Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Decisions Are Made


 Before Mr. Moon left town I bought, for some unknown reason, a whole lot of vegetables. I believe I may not yet have been aware he was leaving. So here I am with a head of cauliflower, a head of broccoli, a package of asparagus, some yellow squash, mushrooms, green beans, and of course there are the peas still coming in from the garden. I also had part of a head of cabbage left over. So last night I got to chopping and doesn't that just all look incredibly healthy? It did not look quite so healthy after I added cut-up leftover steak from Sunday night that Mr. Moon had cooked on a fire that started out looking like something to be used in a cremation ritual, but which eventually settled down into some nice hot coals. 
The man does love an accelerant, as he calls it. 
And since he'd bought the steaks they were huge, the ones I call Fred Flintstone Steaks, and of course we couldn't eat nearly all of them so besides all of the vegetables I have a great deal of man-cooked beef in the refrigerator too. A nice stir fry seemed to be the obvious thing to cook last night and I did. It was very tasty and I enjoyed it except for the damn broccoli. It is no secret that I do not like broccoli. I don't dislike it as much as I dislike Brussels sprouts but as we all know, they are first cousins and so there you go. If the broccoli is served with a good and sturdy cheese sauce which certainly negates any healthy aspects of the vegetable, I don't mind eating it but even when cooked with soy sauce and ginger, it just does not please me. 
I sat there with my bowl and chopsticks and I thought, "Why? Why do I eat this stuff that I do not like? I am a grown ass woman." And it occurred to me that the world would continue to spin if I never ate another broccoli spear in my life. 
Since I finished up the stir fry for my lunch and did eat the broccoli in it, I suppose I have decided not to break up with it entirely but I swear to you- I am definitely going to redefine my relationship with it. 

Okay. So. I made a big decision today about the stone blasting. I called my urologist's office and left a message (because you can't talk to a person on the first try- it's against the law) saying that I would like to discuss some things about the lithotripsy procedure before I scheduled it. And of course no one called me back until about 3:30 this afternoon when I was in the midst of hauling huge bags of mulch around the garden after having been weeding for hours. It was the woman who schedules the surgical procedures and after I spoke to her, she said she would have the doctor call me. 
"What do you think the odds are that he'll call this afternoon?" I asked. 
"Well, I don't know but I'm going to give him your message right now." 

And lo and behold, before I had finished the mulching, the doctor did indeed call me back and after discussing the pros and the cons of having the lithotripsy, and me telling him that I felt as if I had the Sword of Damocles dangling over my head he said, "Oh, I don't want you to feel like that." And then he said something that truly astounded me which was this: "If it was me, I'd just wait and see what happens."

What?! 
Well. I think that is a sensible thing to do. As he says, the stone may never move at all and as I said, rushing into a situation that requires general anesthesia that will indeed cause residual pain afterwards is not something I am entirely certain I want to do right now.

I was so grateful that he listened to my concerns and validated my feelings about them. And as I told him, I will pay very good attention to any future situations where I am experiencing unexplained pain in that area. And unexplained gastric pain too, because I did indeed have that with this last stone. 

So that is that for now and I feel at peace with this decision.

Meanwhile, I had a good day in the garden although it is getting hotter than I would like for sure. I was so glad to get that weeding and mulching done. There is a lot more mulching that needs to be done but I used all the bags that Mr. Moon left for me in there. I do very much believe in mulching because it serves several purposes, all of them positive. For one thing, it helps preserve moisture around the plants. And for another, it does help with slowing down the growth of weeds. The final thing that I really like about it is that when the mulch breaks down (as long as you're using something like hay or leaves), it adds nutrients to the soil that actually improve it. 
I mean- what could be better?

Well, I'll tell you one thing that could be better and that's the fact that a jury found Trump guilty of sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll in a civil trial and ordered him to pay $5 million in damages. It would all have been a whole lot better if they'd found him guilty of rape too but they did not go that far. 
If I started talking about how many women are assaulted and/or raped but do not report due to our patriarchal society, court-system, and endless other reasons, I would be here all night long. 

But. From the Sexual Violence Resource Center I give you this quote:

Rape is the most under-reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police (o). Only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities (g). The prevalence of false reporting is between 2% and 10%.

I truly wonder what the real number of women that Trump has assaulted in his life is. "If you're a star you can do anything! Grab 'em by the pussy!" he so famously said. 

