The Blackburn Digest

We waded back into the fray at ’bout 9 AM ~ picked our ‘favorite’ parking lot and beat feet for the shop which had the spectacular light fixture we had left behind yesterday. The dealer had quoted an astounding deal for us, but this puppy is large enough that we had to do some decision making to do. Last night, Tom located very similar fixtures on line; not quite as high-end or well-designed as the one we had discovered, they were priced $1,300.00! Arriving at the shop, we both breathed a sigh of relief when the piece was still there (and the dealer remembered the offer he’d made), and four of us held our breath trying to fit it into the Mustang! It’s in, and it’s ours!! (We’re going to be holding our breath all the way to San Antonio; this beauty is loaded with glass…. beveled glass, beveled curved glass (How do they DO that?!).

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed an article in our local paper about a yearly Antiques Show -or rather a huge group of shows in and around Round Top, TX. It was going to run Sept. 30th thru Oct. 4th, featured 350 dealers from all over the US (and some from Europe!), and I realized this was the show I’ve read about in several major magazines as “One of the Best”. Tom & I used to love poking through antique shops, (especially the dusty, quirky ones), but it’s something we haven’t done in a very long time. Sounded like fun, and I made an idle comment to Tom about it. Before long, Tom was talking about taking a couple of vacation days and asking whether I wanted to go antiquing. It’s something we used to love doing, something we haven’t done in ages, and YES, let’s do it!

Pardon me while I wander down Meme Lane with a list recently passed from daughter, to son, to me:

1. Do you like blue cheese?
Yes

2. Have you ever smoked?
Trying not to!

3. Do you own a gun?
A rather interesting collection of them (most non-functional).

4. What flavor Kool-aid was your favorite?
Cherry

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Not really.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Wish I could recapture the taste of a “Casper’s” hot dog (Oakland, CA - 1950’s) or the beer-infused creations of “Der Weinersnitzel” (Orange, CA - 1970’s)

7. Favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story - “Fra-gi-le? Must be Italian!”

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee, black, no sugar.

9. Can you do push ups?
Not with my wonky wrists!

* Jesus Christ Superstar (Revival) - Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice.

I Really, REALLY dislike meeting new doctors! There’s always a “learning curve”, during which they flex their medical credentials and I counter with 26 years of my own experience with RA. It doesn’t matter, very much, if it is a dental surgeon or an orthopedic surgeon, an orthotics expert or a new GP ~ I have to give them a crash course in ‘Chris Blackburn - Informed & Stubborn Patient’. It doesn’t always go smoothly. . . . . OK - it rarely goes smoothly! Medical professionals expect their statements to be taken as gospel. Um, No. Not likely with this patient!

I knew “Dr. P” (my Rheumatologist) was going to be less than pleased to see me in a ‘walking boot’, but that didn’t half cover his mood when I discussed my upcoming appointment with the orthopedic surgeon!

The rest of the “maintenance visit” went fine; we’re both delighted that I have responded quickly (again) to the Enbrel therapy, the Dexa scan (bone density test) read rather well for an old broad and he was impressed at how well the ‘attempted amputation’ had healed.

Then I told him I was scheduled to see Dr. B. on August 13th, to discuss surgery on both feet - that is when he began to growl! I understand (and agree); we’re both expecting the proposal to be joint fusion, and that’s a very bad idea on so many levels!

We’ll see:)

Today was the day every person owned by a cat (or dog) dreads. . . . .the day one has to say Goodbye.

Sundance and his sister, Cassidy, came to us as near-newborn kittens after a huge rain storm in the summer of 1999. When son Thomas brought them to me, their eyes weren’t open yet, and their ears didn’t “appear” for several days. We bottle fed the two of them, and Sundance’s playful but assertive nature showed up from the very beginning. Cassidy would nurse hungrily, but it was easy to keep a grip on her and on the bottle. Sundance? He would wiggle, squirm, and quite often yank the nipple right out of the bottle! There we would be; suddenly bathed in formula, and Sundance demanding “more food - right NOW”!

* “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” -1960 - lyrics by By Dunham.

Today has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride! I had an appointment with our family doctor this morning…… although I had scheduled this before breaking my toe and had planned on discussing other issues, I knew The Foot (which won’t fit into a shoe or slipper) was going to garner attention the most attention. Oh yeah! Dear, sweet Dr. R sort of skimmed through my other questions and concerns, focused on the obviously broken and misaligned toe, ordered x-rays and went just slightly ballistic. Vocal alarms were sounded - “very bad break”, “must see surgeon immediately!” (Aw, come on. . . .all of the toes are dislocated; what’s the big deal?) Um, yes - that’s when my “ticket” for the ride was issued!