Hazel has occasionally come out of hiding and lets me pet her for a few minutes. Lucy is the bolder of the two and is walking around upstairs and once or twice has ventured to the first floor. She loves to be petted and is so soft.


I guess I didn't feel I had enough to do without adopting two cats. When I asked Josh today what I was going to do if Hazel didn't come around he said, "She's yours now. You have to learn how to adapt." Okay. So that's true. I made her part of my family and I will just have to stick with her! That's what famiies do.

Friction Party

April 25, 2013



Last week Jeanne and I went to Chicago for a nursing conference. It was a very good conference, we learned a lot of new things and networked with nurses from all over the country. And you already know the trip ended with us being stuck in Chicago foe an extra night due to weather issues.


But the trip also started with a new learning experience. We decided to spend the Saturday night before at the Sheraton at the airport. We had an early flight and decided that would be the most convenient way to park our car and get a good nights rest. We arrived about 6:30 PM and brought our bags to our room. Then we headed downstairs to have a bite to eat and of course a drink in the bar so we could watch the Yale/ Quinnipiac hockey championship game. On the way out of the elevator we passed a couple. An older man and a young Asian woman.


"Did you see her?," I asked Jeanne. "She had on a skirt the size of a handkerchief and f--- me shoes." Not typical attire for the Sheraton at the Bradley Airport. But, oh well. As I now know airport hotels are the scene of many activities I never would have dreamed about.


We had a seat a little outside the bar area and right in front of the TV. Perfect! Burgers and cocktails and so much more. One after another coules arrived. Women so provocatively dressed we began to wonder about the dress code. Of course the men were nothing special but the women looked like hookers. "Something is going on here," said Jeanne.


On the way out we checked the message board. There was a meeting for Densitometry ( which has something to do with bone density) and the Friction Party. Probably NOT densitometry unless all those half dressed women were there for bone density tests. More likely the friction party.


So I looked up Friction Party. Lo and behold. They bill themselves as Hot Parties for Hot People. But apparently only the women have to be hot. You can come in couples or single women but no single men. Do the old geezers there feel threatened?  No sex or nudity in public areas, such as the ballroom. Imagine. What a bummer. You have to be screened to attend. They won't let just anyone in. And you need a wristband to parade around on the "private" floors. What a fun time THAT sounds like. Had I known it was going on I would have worn my sexy nurse outfit.


But alas. We just returned to our room and went to bed so we could leave early the next morning to learn new things to better care for our patients. Some people simply have way too much time on their hands.

Never Again by Kelly Clarkson

April 22, 2013

Well I made it back from Chicago safe and sound. Although we rented a car and were about to drive we actually got a flight at the last minute and arrived home late Friday night. Just in time for me to celebrate a 2 year anniversary of sorts. 

Two years ago I came downstairs at 5AM to leave for work. I found a letter on my computer. A typewritten letter from my then husband. Silly me. I thought it was going to be a love note. Or at the very least a list of things he wanted me to do. When I opened it and read it I was shaking so much I didn't think I would be able to leave the house. He informed me that "we weren't working" and I should go to a lawyer and begin divorce proceedings. That he wouldn't be going to Italy with Hilary and I ( we were talking about taking her for graduation) and that he was changing the locks on our apartment in New York. This after we had spent the weekend looking on line for apartments in the city. Talk about a sucker punch!

Anyway I have traveled from that day to this. From hardly being functional at work ( I remember spending that week mostly in my office staring at the computer screen and trying very hard not to cry) to taking on the office of Treasurer for the state chapter of my nursing organization. Quite a leap for someone who had not paid a bill in thirty years. Running two households AND being treasurer! 

So you see, all of you who are starting on this journey, you will survive. You will be changed by it forever but you will survive. You may even joke about it someday. There is something to be said for being on your own, spending your money on whatever you want and not having your hard earned dollars go to the support of another woman. 

And I'll close with this Kelly Clarkson song. I heard it for the first time this week. The only thing that doesn't apply here is "trophy wife." Thanks David, for telling everyone I was "prettier" than the zoccola.( Jennie's second favorite Italian word for whore.) It does my heart good whenever I think of that.

