We arrived safely at Cousin Marians with no problems. The flight was on time, the car was reserved, and Marian had purchased Diet Coke before we arrived.
The second bump occurred when sister Ann called me Friday evening with the news that Mom had fallen and broken her other hip. (The first one was broken in May.) I told Hillary I felt guilty because once again, Ann was having to deal with the crisis while I was across the country somewhere. (In May I was in Florida.) Hillary said that was how she was going to be. She was going to have to take care of my issues by herself and her sister wouldn't even feel guilty.
Third bump: Hillary started vomiting at Universal Studios on Sunday afternoon and continued to vomit at intervals until we boarded the plane on Monday morning. Fortunately, the vomiting aspect of her illness was over at that point and she was spared the experience of vomiting in an airplane bathroom.
Once on the ground in Kansas City, I picked up the rental car and went to St. Joe to check on Mom. I made a mad dash back to Gladstone early in the evening to change suitcases and returned to the hospital to spend the night with Mom in order to qwell some of my guilt for being an absent daughter. I left St. Joe for Muskogee, Oklahoma around 7 AM, Tuesday morning. I was hungry, but couldn't think of anything that didn't cause my stomach to churn, so settled for a bottle of milk. Diet Coke didn't even sound good. The trip to Oklahoma was pretty miserable and I arrived at the facility around noon to begin a four day Mock Survey. By the time I checked into the hotel at 7 PM I thought I was going to collapse. I chalked up my nausea and lethargy to lack of sleep and overall tiredness, but by Friday, when I still couldn't drink Diet Coke, realized I had a milder version of whatever made Hillary sick at Universal. Subsequently, we found out Marian also developed a GI malady.
By the time I arrived back at the hospital on Friday evening, Mother had regained her cognitive function and was on the road to recovery. I spent Friday night at the hospital and on Saturday she moved to a Skilled Bed at Carriage Square. She is recovering quite nicely and I beileve will be back in her apartment in a week or two.
I headed to South Dakota on Monday. The plane was 1 1/2 hours late leaving Kansas City, so I had visions of spending some more time with Marc and Susan, but the connection went smoothly and I arrived in Deadwood in time to watch Marie Osmond faint on Dancing with the Stars. At 8:30 I turned out the light and slept until 6:30 the next morning. I can now drink Diet Coke and eat anything I want.
Life is good.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Bumps in the Road
The past couple of weeks have been a little crazy. Hillary, Brooks, Mira and I went to Los Angeles to see Cousin Marian and do a little site seeing. Mira had a wonderful time that I won't describe here. Hillary has it all documented on Mira's blog complete with pictures.
The First Bump: To begin with, I developed a screaming sore throat on the Tuesday before we were to leave on Thursday. I decided to ignore it so it would go away, but it just kept getting worse. When I started drooling because I couldn't swallow and developed a fever of 102 on Wednesday evening I started to panic. I found an Urgent Care place in Liberty which did not take my insurance, but by then I didn't care. I just wanted antibiotics so I could leave on Thursday morning. The doc asked me to rate my pain. I just hate that pain scale, but everyone seems to have to put a number in a blank. I told him it was an 8 or 9. At that point I think he thought I was just whining. Then he looked at my throat and said, "Oh my gosh!." He gave me Augumentin and viscous xylocaine. I wanted Vicodin, but thought the xylocaine would handle it, so I didn't ask. Well, it didn't. I took 800 mg Ibuprofen and gargled constantly, but it just HURT. After 24 hours of antibiotics, I could finally swallow without tears in my eyes and no longer had a fever. The good part is that no one wanted to have a drink of my drink, or a bite of my bites!!
More bumps later, I need to board the flight to Rapid City.
