BS: SINSULL's Turn

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Tinker
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 09:19 AM

Mary, I promise to stay in your price range, but the search is half the fun. Did I mention that the Christmas Tree Shop has opened stores in New Jersey???

Now if there was no budget I might have to call Trubrit so your overnight guests are treated instyle.

Okay it seems the cyber salad is even to expansive for a blue clickie.... maybe next time.

http://www.mlsfinder.com/kwls/kw/index.cfm?action=listing_detail&property_id=1563864913&searchkey=cde38b9a-f7bc-3366-3a48-2cc2a4984d42&npp=10&sr=1

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 09:37 AM

Whoa-Whoa-Whoa-Whoa.........Just hold up here.....Any of you who are even thinking of sending postage, DON'T DO IT!!!...... Just don't okay?...........Geeziz I can't take anymore..........................please, no...............Just say NO to postage.........................oy..................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 04:09 PM

Hi - just back from a weekend away with no PC access. I've just about managed to get the shakes under control with a fix so can report in, although I think that Mary pretty well covered it.

We will probably be back down in Boston on the 26th to see the surgeon and, hopefully, the endocrinologist, although that date may change if the EC isn't available, or we might need yet another trip to see him. The oncologist went to great lengths to tell us that the was an infinitesimal chance of the cancer not being eradicated by removal of Mary's thyroid and even less chance that it might spread further. Mary will most likely be in hospital for one night and then allowed home to rest and should be back on her feet in a week. She will be sore and may have problems swallowing for a few days so I'm already thinking about easy to eat meals for her for that period.

The trip was not without adventure. We had crazy bus drivers both there and back - I swear they choose them for their whacky sense of humour. If you're ever thinking of coming up this way fly into Logan and take the Concord Trailways up to Portland - you'll see what I mean.

When the oncologist walked into room it was a bit of a shock - he hardly looked old enough to be in medical school, let alone the one oncologist on the staff there. Mary told him that she had a son older than him, which amused him greatly and he did say that he was older than he looked. The collection of goodies on the assistant's desk had to be seen to be believed - no doubt it will be added to at some point.

We came out of the hospital and hailed a cab that was just going past. When the guy asked us if we knew the way to Boston South Station we both knew it was going to be an interesting ride, particularly since he had an accent exactly like Barry Finn's. He chatted away all the way, occasionally stopping to ask another cab driver for directions. We just nodded and tried to restrain the giggles until we got out of the cab. Boston is an interesting place!

Some of you are asking what can you do for Mary - I have a particular idea - PM me for details if you are interested. (hehehehehehehe)

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 04:23 PM

Nice! I have cancer and you are plotting against me.
When I heard "easy to swallow" (actually I never heard the doctor say that)I thought Jack Daniel's. Jackie will be pureeing lima beans. Save me! Lipton's and Campbell's chicken noodle will do nicely. Leave me alone, Jacqui. I mean it!

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: gnu
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 06:27 PM

There were some great ideas on my thread. Here's one "summary" post :


Subject: RE: BS: Hospital 'To Do' list brainstorming
From: gnu - PM
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 04:28 PM

Right.... so far...

Hospital -

Bring: soft packaged, non-perishable foods – e.g., pudding, housecoat, sweat pants, tees, u/w, socks, slippers, Vaseline, eyeglasses, books, crossword book, pens, clipboard, dental floss (little jobbies), ziplock baggies, small flashlight, Tylenol (only use if that is what they are giving you and they forget), blindfold and ear plugs, ice bucket, fan, insulated coffee mug, Music and recorded books and player, batteries, do NOT take valuables but if you do MARK all CDs, CD players, etc. for the same reason (if there are serial numbers, record them and the brand, model, and other such data), a marker/tape/tags for ID'ing stuff, pics of you/ family/ friends/ pets/ goals, change for payphone, list of telephone numbers (pizza delivery at top), sunglasses, list of meds you are on and if any allergies, pillow (better check first as might not be allowed),

Questions: ask for Discharge instructions NOW! (if you can't drive for two weeks after, it's good to know that NOW), ask the doc to write prescriptions for meds before you go in (if he can - great fun going home and having to ask the taxi to stop at Shoppers Drug Mart on the way... ever been in the checkout line at one? Takes forever!),

Home -

Food       pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt, juice, ice cream, bananas (bananas? what a stupid idea! unless you freeze them first??)

Pre-paid cell phone minutes or cordless phone, snow removal, mail & newspaper delivery during & after (DA), last will & testament, who holds papers & keys & ???, who will be allowed to stay or visit and tell them so (you might not want certain people around, especially if you are spaced out on drugs),

Keep 'em comin!

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 07:49 PM

gnu - it's an overnight stay.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: gnu
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 04:42 AM

Well, I was a Boy Sprout... Be Prepared 'n all eh?

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: kendall
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 01:29 PM

Mary will beat this. I know she will.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: maeve
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:45 PM

Yes, Kendall, she will. She will then beat us for plotting. hehehehe

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:46 PM

"Nice! I have cancer and you are plotting against me."

You say that like it's a BAD thing.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:48 PM

I can't believe I posted that. Let me try again.

