Maurice is looking a bit shaggy, isn't she? Yesterday I decided to get in the garden and kneel in the dirt and get my hands filthy and so I did. I didn't stay out too long because it's still hot as blazes and as humid as a sauna but I enjoyed the time I spent out there, doing a little weeding, and of course I always love it when Maurice joins me. She wandered among the greens and the mushrooms which have sprung up since we got that rain.
That looks like an angry mushroom to me.
When I came in I did laundry and a few other chores and then I decided to clean out the freezer which for some bizarre reason I thought would take about twenty minutes.
Two hours later I was done. I got rid of a few things and tried to organize the other things but it's still far from perfect.
Two hours later I was done. I got rid of a few things and tried to organize the other things but it's still far from perfect.
And then I made our supper of mahi-mahi and grits and salad and leftover okra and tomatoes. It was all good. I was tired by nine-thirty but managed to stay awake until eleven at which point the light went out and I slept eight hours straight. I knew I had to get up early because today was pottery class.
I got up in plenty of time and made it to Jessie's house to pick her up and off we went to Lafayette Park where the studio is and just as we were getting started, I got a call from Lily who was at work. Poor Lauren was in such bad pain from lower back and hip pain that she really wanted to go to an ER. So Jessie and I cleaned up our spaces and drove to pick her up. We were going to take her to the free-standing ER associated with Tallahassee's main hospital where I have received such good care for my appendix and kidney stone situations. However, on the way there, we saw that the local orthopedic clinic where Lauren had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow had an urgent treatment clinic which none of us knew about so we took her there and they saw her in a reasonable amount of time. I say that as someone who was not in agony. I'm not sure she'd agree with that.
They did X-rays and a doctor examined her and they gave her a shot for pain (not a narcotic) and a steroid shot and told us we could take her home. Jessie and I felt terrible for her. She could hardly move at all and there was no position she could be in that was even vaguely comfortable. Not sitting, not standing, and not laying down.
Jessie was a great nurse for her, giving her Ibuprofen before we left the house, and making sure she had water. She tried every comfort measure she could think of.
They ordered an MRI for Lauren but her insurance company has to approve it before they can schedule it. I am pretty sure that the doctor agreed with her own diagnosis of sciatica. The X-rays did not show anything that Lauren didn't know already but they did indicate that a nerve was being pinched.
I think that strangled is more like it.
Jessie was a great nurse for her, giving her Ibuprofen before we left the house, and making sure she had water. She tried every comfort measure she could think of.
They ordered an MRI for Lauren but her insurance company has to approve it before they can schedule it. I am pretty sure that the doctor agreed with her own diagnosis of sciatica. The X-rays did not show anything that Lauren didn't know already but they did indicate that a nerve was being pinched.
I think that strangled is more like it.
We took her home and she laid down on the couch to rest and I hear she was able to sleep some although her pain has not abated much, if at all. Damn. There's pain and then there's...pain. You know what I mean. Wicked, unrelenting pain. And that is what she is having.
I dropped off Jessie at her house although to be perfectly honest, she was doing all the driving. She had to pick up those boys and take them to piano. Because I still had not set my car clock to the correct time due to the fact that every six months when the time changes, I forget how to do it and have to google it, and I just hadn't gotten around to that, I thought it was after four when it was really only after three and so I did not go do my grocery shopping which had been part of my plan today. I have now successfully set the clock but I guarantee you that come spring and another time change, I will not remember how to do it.
Mr. Moon did not sleep last night because he felt and does feel "like shit" which concerns me. The man ignores illness until he absolutely cannot. The feeling like shit, according to him, has nothing to do with any illness but some other random thing he has come up with involving an acid blocker that he didn't take one day last week. Seriously.
So I am making a soup because soup cures everything. Am I right? The greens that I picked for a salad are now cut up and simmering in the pot with broth and onions and carrots. While I was out in the garden I took a little video of the bees on the Mexican basil. You really can't get the entire scope of how many there are as the camera cannot take in what the eye can but you can get a sense of what's going on there.
Mr. Moon did not sleep last night because he felt and does feel "like shit" which concerns me. The man ignores illness until he absolutely cannot. The feeling like shit, according to him, has nothing to do with any illness but some other random thing he has come up with involving an acid blocker that he didn't take one day last week. Seriously.
So I am making a soup because soup cures everything. Am I right? The greens that I picked for a salad are now cut up and simmering in the pot with broth and onions and carrots. While I was out in the garden I took a little video of the bees on the Mexican basil. You really can't get the entire scope of how many there are as the camera cannot take in what the eye can but you can get a sense of what's going on there.
