ER: The Reality Show

So what it is about emergency room medical care? There is a reason you need a primary care physician no matter where you go. If you travel, be prepared to pack your own MD.

I think 8 hours in an emergency waiting room might be some kind of a record for me. It was worse because I was wearing a watch, and was hungry and cranky. By midnight I was just plain tired. In spite of the steady stream of characters that came and went while my father in law was being tested, tested, tested, the night was a total wash...and not because of the torrential rains.

We had normal people....who came and were diagnosed with appendicitis about 6 hours after they arrived; we had an elderly gentleman who had been seen in the Quick Care section...hours earlier...who was told "you need to be seen in the other section...sorry about that. "We had a tattooed drug addict demanding to be seen because he could not stand the itching any longer- going through withdrawal symptoms -crashing the examining room area. We had a patient leave the confines of the examining room area and wander outside in his slippers and johnnie...Where's the security in these places??We had a nurse manager who was kind of an ER Nazi of sorts. We saw her shift end at 11pm. We were still there when the midnight visitors arrived...whole families who arrived and hung out in the waiting room waiting for some Tylenol.

And then there was my sister in law and me...who, by virtue of seniority, owned the waiting room after being the first and last ones there.(8 hours) We had birthday cake in the truck for my mother in law, but it felt kind of rude to be eating cake in front of indigents. SO we waited, and we waited, and we were really bad about being patient.

We watched the Red Sox beat Seattle in 12 innings; we watched Hurricane Dolly over, and over, and over again on the Weather Channel, and we waited....

In the end...around 1am, it was determined that all the dreaded possibilities that could be, did not exist...and all that was left was a really hurting back...so with 3 pain pills and an umbrella, we all left. We headed back to the RV for birthday cake and a very short night's sleep.

ER...for real. Could have been a mini series or an epic, but there wasn't enough action.

The House that Ruth Built

Some things cannot live up to the legend...Yankee Stadium is best left to Hollywood and the imagination or perhaps the memory of glory days long past.

First there was the Alll Star Game, hosted by Yankee Stadium. The stadium was packed with people. It shined in the night and I thought, how cool is that? We are gonna be there!

Then, in preparation for a long anticipated trip the home of the Bronx Bombers we watched Billy Crystal's HBO movie *61; the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle-teammates on the 1961 Yankees, both on track to break Babe Ruth's single season homerun record. The movie was great..but Billy Crystal's documentary on how he directed the movie and remade Tiger Stadium into Yankee Stadium in 1961 rang with passion. He loves the Yankees, and Yankee Stadium. The anticipation and expectation were just too much.

Easy to get to? Kinda...except NYC in the middle of July is just downright hot....and the subway stations are not air conditioned. Take the number 4 train...you can get a ticket at the booth down at the track. The guy in the booth was getting a chuckle watching my husband try to figure out what he wanted, and how he was going to get thru the turnstyle. He knew better...he came out from behind the glass to give LB a tutorial on swiping his card. On to the Number 4 train to Yankee Stadium. Sometimes it pays to be a tourist. Did I mention it was 95 degrees and humid? And the trains are not air conditioned either. But we were on our way to Yankee Stadium! The house the Ruth built!

I can see it! As the Number 4 train rumbled up alongside the stadium...the old stadium standing adjacent to the colosseum like new stadium scheduled to open next spring. All I could see was a sea of blue seats through a space in the outfield wall.

The train came to a halt and off we got...as I looked down the fire escape like structure onto the street below I was awestruck. What a dump! street vendors hawking t shirts..sleazy sports bars spilling out onto the nasty sidewalk; trash littering the ground..just a concrete jungle. Up overhead loomed the subway train tracks as the Number 4 train continued on its way.

Throngs of people headed like cattle to an opening in the cement wall...where's Gate number 2?
'Oh, around the other way."
"What do you mean you can't bring backpacks into the stadium?"
"You'll have to go over across form Gate Number 6 to the Bowling Alley to check your bag."
"Crap, my camera battery is just died!"
No one is ever going to believe this place without pictures.

Cracked cement, peeling paint, gloomy lighting, dank, dark and depressing.

