Exhibit A: Our scalped backyard

While not a barefoot bastion of St Augustine glory, it was at least green & all the bare spots were beginning to fill in.

I was happy because it meant less mud to be tracked in by the Mooch the next time it rained.

But our custodian had other plans this morning.

Actually, I think he got completely distracted or overcome by the 95% humidity while trying to weed-eat, yes weed-eat, our backyard at 0730 this morning.

I heard the noise. I knew he was out there. But did I look?

No.

I learned the hard way my first summer here that the custodian will come into the backyard at ungodly early hours. And when you’ve just woken, come downstairs in your hubby’s t-shirt & nothing else to throw open the curtains & face the day…let’s just say it can be a little embarrassing.

But look! He nearly took out the whole freakin’ yard. It’s all down to the dirt which will mean mud puddle city for Moo.

The kicker is that’s how he left it.

Yep – I think he finally looked up to see his handiwork & decided to get the hell out of Dodge.

I’m just hoping he doesn’t come back tomorrow to finish killing off our yard.

Eric took one look & said, “Hey – when did we get a relief map in our backyard?”

But the more I look at it, the more it looks like they’re putting a Putt-Putt in our backyard. We just need little flags & the spinning windmill.

Exhibit B: Our whacked-off fence line

Because having a backyard is a rarity around here, we’ve all been making the most of it: growing tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, etc.

And the running joke has been, “If it grows on my side of the fence, it’s mine.”

So I was really looking forward to the free pumpkin or two I was gonna get from Cynthia. ; )

The vine had already started making it’s way down my side of the fence with a couple of nice big blossoms.

But look at it! Chopped! Straddling the tops of the bushes.

Since then I’ve been considering international pumpkin theft, but seeing as how I’d be snatching it from an MP’s backyard…I better be a) very sneaky, b) very lucky or c) very stupid to attempt a great pumpkin heist.

MP – Military Police: That would be the very nice man with the very big gun that lives next door.

Exhibit C: Our beheaded apricot tree

One day a few weeks back I walked out into the yard to discover our lovely shade tree had been butchered for no apparent reason.

I didn’t ask them to do it. It wasn’t crowding any power lines. And it was great at obscuring the view of the screaming kids in the day care across the field.

There was no warning – no convening court to determine it’s fate…he just linched it in broad daylight.

[sigh]

Just when I was beginning to enjoy our backyard.

Yeah, I know I need to do something about the headaches but I’m not exactly sure what.

Trying to get home & get seen by a doctor or two there is a lot of money & a ton of logistics.

If I go outside the Army network I’ll be paying full price out of pocket. And trying to get seen by a different Army doc when I’m not stationed there…believe me, it’s a nightmare. Been there, done that.

I’m always told I have to go see my primary care doctor because they can’t even attempt to input me into their system.

Plus, I always jokingly-but-not-really-jokingly tell Eric if I was to go back home for a visit I’m not sure I could get back on that airplane when the time came to head back.

And maybe I’m just looking at things fatalistically, but really…what is any doctor going to do about 8 lesions in my head?

They won’t operate (which I don’t want anyway, knock-on-wood). They can’t prescribe any medication to make them go away. They can’t even figure out what it is I have in the first place.

It’s just a headache. It’s not debilitating – it’s just annoying as Hell.

But I promise to think on it some more.

[excuse me while I let my drawl come out]

Aunt Terri
Thank you so much for always kickin’ my butt & making me smile. : ) I’m tryin’ to hold on to my humor – for the moment, it’s all I got. But I am gettin’ some odd looks when it comes out…but I stop & think, ‘my Aunt Terri would laugh her butt off at that one!’

At the moment, it does not look hereditary. Just an odd luck of the draw for me.

I’ve thought about contacting my old doc from back home…but this really isn’t his field. He’s a family practice doc. Ironically, what stopped my Neurologist & made him a little more personable was the fact that he used to have a Bullmastiff. His whole demeanor shifted as we talked dogs.

And yes…tryin’ to take it slower. Made myself take a nap this afternoon…got a whole whoppin’ 30 minutes before someone rang the bell & Libby had a fit.

[now leaving my Texas accent - from here forward words will actually in with 'g']

H-Girl
Thanks for the cyber hug. The Neurologist actually gave me his office number – so I didn’t have to ask. (A good sign.) And yeah, lots of people have been asking about getting a second opinion. But seeing as how he’s the only Army Neurologist in the country, I’m not so sure how possible it is. I would need to find out if Tricare (our military insurance) would allow me to see an Air Force doc – if they have one. I’m not sure they do, though.

