More Ketchup

It's been a good couple of weeks.

A lot of it has been spent with Marilyn, Missy, and the ever charming Violet. Yesterday I met them at Hobby Lobby in Athens after spending the day trying to find a stem for the shower. After 35 years, it finally got to the point where no amount of teflon tape would keep it from leaking. I visited every home improvement center within a 25 mile radius, 3 old fashioned hardware stores, and 3 plumbing supply business in Athens before the good folks at Carson Plumbing Repair Company ordered a new set for me. Hopefully, I'll have them in time to stem the Chinese water torture going on in the bathroom before it drives me completely bonkers.

After all the drama with the shower, Marilyn, Missy, and Vi were a welcome change of pace. Violet and I patrolled the store while Missy and Marilyn bought fabric. Vi just walked along beside me, stopping to admire every squirrel, birdie, and kitty she passed and jabbering away in whatever language 21 month old toddlers speak. After we had crossed the entire store and began to admire the Christmas decorations (in June?!?) she realized that her Mom was missing. She did an about face, ran to the end of the aisle and realized that she didn't know how to get back to Mom, so I carried her back across the store, and she lit up like 10,000 Christmas lights when we turned the corner and she saw Mommy.

After the Hobby Lobby, we all went to Jason's Deli where I had the world's best Ruben, Marilyn and Missy had the soup and salad bar, and Violet disassembled a turkey sandwich before eating it in small bits. Then I came home, and promptly passed out in the Recliner of Death.

This morning I tempted fate by using the shower (it didn't blow out, so my rigging is holding) and then went to visit my doctor. 90 minutes later I left with a pat on the back (A1C is 5.9, so diet is controlling the diabetes, heart is good, BP 115/69), a 12 month renewal on my prescriptions, and orders to come back in a year.

Life is good.