About a month ago I scheduled a Bar Hop among friends via Facebook. Never been to a bar hopping type thingy before but I scheduled it. Quite a few came out and everyone had fun. Except there were complaints that half hour for each bar was a bit aggressive.

I was asked to schedule another Hop but this time I set a starting bar and ending bar and had people vote on which they wanted to go to in between. I have also scheduled an hour at each bar… So stop the bitching, OK?

Seems we are going to have quite the turn out and I decided to put it out there in Blog Land in case more wanted to join us.

So here is the deal:

Holiday Bar Hop

   Friday December 4th 2009

5pm               Union Street Pub                121 S. Union Street

 6pm               O’Connell’s                           112 King Street

 7pm               La Tasca                                607 King Street

 8pm               Light Horse (Upstairs)         715 King Street

 9pm               Flying Fish (Downstairs)      815A King Street

 Old Town Alexandria, VA

For more details on where to go here is a map.

A few tips:

• Bring cash so you can pay quickly and be on to the next bar.
• Pace yourself.
• There are plenty of Cabs to get you home. Be safe.
• Have fun!

 Yesterday Mini Red and I decided to do something a bit different… We went to the Roller Derby to see the DC Roller Girls.

We had a blast!

We got there fairly early and it’s a good thing if you want a good seat in the bleachers.  Otherwise you can sit on the floor on the edge of the flat track but you have to be 18 to be in the front row since a player could be thrown into you. The crowd was minimal but it was a very eclectic group and fun to watch. I thought DC Roller Girls was a team but it consists of several teams for the DC area. A woman with the group in front of us was explaining how the derby works and how points are accrued.

I decided to go check a few things out and found myself at the t-shirt stand. I asked the tattooed girl behind the counter how many teams DC had and who was playing today. She told me DC has the Cherry Blossom Bombshells, DC Demon Cats and Scare Force One. On this night Scare Force One would play against a Philadelphia Team named the Heavy Metal Hookers but the main event was the Cherry Blossom Bombshells vs the DC Demon Cats. She told me if I had any more questions to just stop any of the players mulling around.

When I got back to the seats Mini Red and I shared information we had each gotten. She had been listening in on the rules of the game while I shared the information I had gotten.  We noticed a player from the Bombshells handing out stickers. I wanted to meet this player and get a sticker for Mini Red but Mini Red was hesitant, feeling intimidated by her surroundings and wanted to stay in her seat. I urged her to come with me because I knew she would feel regret later if she didn’t.  She hesitantly agreed but was soon excited to meet, the incredibly nice, Dr. Drea who we even got a picture with.

Roller Derby has an air of violence or so we have been led to believe but to meet these women and watch the game it isn’t like that at all. Of course there is pushing and shoving out there but it isn’t like that in reality at least not in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

Wikipedia states:
“Nearly all contemporary roller derby leagues are all-female and self-organized, and were formed in an indie, DIY spirit by relatively new roller derby enthusiasts. These leagues deploy traditional quad roller skates, and a punk aesthetic and/or ethic is often prominent. Many, if not most, are legally incorporated as limited liability companies, and a few are non-profit organizations. Most compete on flat tracks. Only 4 compete on banked tracks.

Most players in these leagues skate under aliases, many of which are creative examples of word play with satirical, mock-violent or sexual puns, alliteration, and allusions to pop culture. Examples include Sandra Day O’Clobber (Sandra Day O’Connor), Scariett Tubman (Harriett Tubman), Skid’n Nancy (Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen), Goldie Knoxx (Goldilocks, Fort Knox), and Anna Mosity (animosity). Some players claim their names represent alter egos which they adopt whilst skating. By the 2009 season, however, a small number of players on at least three leagues had started skating under their real names.

The names of the bouts themselves are typically as sardonic and convoluted — for example, Nightmare on Hull Street (Nightmare on Elm St.), Seasons Beatings, (Seasons Greetings), Night of the Rolling Dead (Night of the Living Dead); Spanksgiving (Thanksgiving), Grandma Got Run Over By a Rollergirl (Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer), Skate & Destroy Her, Cupid’s Quarrel, Shamrock and Roll, Pushin’ Daisies, Cinco de May-hem (Cinco de Mayo), and War of the Wheels (War of the Worlds).
 
