Thursday, October 15, 2026

IRL

 


It's been a whirlwind, or maybe a rollercoaster lately. I'm better. Much better. Although, I have to go in once a month for Evenity, just because where I had Frozen Shoulder in that left arm has calcium problems which might lead to one day having a fracture.

Honestly, I feel my left side is so different from my right side. I have bad bruising from where I take insulin shots on my left side, but not on my right side. Even the tetanus shot I recently had when I got my COVID and Flu shot left a big bruise. 

 I'm having to put my driving skills to work because the hospital that has the infusion center I go to is close to the heart of the city. But it's only monthly shots for a year. But some of the volunteers at the book sale room who are retired say these treatments might lead to different ones, so it might never end.

And there is my hubby, who is as stubborn as always about his health. And I can only do so much. We at least have home health care checking on him twice a week now, and they are finding just how much of a rebel he is. Hopefully, he won't end up in the hospital again. Hopefully.

So yeah, aging isn't easy, and we never know what might pop up. I do miss blogging. I miss writing. I miss blogging friends. Seriously, I just don't have friendships like that in reality. There are co-workers. Some friends from the writers group. Still, they don't know me like online friends do.

Of course, I had a bright idea for our writers' group to have a zine. Now it's been tough to come up with a story with the theme "Anniversary," and it's due in a couple of weeks. So that's been pressure, with everything else going on. 

On the upside, I finally got our kitchen sink fixed. No more Little House on the Prairie of lugging buckets of water out the patio door. Of course, it'll cost me, but I don't guess we'll be moving out of here, and it is tiring. I feel the house can be more of a home now. 

Believe me, there is always something to do around here. And if that's not enough, someone isn't getting enough oxygen to his brain, and that can be puzzling. But then again, I've always lived a bit of a crazy life so it's not that unusual. 

Recently, I was talking to a coworker about Sean Penn, and she said, "He's always been kind of creepy to me." I laughed and told her I thought I had found my own Sean Penn when I was in college. I guess it just goes to show I must like creepy. Of course, my hubby doesn't look like Penn anymore.

Monday, September 14, 2026

The rush of fall

 


Autumn won't be here until the 22nd, but we have had some rain that chilled us down a bit. Finally, it feels like September, but that could all change by the end of the week. Of course, this has not stopped all the Fall decor and Halloween treats in abundence.

Last week was catch-up for me after the colonoscopy. Work was tiring, but I still enjoy the team I work with. Although, I feel like I work in a sweatshop. My director stays in coat half the time because she is always cold. 

Things I've learned after a colonoscopy. Actually, it's my third. The first one was like being at a disco. I was in the twilight zone. The second one, I was knocked out cold and dreamed the most beautiful Chinese Drama while the last one was just a light sleep and I heard about everyone's late summer vacation plans. By the way, I got a good report from the colonoscopy. I also got meds for the Silent Heartburn, and they're helping. 

1. Many prep solutions are now over-the-counter laxatives here in the states. You start with a stool softener a few hours later half a bottle of Miralax (7 capfuls) mixed in a 28 oz. Gatarade (the Frost flavor is best becaust you don't want the red or blue one) That was taken at 4 p.m. and the last half of the laxative at midnight.

2. Just park yourself in the bathroom. Watching your favorite shows on a tablet or phone does help.

3. If you are going to want to nap, wear Depends or some sort of disposable panties. 

4. Even the ride to the proceedure, you might need some fresh disposable panties.

Of course, it was dark when we left for this adventure to go into the city and my husband almost dropped me off at the wrong place, but eventually he found it. Then after being dropped off was the start of all sorts of errors. He went to a waiting room upstairs while I was in the waiting room downstairs. Finally, we met up and all he could talk about was how if he had a Chihuahua. Yeah, he didn't get any sleep that night either. After, a quick breakfast, we both napped the rest of the day. Next month is his turn for a colonoscopy

Monday, September 7, 2026

IRL


 

I'm about to lose my mind. And nobody has helped me get ready for my colonoscopy. I  had to get my brother to come to make sure the toilet could get through for the situation. 'Cause I knew my boy would be no help when it came to plumber duty.

I think that has been tweaked. I have been getting all my shit together for the long ordeal. I will admit I do have my qualms. This time they want to scope my throat due to silent heartburn, and I'm a little scared about it, even if my sister keeps telling me, "You'll be asleep, girl."