"Never Again"

I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green
I hope when your in bed with her, you think of me
I would never wish bad things, but I don't wish you well
Could you tell, by the flames that burned your words

I never read your letter
'Cos I knew what you'd say
Give me that Sunday school answer
Try and make it all OK

[Chorus]
Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
She may believe you but I never will
Never again

If she really knows the truth, she deserves you
A trophy wife, oh how cute
Ignorance is bliss
But when your day comes, and he's through with you
And he'll be through with you
You'll die together but alone

You wrote me in a letter
You couldn't say it right to my face
Give me that Sunday school answer
Repent yourself away

[Chorus]
Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
They may believe you but I never will
Never again

[Bridge]
Never again will I hear you
Never again will I miss you
Never again will I fall to you
Never

Never again will I kiss you
Never again will I want to
Never again will I love you
Never

[Chorus]
Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
They may believe you but I never will
I never will
I never will

Never again

Thanks to Katie for adding these lyrics.Thanks to haley, Allison,

O'Hare International Airport

April 18, 2013


Jeanne and I should be in our own homes right now getting ready for work tomorrow. We spent the week in Chicago at a nursing convention. Ensconced in our hotel in the city, going to lectures and dinners we were unaware of the extent of the storms in the west and Midwest. This morning we were so happy to find that our flight was not canceled as many others were scurrying to arrange new ways to get home. We arrived at O'Hare to find mass chaos. Hundreds of people waiting in line to check in and rebook. We got in line and while we were waiting to check in our flight was canceled. What to do???


Our flight could not be rebooked today or tomorrow for that matter. We could not fly to Hartford at all. We had to settle for a flight to White Plains tomorrow night. But Jeanne's car is in Hartford. So we had to enlist our families to help. Jeanne's husband to pick up her car and Josh to pick us up in White Plains.


So here we are in Glenview,Illinois. In a Wyndham Suites. Grateful that we have a place to stay as many people spent the night in the airport. And hoping that we can get out of here tomorrow. We met many people while we've been on this adventure who have been waiting here for days.

Cat Adoption

April 11, 2013



Just an update on the cat adoption. I know I told you that the cat we were going to adopt from the shelter has asthma. That did not bother me at all. But what they did not tell me about until I got there was that she also had ringworm. It is a fungal skin infection that is very contagious, especially to other cats. And my Ophelia is an old cat. I vacillated for weeks about taking the cat home, visited her several times and waited for her to get better. Then I called my vet. He was very clear that if Ophelia got ringworm at her age it would be very bad for her. So I had to renege on taking Miami. I felt terrible. Josh was not happy with my decision but Hilary was somewhat relieved. She is Ophelia's real mommy. When she is home Ophelia is always by her side. And Jocelyn was the one who first alerted me to the fact that ringworm was not to be messed with.


I couldn't help but notice that I was not offered another cat from Animal Haven. I guess I had failed the ultimate cat adoption test. But good news. I have another adoption in the works. Two kitties that need a new home and are presently very well cared for now. Lucy and Hazel. Could I say no to that? Jocelyn's mom gave me the information. Thanks Lynn!


So, when I get back from Chicago I will be taking a road trip to New Jersey to meet my new babies and possibly take them home.

New Religion

April 8, 2013


People say the funniest things. They really do. This happened to me weeks ago and it still makes me laugh when I think about it. I was admitting a patient for surgery and her husband was with her. He was very quiet but was watching everything I did. When I was finished and rolled my computer out into the hallway he followed me. "Those rings you're are wearing are beautiful." I may have mentioned before that I wear my mother's wedding rings on my right hand. She gave them to me 6 months before she died. I have wanted them since I was a kid. I knew then that the end was near for her because she would never part with those rings. My sister wanted me to change the setting but I wouldn't think of doing that. Every time I looked at them they remind me of her. And I looked at them a lot these past two years. Every time we went to counseling and Dave ( not David, as apparently Anita Pedulla or is it Puton, refers to him now) listed all the MANY faults I had, during divorce mediation as he quibbled about how much money I deserved, and in the court house in front of the judge when I had to get on the witness stand and answer questions no one should be subject to.



"Why are they on your right hand?" he asked. "Is it a new religion?" I told him they weren't mine but my mother's. That I was no longer married. But what I wanted to say was, "Yes, it's the religion of the divorced. The religion were you worship any shred of kindness that the man you have been married to for thirty years sees fit to bestow upon you. The man's who's children you bore. The man you did not cheat on, not because things were so wonderful, but because you made a vow to be faithful. The religion of the spouse who finally knows all the shitty things that were done to her and was STILL willing to work things out. Because, above all she believes in FAMILY. That is the new religion where I am the high priestess."