Out onto the field the sun is shining and the stands go on forever, but the fact remains, it is a dump. No wonder the yankees hate Boston so much..they gotta be jealous of Fenway Park!

All I can say is they need a new stadium....and I hope they appreciate it. From the nasty food, to the grumpy people, to the flower pots acting as trash recepticals, Yankee Stadium is one place that is best remembered for how it used to be. Some people like old..say it lends character. I am just a spoiled Boston fan looking for a bit of history. Guess I'll watch the DVD.

The ultimate resort experience

It's here! That' s right! I have a swimming pool..so you know what that means. The place where no self respecting teenager would ever want to "hang out" has now become the ultimate summertime resort. Lounge chairs, beverages, snacks, popsicles and a pool. We even offer rooms for naps if needed. I can't complain, except it is constant. Sometimes everyone is here at once....other times we have morning sessions and afternoon sessions. My children used to call me maybe once aweek...now it's at least once a day. The conversation often goes like this:

" Hey, are you gonna be home today?" or "Hi, it's me, I was just calling to check in.....are you guys gonna be home today?" or "What are you doing?" that's a loaded question. What I should say is, "I am vaccuuming the pool, washing the dishes, wiping the drool off the hardwood floors, and cleaning cookie scum off my sofa. I am straightening my magazines and I need to go to the grocery store because we are out of beer and juice and diet Pepsi. And white bread."

But I must say it can be very entertaining. We have at least one temper tantrum every hour. The youngens are learning attitude from each other...how to talk back with a tone, roll their eyes, and bat their eyelashes to get their own way. We are learning how to help out, clean up after ourselves, open and shut the screen door, and use a watering can to water weeds.

We are also learning who can do the best belly flop off the diving board, how to breath using a snorkel, and which goggles look the most attractive with our swimsuit.

This resort offers recreational activities not too far away..such as golf, bike riding and wiffle ball. And there are often resident experts on hand to offer lessons.

So, for the price of a bottle of wine or a six pack and some Cheeze-its, the ultimate resort experience can be yours. Don't bother to call to see if I'm home or ask what I'm doing....if I don't answer the phone it's because I'm busy getting ready for my guests. Just show up with your suit and towel. I recommend an SPF sunscreen of at least 45 though, because the sun can get hot hanging out on the deck.
See you at the pool.

Summertime Thoughts

It has been awhile. since my last post.There is no avoiding it...summer has arrived. In spite of New Hampshire's version of June Gloom, summer is officially here. So far, not so good. So far we have had to say goodbye to my aunt, and we will miss her terribly. It is a reminder not to take things for granted..especially people. There are some people-friends and relatives- I swear I have not seen in years. Unfortunately, sometimes 6 weeks can be too long. Make a point of spending time with people you care about. What would happen if they were to disappear from your life today?


So far there has been a lot of rain..afternoon thunderstorms. Are we living in Florida or NH? It is a process when it rains..there are umbrellas, pool toys and cushions ....I have decided to leave the cushions out...so what it if they get wet.

So far not much golf. I am supposed to be on vacation! How is it I have no time for leisure activities? I have had to book hair, nails, massage, and golf. I have had relatives dropping in, staying over. I have even had to clean and cook!! I want to go back to work I think.....I'm tired of being on vacation.

So far I have met a guy from Illinois who moved to California who finished sentences with "Right on!" He has long dreadlocks, tatoos, wears birkies and John Lennon sunglasses. Right on!


I have a new list, it's called:
THINGS I WANT TO DO THIS SUMMER. I wonder how many things will get crossed off? A couple, I hope.

• I want to tour the Sam Adams Brewery;
• I want to go see a Fisher Cats game, or Portland Sea Dogs, I'm not fussy.
• I want to take the Downeaster to somewhere..I haven't decided yet. I love trains. I
• want to go away, to a place with a pool, and do nothing for 2 days except do nothing. No worries...no phone calls, no computer, no television.
• I want to read my neighbor's book UNREQUITED
• I want to organize my photos (that' son the long list, too.)
• And I want to have at least 2 parties

So there it is. Summer is here. I am hopeful and happy. It is a time to regenerate and renew and relax. If only I can find a few minutes...