NotesFromtheVoices

The weekend I dreamed of and the weekend I had in reality were as different as night day. As I drove down Friday morning, I received a call from my mother asking me to go to see a doctor. Long story short, there is a chance I have been exposed to MRSA. It is a story that I will go into another time. So basically, I was an hour from my mom but not allowed to see her. The doctor couldn't confirm I have MRSA but couldn't deny the possibility based on the evidence presented to him. For the next 10 days, I am on high powered antibiotics. I am very upset by all of this for many reasons--not be able to see my mother or my son. I drove down Friday morning and back up Friday night.I am regarded as Patient Zero by family and friends. Even though, technically, I am not Patient Zero--that is someone else. Anyway, to them, I am Patient Zero. I have spent my weekend taking antibiotics, watching tv, reading magazines and figuring out how to handle this situation come Monday. One positive that...

Today was a nice day. D, my co-worker and partner in crime, decided after working some killer overtime last week that we should do something nice. We took a long lunch break and to the mall. Okay, the mall in RR is kind of sad but a consignment type shop has opened there and had winter clothes for a $1. A dollar. I brought a studded black sweatshirt, a jacket, a thick winter jacket and a cropped khaki pants. Then we had a nice lunch at Chick-fil-A. So tonight, I am not writing stories. I reading magazines and newspapers and packing for my trip home. I am being zen. I am eating a homecook meal. Not fast food or food from an event I have covered. Tonight, I am not a reporter. I just girl in jeans with holes, eating peanut butter and chocolate straight from the jar while watching the nightly news and gossip shows. It has never felt so good to be home. Daily Dose 1. Everyone should have a partner in crime. 2. Orange soda makes things okay. 3. Be able to discuss LOST with people who underst...

The last two days have been a blur of activities. I drove home Sunday morning. I saw my son briefly before heading over to my mom's. She has lost a lot of weight and looks so frail. It scares me because the word frail and my mother should never be in the same sentence. My dad and my brother have done a good job as caregivers. But when I took care of my mother, I spoiled her. I may sure she had a newspaper everyday and three meals a day. She pointed all of this out to me. I told her that they have jobs and the time I didn't have a job. She still expressed how nice it is to have me. So after driving four and half hours, visiting with my son and driving an hour to her house, I cooked her a homemade spaghetti dinner. My dad either orders out or puts barbecue on everything he cooks. So I made enough spaghetti for her to eat the next few days. For some reason, my dad hates spaghetti. I have never understood this. How can you not like spaghetti? Today has been interesting. I am writin...

In the last two days, I haven’t slept well last night. I think the stress of my life is starting to get to me. So this morning in a brief break between to events happening at the same time, I stopped and had breakfast. It was just a steak biscuit and orange juice. But I took a moment to just decompress and soak in the atmosphere of Hardees. I am not in the best of moods. But I no longer want the world to end a fiery mess. I am working so much that I feel I am losing pieces of me. When I worked at the Tribune, I let my job consume me. I will not let that happen this time. A balance between work and self will be found. I covered a Women’s Conference today that made me feel better. Actually, the first time I have felt good all week. One of the speakers was from the town where I used to live. Her presentation inspired me to do something with my life. As an adult, it is hard to make friends. It’s not like high school and college where you are in small environment. The real world is large an...

The women in my family have this inner toughness that is hard to describe. We are not the emotional huggy types. If there is an obstacle, we keep going. It is how things were growing up and life in general. You have something bad or tough happen, you take a moment and keep going. This has always been my mantra. My husband’s family has a different mantra of either hugging it out or complaining. But my mother-in-law has the mantra of my family. The point of this is that for the first time I am having a hard time following the mantra. I would prefer to curl up in bed with the covers on my head but there things to do like work and life. After having a ton of tests done, spots of cancer were found throughout my mother’s pelvis. The surgery for her arm has been postponed for 6 weeks so she can undergo radiation. When she told me, I had trouble breathing. She is holding up well considering all she is dealing with and will have to deal with. I couldn't imagine having to have my broken arm ...

I added up my hours for work. Monday and Tuesday, i worked a total of 24 hours. I have given this newspaper 24 freaking hours of my life. I have to admit the last few weeks have not been easy. My ED has reared its ugly head. She knows when things are stressful or sad for that my sheer will to keep an eating routine goes by the wayside. I am going home this weekend where I will pick up my insurance cards. And next week find a therapist and get back on my meds. I have realized now is not the time to be without a safety net. If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere--Unknown A friend once said this to me. She said it kind of summed up life. If life was too easy and comfortable, it probably wouldn't be worth it. I have thought about that quote a lot these days and again. Today, the publisher rewarded the newsroom with pizza from Pizza Hut. I envied my co-workers ease with eating. I ate one slice with on problem. But with the first bite of the second sl...