And the honeymooners had their first New Orleans brunch today and oh my god. I want some of that.
Hank is about to attack a benny flight which I understand is a selection of different takes on Eggs Benedict.
GET OUT!
GET OUT!
And Rachel is eating an omelet, grits, and a biscuit. She said they are probably the best grits she ever ate.
I would not doubt that.
And that's the story. I thought that life would be back to normal by now but let's face it- normal is not a concept which we can truly expect any more and we have no idea what the new normal will be but I have no doubt that whatever it is, it will only get worse.
In the meantime, let us eat all the benny flights and grits.
In the meantime, let us eat all the benny flights and grits.
Let us love our sweethearts. Let us take care of each other.
Love...Ms. Moon
OMG poor Lauren! I know you have mentioned her back problems in the past....and they are never fun. I hope she finds some relief....and gets her MRI soon. perhaps chiropractics might help her if it is sciatica? Time will tell...but I feel for her And Mr Moon.....hope your soup will fix him up! And food in New Orleans? They know how to cook.....and I trust Hank and Rachel will gladly enjoy it! Southerners know how to *do* food. I recall many years ago (35?) on my cross country month long road/camping trip.....being in Tennessee....and being served pork chops, grits.....AND biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast! It was a meal I will never forget......but haven't had since! Healing wishes to all.............may tomorrow be better for everyone
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Lauren does see a chiropractor.
DeleteI do love southern breakfasts but honestly, I don't know anyone who eats a full-on breakfast like you describe except for very occasionally.
Poor Lauren! My left knee sympathizes with her back.
ReplyDeleteTell Hank and Rachel to hit up the Camellia Grill while in NOLA. First question asked here of people returning from New Orleans is, “What did you eat?” Margaret
I will make that suggestion! Thanks.
DeleteIt's good the honeymooners have been spared the health problems, especially Lauren's "sciatica" or whatever it is. Here's to the speediest recovery to the sufferers.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the honeymooners have reported no health problems. I hope it stays that way!
DeleteI wonder if she got overstressed with the wedding? So much to do. I hope she'll do better soon. It sounds awful. You're hot still? Hm. Freezing here now, seasonal.
ReplyDeleteI think she did too much lifting and moving of heavy things. There was a lot of that!
DeleteYes. Still hot. I'm sweating right now but it's supposed to get cooler as the week progresses.
nerve damage is the worst sort of pain there is, besides all the others of course. I love how the election blues have subsided a bit until they lower the big badda BOOM. Your day sounds so ...normal-ish. Maurice looking scruffy, you in the garden hunting for soup, kids in Orleans eating breakfast, Jesse running the boys around...all safe and sort of sound for now, Lauren , poor girl - Damn pain to hell.
ReplyDeleteI swear, Linda Sue- I just cannot let myself get down deep into what all is going to happen. I know it's going to be bad but I cannot let myself dwell on it or I'll lose my mind completely. And frankly, I don't think there's anything I can do about any of it at this moment. I wish there was.
DeleteNerve pain is the worst because nothing seems to really cure it. Although...I hate to say it, but has she tried a bowl of grits? Or a bowl of your soup? I think that this election is starting to sink in. Tonight I had myself a good cry as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure she had grits at the wedding! Ha! I should take her a bowl of soup.
DeleteI keep trying to prevent myself from accepting the reality of what is about to happen. I am not in any sort of denial. It's going to be far worse than we could have imagined. But I can't jump off that cliff. Not yet. I suppose I'll wait until I'm pushed. We'll see.
Every second of the day it seems is more bad news -- just unspeakable shit from the POS and the sycophants he's selecting to run our country into the ground.
ReplyDeleteI've been saying that as bad as we think it's going to be, it's really going to be so much worse. Our minds are not evil and demented so we can't even imagine. We are definitely getting major hints. I think the man is truly trying to wipe this country off the earth.
DeleteI hope Mr. Moon and Lauren are quickly on the mend. Nerve pain sucks.
ReplyDeleteNerve pain does suck.
DeleteI hope both Lauren and Mr. Moon feel better soon, but my isn't it lucky that they didn't get ill at the wedding!!
ReplyDeleteOH yes. Absolutely.
DeleteYou thought cleaning out your freezer would take twenty minutes?! 🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteMaurice is growing her winter coat. I hope Lauren's back sorts itself out soon, I've had similar episodes with mine, though thankfully not for a long time now. And Glen? I hope whatever is going on there resolves itself quickly too.
