"I've Had It Rough, Before! I'm A Barracuda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      I guess I really am , girls, because I came through the heart ablation  procedure, with  flying colors.  So I am told.

                                       But it was surreal.  David and I actually walking into the hospital  at NYU at 5:30 in  the morning, like  Garland or Crawford reporting for work at Metro.   Then, in the procedure area, I was treated as if at a casting call, when  a  man named Phil  called  out  names,  and had us line  up.   What was this, an audition?  "A Chorus Line?"  I  mean, my role was operation  patient.  I already had the part.

                                        I was settled  into  a curtained cubicle, with David  following. I had  to undress, get in a gown,  and onto a stretcher.  The  guy named Phil, actually shaved me--down there!!!!!!!, my first  time  ever!--but would you believe he did NOT give me a wax job?  I thought that was standing procedure in shavings.  I was given a hair  net to wear,  to keep my hair beautiful, so that, at least I  did not look like  the  guy who is the Operation game  board.  By the way,  I am still waiting for someone to send  me a dozen  roses, and a gift  card to Sally Hershberger!

                                            The table  I  laid  on was warm,  the  room  cool, which helped put me  in a relaxed state, which I needed, because there was a lot of prep, things I had  to  be hooked up to, before  I was put under.  Mentally, I was screaming,  "Put  me  under, already!"  Then, when  I  felt I was starting  to have some  sort of dream, I saw Linda, my main nurse, and asked her when we would start.  She said, "We are all done!"  Wow!  My  physician, Doctor Anthony Aizer, said I did  very well.  I was wheeled back  to the cubicle, and there was my beloved David!!!!!!!!!!!!  My throat felt ragged, as a tube was down  it, so it may be awhile before I start singing "Frank Mills."  I also,  understandably felt weak, because I had been through something.  I  had  lay still  for  about two hours, which,  considering how I felt, turned  out  to be easier  than I thought.  Finally, I was walked around, and allowed to walk  around, and finally urinate, which I did a lot that day, October 15, as they were  putting fluids in me during the procedure,  so  I  would not dehydrate.   I am happy to report that, as of this morning, October 17, my urination  is  normal, for me, and  I had a bowel movement!  These are the kinds of things I worry about obsessively.

                                              Coming down from the anaesthesia cost me a day of reading, but yesterday, I went back to that, with flying colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             As I said elsewhere, the  15th was the  Feast Day Of  St. Teresa Of  Avila, aka "The Little Flower Of Jesus."  I felt she,  Bernadette, Jacinta, Chloe, and all my animal friends were in that room with me, watching over  me.  And, as a special surprise, David revealed,  afterwards, that our  beloved Baby  Gojira, complete  with his nurse's outfit, had come along, in  my Diane Von Furstenberg reticule  bag!  He insisted, and I am  sure he saw things were followed to the max.   Our  little stuffed pet loves to micro-manage!

                                               Aside from those already mentioned,  I want  to thank Dr. Aizer, again, as well as nurses  Linda and Stephanie, nurse practitioner Chris,  and everyone on the NYU team who  were so nice and helpful, and  without whose brilliance and temperaments I  could never hade made  it  through.

                                               As  to you, Phil,  I will never forget my first shave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               I AM  a barracuda, so watch out,  girls!

                                              Like Scarlett, who was as Irish as  I am, we survive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  

Support Your Local Bookstore, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     This is Greenlight Bookstore, in Brooklyn, not that far from BAM, which is where I always go, when I am in that area.  It is beautifully laid out,  great selections, the staff is friendly, and it is owned by Jessica, whom  I knew, back when she worked at Three Lives, in the Village.  It was always her dream  to open her own bookstore, and this is it.

                                        Bookstores are problematic in any  time  period,  but  especially during a pandemic.  Let's face it, as the quality of technology has increased in our society, so has the quality of literacy decreased. People say they have no time for reading, but there is always an hour after dinner, standing  in line  for a movie, when such a thing was possible,  waiting in a doctor's office, now the most popular social activity  of the day.  And bookstores.

                                          Those of us who read,  are a rare breed. But  we are out  there, and we  need local bookstores,  to give us  the high of  being in  one, the sight of  all  those volumes, and our immediate  gratification  in  picking  out  our own  selections, and walking  out  with them, so that, if we  wish,  we can  begin reading  as soon as we get on the subway train.

                                            Amazon is all right,  in a pinch!  But  all  that waiting--to hell  with it!

                                            Books have kept me sane. If the stores go under, I may end up in  the nut house,  hooked on  dolls, like Neely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            "I am NOT nuts!  I am just hooked on dolls!"

                                             Save me, darlings!  Support your  local bookstore!

Has Amy Coney Barrett Even Seen "The Song Of Bernadette????????????"

                                    I mean, what kind of a person has, for a middle name, the first half an amusement park--Coney Island?  You have to wonder about that one, dolls!  Maybe some  kind of family name, or something?

                                     And she has the nerve to call herself a Catholic!  Not that I am a saint, or anything--far from  it!   But, has she seen "The Song Of Bernadette?"  One cannot call themselves a Catholic, not having seen it, and, you know me, I think every American Catholic should be required to see it.

