Thanksgiving with the new In Laws

Kerry told me that Frank's parents were going to go to a buffet for Thanksgiving so I offered up an invitation to them for Thanksgiving dinner. I really didn't think that they would come but they did and it turned out to be a wonderful first Thanksgiving dinner for all of us together.

I was totally stressed that there wouldn't be enough food but I was totally wrong. We had turkey for the meat eaters, Tofurky for Kerry and me and enough sides to kill a horse. We also had Kerry's favorite Boston Cream Pie that said Happy Birthday Peewee because besides Thanksgiving it was also Kerry's 25th birthday. Cousin Stevie brought an apple pie, Jon brought flowers and Frank's parents, Ron and Joanne, brought a gorgeous edible arrangements fruit thing, and wine. Yep, we had it all. We all ate too much food and sang happy birthday to Kerry.

When dinner was over Pat and Ron sat at the table talking while Joanne, Kerry, Frank and I rolled around in the yoga room. Frank and I did headstands and then we all just talked. It was really fun. I like Joanne very much. She is very open and friendly. It's quite a difference from Mike's parents who always felt that we were from the wrong side of the tracks. I think Joanne and I will be friends. I'm happy about that.

I was very happy to open our little house to Frank and his parents. They are really nice and they seem to love Kerry. I felt good being the one to bring the new extended family together. We need to get used to it. Kerry and Frank will be married in August and like it or not we will all be one big happy family. You know what? I like it. :)

My Fantastic Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday. So wonderful, in fact, that it totally blew me away. I heard from everyone in some way and I want to thank you all.

Pat, thanks for the balloons, flowers, strawberries, the card and well, you know. :)

Kerry, thanks for the phone calls, for making me laugh and reminding me how much you love me :)

Michele, thanks for the song you sang to me. I saved it on my phone :)

Jon, thanks for the three messages and well wishes. They were great :)

Cousin Stevie, thanks for feeling bad about not knowing. You totally made up for it by putting a reminder into your cell phone so you will know next year.:)

Richard, thanks for the email. It made me feel special as you always do :)

Laura, thanks for the call. You made me feel better about all my medical things :)

Bethy, thanks for the call and sweet birthday wishes:)

Vennie, thanks for the present. I totally loved it. So did Rigby :)

Ang, thanks for announcing my birthday on your blog.The post was wonderful :)

Becky, thanks for the funny birthday email. I had a great laugh :)

Annie, thanks for the email. You are the best :)

Juliana, thanks for the birthday hug and the peaceful vibes you gave me :)

Lisa, thanks for the birthday card and gift. :)

To all of my ladies: Marie, Geri, Joan, Andrea, Janet, Marie, Dina, Wendy, Paula and everyone else, thanks for remembering with lottery tickets, cards, phone calls and birthday wishes. You all make working worth while. :)

All of my clubhouse friends, thanks for the happy birthday thread :)

The Yoga Source, thanks for the free yoga class. It was so peaceful :)

Oh yeah, Paul, thanks for being there for me for all these years. Whatever would I do without my obsession with you? :)

Yep, I'm living up to the name of my blog. Lucky me! I'm lucky to have all of you in my life. I love you all.

Happy Birthday, You've Got High Cholesterol!!!

Yesterday I had an appointment with my favorite doctor, Dr Bob, who has been my primary care doctor for 30 years. I had given blood about a week ago for my annual check up and yesterday was the follow up visit to talk about the results. It really didn't go the way I had hoped.

For the last few years I prided myself on being in my 50's and not being on any meds. I knew my blood pressure was a little high but it had been that way for years and I fought Dr Bob tooth and nail every time he suggested that I start taking blood pressure meds. I thought I was going to be able to keep my pressure down by diet and exercise. Well, that didn't work.

Last month when I went to see Bob about my foot pain his office staff took my blood pressure and it was 155/95. He was none to happy with that and finally put his foot down (so to speak). He basically told me to shut up, cut the crap and take the Lisinopril that he was going to prescribe. I'm aware that I need to be treated like that at times. Richard has treated me like that through the years when I needed it too. Anyway, I gave in and said okay. I would take the pills.