The Honeymoon food looks really good.
Yeah. I really wasn't considering exactly what that job would take. I think you're right about Maurice's winter coat.
DeleteNew Orleans is truly one of the best cities in the world when it comes to food, music, and art.
First, that mushroom is a major warning sign that reads, Don’t even think of eating me! I feel for Lauren. Sciatica or any nerve pain can be horrific. I hope it eases very quickly. I love that photo of Hank, but I’ll have what Rachel’s having!
ReplyDeleteI know. I should dig those mushrooms up. The garden is not where they need to be.
DeleteNerve pain just burns, doesn't it? It's like being on fire.
I think I would have what Rachel was having and then go back the next day and have at least some of what Hank is having.
I don't think normal is ever coming back. Nerve pain is just the worst, hope Lauren heals quickly. Oh my, the food looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThe thought of what "normal" is going to mean makes me shudder.
DeletePoor Lauren. I'm tired of doctors treating women in pain differently than men in pain. I hope the MRI is given the go ahead quickly.
ReplyDeletePoor Mr. Moon, imagine having to admit that your body can break or not work properly due to such tiny things as viruses and bacteria:) Hope he's feeling better soon.
I told my hubby I want to go to couple's counseling to learn to communicate better, he agreed but now he's not really talking to me, so that's helpful. Sigh. It's hard to love someone who is so angry and won't deal with it.
I really hope the doctors are taking Lauren's pain seriously. Her work requires a lot of lifting and moving of things and she can't possibly do that right now.
DeleteYeah. I don't know what Glen's deal is but it is so hard for him to admit he needs to rest. I am sorry to hear about your husband. It would definitely be better for both of you if he could go to counseling. I'm sorry he's being stubborn about it. Anger is a terrible thing to carry around. I know.
I'm sorry to hear about Lauren. I hope she can get some relief quickly. And as for Mr. Moon, I can vouch for the fact that even relatively minor acid-related stomach stuff can make a person feel awful! So I hope he's right and that's what it is.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a "benny flight"! Only in N'Awlins!
Back and nerve pain is horrible pain. I hope Lauren gets a plan to relieve the pain sooner rather than later. Getting medical attention is not always easy.
ReplyDeleteAcid reflux? Well, that's no fun either.
So, no pottery for you and Jessie?
Breakfast in Southern states is amazing.
Nope. No pottery for us. Out of four Tuesdays, we've only been to one entire class. Jesus.
DeleteThe south knows how to do breakfast. I think it comes from back in the days when many southerners spent all day working hard in the fields and had to get plenty to eat to fuel up in the morning.
The clock in my car is right six months of each year as I have never figured out how to change it. I just have to remember to subract and hour or not.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Ha! I was thinking that's what I'd do too but when I forgot and mismanaged my time so badly, I figured I'd better google that shit.
DeletePlease tell the honeymooners not to miss the fried chicken - Willie Mae's or Dookey Chase!
ReplyDeleteOh, I bet they will go one of those for sure.
DeleteOh, I feel so bad for Lauren. It's hard to move at all when you have that terrible pain. Hope she gets more help soon.
ReplyDeleteI am wearing my winter coat up here in Illinois as it has gotten so chilly.
Hope Mr. Moon feels better soon or gets to a doctor if he does not.
Hope you take time to relax too, Mary! xxoo
So far I haven't done much relaxing. I feel like I'm going to be catching up forever.
DeleteLauren really is having a hard time. And Glen is just working through whatever he has going on because that's what he does.
I feel for Lauren. Having had similar back/hip pain is horrendous. Being a nurse and lifting patients for 39 years was the culprit. When you're trying to lift a patient off the floor that has fallen between the wall, o2 concentrator, suction equipment, catheters and IV's.....you put your back into some wild positions!! I hope she's feeling some relief now. Hank's meal looked beyond. The food in NOLA is memorable and the highlight of the trip. Hope Mr. Moon is feeling better. I take it Maurice is taking up gardening...among other things.
ReplyDeleteParanormal John
Oh god. You are so right about lifting people. Sometimes you just cannot bend your knees the way you're supposed to. Lauren is a deli manager at a big grocery store and her job involves a lot of heavy lifting, loading, moving about of heavy objects. That has to eventually catch up to her. I hope they figure out some way to permanently help her. Backs are tricky.
DeleteOh, Maurice. I don't know what she has in mind. She is a mystery to us. But you know we love her.