Two years later, they got me!

We got back from vacation late Friday evening and let me tell you, each person had a 'Top Ten' list of things they were most looking forward to after being away for two whole weeks. It was fun, and I'm sure I'll mention bits and bobs about it sooner or later but for now, I'm just glad to be home.

I came home with some kind of 'head' thing going on. It started on the Wednesday prior to our returning and got steadily worse but after the whole fiasco of my broken ankle, I was hardly going to see a Dr. over in the U.K. about head pain and have a Dr. (or janitor as the case could very well have been) tell me "Oh, it's just a headache" when in actuality, it could have been a tumor or worse.

It is probably nothing more than an inner ear problem but after puking several times and falling over many more, I had to go see my own Dr. first thing Saturday morning. The Dr. then told me that "out of all the people that come in with similar symptoms, you are by far the worst" I had to go to the ER for a CAT scan STAT! (He did! he said it with an apostrophe at the end!!!!!!) We are still waiting for the results however, I'm sure by the lack of communication it can't be anything too alarming. Either that or I'm gonna drop right where I'm at and if that IS the case, it was nice knowing you all.................

I am STILL very dizzy and constantly trying to walk in a straight line but ending up leaning against the wall hanging on for dear life. I'm not throwing up anymore though so that's nice. The Dr. gave me a prescription for both the dizziness (side effects may include nausea - HUH!) and for the nausea (side effects may include Dizziness - I SHIT YOU NOT!!!!) so we shall see how I feel over the next couple of days.

Anyway, I came back to lots of mail - majority of it junk mail but one envelope was rather intriguing.

It was from the Department of Public Safety - oo-er......... Suffice to say that one line in the letter states;

"Therefore, after much consideration, we are recalling the license plate character combination VAH JJ"

This line was preceded by lots of "Obscene" and "Offensive Combination" and such like wording. So there you have it. They finally got me after two years. Now I just have to think of something to replace this with for when I call them and they ask what I want the new plates to be. Right now though my head isn't on right so I'm not worrying about it. I'll probably call them next week.

While I was away we had limited internet access and before the trip I remember thinking "How will I ever survive?" No really, I was in withdrawal, suffering from the old D.T.'s, scratching at the bit, REALLY REALLY worrying whether the internet world would survive without me and vice-versa.

Hhhhmmmmmm yeah, about that. I received 189 e-mails four of which were actually important-ish and relevant. The others, not so much. My Cell phone received 105 messages while I was gone, and the majority of those weren't important really. On those rare occasions where I COULD check the internet, I basically checked e-mail, the odd Gossip Blog, of course blogs that friends have and Flickr but that was it. News-wise bugger all happened that was of any relevance.

So I made a decision. I am going to cut down my internet habit drastically. Checking e-mails only as and when. If it's important, people know how to reach me (as I say this I can hear my cell phone alerting me that I have a text - LOL). I took myself out of most of the groups I was in Flickr - many because I simply wasn't involved and others because the aggro was just too much and causing a strain in my life that I just don't need. I have to be more productive in other aspects of my life such as actually engaging in activities with my kids, doing more with my photography which is really kicking off and things like that. I will of course remain blogging seeing as I have got back into it again!

So there you have it, a change in my life both vehicular and internet wise (with a bit of health thrown in for good measure...... ) Not bad for missing two weeks don't you think?

Oh, my favorite pictures from the vacation? Here you go.

I shall be back shortly with fun and gruesome details about the vacation..........

Demons and Doctors and Darvocet Oh My.........

Previously on 'A Ropey Old Bird In Ohio.....' - isn't that how all good shows start? :)

As you may recall, I had a trip back to England planned to coincide with my birthday and that of my best friend back there, Sarah. It was AWESOME!

Prior to my going, my Uncle called me and asked whether I'd like to go to Spain for a couple of days "while I was out that way anyway" so of course I accepted. Wouldn't you? I had a strict schedule to stick to, seeing friends and family etc., and I pretty much was able to stick to it. Things haven't changed much though which is good and bad!

Anyhoo...........

Spain was great. My Uncle and I were staying in a hostel and I have to say that while I was pretty much expecting a rat infested, nasty, one bathroom in the hallway for the building, kind of place I was pretty much surprised with a lovely room, en-suite bathroom and daily maid service! All for $30 a night for the both of us! Fantastic. It was also great because my Uncle and I were there on our own and were able to talk about anything and everything. We talked about family, our lives, whether we were happy or not, and about the past which included him regaling me with stories of his days when he played professional rugby for Hull back in the day. Stories of how he was nightclubbing every night and how......... oh wait. You don't need to hear all those stories!!! LOL Most of the nights ended with us completely drunk, staggering home.

aaaaahhhhhh the memories!