The camp can extend to players’ uniforms as well. Costumes are often inspired by or comparable with rockabilly or burlesque fashions, and tattoos and tutus are commonly in evidence. In some roller derby leagues, showy on-track behavior, half-time entertainment and randomly selected “penalty games” emphasize the “entertainment” in sports entertainment. The extent to which such non-athletic stylizations are embraced varies from league to league, and continues to be a source of some contention.

Inasmuch as roller derby is a contact sport, the risk of injury is non-trivial. Injuries range from common bruises and sprains to broken bones and beyond. As is the case with many sporting events and other large public gatherings, many modern roller derby games are required to be played with EMTs on hand. Some leagues prominently display their injuries, and safety and injuries are a perennial topic on skating blogs and other forums.

Although the 2000s revival of roller derby was initially all-female, some leagues later introduced all-male teams, and co-ed games.”

The Rules (Thanks to Wikipedia):
“Most current roller derby leagues use rules developed by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).  A summary of the WFTDA rules follows:

Roller derby takes place on a circuit track. Offense and defense are played simultaneously. The two teams playing send five players each onto the track — three blockers (defense), one pivot (last line of defense) and one jammer (scorer). Helmet covers are used to display the players’ positions: a striped cover is used for pivots, a cover with two stars is used for jammers, and no cover is used for blockers.

Pivots and blockers from both teams start the game by forming a single pack. In a pack, all players face counterclockwise. The pivots line up next to each other, followed by a layer of four blockers, followed by a layer of two blockers. The two jammers, who are not considered to be part of the pack, are positioned 20 feet behind the pack. At this point, no differentiation need be made between the two teams; as long as the pack formation is as described above, it does not matter if the team members are interspersed randomly in the pack.

The referee signals the start of jam formation by blowing a whistle. During jam formation, the entire pack moves counterclockwise, during which time players can change position. All pivots/blockers must remain in the pack (i.e., no more than 20 feet in front of or behind the largest group containing blockers from both teams). Jammers remain stationary during jam formation. When the last person in the pack has passed where the front of the pack was initially lined up, the referee blows the whistle twice, signaling the jammers to take off, and play begins in earnest with a jam.

A jam is a 2-minute countdown period during which both teams attempt to score points. Points can only be scored by the jammers, who, moving counter-clockwise, attempt to pass the pack and lap around as many times as possible. After passing the pack the first time, jammers earn one point each time they legally pass an opposing blocker/pivot. During a jam, all pivots/blockers must remain in the pack. Pivot/blockers attempt to assist their jammer through and out of the pack while simultaneously stopping the opposing jammer from exiting the pack. If a pivot/blocker falls or otherwise becomes separated from the pack, she is out of play (i.e., cannot block or assist the jammers) until she catches up to the pack.

The first jammer to legally pass all pivots and blockers once the jam begins wins the status of lead jammer for the remainder of the jam. The lead jammer can decide to end the jam at any time before the 2 minutes are up. She does this by placing her hands on her hips repeatedly, which signals the referee to officially call off the jam.

After a lead jammer has been established, both jammers have the option of passing their positions to their teams’ respective pivots (passing the star). This is done by removing the 2-star helmet cover and handing it to the pivot. The pivot then becomes the jammer, and the jammer becomes the pivot for the remainder of the jam. If the original jammer was the lead jammer, the position of lead jammer is not passed on; the position is forfeited for the remainder of the jam.
 
To impede the progress of the opposing team’s jammer, players may block using body parts above the mid-thigh, excluding forearms, hands, and head. Elbows may not be used in blocking, and cannot be swung at other players or used to hook an opponent’s or teammate’s arm.

Each game consists of two 30-minute or three 20-minute periods. At the end of each jam, players re-form the pack and continue play.

Penalties are given to skaters who block illegally, fight or behave in an unsporting manner, or otherwise break the rules. Possible penalties include sending players to a penalty box (during which time opposing jammers score for opposing skaters in the penalty box when they score their first point in each pass) and expulsion of players. A skater goes to the penalty box for 1 minute immediately upon incurring a major penalty, or after accumulating 4 minor penalties.”

