Health Update 2

So I shared with you that my last doctor's appointment didn't go very well. Some of my meds were changed and my doctor, who I really like, had some frank words for me concerning my future if I didn't make smarter choices. So some changes were made and unmade and made again between the last visit and my visit last week. It was a much better visit this time. She was happy that I'd lost weight and had a plan to continue that trend. She was really excited for Ray and his weight-loss, even though he isn't her patient. She noticed the difference right off. It made me smile that my doctor was paying attention to my husband's health even though she wasn't being paid to do so. I've lost right at 15lbs and Ray has lost twice that amount.

I'd say she was happy about my blood pressure, but that would be an understatement...I received a hug! My blood pressure is finally normal, which is something it hasn't been in almost 3 years. In fact, I've been in stage 2 hypertension since diagnosed with high blood pressure. I've taken so many different types and combinations of medications to get it under control, but they've only been able to bring me down to stage 1 hypertension and even then it wasn't always that low. But now, all is well. the doctor actually made sure I understood that my continued weight loss could result in low blood pressure which would cause me to be sluggish and that I need to keep an eye on it. So now I'm keeping a weekly journal of my BP and we'll see how it goes from here.

It's been a good 11 weeks health-wise. I go back to the doctor in 13 weeks for my next quarterly check up and I must say, I really am looking forward to another hug!

Carrie Underwood Moment

I’m sitting in a comfy chair at the Starbucks inside of a local hospital while my friend has surgery and thinking about a story requested of me a few days ago. It’s a story I think of each time I hear Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and it makes me smile and laugh.

Before I begin, it needs to be understood that this was not a date. The people I was out with were a gal I worked with, her husband and a guy that worked in the same department as us. The intent was that we would meet at Gilley’s for drinks and dinner, and then make our way to play pool. It should have been an enjoyable evening, probably not worth remembering in the grand scheme of things. Obviously, that’s not how it turned out.

First, let’s set the scene. I had spent 6 or so months holed up in the house fighting my own personal neurosis, had friendship end that caused more than just a little distress, had a difficult time finding a job after completing college, but things were finally looking up. I got a job, it was interesting, enjoyable and paid well. I was losing weight and jogging on a regular basis. I was making new acquaintances and friends. My shell was breaking. I was ready to have “fun”.

I’ve never been a wild, out of control person. It’s just not my style. I don’t enjoy crowds or noise. I’d never been much of a drinker. I think I drank more before I was 21 than I did 5+ years afterwards. I like to read, watch sports, listen to music, check out museums, look at and take pictures, eat at very yummy restaurants and cook. I’m pretty boring and I like it that way.

With that said, I’ve tended to draw towards people who are more social butterflies. My best friend since we were children is rambunctious. If there’s trouble, she’ll find it, or it’ll find her. I prefer not to be noticed most of the time. My college roommate was/is very much a people person. I tend to dislike the general public. My friend having surgery today, while she isn’t a social butterfly, she does like the “scene”. She prefers to be out and about amongst humanity. I like to be on my couch. Then there’s Ray. Ray was told once he “could sell ketchup on a stick” and another time that he’d be a great used car salesman. He’s a natural people person. He likes to hear and tell stories. He’s a talker. Then there’s the other side of Ray that prefers to sit on the couch with the laptop reading random things and watching Dr Who reruns all day. I prefer to listen to folks stories and I’ll take the laptop and TV too.

But after you spend months trying to figure out what normal is, things start falling into place again in your life and your feelings seem to have healed, it’s time to go out on the town and have a good time. Laptop closed, TV off, sexy outfits bought and on.  Anyone for last call?!? I'm over here!

So the four of us met up at Gilley’s. We were seating near the bar at a round table and ordered a couple of pitchers of margaritas. The night was already looking up! We sat around the table exchanging stories, eating, drinking and laughing it up. We were having a good time.

Now, the guy present that worked with us had a saga taking place in his life that he had been keeping us at work informed of and entertained with. It involved a girl who we fondly referred to as the Crazy (insert word that rhymes with “witch” here). The short version is that they went on a date, it hadn’t gone well and he thought he had been pretty clear that he wasn’t interested. Apparently he wasn’t crystal clear. She was stalking him. She called, left messages, continuously showed up at his house…it wasn’t good. Well, while we were having a grand time that evening, someone walked up behind him and started talking very loudly, but was slurring and obviously drunk. Three of the four of us at the table didn’t have a clue as to what was happening, except that some crazy  (insert word that rhymes with “witch” here) was really putting a damper on our little party. I’m still not sure what he told her, but she huffed off away from our table. He was very apologetic to us, explained that it was the crazy girl and that we should probably go ahead and make our way to play pool. Good idea!