Then it was back to England and the first port of call was Filey. My old friend from waaaaaaay back lives there, so after a long drive from Liverpool airport, dropping my Uncle off then a quick drive to Filey, I found myself getting completely hammered in a bar there.

Hammered, shitfaced, minging, blind sticking drunk. Either way you look at it, we were both looking dog rough the next morning when she had me shopping in Scarborough and then up to Scarborough Castle with nothing but a cheese and onion pastie in ma belly!

After a long day there, it was time to drive back to Leeds to stay at my friend Sarahs. It was actually her birthday that day so we exchanged gifts, got drunk and enjoyed friends. It was an emotional night wherein I cried at one point and was blubbering on the phone to George about how I wanted to come home and I was sick of everything.......... long story that was quickly resolved!

The next day, again, completely hung-the-shit-over, we returned the rental car I had hired ($200 for a week not bad!) and went shopping. We had to rush home as we were going out at 3 to meet up with another friend - the one who had me crying the night before! I KNOW!

Now, this is where I start to show my age. When Sarah told me we were going out at 3, I was all "Who goes out at 3 in the afternoon?" We did! Actually, we went at 4 but not until we had already downed a bottle of wine each!

Here, I must point out is where the first part of the title comes into play. Demon. When I left England almost 9 years ago, I also left a relationship that had been tumultuous (like that?) at the very best...... I hadn't heard of or seen that guy for a long time and when I heard he was back in town, the very thought of meeting him again made me sick. Literally physically sick. I am not really sure why. I mean, I wasn't expecting anything to happen but I think because of the way we ended things, I was just nervous. I built myself up into such a state that getting completely drunk was the only way I could come close to being ready to face him. He had told everyone he wasn't going to be out and that he was going to a concert which apparently was a lie because the minute we walked into the nightclub, there he was. After a quick nod, a quick "You alright?" and pleasantries, we were back to being indifferent strangers. We spoke a couple of times throughout the night and that was it. Then I got angry with myself for letting things build up to the point they had and getting myself all upset over nothing. But it's all over and done with now so that's good.

Then at some point, I was dancing with my friend John and someone accidentally - I assume - knocked into me and I twisted my ankle. Of course the first thing people ask is "Were you drunk?" and of course, I was ball-bagged, but luckily, because you don't feel as much pain then!!!! I knew I had done something but thought nothing more of it. We got home at about 3:30 am and I fell quite literally into bed. I woke up at 9-ish the next morning and KNEW my ankle hurt but it wasn't until I tried to move it and almost passed out that I thought "FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKK!!!" I had my friends husband take me to the Emergency Room wherein I cried almost all the way there, which is where the second part of the title comes into play.

Doctors. As I mentioned earlier, I have lived here in the States for almost 9 years and have grown quite accustomed to the medical system. I love it. Dr's introduce themselves, take care of you and all that. At the UK ER, the Dr - I assume he was a Dr as he didn't introduce himself, he looked more like a janitor!!! - simply touched the back of my ankle and asked if it hurt there. It didn't so he said "Well, it's just a sprain, I'm not X-raying it" and gave me some paracetomol which is the equivalent of Aceteminophen, and sent me on my way with a pair of ill-fitting crutches.

I cried some more and he then became an obnoxious twat and said in a very condescending tone "Well, if you would let me EDUCATE you...." and proceeded to Google - YES, BLOODY GOOGLE ankle pain!

I knew I had done something to my ankle so just took more pain killers at Sarah's, had her husband call Continental to sort out wheelchair access for me and just cried more.

Bloody English Dr's.

I finally got home the next day and went immediately to my own Orthopedic Dr who promptly, yes PROMPTLY X-rayed it, diagnosed me with a Lisfranc fracture and gave me shitloads of strong medication to help me get over it. Now that is what I call service! D-aaaaaah-rvocet! :)

So there you have it. Overall an excellent trip, even with the ex-boyfriend, hangovers and fractures. I do like to make the most of those visits!

So what did you do the last month?

Is All I'm Saying..............

Yesterday, I was so pissed off at someone, so outrageously, my head is about to explode, I can't believe you did that, pissed off that I sank into a deep depression last night.

Then I got over it. Because I am above all that. But I will say one thing!

DON'T complain at me for doing something one way way when a certain other person has been doing it their way, the wrong way, for years and apparently this didn't prompt you to send THEM an e-mail!

Is all I'm saying.................



I'm off for a walk. Hopefully, I shall be back to my peaceful, calm, tranquil existence when I return....