'"Nice! I have cancer and you are plotting against me."'

You say that like plotting against you is a BAD thing.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:53 PM

Go get 'em, tiger.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 03:56 PM

OK. Someone message me an address because I have an old tractor part that looks lots like a replica of a holy figure in certain light. It needs a home. Will the post office accept freight over 3,681 pounds? Just curious.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 09:36 PM

I'll take that as a no. To continue, then. How about 327 blue flamingoes/flammingos/flaminggoes pelicans?

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: maeve
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 09:52 PM

You could try sending them Peace, but I suspect it's you who'll be flaming if you go ahead with this plan.

Being Helpful,
maeve

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 09:57 PM

Just noticed this thread. Best Wishes.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 03:07 AM

Don't pay a Boston Cabbie if they ask you where South Station is. Hire me as your Indy 500 tour guide. There's not a back alley I can't go the wrong way on. You can get a horse driven cop to give you a lift from Mass Gereral to South Station, as long as they know the way down hill & the horse has the strength to go up hill. From Mass General just follow the smell of salt water up over the hill till you get a whiff of the century old molasses, then head downhill towards the water till you can't smell the molasses any more. At that point walk left keeping the water on your left shoulder till South Station looms up in front of you. Inside the station get a slice of Mama Rigina's pizza. Best in Boston for at least the past 50 yrs.
Mary, Jacqui, the bus should stop at Park Street Station before it reaches South Station. Mass General is just 1 train (On the Silver Line) stop from there. Don't use those nickle chasers again, you probably got a ride with my father. WEven after he died he wouldn't give up his job as a cabbie in Boston, there's just to many people like you out there in need.
As far as what to bring for an overnight stay. 1 very long straw, the Frappes that are made in the East St Cafe (the name of the hospital cafeteria, in the basement) are to die for, REALLY.The maels in that cafeteria are pretty good to & the candy store on the 1st floor is excellent too. They have all the local news papers near the main entrance & across from that in the library is the computers which have internet access free & usually available too. If you can sneek ou down the street on the main drag (Cambridge St) is a Hamburger joint, the best burgers anywhere, I think that's all they sell, it's been a landmark for yrs. Around the corner going uphill is a movie theather. On the 6th floor of the hospital you can see all the transplant folks, they like presents & they encourage you to throw peanuts at them if you get bored. Say hi, from me. There's a coffee shop on the 1st floor just past the newspapers with yummy muffins & great coffee. The pool is usually closed during winter. Don't eat the food they serve if you can afford the Cafe, to bad if they put you on a restricted diet, plan for battle. Charles Street Jail is just next door, go in & have a look. You can get a nice meal there in one of the few cells that are left, look for the "BF 1969" carved into the wall, tell them you know me & the meal may be for free. They did a fantistic job with the renovations, it's now a grand hotel, very costly too. Imagine, one could stay there for nothing in the old days, but the beds were 1/2 singles at the time & the food sucked. I believe there are still ghosts that they couldn't get rid of that date back from the hanging days.
OK, so after all this excietment, sight-seeing & joy-riding your try-rod should be just about ready to fall out. So there you go, all better. Anything else I can hepl you with, once you're able. Buzzy's Roast Beef is no longer at the rotary, so don't bother looking.
LOL
Barry

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 03:10 AM

"At that point walk left keeping the water on your left"

that should read
"At that point walk RIGHT keeping the water on your left"

Sorry, are you sure you want to take directions from the son of a Boston Cabbie?

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:50 AM

Too late. We fell in...

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:56 AM

Hail, Mary - all well then?

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 10:43 AM

Thanks Barry - I'll print that out and take it with us when we go to Boston for Mary's op.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 10:57 AM

All's well, George.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 10:59 AM

Oh dear, I got confused, I thought it was this weekend it was happening... But that means there's still time to send gifts of the wind-up porcelaine nature. Will porcelaine mini-bouzoukis do? Playing Zorba?

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:00 AM

Well, THERE she is!

Think lavendarr/lavinder/lavandear light purple fish.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: open mike
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:01 AM

keep sending us news...we are rooting for you...
look HERE for get well incentive prizes...

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: MaineDog
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 01:12 PM

If you get in touch with the American Cancer Society, the may be able to point you to free lodging and/hospitality near the hospital, so you can avoid traffic and navigation problems.
MD

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Janie
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:05 PM

Let's take up a collection and get her an avenging angel.

(If she insists, we can get Seamus to chomp off the head.)

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Peace
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:12 PM

. . . or Teletubbies that break into song at odd hours of the night. Tinkie Winkie singing "Wild Thing" with the others gyrating and doing a DooWop background.

Hey, this is really comin' together . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Janie
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:20 PM

All these many years, Peace, and you finally had to be the one to force me to google teletubby to see what one is.

Shame, Boy! But what a great idea - let's jump right on it.

Sins - it is a good thing that your prognosis is so good...imagine what we might find to cheer you if we were trying even harder!

Seriously - Cancer is no joke, surgery is no joke, and having no thyroid is also no joke - I think we are all just giddy to hear that this is all very likely to turn out quite well.