We walk out of the restaurant, turn right toward where we had all parked, and OH MY GOSH! The chick was relentlessly keying his beautiful black, 4x4 Dodge pick-up! He yelled out at her, she turned and looked at us and he started running for her. Unfortunately for him he had hit the unlock button on his keys and she jumped into the truck and locked the doors and started keying his leather seats and dash. He finally remembered his keys, unlocked the doors and dragged her out. While he’s checking out his truck, she goes after the girl that’s with us yelling about how the guy is hers and she can’t have him. So our friends husband steps between them and explains their relationship and that she needed to go ahead and leave before she caused more of a scene. Well, in her drunken powers of deduction she decided I had to be the one dating him and decided to chat with me. And the fun started.

She got within inches of my face and started poking me in the chest and yelling that I needed to stay away from her man. Again, let’s all understand that I was NOT on a date. I was out with friends looking to blow off steam and have a good time. I stepped back and was trying to explain that I wasn’t dating her man and that she could have him if he wanted her and that we were cool. For every step I took back, she took one forward and got louder and got more irate by the step. The guy came over and got between us and was trying to calm her down. She was hysterical. Arms were flailing and snot was flying. At one point in him trying to talk to her she slapped the crap out of him. It wasn’t funny at the time, but afterwards when we’d talk about it, it was hilarious! He was close to six foot and she was shorter than me. It took much determination for her to reach up and get him. Take a second and imagine it…funny, huh? Told you.

He was a bit stunned that she had hit him and while he was recollecting himself, she made her way back around him to me. Yay! She went back to her lines of how he was hers and I needed to leave him alone, then she shoved me.

At this point in my life the only fight I had ever been in was with my sister growing up where we punched, shoved, hit and bit each other. Nothing serious. I gave a girl a bloody nose playing basketball once and yeah, it was on purpose, but well, I’d probably do it again now if the circumstances were the same.

So, the crazy chick shoved me and I took a step back. I told her not to touch me again. She stepped forward and shoved me again. I stepped back and reiterated my previous statement. She stepped forward and went to shove me again and I stepped aside and she fell forward onto the pavement. She was laying there crying and was having a hard time getting back up. I helped her up, told her she was going to be okay and left her to stand on her own. I thought we were done so I turned and was walking away. Then I hear my friend yell out my name and I turned and when I did, crazy chick was right there. She started slapping and scratching me. Way uncool. I was trying get away from her, but was pretty close to being backed up against the building and she was closing the gap between us quickly, so I pushed her away trying to make room for my own escape. Well she hit the ground, landing on her bum. Before I could get around her she was back up and in my face again, so I pushed her again and back to the ground she went. When she got back up she was going for my face and that apparently is where I drew the line because I punched her in the mouth. Down she went, crying of course. We were trying to get her back on her feet and over to a bench when she went after me again. This time I decided I was done. I grabbed her upper arms and shook her to get her attention. I got it. She wrapped her hands around my forearms and started steadily scratching my arms. I tried to get her to stop and she wasn’t having any of that, so I pushed her away from me as hard as I could. She hit the ground and rolled. When she finally got up she ran to her car and took off. Within minutes the sheriff’s department was there. We had to give our statements and when the sheriff got to “her man” it was obvious they knew each other. It turned out the sheriff was her father. He asked where she was and we told him she left. He sent his partner after her. We got to listen to the radio call back to him that he had her and she was drunk. Dad told his partner to take her in. WOW! Charges were filed against her for destruction of property, assault, DWI and driving with a suspended license. She had a full plate there.

I had to have my arms looked at before we could go. They looked bad. To this day I can show you proof of this evening on my arms. Thankfully it’s not too prominent.

Not sure if it needs to be said or not, but we didn’t play pool afterwards. I went to see a friend at work and get debriefed of the evening by her.

My crisp white, pearl button down shirt was ruined. Not only was there blood on it, mine and hers, but it was torn.

I loved that shirt.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I eventually did end up dating the guy. It didn’t last a year. It shouldn’t have lasted a week.

"I dug my key into the side

Of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive 

Carved my name into his leather seats."