Mini Red picked up on everything about this game pretty darn fast. I was a little delayed since my ADD had me trying to watch too much including the crowd. By the end we were screaming and yelling for the Cherry Blossom Bombshells who lost to the DC Demon Cats by a mere 6 points in the last round.

As we left Mini Red hugged me and thanked me and said she had a ton of fun and can’t wait to come back. She has now added skates, pads and a helmet to her Christmas wish list. Plus she has picked a name for her Roller Derby persona… Ginger Slap!

Floor SeatingRoller Derby is a family affair as seen by Lady M-80, hubby and their sleeping baby

Roller Derby is a family affair as seen by Lady M-80, hubby and their sleeping baby

Whiplash Wendy and Ivana Rock from Philadelphia's, Heavy Metal Hookers watch the Main Event

**Scroll down for updates and opinions added on this topic**

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn’t change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care.

WOW! 

Topics like this are something I tend to shy away from but what is going on here is just not right.

I’ve been falling away from the Catholic Church, where I was raised, for years now. Recent events tell me I’m headed in the right direction.  I cannot get into to expressing the things that yank my chain with this church and then this!

I’ve taken the basis of my Catholic upbringing and became more of a “Cafeteria” Catholic. You know… Pick and choose. I brought my daughter up in the Catholic Church and sent her through CCD (Catechism classes). I tried to be a good Catholic but a little over a year ago the guilt of missing church went away.

My feelings about the Catholic Church I’ve kept from Aunt Dot. She has gotten grumpier and grumpier as time goes on and I can’t blame her especially since she can’t walk anymore. At least she has stopped asking me about getting an Annulment. Every once-in-a-while she will mention something that is going on. Not to long ago she was telling me something about how the Church was kicking some people out because of a certain issue. Even though I was only on the phone when she told me about this I could almost see her among the Catholics with their torches.

Although I don’t agree with the Church on that issue I couldn’t help but ask her, “Why not just envelop these people with love and help them understand?”

She yelled, “NO!”

I was a bit taken aback, “You can’t help them understand by loving them???”

“No! That’s not what Father says!”

“So you just oust them?”

“Yes.”

There was no use in talking to her, it was useless. As if she was in a cult and couldn’t think for herself. I won’t ever try and talk to her about any issues again.

I told Mini Red about this current issue and what the Catholic Church is doing. I try and answer any questions she has and let her make her own decision on topics. It’s kinda interesting to watch really.

She was outraged.

She was so outraged that she Facebooked it. 

Oh boy… Here comes another life lesson. A lesson on Politics and Religion among your peers in an open forum.

Here’s what happened:

Mini Red Facebook status: Did u hear that the church says that if D.C. lifts the law on Gay marraige they will no longer help with the homeless in D.C. Doesnt really seem Godly to stop helping others because u wanna just be a stuck up little BIshop (yes i did mean bitch)
 
Boy 1: i actually support the church on this one, gay marriage is wrong

Boy 2:  Well Boy 1 You are wrong in the fact that You do not chose to be gay or straight but it is in your genetics. So when you say wrong what are you saying, there made wrong, Well if they were ask god. If he wanted people that way he would have them that way. The Church is Fucked up

Boy 3:  fuck u Boy 1 there people just because u case a fucking republican douche bag doesnt mean u should hate gays

Boy 1: im like anti republican…. wat r u talking about… gays dont deserve rights.

Boy 3:  douchebag u think woman shouldent ether wtf asshole

Boy 1: ur an asshole, shut up faggot

Boy 3:  im an ass hole but i dont want to oppress gay people

Girl 1: Boy 1, get a life. I support gay marriage! And Boy 1…you may end up being one…

Boy 3:  i agree with Girl 1 

Girl 1: ^-^

Boy 3:  she agrees with Girl 1 too

Girl 1: dude u fail …that was me

Boy 3:  i know

Girl 1:  then why did you say she agrees with Girl 1 too? lol

Boy 3:  because im like that

Girl 1:  BOY 3

Boy 1: Excuse me? You guys are all retarded

Boy 3:  no just not fucking oppressive

Boy 1: —-No rights for gay people—-

Boy 3:  no rights for statists

Boy 1: i have no idea what that means

Girl 1: You are fucking retarded Boy 1…you should go to hell and live there…there may be a place for you.

