[lenjan]

I moved one state west this week, temporarily, I hope. But we'll get to that in a minute.

Sunday, the cable guy was supposed to come get the equipment. No appointment, he could just show up anytime between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Since I was going to be trapped in my apartment all day, I decided it would be a good time to get some packing done. I stuck my cell phone in my pocket and went to work cleaning out my storage shed.

So I got that cleaned out, and I packed and packed and tossed and tossed or put stuff in piles to give away, and along about 10:15 pm, I called the cable company to see if anyone was coming.

"The technician called at noon to tell you he was about 20 minutes away, but your number was disconnected," they said.

Righto. My landline has been disconnected since SEPTEMBER. I have changed the number online. I have given it to them every time I have called them for something. But they still couldn't change a measly phone number.

So, Monday morning I drive all the way to the mall on the west side of town (I lived south), where the cable company has a store. Total time between "May I help you?" and "Have a nice day!": 25 seconds. INCLUDING the time it took to scan the serial numbers on the equipment.

This is my first clue that things are not going to go well.

Monday when I woke up, I called the Salvation Army. I figure, I shop at their stores, I will give something back. I told them I had this and that kind of furniture to take, etc. Fine, see you Tues. between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

At 5 p.m., I call to be sure I haven't missed them. "Oh, they're still out there, people have been giving them extra stuff and they've had to come in unexpectedly to unload their trucks," I'm told.

At 8 p.m., I call to see if anybody is going to show up. "All the trucks are in for the night," they say. "Would you like to leave a voice mail?"

Damn skippy. I leave a rather pointed VM.

Wednesday around 11:30 a.m., the Salvation Army shows up. The guy who took my number over the phone got it wrong.

I have a peripheral central venous catheter, which means that instead of just putting it in my chest, they stuck it in an arm vein and looped it around to my aorta internally (ah, the wonders of modern medicine). The thing gets in the way, plus it hurts. Plus, my drs. currently won't even let me sit at a desk and work for more than 4 hrs/day right now, WTF am I doing packing and moving myself?!

So anyway, I'm giving away my 9-yr-old futon, but I am physically unable to get it apart. Salvation Army says, "we're not allowed to take anything apart."

NOW they tell me.

So I'm stuck with the thing till my brother-in-law shows up Friday. He's recovering from radiation for oral cancer. Between the two of us, we make quite a pair, healthwise. Luckily, a good friend conscripted two of her otherwise-useless sons into helping, and one of my dearest friends came over for a bit, although he's 69 and can't do much but stand around and tell people what to do. Fortunately, this is what he does best.

So, we get my car, a 4'x8' trailer, and the back of Rich's Tonka truck (it's just a little baby truck, made for hopeless suburbanites who want to pretend they're cowboys) loaded up. He and I go to lunch and then hit the road around 2:15 p.m. I can do the drive in 4.5 hours if I speed and I don't have anything weighing me down, but at $2.93 a gallon, I refuse to speed.

"Lead the way," he says. I managed to get him through downtown Milwaukee, but I lost him before we got out of the greater Milwaukee area. He calls and says he had to pull off to check the load, and take a quick nap, as we are both wiped out, and that I should just go on.

I had to stop for a large cup of coffee less than an hour into the trip. I cranked up the A/C and the CD, trying to stay awake, but ended up napping at a rest stop about an hour outside MN for a bit.

We got here within 15 minutes of each other. It started to rain. All my wood stuff is in the back of his truck, exposed. Time to unpack the truck.

One thing led to another, and so in 12 hours Friday I packed up 3 vehicles, drove 5 hours, and unpacked 3 vehicles.

Yesterday my sister decides to take me with her grocery shopping. Currently I am a size 18. I am going to be a frickin' size TWO by the time I leave this place, because there is nothing to eat in this house.

My sister also always has struggled with her weight, though she's never been as big as me. She has tried everything that's come along, and finally went through a medically supervised program at the Mayo Clinic. It was really drastic -- they were REQUIRED to exercise a certain amount per day, could only eat program food for a long time, etc.

Well, she lost about 50 lbs. Then she decided she wanted to do a 3-day breast cancer walk, so now she's in training. Yesterday she and I went "grocery shopping." I'm thinking, you know, GROCERY STORE, right?