As horrific as that quote is, I have to tell you that most women would put their hands on their heart and testify that it's not just "stars" who feel they can do that. It is many, many, many humans who are male. Bosses, friends, relatives, dates, random guys in bars or museums. 
In fact, it's such a common occurrence that I feel sure the reason Trump not only got away with saying that but also went on to be elected as the president of the United States is that so many women thought, "Eh, it happens," and so many men thought, "Well. Yeah."

That's just the opinion of a sixty-eight year old woman who has experienced a thing or hundred. Ask any other sixty-eight year old woman you know and she will probably tell you the same thing. 

Of course Trump is going to appeal the decision and is lying his ass off about having no idea who E. Jean Carroll is and having been silenced and thus was unable to defend himself even though, in reality, he refused to testify. 

Still. A tiny triumph for Ms. Carroll and a tiny triumph for all women. Not nearly enough but something. 

Love...Ms. Moon



35 comments:

  1. And, too, this day ... George Santos has been charged by the DOJ. Probably fraud, but that's just my guess!
    Thing 45 = 😝😱

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    1. George Santos is a complete joke if you ask me and the people who elected him were just incredibly naive. Or stupid. I don't know. But yes- I'm glad the DOJ has gotten its shit together to do something about him.

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  2. I will bypass comments on DT.....and focus on your decision to opt out of lithotripsy for now (thank you, Doc)...... you know what is going on in your body, and when to scream for help......so I support your decision. And I never knew you didn't like broccoli or brussels......YOU? who love everything? LOL! I'm stunned....... but your dinner sounds great! We are having chicken adobo over farro........and I can't wait!
    Susan M

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    1. Oh, I totally do not like everything, Susan! Can not, will not eat liver. I'm really not fond of a many things but I will eat most anything. Offal does not appeal to me in the least and lamb- well, I just can't. I realize how hypocritical this is.
      I bet your supper was amazing.

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  3. I seriously doubt Trump has 5 million.
    He is soooooo disgusting.
    Your stir fry looked delish...as all your cooking does. :)

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    1. I, too, wonder how much money the guy actually has. He must spend millions a year on paying lawyers alone.

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    2. I don't think he pays anyone. His lawyers eventually just quit.

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  4. I concur with both your decisions -- rethink broccoli, and don't rush to lithotripsy. It's entirely possible that you don't like broccoli because your body's telling you it's wrong for your body. Listen to her! And if your doctor says don't rush, well, there you go.I'm very glad you discussed it and didn't just schedule.

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    1. I was SO glad I got to talk to the doctor and that he seemed quite willing to discuss whatever I wanted to discuss. At one point he said to me, "I believe you are a thinking person," which sort of made me chuckle. Well- I certainly hope so!
      I'll tell you a secret- the older I get, the less I enjoy eating vegetables AND fruit. This can't be good. Woman does not live on protein and bread alone.

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  5. E. Jean will never see a penny, but that's not the point. Like being caught on tape Grabbing them by the Pussy, the Slime Bag is nailed once again!
    That's a good decision for your stone! Certainly one you can live with comfortably for now.

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    1. How many times does he have to get nailed for his followers to care? I don't think it matters. But like I said- I have to wonder how many women he's assaulted that never stepped up and accused him OR got paid off to keep their mouths shut.
      He's the poop that slime-eaters poop on the bottom of the tank.

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  6. I think it's broccoli that caused those stones. Best to steer clear of it!!

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  7. I was surprised to hear the decision. Happy, but surprised. The rat bastard has been getting away with stuff for such a long time that I really just figured that he'd slip away here, too, as well. This afternoon two things that he said really jumped out at me. I quote: "It’s a disgrace that it’s allowed to happen,” he added. “It’s false accusations against a rich guy, or in my case, against a famous, rich and political person that’s leading the polls by 40 points.” Yes. A rich guy that actually claimed that BECAUSE he's rich and famous, he can do exactly what he was accused of doing. He complained mightily about leaving Scotland to come back to the US, and ultimately, he did not do so. His choice. But now that he's lost he's screaming that he was "unconstitutionally silenced." I'm heartily sick of him and his blather.

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    1. I have said many times that it is wrong entirely to wish for someone's death but when that man dies, let us just say that I will not give a rat's ass.

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  8. I like broccoli and brussel sprouts but you have lots of other yummy things you DO like to eat so eat what you like! I used to imagine that when I am old and in a nursing home, I would live on ice cream and potato chips! Why not!?

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    1. Ellen, that sounds totally perfect to me.

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  9. Mary, I’m so glad you got some good advice about the stone, and if it isn’t moving around, it doesn’t hurt just to wait and see. For some reason I thought it was on the move but I’m glad I was not. You have earned the reprieve from worrying about any stone except The Rolling Stones and you never have to eat broccoli if you don’t like it.