Continuing to hold you in light and prayer, even while googling atrocious gift ideas.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 08:05 AM

Reminder: Spending more than $.50 on a piece of crap is sinful. No pun intended. $75 for a plastic avenging angel is obscene. Teletubbies are perverts just ask Jerry Falwell and Tom Paxton. The art of the crappy gift is finding the perfect horror (that some one else has paid $75 for) for $.50 or less. Jacqui and i have mastered the the craft. The rest of you are posers - searching the net for crap is the easy part. Negotiating down to it's real value is what makes us great.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: maeve
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 08:47 AM

Sinsull, we are humbled by your garbage-buying greatness, and grateful for your humor. I'm not buyin' any of that stuff, not me!

I'd best not receive any of it either.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: jacqui.c
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 09:18 AM

LOL. Definitely posers! Hit your local thrift shops right now - you'd be surprised what turns up there - mostly stuff that other people paid $75 for and then someone else dumped on the shop doorway, ashamed to actually take it in and admit to owning it.

Garage and yard sales are a great source of tack - we've mined some beautiful stuff there during the summer.

Work on a budget, people, and be creative!

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 09:36 AM

Maeve,
Your removal of the headless One has rendered you immune to any more "gifts" of the crappy persuasion.
Someone left a rotting apple on the lobster in the tree - a squirrel with a sense of humor, maybe?
M

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 10:19 AM

Barry, BRILLIANT directions, there! LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 11:27 AM

Poor inflatable lobster, Sins!

I have to admit that I thought about him tethered to your tree when I read the piece of filler I posted as Song Challenge: Sea Rescue.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: jacqui.c
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 05:25 PM

We just got back from Boston trip #2.

This time we saw the surgeon who did an ultrasound to check the state of Mary's thyroid gland. It is very inflamed from the problems that Mary has had over many years and, with the extent of the damage that has been done to it, there is a 60% likelihood that there will be a cancerous growth.

The surgeon explained that, even it there is no cancer, with Mary's symptoms, it is likely that they may agree to remove the gland anyway, if the insurance company will agree to the procedure. Quite often the thyroid will burn itself out naturally, which would be a relief to Mary, but only the endocrinologist would be able to give any idea of how much longer that might take.

On Friday we go back to Boston to see the endocrinologist - a 9.00am appointment that will require us to catch the 6.00am coach from Portland - and, by then, the pathologist should have a definitive answer about the cancer from looking at the slides that are finally with Mass General.

More news then.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 05:29 PM

Jeez, what a drag, soon be sorted Mary. At least things are progressing, albeit slowly.

((((((((((((Mary)))))))))))

G

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: gnu
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 06:31 PM

Yes, progress must be appreciated, no matter how slooowwwww. Sucks, but, there it is.

Stay cool. Drink lots of cold water and walk slow.

g

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 07:36 PM

First you say I do and then I don't
First you say you will and then you won't
You're undecided now
So what are you going to do????????

Now it's a music thread.

I am very tired of this.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 07:37 PM

I feel like a fucking pin cushion...

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Janie
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 07:46 PM

{{{HUG}}}}

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 07:54 PM

Now ya know what a porcupine feels like. Well, how else did they get all of the quills to stay on its arse?:-)

{{{{{{BIG HUGS}}}}}}}

Lots of thanks givings, darlin'...this will work out.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 08:52 PM

Well, if Barry's directions and hospital pointers didn't cheer you up, nothing will. Cracked me up, anyhow.

Best of luck with all this, Mary -- and know that lots of folks are thinking about you. Even if they're just plotting what horrible things they can foist off on ya...   I for one don't have anything nearly awful enough to contribute at this point, but I will keep looking...

Hope to see you in Maine in June!

Love,
Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: Barry Finn
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 02:20 AM

Nancy, if she's not better by June, we'll have to kill her

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: maeve
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:02 AM

Mary, thank you for the gift of immunity from Stuff. I do appreciate it!

This medical path can be so frustrating. We're grateful you are on it, in spite of the confusion and pin cushion effect, and that you've let us in on how you are doing.

Maybe that rotten apple will provide you with further amusement in the form of drunken robins!

Love,

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:25 AM

Aw... Mary. It's kinda like an extended hangover. You know yer gonna feel better, you just don't know when. But, you WILL feel better. Lots of rest and let yourself heal.

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:54 AM

Gives 'Rockin' Robin' a whole new meaning.

Sending you a hug this am!

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: JudyB
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:01 PM

(((((Mary)))))

Love,
Judy

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 06:38 PM

Just to give you an idea of my "confused" moments: tonight my garage sent a van to pick me up and drive me home. My car wasn't ready. So I went downstairs and the van was waiting in front of the building. I got in and said "Hi". Then proceeded to babble about my car problems, my health, the weather, etc.
The driver finally looked at me and said "I am not who you think I am" I must have looked panic stricken because he quickly added "My fiance works here and I am supposed to pick her up. You are perfectly safe."

Well - it was a red van...

Subject: RE: BS: SINSULL's Turn
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 10:13 PM

Mary -- do you mean to tell me it may not be cancer??? And after all my death jokes and cracks -- how totally boring.

Hang in there.........we love ya!