One of the first places we visited today was St. Charles - 18th century church with a large cupola (dome thingie).  It's currently undergoing restoration and the scaffolding goes all the way up to the top.  You can take a glass elevator half-way up which gives you a beautiful view of all the decor and pipe-organ.  Once on that platform, you can ( Read more... )

Once I landed in Budapest I caught a shuttle to the hotel and checked in.  Called my mom.  "Come home."  Oh dear, what has happened.  Apparently the surgeon (whose services were no longer needed anyhow since the blockage was cleared) came by for a consult (probably so he could bill it) and freaked my mom the fuck out and asked her if "anyone had ( Read more... )

Budapest highlights: Vajdahunyad castle, Opera house, Parliament, Fisherman's bastion, Matthias church and the Citadel

Nightlife Tour $49+ dinner included
http://www.viator.com/tours/Budapest/Budapest-Nightlife-Tour-with-Dinner-and-Drinks/d499-2336BUDNIGHT

Danube River Cruise dinner $25+
http://www.viator.com/tours/Budapest/Budapest-Danube-River- ( Read more... )

As anticipated, it was the drive from hell through the storm during rush hour.  I left at 7:45 and got her to her appointment just short of 10:00.  Of course, the doctor was running an hour behind.  I'm glad I was sitting in, because my mom was being very evasive and I had to prompt her on a lot of her issues.  For instance, the doctor asked when ( Read more... )

There is no telling how much money my fortitude has saved me.  I swear, this embroidery machine really tries my patience.  But somehow - I always manage to get it running again.  Usually after I've walked away from it for a day or so.  This time it was the computer not recognizing the disk drive.  It's done this before, and I was able to just re- ( Read more... )

Went to visit my mom. Nothing new to report.  They may transfer her to the med center so we had to move her car.  Dudley drove the Mazda home so I could take her car.  The car she vomited in yesterday.  So first stop was the pharmacy.

Dudley:  Is it okay to use Febreze with Bleach?
Me:  I'm willing to risk

Oh man, the stench. So I drove home with the ( Read more... )

After getting my monthly allergy shot, I came home and passed out for an hour.  I woke up to three voicemails from my mom, crying, saying she had Uterine cancer, was being admitted to the hospital, and would I go get her dog.  All she says is that the hospital is off 290.  So I tell Dudley to throw on some shoes, and we'd figure out which hospital ( Read more... )

My jacket is 99.9% done - just adding "stuff" onto it ( Read more... )

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Some days I'm really tired of Houston.  My mom's parents had this beautiful home in the foothills of Mt. Shasta in Northern California.  Breathtaking.  The weather was so gorgeous in the summer and they had an apple tree (with a swing for me) and a little vegetable garden in back.  The last time I was there I was 10.  They passed away when I was in ( Read more... )