Mood:  lazy

...I did, at least, take care of myself. For some reason, the stitches really hurt today. Staples, not so much. But the stitches hurt in every move I made, even when I was driving the car. I think I may have stressed them a bit last night when I got out of bed rather awkwardly. I'd just remembered that I left the sunroof open, and rain was forecast. Sometimes I get up before I wake up, it's not that unusual. It just normally doesn't hurt. Oh, well. Least the car wasn't flooded this morning (didn't rain after all !).

Oh, the car. That got lost in all the hullaballoo of the last month. Beloved Hubby got me an early birthday present - a 1991 Mazda MX6 ! It's in fabulous shape, everything works. It even has a sunroof ! I've always wanted one of those. It's low slung and sporty and has a manual transmission, but I guess that always goes in a turbo-engine car ! I actually have to be careful to keep her at the speed limit, she loves to race. And her bright red color is darn near an announcement to the cops to write me a ticket. She's great on gas and is so much fun to drive. I've called her 'Lightning Molly', and I really, really enjoy the morning drive now.

But for some reason, the stitches hurt with every crack in the road. I slept through the pain in the morning, but it came roaring back this afternoon. Came home from school pick-up and took half of one of the 60 painkiller pills they sent me home with after the emergency room and initial surgery. And slept for two and a half hours. Poor Dearest Son was really worried about me, and woke me to ask if I was all right. Such a sweet boy.

So I didn't get to sew or do any of the housework I had planned. I have a follow-up appointment at the surgeon's office tomorrow, but I doubt anything's getting removed. Darn it. Oh, and I found the tick that got me last week. Took much pleasure in roasting his icky butt.

Just wish the healing this time around was going as quickly as it did the first time. Oh, well. It'll heal on its own time, at least I'm getting some rest. Still no word from LivingSoft about Doll Shop Deluxe not working, but maybe they'll get to me soon...

Posted by dorriebelle at 5:43 PM CDT

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Mood:  smelly

Forgot I had a sort-of follow up at the hospital this morning. They wanted to see if a mark on my liver had enlarged, vanished, remained, etc. So I hopped up on the ultrasound table promptly at my 9am appointment time - and lay there for two hours, feeling like I was getting slowly and gently beaten up by roll-on deodorants. They never did find the thing (maybe it was removed when the cyst was), to which the Dr. who requested the test shrugged and said 'That's fine.'. By the time I got home, I was growly with hunger and slammed down two sodas without even realizing it. Now, if I could just convince myself the whole thing was an extremely expensive massage - on just one side of my body that's still covered with the sticky oil the sensor needs - maybe I won't be so whiny.

So I didn't get to sew. I did, however, take a bra apart. So far, it's yielded some bright pink knit 'grafitti' fabric, two vinyl belts, two strips of black elastic, eight hot pink hooks and eyes, and four more silver doll belt buckles. It's from the yard sale I got to go to Saturday, and it was my fave 'stuff a bag for a buck' kinda sale. Dearest Son got six new shirts and four brand new (still tagged !) pairs of shorts, Beloved Hubby got a luscious sweater that looks soooo sexy on him, and I got two purses, a bra, and five new fabrics to work with. I do love those yard sales. One of the purses has Barbie on it, the closest I've seen to one all year.

I hardly ever find dolls anymore. Of any kind. There's hardly any at the thrift stores, either. I'm starting to wonder if little girls play with dolls around here. I've seen maybe three dolls at yard sales and the same dozen in sad shape at the flea market three times this year.

But hope springs eternal. Usually around 8am on Saturdays ! :)

Posted by dorriebelle at 3:23 PM CDT

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Mood:  accident prone

Whoo, it's been a life since we moved back in February ! The move, a lightning strike, being sick for two months...It's no wonder I barely feel connected anymore. But I'm starting to come back- hell, I'm having to fight for it now ! - and I'm really enjoying what I have. Or at least, I will, once I can sit down and get up without wincing.

Couple weeks ago - on a Sunday - I was contemplating making pancakes for breakfast for me and Beloved Hubby. Dearest Son was still at his grandparents'. I coughed...and I was engulfed in pain. Roiling, sweating, mind-blowing agony. From a niggling little chuff of a cough. Part of the pain was not knowing what the h#ll was going on. I'd had a similar experince around St. Patrick's Day, but this was worse. Far worse. It made the St. P's experience seem like an absolute pleasure party in comparison.

