Original post Feb. 11, 2011
I am sure everyone has had a time in their lives where they have said “wow I could have done without that in my life.” Maybe it was something big or just something that annoyed you enough to make you say “what was that all about.” Well this week I have had one done-without moment after another, thus the reason for my done-without week.
First I must explain that because I post my blog on Friday mornings I consider my week to begin anytime after my posting deadline. This gives me more opportunity to find fodder for my blog. That is why my done-without moments of the week started on Saturday during our trip home from Michigan.
After having a quick breakfast with a dear friend we headed to the airport. I had mixed feelings about leaving. On one hand I was sad to be leaving our daughter and the babies, not knowing how long it would be until I get to see them all again but on the other hand I was ready to get back to our home and warmer weather. Even thought there was still some snow lingering on the roadways we made it to the airport without issue and checked in for our flight.
After being thoroughly scanned by security we made our way to our departure gate. While we were sitting in the gate area we noticed it had once again started to snow. As we boarded the plane the snow increased then intensified even more. The captain came on the radio and told us we would have to make our way to the de-icing station and then almost instantly said we would have to wait for the snow to clear before doing so as the entire airport had just been grounded. Now I don’t mind flying, I like the fact that you can go from point A to point B in so little time. What I don’t like is taking off and landing. During takeoff I am always afraid that as the front end of the plane goes up the back end of the plane will go down smacking the tail and killing all on board. My husband assures me this cannot happen and even explained why it is not possible but still, every time I am about to take off on a plane this is what I worry about. So here I am, worrying about what I usually worry about and Mother Nature decides to give me something new to worry about, snow and ice. I sure could have done without that!
It took about twenty minutes for the snow squall to pass and then we taxied over to the de-icing station. I am sure most of us have heard about planes crashing due to ice so just knowing it was bad enough outside to warrant going to the de-icing station is enough to make a normal person a bit nervous. I was able to get some decent pictures of the whole process. While I am glad technology has advanced enough to prevent possible disasters that experience was another adventure I could have done without.
Landing is also not my favorite part of flying as I once again picture the plane hitting too hard and crashing or simply failing to stop when it should and scurrying off the end of the runway into oblivion. I am not really a doom and gloom kind of person, I just have watched one too many movies and have a very active imagination. As we were landing we had to circle around and the plane had to increase power and extend the flaps in order to decrease speed. At least that is what my husband told me. All I know is here we were descending when all of the sudden we started going up again which scared the heck out of me. I seriously thought something was wrong and the captain had pulled back on the throttle to advert a major tragedy. Thankfully this was not the case and we landed without further issue, but I surely could have done without that little heart stopper.
After picking up our dog, Oliver, from the sitter we drove to our house, turned up the heater and emptied the car. We were both exhausted and decided we would empty the suitcases in the morning. I went in the bathroom to wash my face before taking a shower and waited for the water to get hot, and waited and waited and waited. I yelled for Don to let him know that I thought something was wrong with the hot water heater as it was not getting hot. He went upstairs to check only to discover not only was there no hot water there was a leak in the hot water heater. Water was spurting everywhere. Having been gone the past five days we had no way of knowing if it had been this way five minutes, five hours or five days. I called the warranty company and, two days later, we had a new hot water heater installed. While I consider it another thing I could have done without this week, I am glad it happened while Don was still home and while we have the home warranty and that there was no major water damage.
Monday morning Don had to go to the base and check in after being on leave for the past thirty days. I have been a bit on edge about this as it means he is now required to join the ship overseas. I was worried as I was scheduled for my scopes this week and was still unsure if he would be able to take me to my procedure. As it was they put him on imminent departure status. Basically saying he had to be ready at a moment’s notice and if he gets a call he has to be ready to leave. In other words, hurry up and wait! While I love having him around, in some ways I wish they would give us a definite date so we can plan. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful neighbor who had graciously offered to take me to my test if Don could not. It is more than I could have ever of hoped for from someone I have only just met. While I am truly grateful to her for offering I hated the fact that I had to keep her in limbo all week, not knowing if I would need to take her up on her most generous offer. This not knowing has been another thing I could have done without this week.
Wednesday began my prep for the testing. I was limited to clear liquids for the entire day. I could have broths, juices, and jello. Chicken broth is ok but after a while it becomes very boring. While I thought the beef broth would be disgusting I was rather surprised at how good it tasted. It was kind of like I was drinking a slice of roast beef. While chicken broth is a staple in my kitchen I have not used beef broth unless it was called for in a specific recipe. After this week I can say it too will become a staple in my kitchen and I cannot wait to use it instead of water in several dishes I cook in my pressure cooker. I am not a big fan of Jello but I can tolerate cherry. Unfortunately for this test I was not allowed to have anything with red dye. Of the remaining Jello flavor choices I chose orange, which does not taste anything like orange juice and seemed to leave me even hungrier after eating it. As it was I spent most of the day with my stomach making obscene noises and wanting to throw something at the television every time I saw a food commercial.