Boy 1: u no what fine be like that Girl 1, fuck you, fuck you all

Boy 3:  because u r one

Girl 1:  Hey Boy 1 if you dnt support gay marriage then leave this status alone…its for people who support gay marriage…so fuck off and burn.

Boy 3:  DIE FAKE EMO DIE

Girl 1: I agree with Boy 3

Boy 3:  DIE BOY 1

Boy 1: DIE ALL OF U!!!! BOY 3 UR A FAG! GIRL 1 YOUR A BITCH! NOW BURN

Boy 3:  FUCK U BUSHES BITCH

Boy 1: I FUCKING HATE BUSH YOU RETARD

Boy 3:  BULL SHIT

Boy 1: I HATE BUSH, REPUBLICANS, MORMONS, AND GAYS

Girl 1:  This is pointless Boy 3

Boy 3:  BOY 1 THAT MAKES U A RETARD AND UR LIEING TO YOUR SELF SO DIE

Boy 1: burn in hell Boy 3, just like you can support gay rights, i can oppose gay rights

Girl 1:  Fuck this.

Boy 3:  ya really im done dude

Boy 1: me too

Boy 4:  FUK U BOY 1 U CANT BE HATING ON MORMONS…..IM GONNA FUK U UP TOMORO >:(

Boy 3:  ill help

Girl 1:  @Boy 4: LMAO

Mini Red turned to me last night and her face was red. She was so mad at Boy 1. There was so much she wanted to say.

I just put my hand on her shoulder and said, “You can’t change people. You can discuss calmly, if possible. More often than not you have agree to disagree. This conversation on your Facebook is not calm at all. Think very carefully before you put a topic such as this out in an open forum again.”

Personally I had a mix of emotions reading what these teenagers had to say.  It’s amazing to see them all become aware of the world around them and develop their own opinions. It’s also interesting how they handle it but violence is not the way.

So Mini Red defriended Boy 1.

****UPDATED with a very valid response****

From Will:

“I agree with the Archdiocese”

You know Red, I find it interesting that you brought this comment up. As you say that you usually shy away from these sorts of things, I think it is something that should be brought up.

I for one support the Archdiocese for its decision. At first glance, I was appalled. But as I really read and dug into the article I found that the Church has no other option than to severe its contract with the city.

If you read it closely, the D.C. City council is “not requiring religious organizations to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But [that] they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians.”

The problem is Red, the D.C. City Council is making a religious organization do something in which a religious organization does not believe in. As well, they would be required to offer, as the article quotes, “employee benefits to same-sex married couples”. This would mean that the Catholic Church would be required to acknowledge same sex marriage.

Which please do note, the article stated in quotations what is above…which means, the church does hire homosexuals and allows them into church. I guess its more tolerant than previously thought!

So if I’m the Archdiocese and I see this, I’m saying…we cannot agree to this…this is against some of our core beliefs! I mean, if we have a contract with the city as a social concerns program, we can’t keep our contract with the city or we would be breaking the law. I think we’re going to have to stop all of our social concerns contracts with the city.

Whats stunning to me is that the District is trying to put a law out that would make it illegal for my church to respectfully decline a same sex marriage because my church doesn’t recognize same sex marriage. Thats telling a religious organization what to do. Many are against the mixing of church and state, yet a government can now tell a religious organization what it can and can’t do….that is what is appalling.

They even voted against a referendum, which the Church supported, that would allow individuals, based on their religious beliefs, to decline to provide services for same-sex marriages.

Now, the church isnt saying that its not going to shelter the homeless, its not saying that they won’t do their duties of stewardship. What it IS saying is that based on this law…we can no longer have a contract with you as a social concerns organization. Sadly, yes, provisions for the homeless will be lessened and not as readily available as before…but not because the Church will no longer spend money on the homeless. While the Church was apart of the social concerns program for the city, the Church used $10 million of its own money for social concerns programs….The D.C.government, $8.2 million…not even half. The Church will do what it always has done for the homeless. However it will not use the aid from the City to do it since it cannot follow its new law.

Yes, some of the homeless might suffer, but not because of the Church. The Church has certain values which will not change and they have been this way for thousands of years.

