Month: October 2010

It’s hard to want to do something nice for people when they can be such toads. I challenge you to be dripping with “niceness” today, even to people you cannot stand. There’s nothing wrong with having common courtesy no matter how bad they’ve hurt you. Be the bigger person. Do something nice. I know you can do it. The question is, can I?

That being said, I think my best bet is to lock myself in the bedroom and have minimal interaction with people today. I don’t have the energy to be nice. Actually, I just used my entire reserve of niceness on my good friend, James. It’s his birthday today and I posted on his Facebook page that I am glad he was born. I am, truly, glad about that. He’s a great friend and I can talk with him about anything. He always checks in with me to see how Ben’s doing. He makes me laugh when I think I can’t. He’s good people. And I depleted my resources with giving him those well wishes.

It’s 2:43 am and I’ve been awake since 2 AM. I fell asleep about three hours ago but I guess sleep wasn’t on the agenda. I keep having nightmares about people dying and it’s never about the ones I wouldn’t mind losing. Ugh. That’s not nice, is it? Sorry. Anyway, here I am, wide awake. I’ve got a lot on my mind and my loved ones keep dying in my dreams. I used to be into dream analysis but I don’t think I’m interested in deciphering the heavy drama my dreams have become. Maybe if I try being nice in my dreams then my loved ones will come back? I’ll give it a shot.

I’m sure my mental status is taxed because of the upcoming NYC trip. This one will be longer than usual because Ben will have scans the Monday and Tuesday following his antibody therapy. If they find any disease in him, well, I cannot imagine that I’ll be able to be nice. Good thing that “Do Something Nice Day” is today. Get it out of the way and move on.

Hey! That’s going to be my mantra for the next few weeks. “Get it out of the way and move on.” I like it. Keep trudging, dear Sarah. This won’t be forever. It can only get better.

Right?

I’ve never had a frappe so I’m not gonna write about it. It is, however, 10/4, which reminds me of Citizen’s Band Radios – better known as a CB.

That’s a big 10-4, good buddy.

I was alive during the big CB craze of the 70’s. Everyone had one. It was like the facebook of its time. All you had to do was get yourself a “handle” and let ‘er rip. While we did have one in our house (my step-brother kept it in his room after we took it out of our green and white Econovan), my main experience with a CB was with my 1970’s BFF, Michelle. Her mom, Betty, was a chain-smoking, discipline-delivering, no-nonsense having woman who put up with me for many years. She, too, was a redhead so it was easy for her to claim me as her own. Her CB handle was “Peppermint Patty”, which I thought was so cool. She would throw the hammer down on I-70 and ask (via her citizen’s band radio) if there were any “smokies” ahead on our route to Bob Evans. If Michelle and I would start getting feisty in the backseat, Betty had no problem with reaching back there and giving us both a pop all while smoking, drinking coffee, keeping her eyes on the road, AND maintain her CB conversation. What a woman. I hear that she’s since quit smoking and still maintains the no-nonsense zone in her car. I’m not sure, however, if she still has a CB. If not, the airwaves have lost a lovely contributor.

Here’s what it might have sounded like.

Betty: Breaker Breaker 1-9, This here’s Peppermint Patty. You got your ears on? Come on.

Translation: Hello, there. I’d like to begin transmitting on channel 19. This is Betty. Are any of my friends available for conversation? Over.

Trucker #1: That’s an affirmative, Peppermint Patty. This here’s Bull-oney. I’m on the flip-flop from the mistake on the lake to cowtown, dropping the hammer down and breaking the double nickel on super slab 71. Checking my eyelids for pinholes but doing double-time on scoping out smokies. Can’t afford another bear bite. Come on.

Translation: Yes, Betty. This is Steve. I’m on my way back to Columbus from Cleveland and I’m speeding a bit on the interstate. I’m tired but I’m looking out for police officers since getting another speeding ticket would be unfavorable. Acknowledge me.

Betty: 10-4, good buddy. I got the ankle biters in the grocery grabber headed to the local choke and puke. Come on.

Translation: I understand, my friend. I have the kids in the backseat of the minivan headed to Bob Evans.

I could go on all day but, believe it or not, looking up this golden vernacular of the CB set is quite time consuming. I’ll direct you to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CB_slang It’s fun to sort through.

The list did state that a Ford Pinto is also known as a “Bean”. My son is in no way, shape or form like a Ford Pinto. He doesn’t explode if you kiss his bumper.

He’s currently sleeping soundly. I hate to wake him but it’s time to get ready for school. Madeline meets early with her teacher a couple days a week for a little extra tutoring so we need to get up and at ’em. The kids had a fun weekend of going fishing and playing with the neighborhood kids so it will be tough to get back into routine. Ben does have a bit of a cough but I don’t know if he’s coming down with a bug or if it’s from the cycle of accutane he just completed. That stuff dries him out terribly. We have an appointment with his pediatrician tomorrow in hopes of getting him on track for going back to school. He is very anxious to get on with his life. We did pop over to the school last week so he could meet his classmates. They were so kind and loving, I nearly exploded from all the love they were showing him. I don’t know why I was so worried.

Have a great Monday, all. Put the hammer down and get through it.