At five pm it was time to start drinking my prep solution. It was supposed to have this nice lemon flavor to help make the drink more palatable but it didn’t work. I have been trying to think how best to describe this solution and the only thing I can come up with is a very bitter, acid with a slight hint of lemon. Knowing it was going to be bad I figured the best thing to do would be to chug it down. I poured my first eight ounces into a cup and started gulping. I got to the ninth gulp when something in the back of my throat raised the red flag. After that it was all I could do to get even one mouthful down without gagging. This went on for the next hour as I was supposed to drink eight ounces every fifteen minutes until it was gone. I then had to repeat the whole process the next morning at six am. I know drinking that solution is an essential part of the testing process as it cleans you out so the doctors can see what they need to see, but I will certainly add drinking that nasty concoction to this week’s could have done without list.
Friday morning we were greeted by five inches of snow. Snow in this region is never a good thing as the area is not equipped to deal with large quantities of it. I was so worried that after drinking the horrid solution they would cancel my procedure due to adverse weather. As it was, the appointment did proceed as scheduled and Don was indeed able to take me. I was nervous, not quiet knowing what to expect but the nurses assured me I had already been through the worse part of it. It seems they give you an IV with some wonderful drugs in it. One of the drugs is also an amnesiac so that you don’t remember a thing. I remember her telling me that she was starting the medicine and the next thing I remember is Don standing over me with the nurse saying she was going to sit me up now. I was in a lot of pain, but that quickly went away. At one point I told Don about how the nurse put the IV in my arm and he started laughing. When I asked what was so funny he told me that it was the fourth time I had told him that story. During the afternoon when I would say something to him he would answer with a number to let me know how many times I had told him the same thing.
Throughout the week I have had many done without moments but there are two things I know I would not have wanted to do without, my husband Don and his calming influence on me and that wonderful amnesia drug. I do not know who invented that wonderful drug but if I ever meet him I would like to buy them a drink. I am not sure what that drink will be but I know it will not taste like bitter lemon acid. That is something we could all do without.
I am sure everyone has had a time in their lives where they have said “wow I could have done without that in my life.” Maybe it was something big or just something that annoyed you enough to make you say “what was that all about.” Well this week I have had one done-without moment after another, thus the reason for my done-without week.
First I must explain that because I post my blog on Friday mornings I consider my week to begin anytime after my posting deadline. This gives me more opportunity to find fodder for my blog. That is why my done-without moments of the week started on Saturday during our trip home from Michigan.
After having a quick breakfast with a dear friend we headed to the airport. I had mixed feelings about leaving. On one hand I was sad to be leaving our daughter and the babies, not knowing how long it would be until I get to see them all again but on the other hand I was ready to get back to our home and warmer weather. Even thought there was still some snow lingering on the roadways we made it to the airport without issue and checked in for our flight.
After being thoroughly scanned by security we made our way to our departure gate. While we were sitting in the gate area we noticed it had once again started to snow. As we boarded the plane the snow increased then intensified even more. The captain came on the radio and told us we would have to make our way to the de-icing station and then almost instantly said we would have to wait for the snow to clear before doing so as the entire airport had just been grounded. Now I don’t mind flying, I like the fact that you can go from point A to point B in so little time. What I don’t like is taking off and landing. During takeoff I am always afraid that as the front end of the plane goes up the back end of the plane will go down smacking the tail and killing all on board. My husband assures me this cannot happen and even explained why it is not possible but still, every time I am about to take off on a plane this is what I worry about. So here I am, worrying about what I usually worry about and Mother Nature decides to give me something new to worry about, snow and ice. I sure could have done without that!
It took about twenty minutes for the snow squall to pass and then we taxied over to the de-icing station. I am sure most of us have heard about planes crashing due to ice so just knowing it was bad enough outside to warrant going to the de-icing station is enough to make a normal person a bit nervous. I was able to get some decent pictures of the whole process. While I am glad technology has advanced enough to prevent possible disasters that experience was another adventure I could have done without.
Landing is also not my favorite part of flying as I once again picture the plane hitting too hard and crashing or simply failing to stop when it should and scurrying off the end of the runway into oblivion. I am not really a doom and gloom kind of person, I just have watched one too many movies and have a very active imagination. As we were landing we had to circle around and the plane had to increase power and extend the flaps in order to decrease speed. At least that is what my husband told me. All I know is here we were descending when all of the sudden we started going up again which scared the heck out of me. I seriously thought something was wrong and the captain had pulled back on the throttle to advert a major tragedy. Thankfully this was not the case and we landed without further issue, but I surely could have done without that little heart stopper.