The D.C. government is the one that is alienating certain religious groups based on this law. Yes, it is not saying that the Church has to perform same sex weddings; however, they must follow the law against discrimination against gays and lesbians…Thats stupid. Were not really going to make you do this, but if you don’t its against the law!Thats like 2 people having this conversation:

Girl #1: “I want you to prove your love to me by holding me tight in your arms.
Boy #1: Ok, so I’ll use my arms.
Girl #1: Well, im not saying you can’t use your arms, but you can’t use any of your limbs to do it.
Boy #1: So, can I use my legs?!
Girl #1: Well, I’m not saying that you can’t use your legs, but legs fall under the catergory of limbs…better yet, you really can’t do by touching me at all!

Its like talking to a wall!

(I think I got that conversation from one of the conversations with one of my ex’s)

If the law passes, there is no way out for the Church other than to cut off ties with the City and continue its service to the community on its own.

Don’t damn the Church, its the government forcing the Church to separate itself.

****Another valid response****

From Stephanie:

William, while your argument is well thought out and articulated I believe it misses the point that part of a government’s job is to promote social change and justice.  If an organization cannot accept an edict because of ‘religious beliefs’ then it should not get government money for its services.  50 years ago a church could have used the same excuse because of inter-racial marriage or woman working or voting or desegration of schools, etc.  Would you have a problem then with the Church’s position? Realize many of these things would not be accepted as social norms had the government not helped force the issue.  If the National Guard had not shown up to escort Vivian Malone and James Hood past Gov. Wallace and AL state troopers at University of AL do you think they would have ever made it in?

If an organization (whether commericial, public or religious) hires a person and does not offer it the same benefits as others then it is discrimination no matter how you frame it.

Discrimination should NOT be tolerated.  Not in the “Land of the Free”.

Chelsea Handler’s opening monologue last night (11/11/2009) had me laughing so hard that if I were older I might have peed myself:

I didn’t think anything could make me laugh harder.

Until…

I saw this scene in “The Ugly Truth”:

This movie is a keeper if for nothing else… That scene.

BGR advertised:

“On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to noon customers who arrive at any of BGR’s three DC area locations with ‘BGR’ written on any body part will receive a delicious gourmet burger on the house. Customers can select either The Burger or Veggie Burger, and the promotion is limited to one complimentary burger per customer.”

I wrote on my hand:

I was in line at 11:40:

A BGR employee came out and specified that a man, five people behind me, was to be the last person. At noon the promotion stopped and I was just three people back. A woman behind me went up and spoke with the manager but he said, “NO! It stops now”.

I understand there has to be a cutoff but this was very disorganized and there was a big lack of communication.

This was my second time at BGR and the second time I was disappointed.

I won’t be back.

Five Guys is less expensive and I hear Ray’s Hell Burger is MUCH better.

Really? Fuschia? Am I spelling that right?

Ok I’ll call it purple.

How do birds shit purple?

I am back from Atlanta.

The trip was a success.  Work went well enough and I saw old friends, one of which I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. Seems he remembers me as a 4 year old following him around and sneezing on him.  I didn’t sneeze on him this time. 

Work went so well that we headed to the airport (9 hours early) in hopes of getting on an earlier flight. Luckily, there seems to be a flight from Atlanta to DC every hour so it was easy to get things changed… For a small fee. It’s interesting how so many people are in a rush and this girl behind me kept pushing to get up to security and we weren’t walking fast enough for her. As we got closer a TSA agent was herding people evenly into lines and yelling out that there were three lines. As I came upon him I smiled, and half jokingly, said please direct me to the shortest line.

He said, “You want the shortest line? Follow me“

He took us in the opposite direction of everyone else and directed us to a corridor. I could feel everyone’s eyes watching us. I looked at him and said, “Really?”

He said, “Have I ever lied to you?”

I just shot him a funny little smile as I walked in the direction he sent us.

He said, “Those who cannot trust cannot be trusted.”

Ok… Good point! So I went and you know what I found? It was completely empty!

Now this is where I learned a valuable lesson. I should have moved up immediately because this old couple walked around and stepped in front of me as I was taking my shoes off and my laptop out and held up the entire line as TSA had to get them to take off their shoes, belt, jacket and so forth. The wife was carrying 24 oz of body oil in her bag and couldn’t understand why her purse wasn’t coming out on the conveyor belt. It became a cluster fuck and I paid for it because I didn’t move up.  Oh well we still made it through before the girl who was rushing to get through security back in the long line.