I survived V-Day. I spent yesterday watching tv and eating pizza and peanut butter oreos in bed. I just couldn't stomach going home and seeing my husband with someone else. The heart can only take but so much. So I watched a marathon of Snapped (where wives and girlfriends kill) and the Olympics. Overall, a great day plus I went to CVS and bought myself a box of chocolates. And they were soooooooo good. I am not down on love or V-Day. I know there is something out there for me. Right now, I just need to figure me out and the rest will come. Today, it was county commissioners along with other stories. I just finished writing two stories and sent them to my boss. While watching my favorite movie, Day After Tomorrow . Jake Gyllenhaal always makes me happy. Plus Hoarders comes on at 10. Overall, I think I am doing well considering I am on no meds or seeing a therapist. And let me tell you meds would be so helpful right now. I have figure out a plan to be a good daughter and mother whil...

Thursday was an interesting and long day. It started with doing many interviews at a high school. It ended with me interviewing a couple who had been married for 60 years. They were so cute and had a great story. Doing recon at a PTA meeting. And finally covering a meeting of a group planning to sue the school system I covered. I got home at 10 p.m. tired. After an hour break, I wrote the story and went to bed at 1 a.m. I woke up early to write another story and to check the weather. Surprise, surprise--more snow in the forecast. I don't think I will ever make it home again until the spring. So I arrived at work in a foul mood. Plus, I am bummed about Valentine's Day. My husband has met someone. So I wasn't really looking forward to go home. I think my co-worker knew this so yesterday after deadline, we went roaming. First to Big Lots to buy V-day candy for the newsroom. Then to Food Lion to find a flower for the design editor. We discovered that Dollar General is closing s...

I love my job. I hate the fact that I work in a petri dish. People are always sick here. I missed out on the bad cases of the flu, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections. But I got the boat to stomach virus USA. I started feeling weird Saturday night but thought nothing of it. During the Super Bowl, I felt like crap. And I'll leave it at that. I went to work on Monday feeling crappy but by 2 p.m., I couldn't take it and went home. By nightfall, the vomiting and etc began. On Tuesday, I called in sick because I was exhausted and just plain feeling bad. I am back at work today. I still feel iffy but there are stories to write and cover. Since Monday, I have eaten applesauce and Ritz crackers. Tonight, I had a chicken breast with baked beans and mashed potatoes from KFC. And it tasted soooooooooo good. So I am getting back to being me. I wish there was some vaccination I could take to work at my newspaper. I guess I just need to eat right, take my vitamins and say my prayers....

I have become a huge fan of the show, Hoarders on A&E. There is something about it. Or it could be with enough time, I could be some of the people on that show. My room here at the Brookwood could give me a entry for the show. So I used the last two days to start the cleaning process. Plus, I don't want the manager to say something to me. It is more of things than being dirty. I keep my dirty clothes in the laundry basket under the bathroom sink in the bathroom. I took some pictures to show the before. It will be awhile before the after pictures are posted because it will take awhile to go through the containers. But I am working at it. My mom meets with the orthopedic surgeon Monday to discuss her arm. I feel guilty for not being able to be there for her. And she understands. Once a date for her surgery is decided, I'll figure out how much time I spend with her after the surgery. I am watching the Super Bowl. Honestly, it's more for the commercials than the games. Foot...

Things are finally returning to what resembles normal around here. I am tired of writing about snow and weather conditions. I am ready to get back to my bread and butter of commissioner and board of education meetings. Last night, I watched the season premiere of Lost. It was awesome, amazing and confusing. For every question answered, more questions popped up in its place. This is going to be an interesting season. I am tired this morning due to staying up to watch Lost and finally finishing that thick Stephen King book. The combination of what I saw and read made for some weird dreams. So I am a little sluggish today. Daily Dose 1. Bread shelves are restocked. 2. I finished the Stephen King book, which was more than a 1,000 pages. 3. For every soda I drink, I have to drink two 16.9 ounce bottles of water. So far, so good.

I am a huge Lost fan. This show had me when that plane crashed on the beach. For five seasons, I have cried, screamed, pulled out my hair and sometimes simply said "What the f---?" Tonight is the beginning of the end. The end of one of the best shows that I have ever watched. For 6th and final season on Tuesday nights, my life will come to a standstill for this show. And Lord help anyone who tries to stop me. I think there is 16-18 episodes left. Questions will be answered I hope. In May, when this show ends, I want to know everything. I want to know what 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 means, what is the smoke monster and statute with the four toes. JJ Abrams and crew hasn't let me down yet so he better not now. And for the first time since I have watched the show, I have found others who watch it at work. Six people to be exact. I am sooooo excited. And thanks to the weather we have had, I don't have to cover one of many town meetings so I will be ready to go at 9 p.m. I am s...

I worked Saturday, which means I am suppose to have Sunday and Monday off. I agreed to come in at lunchtime Monday to help out with the snow coverage. This means I got up at 9 a.m. and had a bowl of cereal. Listen to music as I showered and got dressed. After digging my car out, I slowly headed out into the world to run errands before going to work. Overall, I am in a very good mood today. And no one was going to bring it down. While at the post office, I noticed some fire fighters, some in gear, shoveling snow at the station. I made my slowly across two ice covered parking lots and a road to take their pictures and talk with them. And then made my way back. This was actually quicker than using my car. I took a cool picture of a Navy snowman. Today has been a laid back day. I am trying to get everything done and get home before all that has melted, refreezes. There might be more bad weather on the horizon especially this weekend. I really want to go home this weekend and see my mom and...