(ALMOST) DEATH TO THE ROKU REMOTE

Last night Brenda and I decided to watch a movie on the Roku. To do that you must use the Roku remote control to pick the movie, stop and start the movie.  Since I have to keep my leg elevated, we decided to open up the convertible couch.  While my foot has caused me so much trouble, Brenda has really had to pick up a lot of slack. So I thought I would be helpful and open the couch myself.

I began pulling of the cushions when the remote controls that I had sat on the arm of the couch, went flying.  One flew on the floor, another on the couch, and the Roku controller went head first in a frosty glass of iced tea.  The iced tea proceeded to spill all over the little table, my kindle, iPad, and clock radio. It took me a few moments to realize that the controller had gone into the iced tea because Roku controllers are quite tiny and it was completely submerged except for the wrist strap.  If it had been an earlier version of Roku it would have taken me longer to find it since the earlier versions had no wrist strap!

Once I realized what had occurred, I yelled for paper towels and began taking everything out of the tea.  Brenda came running with a little towel and I sent her back for more paper towels. I dried off the remote and then I remembered that commercial where the guy drops his cellphone in the toilet and he puts it in rice.  I quickly got a bunch of rice and put it in a plastic container and submerged the remote again.  I figure if it works for cellphones, why not remote controls?

I then finished cleaning up the mess.  The kindle, iPad and clock came of it unscathed.  Then we sat down and stared at the TV.  What to do?  We have a movie we want to watch but no controller to watch it.  Ah, we have another Roku, let's use that remote.  After 5-10 minutes of trying, that was a bust. Different versions of Roku don't work together.

So, I did what any person with average intelligence would do: I Googled it.  Turns out Roku has an app for that!  There is an app for my cellphone (or iPad) that will turn it into a Roku remote controller. How crazy is that?   All this time I never needed that stupid controller anyway.  Took me 2 minutes to get it downloaded and working.

Now you want to know what movie we watched?  The remake of About Last Night. It was funny.  I still like the original better. In fact if you look carefully, there is a scene where two of the characters are watching the original movie and debating whether it is a chick flick. I think some times Kevin Hart seems like he tries too hard to be funny.

The Roku remote worked just fine this morning when I took it out of the rice.

Until tomorrow...

CREDIT CARD FRAUD

This week I got a call from my credit card company. They wanted to know if I charged $468.00 at Safeway. Uh, no.

The credit card company assured me that they didn't pay the charge because it seemed peculiar. I still had my credit card in my possession so the number had to be taken when I charged something. I asked if there were other charges. There were no other bad charges and the last time I used it was at a restaurant on Monday. Prior to that I had not used my credit card for more than a week. I am sure if it were stolen a week ago, they wouldn't wait to start using it.

I am very careful with my credit cards. I have one credit card that I use for online purchases only. Another for everyday purchases. I don't use my bank card as a debit card. I don't carry more cards than I need. I use cash if I feel at all like there is anything suspicious.

Most likely someone at the restaurant took the credit card number. Too many people touch your credit card at a restaurant. The waiter takes your credit card, the bartender runs the card, and the bus boy picked it up at the end. Then there is the bookkeeper and god knows who else after you leave.  I called the restaurant and let the manager know. At first he seemed like he didn't care. But then he said he would talk to the owner and get back to me. I have heard nothing.

The credit card company was wonderful. 24 hours later I had a new card with a new number. I went online and checked my charges and there were no other bad charges. They were on it!

I have a protection service that I pay for. So I would have seen this charge after it went through. A little too late.

This is a reminder to check your statements carefully. You never know when someone is going to charge $460 worth of groceries to your card. I still can't imagine what they bought for $460!

Until tomorrow...

BACK ON CRUTCHES

Went to the doc today and got the big news about my foot. Seems I have a 1. "horizontally oriented non displaced trabecular stress fracture distal third metatarsal shaft with associated periosteal new bone formation, intense bone edema, and extreme subperiosteal edema." 2. "No evidence of intermetatarsal space mass or bursitis." 3. "Bipartite tibial sesamoid bone with intense stress reaction."

Number 1 means I have a stress fracture that is beginning to heal. Yay! The fracture is in the bone in my foot directly in from my middle toe.  The bone edema is a reaction to the stress fracture. There is swelling in the bone. It should go away once the fracture heals.

Number 2 gives me good news: no bursitis or neuroma.