Google Boy and I were waiting to board tha plane and this chick sat near us. She would snif very hard and you could hear the mucus roll around in her head before she swallowed. It was making me naush. I mention to Google Boy that with my luck she would be sitting right next to me on the plane.

I also noticed quite a few young’uns wearing hats that said DCFD. I wonder if they had some sort of convention but ALL of them looked very young.

I happened to be one of the first people on the plane and settled myself in and started reading. I noticed snot girl coming down the isle and started praying. Thankfully, she walked right past me. Next came the firefighters and quite a few moved to the back to sit together but a few stragglers were in other areas and I think it must have been the tallest one that sat next to me.

I couldn’t help it and asked if they had some sort of convention but they had just come from a week of training in Alabama. Seems they aren’t full fledged official firefighters yet and have been going through a lot of training. Being they are firefighters in the Nations Capital there is some specialized training they need that other firefighters don’t have to go through. Tall boy told me they had about twenty of them on that flight and I got the impression there were more meaning DCFD is in the midst of gettin quite an  influx of new firefighters. 

As we sat on the runway waiting for our turn to take off… Delayed because of rain… I was looking ahead in the plane and all these firefighters. I could help but think, if it were inevitable that I would one day be on a plane that went down and I had my choice I would want it to be this flight. Because with so many firefighters they are all prepared for way more than anyone else. I surely would be saved.

Then again I overheard how hard they trained and how hard they partied so they may not have been at their best in a disaster situation, eh?

I’m in Atlanta this week for work so Mini Red is staying with Memaw and Pawpaw. 

Have I mentioned my Mother is a saint? Mini Red had to be picked up on Tuesday and Friday late from school after her Crew practice and Thursday is violin lessons, we cancelled piano due to her over booked schedule here recently. Plus there is Family Dinner Night on Wednesdays and Mom took Mini Red for a physical today to meet Crew requirements. Plus I wanted her to get the flu shot along with the H1N1 shot if possible.

Now on top of that Mom works part time for Dad and she has classes that she is in and Sis and Viper are leaving for their Honeymoon on Thursday… Finally!

So I was sad I wasn’t there for Mini Red’s appointment today but she told me she got both shots… Phew! Evidently, the doc asked some personal questions but first asked if Mini Red wanted Grandma to leave the room. Mini Red said “I don’t have anything to hide“.

He then asked her if she was sexually active, if she drank alcohol or smoked.

Mini Red said, ” Well… Mom and I have talked about this and I’m not planning on having sex before college. Both my parents used to smoke and I bugged them to quit for such a long time that I will never start. Lastly, both sides of my family have a bad history with alcohol so I’m too afraid to even try a drink.”

The Doc said it was refreshing to come across a teenager with scruples and he saw a good future for her.

Maybe I’m doing something right?

Tonight at Family Dinner Night Dad asked Mini Red if she got the H1N1 mist or the shot.  Her Facebook status reads like this: My grandpa asked me “Mini Red did u get the shot or the mist?” im like “mist?……..theres a mist OMG IVE BEEN SKREWED”.

OMG I can’t stop laughing.

Did you know October is Breast Cancer awareness month?

Breast Cancer has affected most families but now-a-days more seem to survive it. My Grandmother as well as my Godmother had breast cancer. Both beat it but both passed due to another sort of cancer.

For years I was a smoker and I quit 5 years ago and EXTREMELY happy about that. Considering my family history it is a very good thing. My Mom quit at the same time but we both feel differently about it. She misses it and I don’t except for the mental breaks it would give me or how it represented relaxation but was very stinky.

I hit 41 this year and that means regular mammograms. Oh joy of joys. So this past Monday I went in but it wasn’t my first mammogram. Several years ago I found a lump. Thankfully, it was nothing. This time I got a letter on Thursday:

Dear Ms. Red:

Your mammogram is considered incomplete. In order to complete the evaluation, we need additional imaging studies. Please call to schedule an appointment. You will receive your final results when you complete your additional imaging. Charges will apply for additional services.

Sincerely
Interpreting Radiologist

Obviously this is a form letter and very much thought out as to not alarm someone but as a woman, and a redhead, I have that wild imagination, which brings many questions:

Incomplete?

