Picture Sunday

Hello, end of weekenders. And talking about the end of a weekend, I've left it till the last minute to post Picture Sunday. The weekend has 7 minutes left.

I've been absent most of the week, physically and emotionally, and mentally too, I guess, because my mom, also known as Granny, has been in the hospital. As you all know, if you read me much, I've bitched and moaned about Granny for about three months now. She doesn't take care of herself, won't listen to her doctors, and her psoriasis is raging because she refuses to take the medicine her specialist gave her.

It's an incredibly long story, and I'm not going into all the gory details here (if you're interested, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and fifty cents and I'll tell all), but the upshot of it is that Tuesday she came into my office a complete and total wreck. She was freezing, could not warm up, and was shaking like a leaf. I tried to get her to go to the emergency room right then, was going to take her there myself, but she wouldn't go. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth (actually crying and fighting), but she refused.

She was worse the next day, and agreed to go to her family physician. Who told her she was to hie her ass to the hospital immediately. He arranged admittance, and I took her and my dad up there. I stayed with her that day until about 8:45 pm, and leaving her to go home was the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm not kidding - at that point, I wouldn't have given you a dollar for her to last out the week. She was pitiful. She also had a temperature so low it wouldn't register on a thermometer.

What's worse, her psoriasis was in full rage. I'd never really seen the full extent of it until that day, when I helped her change into her hospital gown. She looked like a leper.

After much testing and waiting, it was determined she had a bacterial infection in her blood. From, wonder of wonders, a break in her psoriasis-plagued skin. She's been in the hospital since, getting antibiotics via IV, and is doing better, but she'll be there several more days.

The only good part of all this is that her attending physician while she's there, who's not a dermatologist but an allergist and sounds exactly like Huckleberry Hound, has finally gotten her to understand that when this is over, she must go on her psoriasis medication. For if not, this could happen again and again.

So, we'll see, and it's been an extremely long and tiring week, but seeing Mom improve has helped me survive it. And in case you've been wondering, yes, the real Huckleberry Hound, "Luckie Huckie" himself, who stays with all my family members when they're in the hospital, has been with my mom since the first night.

That long narrative over, I've got lots of pictures, so I'll try to keep the lines short from here on out. (Notice I said "try.")

As one enters the hospital here in town, there's a long hallway, and down the entire damn thing hang portraits of men. I'm assuming they're doctors but can't prove it, maybe they're department heads or something.




















I've walked past this gallery of guys every day since Tuesday, and the same thing always bores itself into my brain. Because there's one picture that drives me absolutely batshit crazy.




















When exactly was comedian/actor Richard Belzer a doctor at our local hospital? Judging by the glasses, it seems to have been in the early 80s. That was before his whole "Law & Order" gig, so I guess he was hurting for entertainment money and had to turn to the medical profession.

Of course I stayed local this week, and Mr M was kind enough to come down to visit me, then visit Granny, today. He was also kind enough to bring a chicken to roast, and we had a very nice home-cooked meal, which was a first for me this week.

But more importantly, he helped me with my lawn mower!

























I finally rolled it out of my dennette on Saturday, rolled it back to the shed and left it there. He showed me how to put gas and oil in it, we got the grass catcher on, and he showed me how to start it. I told him I'd never be able to pull that rope, but he said "pish tish," which was a lie, he actually said "bullshit," and killed the engine so I could try.

And I tried. I tried a lot.

I tried so many times, in fact, that I became delirious and was consumed with the helpless giggles. I laughed so hard I got light-headed. I laughed so hard Mr M abandoned me and went inside to watch television. I laughed until my sides were sore.

And then I laughed some more.

























And then I somehow got the thing started, but I swear it was a one-time deal, and I'll never be able to do it again.




















Once it was started, though, I had to give it a try, so I mowed the side of my house. And boy, does my house look nice and trim! OK, sorry, I mowed the grass at the side of my house. If I can get it started tomorrow and back from visiting Granny in time, I plan to do the rest. It's actually very easy to work with mowing-wise, very agile, and leaves a great look to the grass.

Here's a mowing girl. Not a starting girl, just a mowing girl.




















OK, now comes the recipe du jour.

You know, when I was growing up around here there was a popular brand of bread called Rainbo. I don't know if it was everywhere or just in the South, but I remember it vividly from my childhood days. For two reasons. First of all, even as a child I hated that they thought it was cute to leave the "w" off, and second of all, I don't know why anyone would want to associate their bread with a rainbow when every damn piece of bread in there was white.

Well, I've done something about that! From the "Colorful Staples" file at cardland, would you please say hello to "Rainbow Bread."





















All you need to do for this one is to mix up some food coloring, get a paintbrush, and go wild. I've chosen to make my bread green, purple, blue, and red. And just for fun, I've color-coordinated their garnishes. Tell me that would make a bland sandwich - I dare you!

And I left the "w" just where God intended, thank you very much.

Happy week.

Betland's Olympic Update:
* All this and a movie, too! A new movie is up at the Comfy Chair Cinema. After seeing Sherman's movie last week, Mr Peabody decided to get into the act. And you won't want to miss this one. Line up and get your tickets now, or just follow this link. You won't be sorry!