Wrong. "Grocery shopping" meant not just one, but TWO organic, vegetarian, all-natural, pass-the-tofu kind of places. TWO of 'em!!! Whole grain this, gluten-free that, you know what I mean? There's not even a decent box of cereal in the house! It's all flax seed and %#@&#! like that. Oh God, and soy milk. I *HATE* soy milk.

She told me when I got a job I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I didn't bring it in the house. Today I am going looking for the nearest McDonald's drive-thru! I know there's got to be one.

Oh dear, dear me. This simply is NOT going to work.

Candy

PS: No eating between meals, either. And breakfast yesterday was 1/4 of a cup of cereal and 3 turkey sausages. Yeah, I was full -- for about two seconds.

[hillbunnyb]

When's the movie come out?

[wisewoman]

Candy, glad you have he gift of writing. You could write a book. Take time to rest. Also, I was wondering if it would be therapeudic for you to write the cable company and Salvation Army and tell them exactly what your experience was, your illness etc. You know, a weren't you guys tyrd balls kinda thing and here I have this wire around my heart. My be helpful. Especially if you added your humor. Do take care. Be well. Apply for Food stamps immediately!

[SeptemberMorn]

Don't know whether to laugh or cry for you!!

At least the move is over, but I don't think your sis has the right to tell you what you will and won't eat! Like WW said, apply for food stamps tomorrow!!

Keep us posted! {{{{{{{{{{{{Candy}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[(JD)]

WOW! Candybear, we can do ANYTHING for a short period of time...as long as we have a plan for change. I think you had already begun that plan before you moved Eat the food...LOTS of the food... don't go hungry, even if you don't like the food as much. (Can't believe you said the MC word.lol)

Family are something, aren't they? LOL I have a relative who was upset with one of the decisions I made for our mother... berating me, or trying to (I didn't accept it) etc. THEN not two paragraphs later she says... but if she (mom) comes to live with ME she won't be allowed to... (exactly what I had decided to not allow mom to...)

Some ppl can't stand back and look at themselves and their own actions, they only see other ppl's...imo.

Ok... once you're settled, let me know all the details on the REST of your life AFTER "sister's"

[Myzen]

Candy,

I love your writing, although the main point is that you are getting things done and should be able to rest up for a while - I hope so.

Thinking about your sister's wholefood thing made me giggle. I once stayed with some diety type people for a weekend and after two days I started to crack. I said to them, look I just have to have a biscuit with my tea, I can't go any longer without biscuits!

They said that they had some 'jammy dodgers' hidden away for the children and they let me have two of them. God - they were nice! I felt so naughty, but normal too.

I guess you'll have to get a secret stash of your favourites and hide them away!

Good thoughts, M

[January]

Oh Candy!

((((((((((((( Candy )))))))))))))))

I hope things get better really soon and that you find some realy food immediately if not sooner!

Hugs,

Jan

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((((((( Candy )))))))))))))))))

[Azalysa]

Welcome back Candy!!!!

I missed you and so glad to see you're all moved.

I agree...write a book!!! All that stuff going on...at one time....ARRGGGGHHH!!!!

Hopefully things will settle in for you real soon, gf!!

P.S. McD's, Wendy's, Taco Bell....

Oh, P.P.S. Love the new sig!!!

[Maven]

I'm dealing with weight issues, and I gave in to a craving last night. Actually, I gave in to dessert both Sat. and Sun., too, because we ate out. Up till then, I've been doing pretty good. Last night, I guiltily asked my boyfriend to bring me my favorite ice cream, which includes chocolate and brownies. I haven't eaten chocolate in days, and it was driving me crazy. Limiting myself is harder than avoiding altogether.

Anyway, being FORCED to eat "healthy" food would drive me nuts. Your sister has a right to say what is brought into her home, but I won't lie--I'd sneak stuff in.

That said, she does not have the right to tell you what to EAT--if you want to eat out, or get food from friends or outside sources, get away from the house and eat. All that healthy food will kill you! LOL!

[lenjan]

Maven, one cool thing about this is it's helping me get out of the house and explore the town. I now know where a number of fast-food restaurants, as well as the "quick service" ( = healthier fast food) ones, are. As soon as I get a job, I am finding myself a cheap mini-fridge and bringing in my own stuff! LOL

Candy