Additional imaging?

Another appointment?

Charges will apply?

Why would charges apply if they didn’t do the images correctly?

Does that mean something is wrong?

I figured I would talk to Mom since I remember her mentioning being called back before. Plus we all tend to look to our parents to see how to react no matter what our age. Like when we were kids and we fall and we look at Mom to see if she is alarmed or not and if we should start crying.

Mom said she has been called back plenty of times and assured me it’s nothing.  Then she tells me she is coming with me. I was surprised and said that wasn’t necessary but she told me that every time she is called back Dad goes with her. After being called back so many times she told him he doesn’t need to go with her because she is positive everything is fine and routine but he insists on going with her. So now she is insisting on doing for me what Dad does for her.

Really I’m not worried… Well 99.9% sure.

If you are looking for a way to help or just for information on Breast Cancer Awareness please visit The Breast Cancer Awareness site.

Mini Red and I were off to Scranton this past weekend to visit Aunt Dot. This year has been so crazy that we were unable to visit in the Spring so this was our first trip of the year.

It’s not easy to go on these visits. The drive is long but beautiful and we love Aunt Dot but she is almost 97 and can’t walk anymore, which has taken a toll on her especially mentally.

These women that live at this residence have given of themselves for most of their lives and I don’t think any of them are under 80 years old. At this point in their lives the little bit that they have is very important to them. What is even more important is to show off their families and what their families have done for them. For example last year I brought Aunt Dot a HUGE remote control for her TV. She loved showing it off and everyone wanted one. I try to do something special for Aunt Dot since Mini Red and I are her only family whereas most of the Sisters have a lot of family, often local, that come for visits.

This visit I knew would be tough since last week had been a rough week at work. It was a little more difficult than I had expected since Aunt Dot’s mind has deteriorated a lot more since the last visit.  The first problem was a mix up in the days. She though we were coming Friday and the entire convent became aware of this situation as she refused to eat dinner Friday determined to wait for us. I felt so bad but Aunt Dot and I speak every day and every day I would remind her that it was Saturday the 26th that we were coming.

On this visit I can’t tell you how often she repeated herself and asked me the same question over and over. I tried giving different answers to see if one would satisfy her but it seemed to be a crap shoot. I felt like I was in the movie “Groundhog Day”. I also got yelled at a lot because she would tell me I was doing something wrong but really I wasn’t. It was almost comical but soon became tiring.

Then there were the chocolates. She has me bring three boxes of chocolates to give as a thank you with my thank you card. One goes to the head nuns, another to the staff at the residence and the last one to the Sisters on her floor. The last box she had me open because she wanted to count the chocolates in the box and divide them up to make sure each Sister got one. So I opened the box and she counted them by touching each of them. Then she ate one!!! She counted again by touching each one of them. I sat there just watching her and by the fifth time I had to turn away because it was making me crazy. We then went to the dining area on her floor which consists of two tables and seating for four at each table. She brought the chocolates and at the table she counted again then separated some out into the box top, hands all over each. She instructed Mini Red to deliver the box top of chocolates to the other table. It was tiring as she had us pass the chocolates around our own table. I wasn’t about to have one and the other Sister at our table is diabetic so she was limited as to how many she could have.

Then there was the cookie coveting issue. Our table had cookies and the other table had slices of pie. At our table we each took a cookie and then the Sisters at the other table got wind of it and wanted cookies. I asked Mini Red to take the plate of cookies over to them but Aunt Dot said, “No! They have their own!” I explained that they didn’t and she wasn’t having it. She grabbed the plate of cookies as we could hear the other Sisters whispering deciding who would go get the cookies from our table. Mini Red and I stayed out of it as Aunt Dot got hold of the plate of cookies. She rearranged the plate by touching each one and finally taking one and putting it on her plate. The Sister that was sent over seemed scared of Aunt Dot but the taller Sister wasn’t scared, she came over and picked up the plate and brought it to her table for the other Sisters. In the end Aunt Dot didn’t even eat the cookie she had put on her plate.

I know she has lived a long tough life giving of herself so Mini Red and I try to give back to her but I tell ya… It isn’t easy.

We are so glad to be home.