After picking up our dog, Oliver, from the sitter we drove to our house, turned up the heater and emptied the car. We were both exhausted and decided we would empty the suitcases in the morning. I went in the bathroom to wash my face before taking a shower and waited for the water to get hot, and waited and waited and waited. I yelled for Don to let him know that I thought something was wrong with the hot water heater as it was not getting hot. He went upstairs to check only to discover not only was there no hot water there was a leak in the hot water heater. Water was spurting everywhere. Having been gone the past five days we had no way of knowing if it had been this way five minutes, five hours or five days. I called the warranty company and, two days later, we had a new hot water heater installed. While I consider it another thing I could have done without this week, I am glad it happened while Don was still home and while we have the home warranty and that there was no major water damage.
Monday morning Don had to go to the base and check in after being on leave for the past thirty days. I have been a bit on edge about this as it means he is now required to join the ship overseas. I was worried as I was scheduled for my scopes this week and was still unsure if he would be able to take me to my procedure. As it was they put him on imminent departure status. Basically saying he had to be ready at a moment’s notice and if he gets a call he has to be ready to leave. In other words, hurry up and wait! While I love having him around, in some ways I wish they would give us a definite date so we can plan. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful neighbor who had graciously offered to take me to my test if Don could not. It is more than I could have ever of hoped for from someone I have only just met. While I am truly grateful to her for offering I hated the fact that I had to keep her in limbo all week, not knowing if I would need to take her up on her most generous offer. This not knowing has been another thing I could have done without this week.
Wednesday began my prep for the testing. I was limited to clear liquids for the entire day. I could have broths, juices, and jello. Chicken broth is ok but after a while it becomes very boring. While I thought the beef broth would be disgusting I was rather surprised at how good it tasted. It was kind of like I was drinking a slice of roast beef. While chicken broth is a staple in my kitchen I have not used beef broth unless it was called for in a specific recipe. After this week I can say it too will become a staple in my kitchen and I cannot wait to use it instead of water in several dishes I cook in my pressure cooker. I am not a big fan of Jello but I can tolerate cherry. Unfortunately for this test I was not allowed to have anything with red dye. Of the remaining Jello flavor choices I chose orange, which does not taste anything like orange juice and seemed to leave me even hungrier after eating it. As it was I spent most of the day with my stomach making obscene noises and wanting to throw something at the television every time I saw a food commercial.
At five pm it was time to start drinking my prep solution. It was supposed to have this nice lemon flavor to help make the drink more palatable but it didn’t work. I have been trying to think how best to describe this solution and the only thing I can come up with is a very bitter, acid with a slight hint of lemon. Knowing it was going to be bad I figured the best thing to do would be to chug it down. I poured my first eight ounces into a cup and started gulping. I got to the ninth gulp when something in the back of my throat raised the red flag. After that it was all I could do to get even one mouthful down without gagging. This went on for the next hour as I was supposed to drink eight ounces every fifteen minutes until it was gone. I then had to repeat the whole process the next morning at six am. I know drinking that solution is an essential part of the testing process as it cleans you out so the doctors can see what they need to see, but I will certainly add drinking that nasty concoction to this week’s could have done without list.
Friday morning we were greeted by five inches of snow. Snow in this region is never a good thing as the area is not equipped to deal with large quantities of it. I was so worried that after drinking the horrid solution they would cancel my procedure due to adverse weather. As it was, the appointment did proceed as scheduled and Don was indeed able to take me. I was nervous, not quiet knowing what to expect but the nurses assured me I had already been through the worse part of it. It seems they give you an IV with some wonderful drugs in it. One of the drugs is also an amnesiac so that you don’t remember a thing. I remember her telling me that she was starting the medicine and the next thing I remember is Don standing over me with the nurse saying she was going to sit me up now. I was in a lot of pain, but that quickly went away. At one point I told Don about how the nurse put the IV in my arm and he started laughing. When I asked what was so funny he told me that it was the fourth time I had told him that story. During the afternoon when I would say something to him he would answer with a number to let me know how many times I had told him the same thing.
Throughout the week I have had many done without moments but there are two things I know I would not have wanted to do without, my husband Don and his calming influence on me and that wonderful amnesia drug. I do not know who invented that wonderful drug but if I ever meet him I would like to buy them a drink. I am not sure what that drink will be but I know it will not taste like bitter lemon acid. That is something we could all do without.
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