Meanwhile, I'm freaking. Like maybe today is prep day instead of tomorrow. See, this is my 3rd colonoscopy. I have to have them because of my family history.  I should be used to them, but I'm not. 

This go around, I am only taking over-the-counter laxatives. I just hope I do it right.  I hope it all goes well. This was not the Labor Day I was hoping for, but oh well. Somebody says he'll take me to Village Inn tonight for breakfast.


-ellie

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Ocean City RP

 



Dakota was thinking back on how far she and Nav had come since the trailer park. She bubbled a giggle, thinking how ridiculous her place had been back then.

"Oh, you know you loved that place," He whispered into her ear as they sat in front of the TV. She nodded with a smile.

"It's just I wish..." she sighed. She wished she'd been with him all along. How come it had to be Ezra? She finally confessed this regret. He took her hand. 

"Well, maybe you wanted to make someone jealous." He shrugged about the matter.

"Possibly," but somehow she didn't remember it that way. Not that she remembered it all that much anymore. She thought Ezra was over Fiona. Still, he seemed distant these days, and maybe that was her fault why things were still in the friend zone with Lizzie.

Nav smiled at her and shook his head. "You don't rule the world." 

She knew he was right. She knew it was the past and she liked their future. Of course, the future would be full of hectic days with his schedule at the hospital.

Somehow, she knew they'd get through it. 



Thursday, July 16, 2026

In Real Life

 Oh, July... just when I think I might get back on track, the site I like to create sets on for my storyblog is down. So I look for other options. I went to one, Look Shop, but you can't upload unless you get a premium account and their editor just isn't the same as Urstyle. Before that site, there was Polyvore, which I absolutely loved, and I met lots of people there. But suddenly it was bought out and wasn't the site it used to be, and I hadn't made contact with those individuals, unfortunately. So now, this site out of Poland has been down a lot lately. Hopefully, it won't completely shut down. Many on the site are leaving. 

This collage I made on Pinterest. It will take some getting used to, and I'm not sure I want to make collages there. But at least it won't cost me anything.

These days, everything costs more money. Of course, there are far more things to worry about, like climate control, the air we breathe, and now parasites in salad, but hopefully, I'll get back to my story blogs soon.


Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Ezra & Lizzie

 


Ezra knew it had been a while since he'd been friends with Fiona. It was about time he accepted that those two (Matty and Fiona) were together.

"What is she to you, exactly?" Lizzie asked out of the blue while they were thrift shopping for furniture.

"I don't know," he said, shrugging, looking at her, that it was just odd that she would ask. 

"You don't know?' She chuckled. "I've seen the pictures. You had it bad for her, obviously."

"That was just-" He drew a blank. Maybe he'd had a loss of memory along the way this past year.

"Come on, " Lizzie acted serious at first, but then she burst into laughter. "She was your first."

"My what?" He winced as if he didn't like the sound of that. He wanted to concentrate on something they could put the flat screen on. 

"Your first love."

"Do you have one?" He looked at her blankly.

"It's not Cole," she smiled.

"Well, I'd hope not." Ezra sighed, wanting to get this task done. After all, they'd already invited Fiona and Matty over once. Matty thought that the place needed more art, but Fiona had suggested they needed a chest of drawers for the TV. Now he nursed his bottom lip, wondering why he'd ever listened to Fiona.

"Fiona is a great first love," she told him.

He glared back at her as if he liked what he heard, but he then said, "Would you please stop?"

"I didn't mean to hit a nerve." She told him that relationships are hard. She didn't speak of love. "Mistakes are easy to make. But you know in the end, being friends is the most important."

Lizzie left it at that. She pointed to something that might work. He gave it a look over. Of course, the bedroom set of drawers would need care. Most likely some paint. It would be a project they could fuss over for the next few weeks.

Friday, July 10, 2026

July Dreams

 


"You were a lovely romance in my head," Liz confessed in her dream about Ezra.

Monday, June 29, 2026

Matty & Fiona



 You know, it takes a lot of time to plan a roadtrip. Granted, our last one was crazy and not successful at all. When I took Fiona on a roadtrip she had no idea about. So yeah, I've learned my lesson. I just need to, you know... consider her feelings about the places we go and when they might happen. It might not happen at all this summer. 

Gas prices are sky-high. It's a heatwave. And she's getting more work hours. And I'm doing some commissions now. So we got new bedding instead. Yes, I have finally moved in, sort of. We actually got a bigger place in the building. I guess it was all Ezra and Lizzy's fault. Once we saw how much bigger a two-bedroom could be, and how affordable and available. We took it. 