Hubby urged me to rest, but rest was not to be had. I must have rolled around in bed for over an hour, seeking desperately for some position that didn't hurt, and never found it. I raised the white flag, and we were on our way to the Emergency Room.

A few scans, x-rays, and a glorious painkiller later, it was as I suspected. My c-section hernia had torn. And I was scheduled to have it fixed on Tuesday ! Well, ya can't wait around on those things, evidently. I'd be going home that evening...

But that didn't happen. Once I was in surgery, it was revealed that the hernia was quite small. What was causing all the commotion was a honeydew-melon sized ovarian cyst ! That required a much larger incision, and a two day hospital stay. Urgh. To add to the fun, they forgot to feed me, but it's not like I had much of an appetite anyway. And it was rather surreal to watch E. R. reruns from a hospital bed.

Got to go home Friday morning. With a Wednesday appointment for follow up. It hurt, but I was soon moving around comfortably, and itching at the staples holding my tummy together. I'd lost 27 pounds in 4 days, too. And, as it turned out, some of my asthma issues were actually heart issues, so I'm back on some of the same meds I had shortly after Son was born. Still, excepting the sore tummy, I hadn't felt so healthy in months !

Wednesday finally arrived. My staples were removed, and I felt well on my way to recovery. We celebrated with some McD's, and life was nice. Son had been upset at my hospitalization, but I'd reassured him that Mommy was fine...and then I saw a tick on my foot. ICK !! I flailed at it...and felt the incision open up. A trip to the bathroom mirror gave me flashbacks to a scene in Alien. Oh, s*&^%...

So, I was soon headed back to the emergency room, holding my stomach together, but this time in an ambulance. If I thought Son was upset before, it was nothing compared to now. (sigh). Thursday, they re-stapled and sewed the recalcitrant suture back together again, and I got to come home again Friday morning. Didn't I just *do* all that the week before ?

I even have a Wednesday follow-up appointment. Healing's a little more painful this time around, so I haven't been as active. Even sitting hurts after a bit. At least my appetite has dried up some. I've lost another eight pounds since the initial surgery.

So that's where I've been for the last month or so. Trying to figure out what I want to do next, for more than a week, then getting walloped by my stomach for three more. Part of it still seems surreal and too comic for real life, but it all happened. At least I'm home, and I doubt I'll have anything removed this Wednesday !

But these darn stitches hurt...and I itch ! Hope the last month went better for you ! I'm getting darn upset at not being able to do anything - instead of being upset at being able to do anything, just not doing it - so I may try to sew a bit tomorrow. Can't get Doll Shop Deluxe to work with Vista, so I'm hoping to hear from LivingSoft soon. And I still haven't reinstalled all my old patterns, so maybe I'll do that and something simple.

My life's been up in the air, it seems, since the move. Time for me to drag it back down and live it !

Posted by dorriebelle at 6:05 PM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 20 May 2007 6:08 PM CDT

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Mood:  down

Dearest Son's field trip got called off, due to rain. Yeah, I was a parent volunteer for it, which was fine. I'm kind of disappointed for him, kind of relieved. I wasn't sure how I'd handle the mile walk up and mile walk back with this 200% humidity - but I was gonna try.

And I'll tell ya, leaving in the middle of a thunderstorm to pick him up made me nervous. Last month, we got hit by lightning ! But heck, ya can't live in fear forever. Seems like I can live being sick forever, though...

Finally got all the doll and sewing and doll sewing books organized. The shelf with the doll magazines is bowing in the middle. It's official - I have nine books of doll patterns. That doesn't count the 40 or so Simplicity/Vogue/McCall's ones, a round dozen of 'kitchen table' patterns bought on eBay, the hundred or more magazine ones, and the few thousand I got on that pattern exchange group I used to be a member of. But what I was I doing yesterday ? You got it, looking at doll clothes patterns. Luckily I didn't buy any ! I haven't even reinstalled Doll Shop Deluxe !

One thing's for sure. I gotta spend more time sewing and less time shopping ! But then I see this 'Yard Sale' sign...

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  cool

Not much going on today - I did buy the second Fashion Fever set, again for the shoes for Aylene. Still, it's a cute set. Hopefully I'll have some time for photos this weekend. Gosh knows I can't spend any more money !

It's really bad. I have all this stuff sitting around waiting for me. There's a floor to make (adhesive tile and foamcore from Dollar Tree), Elphie's bed to redo (foam square from Hancock's on 60% off sale - in March !), and patterns to scan. Too bad I haven't even reinstalled the printer that Brother so graciously traded out for us yet !