I got to Dr Bob's office yesterday and once again my blood pressure was taken. It had come down but not enough for his liking so he upped my dosage. He said to me "Look Claudia, I don't want to hear it. Your blood pressure is still too high so I'm upping the dosage and you are going to take it". I agreed to comply with his instructions and double up on my meds this morning.

As he was looking at my chart and my test results he noticed that the next day (today) was my birthday. His next remark was "Happy Birthday. You've got high cholesterol". My reading was 256 which is pretty high for a vegetarian. He reminded me that both my parents had high cholesterol and now he wanted to prescribe something for that too. Knowing how he deals with me I figured that there was no point in arguing with him so I agreed.

He had me give blood for one more test and wants to see the results before putting me on the meds but I walked out with a prescription which I will start taking in a week or so. I also was told to get a bone density test.

So, happy birthday to me. I have plantar fasciitis, a heel spur, bursitis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and need a bone density test. Yeah, I'm not getting old (she said with complete sarcasm in her voice). At least my EKG was good.

Here is a little birthday present from my on my birthday to all of you. Was there ever a hotter man on the planet then Paul? I think not!! Happy Birthday to me!!



Here is a birthday laugh from me and Paul. If you have ANY problems with blue humor or dirty jokes DO NOT CLICK ON THIS. Thanks Paul, you made me laugh my ass off today.

Happy Birthday Laura

Today is a very special day. It is a special day because it is the birthday of a very special friend. I met her only by chance on the internet. She was a member of Richard Simmons clubhouse as I was. I had been reading her posts for a long time thinking to myself that this was an incredibly intelligent and strong person. Her posts were always funny, interesting and thought provoking. She also went against the grain on many occasions standing up for herself or others if she thought that she should never fearing retribution from the other people there. I liked that.

Beth on top, Vennie, Claudia and Laura. The Fab Four

I also admired her strength. Not only her strength of character but also her physical strength in coming back from life threatening illnesses that would have put anyone else either in the loony bin or the grave. Not to mention the fact that she had lost over 200 pounds!!! I remember thinking to myself that I wished I had that person for a friend but I also thought that she wouldn't want to be friends with me. What attributes could I possibly have that would make that person want to be my friend?

My gorgeous and brilliant friend Laura

Then Mac, my beloved lhasa apso and son, got terminally ill and I was thrown into a complete tizzy. I loved him so much and I was going to have to put him down. I thought I wanted to die with him. I posted about it on the clubhouse boards and who was it that posted back? It was this wonderful and wise person who gave me the strength to make the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. She kept me calm and assured me that I would have the strength to do what I had to do. I don't know what I would have done without her at that time in my life.

My son Mac

From that time on she has continued to be my wonderful and beloved friend. She keeps me sane when I go off the wall for whatever reason. She makes me laugh when I am sad. She gives me strength when I am weak and she gives me her friendship when I am feeling lonely. I'm still not sure why she would want to be MY friend but I thank the universe that she does. So.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

Happy Birthday Peewee

Today is Kerry's birthday. It is also the first time we have not been together on this all important day which depresses the crap out of me. I'll be seeing her on Wednesday though. We will celebrate then. Kerry's birthday always has a theme of turkey (or in our case, tofurky) and birthday cake.

I can't believe that all important night was 22 years ago. It seems like just yesterday that I squeezed her out, laid her on my chest and promised her that I would never be one of those horrible moms who constantly told their kids what to do. I was going to let her grow up as a free spirit to make all of her own decisions. LOL What a moron I was. LOL "Clean your room", "Do your homework", "Call me when you get there" LOL LOL I've been telling her what to do for 22 years and I have no intention of stopping now. LOL

Kerry at about 6 months old

Kerry today

Well, after 22 years of telling her what to do she has turned out extremely well. Happy Birthday Peewee. I couldn't be a happier or prouder Mom.