Number 3 this means my big toe bone is having an intense stress reaction.  Probably from walking funny from the pain.

All this does not explain the swelling, pain, redness and heat coming off my foot.  The doc thinks I have RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome). That means my sympathetic nervous system is having an excessive response to pain.  Burning pain, edema, sensitive to touch, and warm to the touch are some of the symptoms.  To fix it I need to stay off my foot, so I am on crutches. I also need to go physical therapy and do exercises at home. 

She seems to think I will be ready to do the bike ride in August.  Can you believe I hurt my foot 2 months ago?  

Now there is a plan! Yay!!

Until tomorrow...

SLEPT THROUGH MRI

Had my MRI today. It went great. I slept through most of it. The only hitch was that in my sleepiness, I went to the wrong address. Luckily I was early and had enough time to get to the right address in time.

Tomorrow I get the results. Keep your fingers crossed it is something easily solved and not too painful.

Today I picked up the tiles to finish the bathroom. Yay!

Until tomorrow...

MRI TOMORROW FINALLY

After three phone calls, I finally have my MRI scheduled for tomorrow at 7:15 am. Since I am almost unable to walk, it can't come soon enough.

Wish me luck!

Until tomorrow...

SPEAKING UP

Today a friend, named D, told me a story of how a friend of hers said something to her that was shocking and offensive. D was so surprised that she could not respond. Days later D is telling us this story and she said she was going to stop being friends with this person.  

In the past year I have had two 20 year friendships come to an end. Both came to an end with no explanation. No discussion.  

I told D that I felt this person deserved her telling him that he had offended her. I explained it is horrible to have someone end a friendship and not tell you why or give you a chance to apologize for what you did wrong. 

I have a friend, I will call her C, who I one time said something to and she miss heard me. She got angry at me.  I could not figure out why she was calling me back. I finally left a voicemail saying I apologize if I said or did something to upset you but please tell what it is. She called me back and said I thought you said XYZ and it was so not like you. I said oh, my goodness I would have never said that!!  I thought back to the conversation and realized I may have said something similar and we were on cellphones. It would have been easy to think I said XYZ when I said WXY. We both laughed.  It was a miscommunication.  We made a promise that we would not let a miscommunication get in the way of our friendship again.

I was happy I spoke up today.  Happy Memorial Day!!

Until tomorrow...

COOKING ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

This weekend I decided to do some cooking so I would not chained to a stove all weekend.

First I made Broccoli Salad.  I left out the bacon and onion because I don't eat them.   The dressing is a combination of sweet and tangy and the broccoli is crunchy.  I was surprised how much I like this.  It was better once it got chilled.

Then I made Couscous Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pecans.  It is a sweet salad with the lemon and cranberries. This salad was easy to make.  It is a really light salad.

To finish off the meal I grilled some sweet potato slices and portobello mushroom caps.  I put the mushrooms on a bun with a spread that I made with basil(from my garden), mayo, Dijon mustard and lemon juice.  I used rosemary from my garden to cook the sweet potatoes.

Good food for the whole weekend!

Until tomorrow...

ALL AROUND GOOD NEWS: CITATION AND PILLOW

I finally got the throw pillow for the balcony bench. I love sitting on this bench that overlooks our backyard and has a great view for miles. I bought the pillow on sale and to avoid the shipping charges, I had it sent to the store. This week was so crazy I could not get to the store to pick it up. Today I drove over and got it.  I think it looks great. Now I can sit length-wise and lean on the wall with my feet up and not break my back!

I also have some great news! I got a letter today concerning my citation on Easter.  Looking back I realized I don't think I mentioned my parking citation.  On Easter Day Brenda and I went to the beach to watch surfers attempt to surf. We brought a picnic and had a good but chilly time.  When we got back to the car, we had a $38 citation. I was miffed because I paid for a 4 hour parking pass that you put on the dashboard.  Brenda had put it on the passenger side and when she closed the door it slid under the windshield wiper a bit. But if the person had put in some effort they would have seen it was there.

When I got home I wrote this letter explaining that I paid for a ticket, etc. I mailed the ticket and a copy of my parking pass along with my appeal. Today we got the best news: "Your appeal has been granted. Amount owed $0."  Justice  for the little guy!  I did my happy dance.   This paid for my outdoor pillow plus burritos for both of us!!

Until tomorrow...