The thing is, I'm still rather sick. All this coughing hurts, and I'm so far behind in housework, I'm surprised our kitchen hasn't been condemned. I'd hoped to catch up by Friday, but it ain't happening. All I want to do is sleep, since I'm waking up a few times a night coughing. I should just bite it and see a doctor or at least a 'doc in a box' clinic. There's too much for me to do to still be sick !

The nice seller who sent me the Barbie case with the Midge one I won won't take any extra funds - heck, shipping alone is almost what I paid for the whole thing ! Since they're active duty, I'm going to donate $15. to the Air Force Aid Society as my way of saying 'thanks' for both the case and their service. It's the only way my bookkeeping (WindowsKarmaXP) will be satisfied, and I can enjoy it all.

Still not sure how I'm gonna hang 'em. Don't wanna use pushpins or nails. Or hang them, most doll cases like these are already stressed at the handle - and let's face it, these are over 40 years old, I don't need to push it. I'll probably get some small hooks or clips and balance the bottom on two and the handle on a third.

Right now, all the new acquisitions are piled up. Heck, I just today got the sewing books all in one place ! Gotta do that for the doll books too, they're scattered all over the house right now...

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  incredulous

Few weeks ago, I won a blue 'Midge' doll case. I've wanted one for years. Just didn't know what I'd do with one when I had it, and there was always something else to spend $15. - $20. on. Maybe it was that offhand remark in 'Elegy For My Mother', written by M.G. Lord. It's included in just about every adult-themed Barbie compilation book, from The Barbie Chronicles to Forever Barbie (which was edited by M.G.Lord). I think it was even in Mondo Barbie, but I'm not sure, and my copy's vanished.

Anyway, the author mentions her much-loved Midge doll was laid out spartanly in her original box, because, as a mere side-kick, she didn't have a fancy case. Now, you know I love Midge. The single most expensive doll I own is a brunette Midge. And the first time I read 'Elegy', way back when I was first into dolls, emphatically not vintage or really even Barbie, I knew Midge had her own case. I know, I know, Ms. Lord was merely stating she didn't have one, not that it wasn't ever made. But that little turn of phrase made me really want a Midge case, even before I had my Midge.

And the art was so pretty. All those early Ponytail Barbie cases had such pretty drawings - not over-the-top glamour. The simple lines suggested fun and friends next door. They even came in different colors - I've seen blue, red, and black -  but I really liked the robin's egg blue. And the first Midge case. She looks so happy and carefree.

I had a case when I was a kid. Too young for the 'mod' era, almost too old for the 'Superstar' one, I was firmly a Malibu girl. The case was Pepto-bismol pink, with a floral border and 'World of Barbie Doll Case' on the front. I really liked the blue one better, but the pink one featured a brunette in a blue dress...and you also know how I am about brunette anything. Yup. Was the same way as a kid, too.

It was just a single doll case, nothin' special inside. Learned to spell 'accessories' from the pull-out cardboard drawer. Could never get any doll clothes to stay hung up in there, either, but it came in handy to take a few outfits and a doll or three to where the girls of the neighborhood were playing. I more often took the FriendShip airplane instead - more room inside - but it was nice to have a case that advertised what I was doing that day. If I find another during my yard-sale jaunts, I'll buy it in a blink. Just not worth an extended eBay search and $12. shipping.

Well, it got mailed late and the seller felt bad about it. So she included a bonus - a matching Barbie case ! Same color and everything. Features Barbie wearing Enchanted Evening and Friday Night Date - it really is nice. I was stunned. I never thought I'd have the Barbie one, it was enough to finally have my Midge case ! Eventually, they'll be wall decor in the Studio, but for now, I just keep looking at them. They're both so beautiful...

but I prefer my Midge one.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  celebratory

Got to do a bit of 'me' shopping today. I'm still trying to find shoes that fit Aylene, a Susie doll, so I gave closer attention to some Fashion Fever sets from Mattel. I do have to say it, Mattel's doing clothes in the FF line pretty well. Shirts and skirts are available for just a buck, dresses (without shoes and accessories) for $2., and more pulled together ensembles for $5. and sets of coordinates for $10. There's a nice variety - princess gowns are still out there, but so are cute skirts and tops. Many have a sort of almost-too-short kind of vibe going on, but at least it's not out-and-out (coughBratz) ho-wear.