The First Bump: To begin with, I developed a screaming sore throat on the Tuesday before we were to leave on Thursday. I decided to ignore it so it would go away, but it just kept getting worse. When I started drooling because I couldn't swallow and developed a fever of 102 on Wednesday evening I started to panic. I found an Urgent Care place in Liberty which did not take my insurance, but by then I didn't care. I just wanted antibiotics so I could leave on Thursday morning. The doc asked me to rate my pain. I just hate that pain scale, but everyone seems to have to put a number in a blank. I told him it was an 8 or 9. At that point I think he thought I was just whining. Then he looked at my throat and said, "Oh my gosh!." He gave me Augumentin and viscous xylocaine. I wanted Vicodin, but thought the xylocaine would handle it, so I didn't ask. Well, it didn't. I took 800 mg Ibuprofen and gargled constantly, but it just HURT. After 24 hours of antibiotics, I could finally swallow without tears in my eyes and no longer had a fever. The good part is that no one wanted to have a drink of my drink, or a bite of my bites!!
More bumps later, I need to board the flight to Rapid City.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Topiary Garden
My visit to Columbus, Ohio last week provided me with the time to visit the Topiary Garden I missed the last time because I went to see the Bodies Exhibit. It is in downtown Columbus on the grounds of the School for Deaf. It was a very pretty park. The Topiary Garden is a replication of a famous painting--Sunday Afternoon on thee Isle of la Grande Jatte by Georgew Suerat. There is a bronze relief of the painting at the front of the park and when you stand there it is just amazing that the Topiary figures are such perfect replicas. I did learn something about this topiary art. I had just figured the shrubs were cut to shape by very talented shrub trimmers....kinda like Edward Scissorhands. Actually the shapes are created by a metal frame over the shrub and as the shrub grows it is trimmed to follow the metal shape. Some of the larger ones at the Topiary Garden haven't grown completely into their frame.
As I walked into the garden I saw a man standing by a tree looking at something intently. I thought there was something moving on the tree trunk and initially thought it was a squirrel or some such animal. Then I had the thought that a snake was in the tree, but never did really see one. I went on to the Topiary Garden. When I was leaving, I again walked down the path by the same fellow and by then, he had this huge snake drapped around his neck. It hung to his waist on one side and then bridged to the branch in the tree on the other side. I guess just never thought that while some people take their dogs to the park, others take their snakes. As I walked on toward the exit, there was an older gentleman sitting on a park bench and I said, "Keep an eye out for that pet snake over there." He said, "Snake? There's a snake" And jumped up from the bench heading for the exit. "I'm terrified of snakes, Thank you so much, A snake? ?" And he kept muttering as he escaped. I had no idea I was going to ruin his visit to the park!!
As I walked into the garden I saw a man standing by a tree looking at something intently. I thought there was something moving on the tree trunk and initially thought it was a squirrel or some such animal. Then I had the thought that a snake was in the tree, but never did really see one. I went on to the Topiary Garden. When I was leaving, I again walked down the path by the same fellow and by then, he had this huge snake drapped around his neck. It hung to his waist on one side and then bridged to the branch in the tree on the other side. I guess just never thought that while some people take their dogs to the park, others take their snakes. As I walked on toward the exit, there was an older gentleman sitting on a park bench and I said, "Keep an eye out for that pet snake over there." He said, "Snake? There's a snake" And jumped up from the bench heading for the exit. "I'm terrified of snakes, Thank you so much, A snake? ?" And he kept muttering as he escaped. I had no idea I was going to ruin his visit to the park!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Great Lakes Aviation
I started this week in Garden City. Options for air travel to Garden City, Kansas are a bit limited, becoming more so October 1. Prior to Monday morning, US Airways served Garden City from Kansas City and Great Lakes served Garden City from Denver. As of Monday, US Airways discontinued the service and Great Lakes assumed the coverage and changed the schedule. The only departing flight is at 6:55 AM. I was up at 4:30, left the house at 5:30 and, after parking and shuttling to the terminal arrived to check in a little before 6. The problem was finding out WHERE to check in. My itinerary said Terminal A, so that is where I went. I started with United, as that was the airline that I was to connect with in Denver on Tuesday evening. The first screen I checked had no flights to Garden City. The TSA guy suggested I look at the US Airways screens and I found a bottom section for Great Lakes which had the flight. I assumed (as had two other people) that I should therefore check in at that counter. Not so. They said I would have to check in with Great Lakes people, however, they had not yet arrived at the counter. There was one space between United and US Airways with no people present. About 10 after 6, three people appeared and placed a cardboard sign on the counter that said, "Great Lakes Aviation". I was finally checked in and was provided a hand written boarding pass. Then I was told the plane was going to be 55 minutes late.