WINDOWS 7

My desktop computer that I use as a secondary and back-up computer, is running on Windows XP. It runs pretty well since it's little glitch about 1.5 years ago.  If you have been reading the papers or watching the news, XP has ended. There are no more updates, programs won't run on it anymore and Norton virus software will not work on it anymore. This has now become a problem.

Today I went over to the computer store to find out my options. This computer was bought on the cusp of the Windows 7 rollout.  I was supposed to have been sent Windows 7 disks in the mail but when I ipopened the envelop, it was XP disks. They sent me the wrong disks.  Now I have to buy Windows 7 and install it.  This is my worst nightmare. Wiping clean a computer and reinstalling all the programs. Ugh!

When I get Windows, the process will begin.

Until tomorrow...

SHOWER IS FINISHED!

Today the renovation of the shower has finished.  Yay!  The shower looks awesome. 

 Here is what it looked like before:

The concrete floor of the shower was cracked and leaking.

The next thing is to fix the front of the bathtub.  The concrete is flaking off there too.  The tile will be delivered next week and then they can be installed.

I can't wait to take a shower in my new shower!

Until tomorrow...

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

For the last few days I have had a migraine. I took migraine meds both days. I also seemed to pee quite a bit. I didn't think that much about it until this morning. I had to pee quite a bit during the night and this morning I was letting the dogs outside and suddenly there was pee running down my leg with no warning. Yes, it was my pee. 

A few minutes later I got in the shower and suddenly took ill. I got light-headed and had to get out of the shower.  I felt awful.  

I called and cancelled my work appointment and then called the doc.  My doc is out of the office so I had to wait for some other doc to call in a prescription. It took until 4pm. I was peeing every 45 min.  I have the medicine now but it says to take 2 hours after eating. It also says it is the cure for anthrax but I digress. 

So I sit here until 8:30 when I can take the meds. Hopefully it works quickly.  I am tired of going to the bathroom every 45 minutes!

Until tomorrow...

NEUROMA OR NO NEUROMA?

Today I went to the foot doc. I had an x-ray straight away. The x-ray looked good.  Then I saw the doc. She started touching my foot and I nearly dove off the table. The doc decided that I have either a bad stress fracture that doesn't show up on the x-ray or a neuroma. A neuroma is a benign growth of nerve tissue frequently found between the third and fourth toes. It brings on pain, a burning sensation, tingling, or numbness between the toes and in the ball of the foot.  If that is what I have, the doc with give me a shot of steroids in my foot, right in the sore spot.  Can't wait for that!

To figure out what us going on I need an MRI.  That will be scheduled later this week. 

Until tomorrow...

PAIN IN MY HEAD

A day full of migraine. Just one giant migraine all day. Just laid on the couch pretty much all day. Tried to eat. Did talk to the podiatrist. She wants to see me first thing tomorrow morning for x-rays. 

Until tomorrow...

GETTING INVOLVED

I know that sometimes I try to find easy ways to make a difference.  I would like to make a difference in this world but I don't always have a lot of time and I don't have easy access to simple ways.

Today I read O Magazine and found two easy ways to make a difference.

It seems that penguins need sweaters. Let me explain: when penguins are caught in oil spills, they get ill and die when they preen and swallow the oil on their feathers.  The penguin foundation uses penguin sweaters to put on the penguins to keep them from the oil on their feathers.  I checked their website and they have been inundated with little sweaters!  But if you are interested in penguins, check out their website.

Do you love to read? I mean read from an actual book?  Well, James Patterson has started a literary fund to help save independent bookstores. He is giving $1 million of his own money to support independent bookstores.  There is a link at his website where you can nominate your local independent bookstore for a grant.  Help save a bookstore!

Tomorrow I am going to contact the doctor about my foot. I feel burning and tingling and that cannot be good.

Until tomorrow...

BACK IN THE BOOT

I think I took the boot off too soon. I have been wearing a boot on my foot for a couple of weeks because I have a stress fracture in my foot. I was feeling better so I stopped wearin the boot earlier this week. Big mistake. Yesterday my foot was throbbing worse than when I hurt it. I think bounding up and down the stairs to let the contractors in and out has not helped either. So the boot is back on all day long. Already tonight it is not throbbing as much as it was last night.