Some of the other lines, like My Scene, do feature clothes that, frankly, I wouldn't put on my dolls because I don't have slutty ones. Yeah, I still think of 'Bling Bling' when I think of Barbie ho-wear, hope you don't mind. That 'scarf + elastic = blouse' formula really barked my shins. But if you're looking for something new, check out the Fashion Fever stuff. I was pleasantly surprised. Some are 'punk/disco' glam, with lots of glitter and silver, others are soft pastels, others are bold colors of wardrobe basics. Lots of variety, and that's always a treat to see.

I bought this set, called the Sweet Fashion Set (turquoise), mostly for the shoes. Aylene's feet are flat, but they can be angled, so if a doll shoe's kinda flat inside, I can use it. Or if it's really flexible. As it turned out, Aylene could wear all three pairs that came with it ! While the image linked above shows blue sandals, mine were brown. Here, she's wearing the pink pair of shoes...completely unsupported. Yup. She's not leaning on anything, braced against anything, or propped up. She's actually standing, unassisted, in these Barbie shoes.

The set itself is quite nice. There's some bobbles - seams that don't quite match, stripes that aren't straight, loose threads, raw edges - that make me think the quality issues are still alive and well. But the one 'disco' blouse is fully lined, and the 'bubble' skirt shown here is very well made, so I'm not sure. Also a purse pictured on the backs of several sets isn't in any of 'em, which is always kinda fun to see.

Blouses and dresses fit Aylene quite well, but pants seem a bit short in the crotch and big in the waist on her. Well, maybe the pants are supposed to be 'low riders'. Skirts tend to ride low on her hips. Nothing I can't fix with an extra bit of Velcro, so clothes can fit both doll styles, but I thought you should know. Hmm. I really should try some of this stuff on a standard-body Barbie, too. I never did satisfy that 'does it fit older dolls or not ?' question, did I ?

Anyway. The set's well worth the $10. it retails for at Mal-Wart, the clothes are nice and well-made for the most part. Tacky plastic purses can always be ditched or donated...but it's often the shoes which sell a set or not. And that's kind of where I don't know whether to roll my eyes or praise Mattel.

While most of the FF sets come with spike-heel boots, at least two come with lower, more casual shoes. I'll probably buy the other set later this week. I'm so enthused that other dolls can wear Barbie shoes that I wonder if it's part of their marketing plan. I even looked at FF doll feet - they're not like the rather sharp-angled Barbie feet I'm familiar with. But they're not the undefined flippers that Skipper has, either. There's some definition, it's just not as...demanding ? as before.

So, I'm wondering. Did Mattel look at the competition in sixth-scale and work with it, instead of against it like they usually do ? I mean, sure, what if Mrs. Gaidley only buys Fashion Royalty dolls ? If she finds out that some cute new styles of Barbie shoes can fit her dolls, there's a good chance she'll buy some doll clothes to get 'em ! They don't get the doll sale - but at least they sold clothes. And maybe Mrs. G hasn't been in the Pink Aisle in a while. Who knows what she might find if she's there to pick out $5. worth of shoes for her $159. doll ?

Or it could be just luck. Since I'm not into FR dolls, I honestly don't know if they fit these new shoes or not. And we won't get into my thoughts on those Sybarite dolls - heck, I don't even know what scale they are, they put me off so much ! I just don't know whether or not to claim Mattel's genius is coming back, or if it's a fluke.

What I do know is this - I'm looking to spend $20. in Mattel doll clothes. In one week. This is unprecedented. Even when I was in the earliest of my doll years. I'd rather yard-sale or make stuff, even then. And yeah, I didn't really buy the clothes, I bought the shoes that happened to come with clothes. But it's more than I've spent with Mattel in three years. Total. So I really want to credit them with greatness.

And Aylene looks sooo darn cute !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:58 AM CDT

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Mood:  irritated

The cheery FedEx guy - same dude who dropped off the new one Brother sent us - was here bright and early at 10:30. So I didn't have to linger 'round the house, and there was tons of stuff I could do at home or out there.

So what'd I do ? Watched a movie, ate some chips, did some laundry, took out trash, did dishes, ate leftovers for lunch and ran a few errands I could on the way to picking Dearest Son up. Basically what I would have done while waiting anyway. I have tomorrow sort of planned - groceries, errands, a nice lunch out, and a little house work - so I left everything the way it was. Didn't do as much housework to day as I should have, but heck with it. I'm still recovering.

Had some rough traffic moments. How could anyone miss a big ugly van, with the lights on and a big harpie like me yelling at 'em ? Because they're too busy fussing with some papers on the passenger seat to notice they just drifted into another lane - where the harpie happens to be ! He waved this sort of 'yeah, yeah' gesture at me - then went back to the passenger papers ! Texas plates, I'm sorry to have noticed.