                                     This question needs to be asked of Amy before any of the others!

                                     Just who does she think she is, anyway?????????????????????

Tomorrow Is The Feast Day Of Saint Teresa Of Avila, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       When I was scheduled for my heart ablation procedure, ten days before, and we settled on October 15, something about the day's importance registered in my head.  Imagine my surprise and joy to discover it is the Feast Day Of Saint Teresa Of Avila, otherwise known as the "Little Flower Of Jesus."

                                        How fortuitous.  But wait, it gets better.  Because I may not be a hagiographer, but I discovered she suffered from epilepsy, as do I, though treated for decades.  She is also patron of sickness, and those who question religious authority.  Sounds like my kind of gal/saint!

                                          So, help me, Saint Teresa, get through this experience, which, while I am doing it for myself, I am also doing it for David, and everyone I hold near and dear, human or animal.

                                            I am even thinking forward, planning a post procedure posting on here.

                                            Till then, girls, keep me in your thoughts.

                                             Go, Saint Teresa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have A "Karen" Halloween, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Come on, dolls! You knew this was inevitable.  With the "Karen" (meaning all those behavioral "Karens," not the ones named such) as the unofficial Bitch Of The Year, it should be no surprise to anyone, lest of all myself, that a "Karen" Halloween mask would arrive!

                                         For one day, October 31, nice people can release their Inner Bitch!  And isn't she scary, loves?  I am telling you, she makes Mrs. Voorhees from "Friday The 13th" look like a glamour queen!!!!!!!!!!!  Those who have always wondered what it might be like to be a "Karen," or to get into that mindset, now have a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            But wait!  The "Karen" impersonation would  not be complete without a "Karen" t-shirt, and this one, darlings, is just perfect!  It will complete your Halloween ensemble!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Happy Halloween, all you "Karens!!!!!!!!"

                                              But be prepared to hear, along the way--

                                               "Bitch, shut the fuck up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Time To Welcome A New Reader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            I see by the follower indicator that I am at113 followers, so I want to bid our new reader, whose name I do not know, a warm and gracious welcome.  I am glad you found your way here, and hope you find things here informative, and entertaining.  Remember, this blog goes great with coffee.  A cup is never far from me, when I am writing.

                                             Please feel free to comment here anytime; I answer all.  Would love to know how you found your way here.

                                             So, a big welcome, everyone, to our newest reader.

                                             As always, initiation comes with the blog's unofficial theme song.

                                         Here is Deborah Harry, singing "Call Me!"

                                         Welcome, and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 

How Many Crossroads Do I Have To Make??????????? Because I Want To Cross Several More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          When I was in fifth grade, during the 1965-66 school year, I loved the "Doctor Dolittle" books, by Hugh Lofting.  There happened to be a collection of them in my classroom library, and I devoured every one.  The only one I never got to read was "Doctor Dolittle In The Moon," which intrigued me because of the title, and Lofting's use of the preposition "in," rather than "on."

                                            In 1967, Twentieth Century-Fox released what turned out to be a disastrous movie adaptation of the Lofting stories, under the title "Doctor Dolittle," featuring a miscast Rex Harrison.  It was actually nominated for Best Picture Of 1967, losing out to "In The Heat Of The Night," alongside "Bonnie And Clyde" and "The Graduate."  Can you imagine?

                                              I still have never gotten round to seeing the movie "Doctor Dolittle."  But I did own the soundtrack album at the time, and the Leslie Bricusse  score was not that bad.  After all, "Talk To The Animals" took home the Best Song Oscar that year.  But the song that haunted me, then, and haunts me now, is a song called "At The Crossroads," sung by Samantha Eggar early in the film, judging by the album tracks.  She was dubbed by some obscure singer named Diane Lee.  

                                            Here is a portion of how it goes--

                                            "Here I stand, at the crossroads of life.

                                              Childhood behind me, the future to come.

                                              All alone.

                                              Nothing planned, at the crossroads of life,

                                              But life may find me more grateful than some.

                                              Grateful to have seen, all the wonderful things I've seen............"

                                              That last line is most telling, girls, for, I too, feel the same way.  And though I plan to go into this procedure with the determination of Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, and survive, I think of what I am grateful for--

                                                1. My beloved, David.

                                                2. My parents, grandparents, sister, and her children.

                                                3. My mother living long enough to see me graduate from college.

                                                4. All the friends, human and animal, in my life.

                                                5. The movie, "The Wizard Of Oz."

                                                6.  Ditto "Gone With The Wind," "The Song Of Bernadette," "The Sound 

                                                       Of Music," "Doctor Zhivago," and "Nashville."

                                                 7.  Thanks to authors Harper Lee, Truman Capote, Carson McCullers,

                                                        and countless others, for guiding and inspiring me.

                                                 8.  For having the privilege of having seen the Original Casts Of "A

                                                      Chorus Line," and "Runaways."  Special thanks to Donna McKechnie 

                                                      and Trini Alvarado.

                                                  9. Shelley Plimpton, for introducing "Frank Mills."

                                               10.  Last, and always, Baby Mouse, who got me through adolescence!

                                                 I will return, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          With gratitude to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!