So yeah...do we really need a vacation? Maybe. Maybe not. We're still getting used to this new setup. I'm glad it happened. I don't want to jinx it. Now that I've said it..well..I plan on being on my best behavior. Besides, Fiona has been so tired lately. Not moody. Definitely not moody. Just tired. 

Still need to get a few more shelves up. I know it doesn't exactly sound like a love fest, but we're working on it. Besides, we can be spontaneous when we want to be.

-Matty

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Happy Father's Day! Every Day💗




 Sometimes, they don't know what day it is either. They don't want to watch the news. They sleep upright. Their best dances get the baby to nod off. They make faces and find funny noises to teach someone that someday they might play music by ear.

Fatherhood is a full-time job that comes with priceless memories. Here's to the good times, even if there was plenty of sadness to go around from time to time.

Saturday, June 13, 2026

5 sentence Story!

WORDS:  For  To Now





Celeste thought it might be too late. She had not meant to worry anyone about her doubts at work, but she was nervous around her supervisor. He was taking shortcuts from the facts that Celeste had gathered over the months that had turned into years while he sabotaged her work to make himself look better. Now was the time to let them know at City what was really happening in their department, but could she go through with it when he claimed all along she was his best friend, whom he trusted? She read over her email one last time, and then she hit SEND.



Friday, June 12, 2026

IRL

 

 The humidity has been so bad...but we had a breather from it yesterday. 

It seems one thing leads to another for me this summer. I feel pretty frazzled this week since hubby is back in the hospital. On the other hand, I did have a trip to Ortho for a check-up and another shot in the shoulder. Things are much better with the frozen shoulder. She told me it's just a little inflammation, and I don't have arthritis.  Which was great to hear.

Still, I have to be ready at a moment's notice when a relative calls, and I have to take them in for a urine test to make sure he hasn't had alcohol. 

So the punch line here is ALCOHOL IS BAD. Bad for depression. Bad for your health. And very bad when you don't know what moderation really is. It's the culprit slowing down my husband's heart.

I've had some sleepless nights due to my antidepressant. I didn't know what my problem was. I thought it was my sinuses, but it's actually GERD that keeps me awake. Yes, this might have been what caused the flu months ago. Anyway, I am doing my best to drink lots of water these days. No soda pop (as we call it here in the Heartland).

Of course, I miss writing. And hope to get back to it soon. And I've been having issues, as well, with the site where I like to make my sets. It's been down, as well. So yeah, my summer of discontent. 

Friday, May 29, 2026

About last night

ellie: Q & A with Nico and Amy

 Sorry, I've gone rogue again this week, but I had the opportunity to read something last night that I had actually written. Now of course, saying that means I might have gone off the cuff a time or two. But it all had to be around 3 minutes long. While mine wasn't nearly as tragic as a few were, I still found a way to project the character in different tones. Of course, I didn't win, but it was encouraging. I was glad they thought of it as more of a performance. It was also good to learn from some I knew about what they write about.

As always I have character-different stories, and I do pick up on several things in life to use for these characters. Sometimes, I feel it's a great way to remember those moments I have spent with someone. Nico's character is a little like some of the boys I met while teaching Resource. They were sensitive to what the world had given them. Some had amazing grandparents who raised them. Although there was a fear that local gangs would swallow them, even back in fifth grade. Some had mothers who never cared where they might end up, they had too much going on in their own lives to make ends meet. While others were taking care of their mothers at a young age. Yes, usually they were fatherless, but even when they had one, it didn't mean they had time to spend with them.

Of course, Amy is a character I've made high maintenance. Especially in Eli's eyes. And sometimes, I did make her a bit hateful. But she came from a broken home, too. A daddy's girl at heart, but to have her mother move back in has never made her home feel the same. And I don't think she's ever known what true friendship is. But the fact is, many of us don't know either. 

As somebody told me once, "You're great at coupling." Even so, doesn't mean it's a happily ever after, but it might on occasion.

Recently, Buck Dancing came into my feed on YouTube. I laughed, but then when I watched it was like visiting the folk art of the States. And of course, it's always great to find out something you didn't know about that person until the moment arrives. I felt that way about many I listened to last night.

Oh, by the way, I didn't Buck Dance for anyone last night. I only have private sessions in the laundry room.