When I went through security I was chosen for 'extra' screening. I'm sure the handwritten boarding pass had something to do with that!
We actually were only about 30 minutes late leaving and the rest of the flight went smoothly, but the car was another thing. Garden City only has two car rental options, Hertz and Enterprise. My reservation was with Enterprise. I got off the plane and headed to the bathroom, then toward the rental counter. This man stopped me with my name...'Sarah?' and said he would pull the car around for me. He had my name written on a piece of paper, so I guessed he was legit. He told me that he would take me to the office in town for the paper work. I got in the car, feeling a little uncomfortable, but didn't know what else to do. (The last time I rented there a person was at the counter and I got the car then). I rode the 11 miles into Garden City in uncomfortable silence after my first two efforts at small talk bombed. (I kept reminding myself that he had my name and had gotten the car from a slot with an Enterprise sign in front of it.) He actually DID take me to the office and I filled out paper work and got the car.
On Tuesday evening, when I returned the car I was to take it to the airport and drop the keys in a drop box. I did as told, no one was available at the counter. I then found a seat to wait for the flight. At Garden City Airport, they don't open the screening area until about 10 minutes before the airplane arrives. I'm sitting there watching Entertainment News about Britney loosing her children to Kevin, when, for some reason I think to check for my cell phone and realize I have left it in the cup holder in the car. The keys are in the locked drop box and no Enterprise people are available to unlock the lock box. I asked the people at the check in counter if they can contact the Enterprise people. The plane is not scheduled for 30 minutes and it's only 15 minutes from town to the airport. They called, but the Enterprise man was in some other Kansas town and said he would try to find someone to come and unlock the box. It was a combination lock. I really wanted them to just ask for the combination, but they felt that was intrusive. Then I had an 'Ah Ha' moment and thought, "Maybe I didn't lock the car." I headed back to the car and actually stood in the parking lot saying, "Please God, let the car be unlocked" before I even touched the door. God was good, the car was unlocked and the phone was right where I though it would be. I think I will ask the travel people to book me with Hertz the next time I go to Garden City.
When I went through security I was chosen for 'extra' screening. I'm sure the handwritten boarding pass had something to do with that!
We actually were only about 30 minutes late leaving and the rest of the flight went smoothly, but the car was another thing. Garden City only has two car rental options, Hertz and Enterprise. My reservation was with Enterprise. I got off the plane and headed to the bathroom, then toward the rental counter. This man stopped me with my name...'Sarah?' and said he would pull the car around for me. He had my name written on a piece of paper, so I guessed he was legit. He told me that he would take me to the office in town for the paper work. I got in the car, feeling a little uncomfortable, but didn't know what else to do. (The last time I rented there a person was at the counter and I got the car then). I rode the 11 miles into Garden City in uncomfortable silence after my first two efforts at small talk bombed. (I kept reminding myself that he had my name and had gotten the car from a slot with an Enterprise sign in front of it.) He actually DID take me to the office and I filled out paper work and got the car.
On Tuesday evening, when I returned the car I was to take it to the airport and drop the keys in a drop box. I did as told, no one was available at the counter. I then found a seat to wait for the flight. At Garden City Airport, they don't open the screening area until about 10 minutes before the airplane arrives. I'm sitting there watching Entertainment News about Britney loosing her children to Kevin, when, for some reason I think to check for my cell phone and realize I have left it in the cup holder in the car. The keys are in the locked drop box and no Enterprise people are available to unlock the lock box. I asked the people at the check in counter if they can contact the Enterprise people. The plane is not scheduled for 30 minutes and it's only 15 minutes from town to the airport. They called, but the Enterprise man was in some other Kansas town and said he would try to find someone to come and unlock the box. It was a combination lock. I really wanted them to just ask for the combination, but they felt that was intrusive. Then I had an 'Ah Ha' moment and thought, "Maybe I didn't lock the car." I headed back to the car and actually stood in the parking lot saying, "Please God, let the car be unlocked" before I even touched the door. God was good, the car was unlocked and the phone was right where I though it would be. I think I will ask the travel people to book me with Hertz the next time I go to Garden City.
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