Tonight for dinner I tried something new. I grilled acorn squash. I cut the acorn squash into 1/2" slices after taking out the seeds and pulp. Then I painted on olive oil, salt and pepper. I heated up the grill and put the slices oil side down. Once they were on the grill, I lathered the other side with oil, salt and pepper. It took about 12-15 minutes on the first side and about 10 minutes on the second side.  I put some butter on them and they were delicious. Next time I would take off the skin before cooking. I didn't like the skin and it was hard to get off after cooking.

Until tomorrow...

INSURANCE CANCELLED AGAIN

Today I got four envelopes from The-Insurance-Company-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named in Brenda's name. One said her insurance was cancelled AGAIN.  The other three were bills dating back to March with a due date of May 12th.

I immediately got on the phone with The-Insurance-Company-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I was shocked that I got through very quickly. The woman immediately saw the problem: the auto payment was not working. She said that the system was having problems with folks auto payments.  (So instead of putting an effort into fixing the problem, they put the effort into sending Brenda four pieces of mail with a scary cancellation letter!) 

I paid the back payment and reset the auto payment (again) and crossed my fingers it will work this time.  It is only the third time I have given my information to set up the auto payment since December.  

Until tomorrow...

TARDINESS

How do you feel about people being late? Does it bother you or do you not care?

I am a very on time person. I am usually early. Especially for work things. My partner is not always on time to things but gets crazy if people are late.  I can't explain it.

This week we have been having our bathroom renovated due to a leak in the shower floor.  I have asked the workers to let me know what time they are going to come to work and to contact me if they are going to be late. Today they said they were going to arrive at 9am but didn't arrive until 11am. This drove my partner crazy. She wanted me to yell at someone. I kept telling her bees to honey but she wouldn't listen.

A. It is hard enough to find someone to work on a small job without her running them off.
B. They are contractors. That means they can work when they want to. Sure I would like them to be here at 9am so they will get the job done faster but that is not my call.

After a talk I think we have it all figured out. He will text me if they are going to be late.  Personally, I think this intense heat is getting to everyone. We need rain not anymore hot days!

Until tomorrow...

HOT HOT HOT

Okay, it is hot on the left coast. Not just hot but HOT.  Sticking to the seat hot. Sweating the minute you step outside hot. Drinking so much you pee clear kinda hot.   It was hot.

My dogs have been so uncomfortable. Especially little Lucky. She is SO uncomfortable.  She just walks around the house trying to find cool spots to no avail. Since the downstairs is being renovated, they can't go down there. Our downstairs is about 20 degrees cooler at all times. The dogs want to go down there so much.  Our bedroom downstairs is all covered in plastic due to the renovation.  Looks a bit like a Dexter kill room.

Anyway, the dogs want to go outside because they think it will be cooler and then they get outside and it is too hot, then they want to go back inside. This goes on all day. It is exhausting because I think they have to "do their business" so I quickly take them out. Then they just walk around meandering.  I try to leave them outside alone but they are too anxious for that.  They are just used to more moderate weather.

Let's hope tomorrow is not as hot and sweaty.

Until tomorrow...

MY POOR HANDS

For the last two days my hands have been killing me.  I am not sure why.  It could be the gardening.  It could be the weather.  It could be, I don't know, the fact that it is the 13th of May.  Who knows why my hands hurt?  Today to round out the intense pain, my feet started hurting.  Usually RA patients hurt more when it is intensely cold not when it is intensely hot.

I am trying to wait it out and see if the pain will go away before I call the doctor.  I am not anxious to increase my Prednisone or go back on Plaqunil.  This heat wave will only last a few days and maybe then I will feel better.

Until tomorrow...

MORE GARDENING AND GRILLING

Today I planted some more herbs. I planted mint in a separate container. Mint can get a little wild if you let it.  I planted tarragon and thyme in the herb garden.  I have space for one more herb. I am thinking cilantro but I am trying decide what other herb I use a lot. I know lavender is pretty but I am allergic to it. Maybe chives?

The basil, parsley, and dill are doing good. I have to watch the little dog around the parsley, she keeps wanting to nibble on it. I put up the fence but today that rascal figured out how to wriggle behind the fence. Then she is taller then the fence and can lean over to nibble.  She is a rascal.

I then made a great dinner.  I grilled a portobello mushroom cap and some zucchini planks.  I made a great mayo/Dijon mustard spread to put on the portobello mushroom sandwich. Then I made a cilantro, green olive, tomato mix that went on the grilled zucchini planks. Delicious! Brenda made some home fries to round out the meal.

I love grilling in the summer!

Until tomorrow...