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    1. I asked the doctor about the occasional twinge or dull ache I feel in that side and he said that it's most likely the after-effects of the stone that did move and the lithotripsy. Which was reassuring.
      Yes! I will still worry about the Rolling Stones and their continued journeys on this earth.

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  10. Good news on the stone front, wait and see. I've had a stone in my kidney for years and it never boths me, thankfully.
    I don't like broccoli either but I try to eat it because it's good for me. I chop it so it's quite small and then it doesn't bother me so much.
    As for the orange POS, it will be so nice when he just stops talking. The world will be a better place.

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    1. That is good news, Pixie. That your stone is just sitting there, causing no harm, no pain.
      You could not be more right about the Orange Intestine.

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  11. I used to love broccoli years ago when farmers grew it in the ground and it was sweet. Now it is grown hydroponically and it may still be nutritious as hell, but it is also Bitter! An alternative is the milder, looser "broccolini" if you can get it, but if not then just leave broccoli out of your life. I do still love brussels sprouts. Your huge plate of chopped veg looks so delicious! Had to laugh at Fred Flintstone steaks! Those are what my sons like to eat. Seared on a barbecue of course.

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    1. Of course Fred Flintstone steaks must be grilled on a fire! It's a rule!
      Those vegetables I cooked were pretty good, I will say.
      I have grown broccoli that is absolutely better than store-bought but it's a picky thing to grow here. Bugs love it.

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  12. 37paddington: I’m glad you were able to talk everything through with the doctor and came to a decision on the stone that you are at peace with. As for Trump, it was reported that the jury did not find for rape, only sexual assault, because E. Jean Carroll said she could not tell if he’d penetrated her because he was so tiny.

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    1. Oh my GOD! Where did you read that? About Trump's tiny turnip?

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  13. I am with you on the mulching, great stuff.
    I was watching some episodes of "The Power", the TV version of the book by Naomi Alderman and there's this one scene where the teenage daughter having discovered the power (i.e. that girls can send electric currents from their fingertips to ward off attacks) says to her mother, both in tears, something like "I am so excited to know that my little sister can grow up without fear the way we had to" - and I cried. If only.

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    1. I saw a Tik Tok thing the other day with a woman talking about how men often defend shooting at people by saying they felt threatened and how women feel threatened over and over and over and over again in our lives and yet- we rarely, almost never, end up killing those who threaten us with a bullet. I wish we did have the power to ward off attacks with our fingers.

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  14. When I first read your post, it only loaded up to "what could be better?" and now I came back to read comments and it's much longer, after I'd commented. It looks like I was ignoring your very pertinent comments about tfg but in fact I hadn't seen them! Well at least blogger loaded today, better half than nothing, I guess. And your comments were spot on!

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    1. Oh, dear Liz! You are so sweet. Thank you.

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  15. I think financially speaking, Trump must be a lawyer's dream. He's so litigious, and any decision against him automatically gets appealed. Then again, as Michael Cohen found, he can be a nightmare to work for. So who knows -- maybe it's not worth the money.

    It's interesting the doctor said he'd wait on the stone. Not what I expected him to say! But hey, if that's what he says, I'd go with it too.

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    1. Seriously- I wonder how many millions that DT has spent on lawyers. I am sure it's a staggering amount but no, I would not defend that man for any amount of money.
      Yeah. When the doctor says wait and see- well, OKAY!

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  16. I have all those vegetables too except for the green beans and I already had used up the last of the cabbage. I tried a broccoli recipe last night, baked broccoli cheese patties. I do like broccoli but have never tried this even though it's been in my little cookbook a long time. It was time to try it or toss it. well, I tried it and tossed it. not that great.

    the doctor said wait, so wait but I wonder if it will continue to grow even if it doesn't move.

    finally, the first of many convictions. his joy ride is over. and the republicans are showing, again, just how depraved they are by still supporting him. wheels of justice turn slow but hopefully they'll grind his bones to dust before the next election.

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    1. Well, I won't ask you for that recipe! Doesn't sound bad.
      I, too, wonder if the stone is going to continue to grow. The worry of that may help me to continue drinking the lemon water.
      "Grind his bones" sounds like justice to me.

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  17. What a good talk with your urologist, and what good advice he gave!

    Yay mulch! A chore you weren't looking forward to; it must feel great to have all those bags spread.

    Thank you for those final paragraphs.

    Chris from Boise

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  18. Sometimes doing nothing is the sensible option.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.