Yes, this kinda sucks

Bringing mom and the dog home to my house last July 4. Mom hates to fly, Lily had never flown and everything went fine. Flew first class, mom had breakfast and a movie and I had a Bloody Mary.

That trip was surreal. Her PA in Florida called me and said the doctor had reviewed her chart and wanted her in the hospital. Yea, the docs don't check the patients or their charts in a timely manner. As I had experienced Florida medicine before I was not going down that road. I called mom and told her after her needle biopsy on Wednesday I would be there, load her bags and dog and take her to Orlando to fly home to Michigan. She did not ask one question, just said okay.

So she went in and had the biopsy, finished packing, and Big Daddy and I arrived. I knew I could not do this alone. We packed the car and went to the breast clinic to pick up her records. This took one hour but the doctor was so nice and gave me his personal mobile number and said text if I can help. Best doctor in Florida.

Then we drove to Orlando, got rooms at the airport Holiday Inn and crashed. Fed mom and us and that was it. The next morning I loaded up the car, gave everyone a Dramamine and we were off. I dropped BD and mom at the curb and turned in the rental car. When I got to Delta First Class they were waiting and ready with the wheelchair and mom had TSA Precheck thanks to BD, or Mr. Diamond as he likes to call himself.

I was amazed how well this went. Only hiccup was I had to take Lily out of her crate and carry her through the machine. Well now, Lily had never before been in a crate and taking her out in the middle of TSA was kinda scary for me. She loved it, really loved it. Problem was at the other side I had to put her back in the crate all by myself. 'Cos of course I did not have the leash handy.

When we got to the gate I let BD go to the Sky Club as he was looking stressed. Everything was fine until we got back and BD had a problem getting the car back at Airlines Parking, they get shitty when you don't have your parking ticket. So from Tuesday's put her in the hospital, Wednesday's needle biopsy and Thursday's flight--Friday she was at my Internist and Monday at the Oncologist. What a trip.

As I predicted the UAW shut down the assembly plants.

New news everyone is unhappy with the "kids" not taking this seriously. HMMM.

Christmas vacation weirdness

Mussels appetizer from the Gryphon Restaurant in Burlington.

When we were leaving the hotel after the snowfall I saw the weirdest sight, 2 children throwing snowballs. The snowballs were made from a blue plastic snowball maker. Kinda like salad tongs with 2 round half balls, one at each end, and when held together made a snowball. WTF, kids today cannot even make a snowball without help. No wonder this country is going to hell in a handbasket.

I saw Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island on Chopped. It was too weird for me. Can't even remember whether she was chopped.

So ever since Big Daddy set up my Delta account my first name has been miss-spelled. We are talking 10 plus years. Delta leaves one letter out of the middle of my first name. I have a passport and have been approved for TSA Pre Check for years. Now Punkin Head had told me that the Burlington Airport was teeny tiny and very Barney Fife in the TSA department. Yes, I was pulled aside, lectured, checked for the No Fly List, had to pass a written test. Then they gave me a special placard so I could walk through the Pre Check with my boots on.

We were delayed about 2 hours and there is hardly a place to sit, I snagged one under the coffee pots and was watching all these young people who would not give up their seats but they were no longer buying food or drink. Then it came across the intercom that the Jet Blue flight from Orlando had finally landed at JKF. It was due in a 9 am and it was now 5 PM. About 20 minutes later they came on said that the Jet Blue plane at JFK just went mechanical and they would have more info in the hour. Those people had a sucky ass day and I cannot blame them for hijacking the restaurant.

Then I go to the ladies and there is a ticket on the floor, I hesitated and picked it up and took it to the counter. It was for Gretchen Valade of the Carhartt family. She owns much here in town including the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe and she just gave millions to Wayne State. Later this woman that I swear is Gretchen or her sister approaches us sitting in the rockers and asks if she can take our picture. Because we are sitting in the rockers. She took ours and I took hers with her camera and she was happy. Definitely an eccentric no matter who she was.

Gotta pick up my rental tomorrow. I have not driven since the accident. Better get back in the saddle.

The sunshine state is BRR cold

Trip to Florida was a hoot. Freezing cold and I am not kidding, lows at night of 24 F, and windy to boot. Should have taken fur and boots. North face jacket and down vest worked well but feet were cold.

St. Augustine is beautiful. Visited the lighthouse and caretaker's home, the oldest schoolhouse and drugstore, and the Catherdral. And shopped and ate and drank. A good time was had by all. You forget how good fresh shrimp is until you eat it again. And southern BBQ, yumm. Did not get to see the forts and it was too cold to visit the island by boat and kids were everywhere. They must do field trips before Christmas and kids are not my favorite when doing historic sites.

TSA was fine at both airports. Could not believe in Detroit did not have to remove my hat or jacket, just open jacket so she could look. No one touched me. Jacksonville TSA were actually friendly, wonder if they are all on meds for the holidays.

Big Daddy arrived home yesterday and is happy, happy. Made breakfast this morning and had real bacon, not that crazy Chinese bacon. Or crappy bacon. Either is appropriate. He had fun at the Shanghai airport waiting to leave. He was people watching and this dad and son came by and the child was screaming. Then the little boy pulled a LInda Blair and puked all over the concourse in front of the gate. Horrendous puking. When he was done the dad picked up the kid and walked away. BD went to the Chinese people at the store across from the gate and jabba jabba, no help. So BD settled in for the show and sure enough the Chinese pretty girls in their short shorts and 4 inch heels came prancing by and slipped and fell in the puke, then the next one on her cell phone came by and tripped over the fallen pukey pile of screaming girls and joined in the vomit pile up. What a way to start your trip. And of course BD did not have the camera for this Kodak moment.

BD has a job interview Monday and then off to New Orleans. Supposed to warm up next week, we will see. Hello Rib Room and Miss Donna.