PLANTING AN HERB GARDEN

Today I woke up with swollen fingers. I guess maybe I pushed it a bit yesterday.

Today I took it a little easy for Mother's Day.  I had a leisurely lunch in the backyard on my picnic table.  I am a bit frustrated because a heron has been coming by our pond and I haven't seen some of our fish for a few days. Now they could be hiding or they be, gulp, bird food.  I am trying to be positive that they are laying low.

After lunch I planted my herbs. Dill, basil, parsley were all planted in my new herb garden.  Hopefully the fence will keep the pups out!

Then I planted rosemary in a separate container since Rosemary can get a bit unruly.

I planted the flowers and the tomato plant in small containers that we are going to take up on the balcony.   I love to have the color when I look out on the balcony. We just hope the dogs don't eat the plants.

I need more dirt to finish the job.

1. Until tomorrow...

BIKES AND TAIWAN

Today I decided to go do some cultural activities. First I went to see a bicycle expo. All these folks speeding around a course, racing toward the finish line. It was fun to be outside even if I can't ride my bike.

Then on the way home I went to a Taiwainnese American festival. I saw these young kids  from Taiwan perform a delicate dance. I was going to eat some food but all the vegetarian food was sold out.

It was a fun day.

Until tomorrow...

ONE MORE SHOWER PAN

The shower pan has been installed! Today they installed the new drain and put in the new concrete. Then they put in the shower pan. Now we wait for inspection. Then we tile. Yay!  The inspection is taking a few days longer than anticipated but after my experience, I want an inspection. I also want to find out how to pull the previous inspection reports.  Since there was no shower pan when the contractor dug up my shower I am curious how my shower passed inspection. 

This living upstairs is getting old. I know we did it for two years during the renovation, but I am not anxious to relive that experience.  For one thing we have two dogs now. Second with me not working so much (Brenda works from home) we are spending WAY too much time together in a confined space and one bathroom.

Until tomorrow...

HEARTBREAKING DEMO

They started the demo on the bathroom shower.  They have to demo from about 3' down.  Turns out there was never a shower pan installed in my shower.  Not sure how that happened but I can't dwell on the past and I need to move forward.

The plan is to demo and the put in a shower pan and a proper drain.  Slope the bottom of the shower this time around and install the tile.  Put a travertine sill instead of a concrete one.  Put the glass shower doors back on and voila!

Today we listened to the demo.  It was heartbreaking.

Until tomorrow...

FLASHES OF SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

Today I tried to get out of my funk.  I know the news from my gut doc was good.  It is just hard to hear that they can't tell me definitely what is wrong. 

I decided to go to the store and buy herbs and flowers to plant.  I have wanted an herb garden for years along this slip of earth that is near my backyard stairs.  I bought a little fence and some basil, parsley, rosemary and dill.  Then I bought a tomato plant so we can have a tomato or two.  Then I bought some flowers.  They always cheer me up.  I am going to plant them tomorrow.

Oh, I also got a 50 pound bag of sand to fill the base of the table umbrella.  It was the only size bag they had.  I had to get someone to put the bag in my cart and then beg some stranger to put it in my car.  I had flashes of Silence of the Lambs go through my head as I was asking him to help me but I was in a busy parking lot and I was asking him to help me!  ("It places the lotion in the basket." "I've no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it. ") 

Until tomorrow...

TRYING NOT TO BE UPSET

Today I got the phone call from my colonoscopy doc. She gave me good news and bad news.

Good news: the polyp she removed was benign and had the possibility to become cancerous. Whew!  She also didn't find any evidence of Crohn's. All the other cultures and biopsies were negative also.

Bad news: she didn't find anything. This concerns me. I have all these stomach issues and the episode that landed me in the ER but she said there is nothing wrong with me. This doesn't make sense.

I am a little depressed. I was hoping she would call and say you have______.   I am going to sleep.

Until tomorrow...

SHRINK WRAPPED THE DOWNSTAIRS

Today we spent the whole day clearing out the downstairs and then putting plastic on everything.  Tomorrow the contractors come to demo the shower and my experience with contractors is that they will get dust and dirt on everything they come in contact with.  They will also do things like wash their hands in your nice sink if you let them.  I have learned that if you don't lay down the rules early on, your nice towels end up being used to wipe things up.  We have removed everything from the bathroom so they can't break anything, use anything, etc.  We also don't want that horrible demo dust on all our furniture, so we plastic wrapped everything.  The plastic wrap will also protect the furniture from other things like "bulls in the china shop" construction guys.