Then there was the kid who kindly stopped so I could cross the street at the library - and revved his engine just as I reached his hood. It was a nice day, so his window was open. I leaned over and smiled kindly at him. "Thanks ! Tell your Mom I said Hi !".  The solitary upraised car key between my fingers was barely noticeable. Besides, I enjoy acquainting the kiddies  with anticipatory worry...

See how evil I become when I can't sew ? That kid should be grateful I can still at least shop ! :) I could have probably torn a tire off with my teeth !

Got home, and I'd missed one of Son's appointments. So we piled back into the van and tore it across town. Where, of course, I got behind someone who needed better directions, because I saw a left, than a right, then a left signal before they just stomped on their brakes and switched lanes. I let an expletive out. They've been cooped up for weeks !  It's a better idea, I learned in the appointment, to use a word to describe that feeling, rather than a word I might not like Son to use at school.

So next time a harpie in a big ugly van bellows 'FRUSTRATION !', wave. It's probably me !

Posted by dorriebelle at 7:21 PM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

Well, no one in the extended reaches of Chez Insanity can or will take Tuna. They're sorry I'm sick and all, but... C'est le morte. She's adjusting to nights in the closed garage with fresh chow, and mornings with the garage door opened enough for her to traverse. She deserves better, but right now, it's all we can do. Second Chance is packed, and she's not going to a pound. Until we can do better, she's still our Tuna, and we will care for her.

And now that weather's improving, I can sit outside with her for a few minutes in the morning. I rather enjoyed that today. Watched the sun come up while Dearest Son slept and Beloved Hubby'd already left for another longer-than-full day of bread-winning. Once I purchase a few cans of mosquito repellant - not much chance of forgetting, I &*%$ing itch ! - it'll be even better.

Felt stronger today, so I sorted laundry. There'll be time to put it away tomorrow, I gotta linger 'round the house for the FedEx fella. They're picking up our lightning-speared Brother mulitifunction, and of course, there's no way of telling when they'll be here. And goss knows there's plenty of housework for me to catch up on while I'm waiting ! Got a few small errands to run tomorrow, so I got them ready to go, too.

I'd thought to sew, but before I knew it, the day was over. Still haven't installed the new multifunction, so I couldn't print anything anyway, but it would have been nice. Too much work to catch up on first, though.

Hope your weekend was relaxing and restoring.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  don't ask

...after two months of me being anywhere from 'horribly ill' to 'barely managed sick', we came to the obvious conclusion. It's not the weather, or the humidity, or the dust. I've been sick since we moved, and the only thing that changed was that Tuna became an indoor cat. And I am still allergic to cats. No matter what the climate.

This was more-or-less proven today, when it was so nice out, Tuna spent most of the day in the front yard. And my wheezing and gasping and coughing almost completely cleared up. Now, we're talking a major one this time. Quite frankly, there was a point Thursday night when I wasn't sure if I was gonna see Friday morning. I've coughed so hard, I've thrown up, and tore the hernia from my c-section. That, my friends, is some real pain. I haven't been eating - choking hazard - so I'm pretty weak, still. But for the first time since Tuesday, I can breathe.

Beloved Hubby suspected this, and spoke with his parents Thursday. They agreed that I couldn't go on like that Friday, and would pick Tuna up today. Ultimately, though, they decided that they didn't want to create problems with their older cat, so they didn't. It's not safe for Tuna to be out at night - that's when she got into fights last month, and came home hurt - but my asthma is worst at night, as well. Although it's been explained that Tuna makes Mommy sick, Dearest Son, who occasionally throws small Lego bricks at her, said he'd just keep her in his room. (sigh)

So we did the best we could, and put Tuna in the garage. She sure as anything didn't want to go, and I feel guilty on top of everything else. And I get to find her a new home while I can't let her in the house anymore. I'm trying not to be upset, but I'm kind of at a loss here. I'll probably have to call Second Chance Monday. I'd hoped to find her a better home than that, but I'm running out of options.

I feel like crap for abandoning Tuna, but I can't take another asthma series. I've had maybe a week of sleep since we moved that didn't include waking up at least once, gasping for air. Tuna deserves more than a garage, but I just don't know what else I can do right now.

So, on the whole, it's not been a good day. D@mn 'Midge' case I "won" two weeks ago hasn't shown up yet, either. (sigh)

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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