So, somewhat funny but bittersweet as well. But what I have come to know is that survival is more satisfying than wallowing in self pity. That I am not following the same path I had dreamed about and worked toward for most of my life but a new one. Maybe a better one.

Exercise is Hell

April 4, 2013




I still go to the gym! Yes, I'm as surprised by that fact as you are. I hate to exercise. It's boring and mindless. But lately I've been finding that it energizes me in unexpected ways. I leave there feeling good about myself. Not only that I dragged myself there but I actually feel physically better.


I really enjoy the classes. Edge Flex, which is weights and a little cardio, pilates and yoga. I'm not really good at anything yet but I really try. However I HATE those show offs!! The women in the spandex (ok, maybe I'm just jealous), and the young girls who seem to exercise effortlessly. Last week I was warming up on the rowing machine. A women sat in front of me to stretch. She looked like a contortionist. All of a sudden she put her head up against the wall. Uh oh, was she having a seizure? A stroke? I looked down at my shirt to make sure I wasn't wearing the one that proclaimed I was a nurse. But no, nothing was wrong with her. She was simply getting ready to STAND ON HER HEAD. WHY??? Did she have to do that right near me? I wanted to go home after that display but I force myself to go to my class.


Class is another story in itself. A room with a wall of windows on one side and glass doors on the other so everyone walking by outside can look in. And always an enthusiastic instructor wearing a microphone. This past Saturday I went to Edge Flex. I've been there several times and was feeling pretty good about my technique. I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, "Wow, that person over there can hardly straighten her legs. Why are her knees bent at such a funny angle?" And if not bad enough she was wearing the same shirt that I was down to the exact color and matching socks. Wait a minute. Is that me? Yes, it was. OMG!! What am I thinking? How embarrassing!


But I'm going back tomorrow. Maybe I'll never be able to wear spandex but I never thought it was that attractive in the first place.

Cream Puff Debacle

April 1, 2013


Ah, Easter. Harbinger of spring. Not my favorite food holiday except for the ham pie. ( Or hand pie as Fred calls it.) This year it was macaroni and cheese, baked ham, asparagus and artichokes( which I forgot to put on the table.) I was also looking forward to making cream puffs for dessert. They looked so easy when we did them in cooking class.


I made the ham pie first since it takes the longest.  It is filled with heart attack ingredients. 12 eggs, ricotta, mozzarella, basket cheese, ham, pepperoni, prosciutto, and in this recipe soppressata. It is the Cake Boss's recipe. Not my traditional one but I made it last year and loved it. New traditions and all. The crust has a pound of butter, so you see what I mean about cholesterol city. Anyway some of the filling spilled out while baking as well as the buttery oozing. But it looked fabulous when done.


Next came the cream puffs. Funny, they looked weird in the pan. Really loose and also oozing butter. Not at all what I remembered. I mixed in the eggs and dropped them on the cookie sheet. I put them in the oven and started to clean the kitchen. "Boy it's getting a little smokey in here,' I thought to myself. But I continued to clean up and then went to check the laundry. When I came back I couldn't ignore the smoke any longer. I opened the oven and it came pouring out into the kitchen. I was frantic as I knew it would set off my alarm. I ran to open the windows and doors but soon the alarm went off.


The fire department has been at my house twice before. Once, when I burned a dish towel by accident and again when I called about smelling gas. Both times with sirens blaring and in full emergency garb. I didn't want to bother them again. I grabbed the phone to call the alarm company (after searching for their number) but the phone wouldn't work because of the alarm! I finally found my cell phone and got them on the line. But I forgot to turn down the music blaring Pink from my new TV. I was screaming into the phone and begging them not to call the fire department while trying without success to shut off the alarm. Finally I heard the technician very calmly explain that the alarm would not go off until the smoke dissipated. Interestingly enough no one came over to check on me!


So, no dessert for Easter. The cream puffs were thrown to the birds. I figured we would have ice cream. But Jocelyn saved the day by making a chocolate cake with yummy fluffy white frosting. Of course she did surprise me when she texted me in the morning to ask if I had a blow torch. And the funny thing is I DID have one which she used on the icing! So, all was well in the end. A very pleasant Easter dinner from start to finish.