We have a nice utility sink for construction cleaning that has soap and paper towels.  We have a servants entrance for them to use so they will not be entering the main part of the house.  I cleared out the hallway from the entrance to the bedroom.

The poor dogs are disoriented.  They don't know where their beds are.  They don't understand the plastic wrap.  The room looks a bit like a scene from Dexter!

Happi looking confused

Until tomorrow...

FALAFEL AND BACKYARD

Today I did two things. I made some good food and I set up my new outdoor table set.

I made quinoa tabbouleh and falafel.

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Falafel

Pita falafel pocket.

Then I set up my new table and chairs. I can't wait to sit in the backyard with an ice tea and just relax.

Maybe tomorrow I will eat a pita pocket out in the backyard!

Until tomorrow...

FEELING MORE LIKE MYSELF

Thank you for your wonderful thoughts while I was having my colonoscopy. It is a test we will all have to get eventually and let's hope they find a way to make it more pleasant. I would send a donation to that research project! Would you??

After my colonoscopy yesterday, I am feeling a bit more like myself. I decided to go for a walk after being cooped up for two days and basically tied to a bathroom. It felt good to get some fresh air!

I made some food and watched the Kentucky Derby. My horse came in first, California Chrome. That means bragging rights at our house. Until the Preakness that is, then all bets are off.

In the evening I went to a neighbors house for a gathering if the folks on our street. It was fun although I didn't eat anything.  My stomach is still sensitive and I didn't want to upset it with crazy food.  Heck I am still eating mashed potatoes and tofu.

I did spend some time on the internet looking for medical issues that my biopsy could be showing. That didn't yield much.  I guess I will be stressed out until I hear from the doc.

Until tomorrow...

INTERESTING NEWS

I was up and down all night from all the water I drank. Going number 1 and number 2. Then the alarm went off at 5:30 am.  Time to drink Prep number 2. Yay!  This time I held my nose and got 4/5 of it down.  The stuff is so salty I can't stand it.

Then off to the center where I got to put on a gown that opened in the back.  I got rolled into the room and I remember talking and then I remember waking up.  I woke up with a start because I thought I heard my dogs waking up. (In the morning when my dogs wake up it wakes me up)  I think I even said Lucky do you want to go out?  The anestheologist said I woke up just as they were ending. He seemed surprised.

The new drug doesn't leave you groggy or out of it.  I laid there for a little then the doc came in.  I got some interesting news: no Crohn's. After all these years of thinking I have Crohn's, I don't.  The doc took biopsies and cultures I had one polyp that she removed. My ileum looked normal.  The doc says she needs to wait until the biopsies and cultures come back to see what is going on since it is not Crohn's.

I came home, ate a wrap and went to sleep.   Doctors orders were to lay around all day. I can do that!

Until tomorrow...

BACK AND FORTH

Colonoscopy. Tomorrow is the day. Today is the prep. If you have never had a colonoscopy, well, you are in for some fun. If you have already had one and want to skip this humorous post, by all means, don't relive your experience.

Here's how it starts: you go to a doctor and the doc says Time for a colonoscopy! 

You then take your prescription to the pharmacy to get the prep.  There are two preps in the kit.

The day before your test you can not eat. Anything. Clear liquids only.  I made vegan gelatin, tea, ice pops, broth and drank water, clear juice. All day long.  Then at the appropriate time, the prep fluid gets mixed with water. It makes 16 ounces. You have to drink the whole think. Then you have to drink 32 ounces of water in one hour.  The prep tastes like really bad salty water.  I had a hard time getting 100% down.  Okay, I only got 95% of it down. I did my best without vomiting it back up.  

At that point you are running for the toilet.  Everything leaves you rather quickly.  I was tied to the bathroom for 2 hours.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Hint: bring reading material or a iPad. 

Now for the next 12 hours it is the water diet. At 5:30 am it all starts again.  The prep, the water, the bathroom. 

Then at 9:30 am I have to be at the doctors office for the procedure at 10:30.  They say one hour later I will be up and going home.  They use a new anesthesia Propenal (the same stuff Michael Jackson took) and they say I will not be so out of it and groggy when I wake up.  These days for this procedure I get an anesthesiologist.  

I am watching TV and trying not to think about my growling stomache. 

Until tomorrow...