Tee & Sondi
Thanks so much for all the words of encouragement. It’s very much appreciated. The good news is that the Neurologist prescribed me pills for my blood pressure. And yeah, he wasn’t so sure that the blood pressure isn’t somehow connected.

Lone Star Queen
Thanks for the thoughts from home. I’ve been enjoying reading your posts about Fort Worth history. All the images of the stockyards make me a bit homesick. Have you ever eaten at the Lone Star Cafe’? Not sure if they’re still open or not – but a great dive for a great steak.

Gen
Well, the reason (at least my educated guess) why Asian’s don’t really have big gyms – they don’t need them. For the folks in the countryside, they’re getting their exercise through farming. For the folks in the city, they have outdoor equipment.

And yep, the migraine marathon finally ended. I still get flare-ups, for lack of a better word, every now & then. But nothing like the pain before.

I saw the trailer for Hachiko. I read the background story & it sounds like a great movie. But I just can’t do it. I can’t do animal movies – especially dogs. The inevitable loss at the end of the movie just kills me. I mean, really kills me. Weighs on me for days. So, no…no Marley & Me, no Where the Red Fern Grows. But Libby is a Jindo – or a Jindo mix. They’re in the same line as Akitas, but smaller.

Amy
Hey Girl! Long time, no talk! Thank you SO much for thinking of me. I’ve been thinking of Williamsburg a lot lately. It was always so pretty in the spring. And please thank your church for praying for me, too.

Scott
Ok, so I take what I said to my Aunt Terri back. I know YOU would get my humor. ; )

I did ask if there was anything preventative I could be doing…nope, nothing. But I’m going to the gym – so at the very least, my blood pressure will be better.

Val
Thanks so much for keeping me in your thoughts. If it turns out to be sarcoidosis, I may be asking you lots of questions. But I’m glad to hear it’s manageable.

Ethel
Hi! Welcome!…And thank you for the prayers. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog. At the moment it’s my sanity release, but hopefully when things start to warm up I’ll be getting out more, taking more pictures & sharing more about life in Korea.

Sandra
I know Cynthia’s been keeping you in the loop. The doc gave me some blood pressure pills that, yes, I’ve been taking. The blood work the flight doc ran back at Hump included a thyroid panel. Turns out I have high blood pressure, a low thyroid & ‘some-ting’ in my brain. So yeah…basically I’m falling apart. Would it be ok if I emailed you about the blood work tests as they start to come in?

Matthew
Hello to you, too! Red Cloud, huh?…Yeah – I imagine there’s a LOT less to do up in Area I. Is there a shuttle that runs down to Yongsan or Osan or Humphreys that you can hop on the weekend just to get out?

Yeah…it’s nice to be married, but only when you find the right one. Can’t tell you how many guys I over-hear complaining about wives left at home who’ve either spent all their money, are off cheating on them or both.

Hang in there. You officially make male number 4 who reads the blog. Whoo hoo!…Movin’ up in the world. 

Reilly’s Mom

Thanks so much for sharing your son’s condition. I can only imagine the struggle you went through in those early years – the fear, the uncertainty – especially at such a young age. But I’m so glad to hear he’s a happy, relatively healthy teenager with the best medical care available to him. I know what a relief it is to have doctors you trust. I will continue to be strong – at this point, it’s the only thing I know to do.

Debbie

Thank you for thinking of my mom & keeping her in your prayers, too. I’ve not yet been able to contact her, but I’ve got the phone card recharged & will try to get a hold of her tomorrow morning, my time. Saturday night for yall.

Nancy

Hi, Nancy – I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the blog! I sometimes wonder how I must come across on this thing. I tend to write later at night when I’m more tired, more mellow…and sometimes that doesn’t make the best first impression…or the most sense. But thanks so much for commenting – I’m happy to meet another military wife! Even if you’re now retired & living the civilian life. ; )

Alicia

I laughed at your comment & I needed that. So thanks for the chuckle! I try to write more “family-friendly”, but that’s not always what I’m thinking – and you pretty much nailed it.

Sarah

Thank you. And by the way, Maggie is very appreciative to know she still has a fan club out there. She’s been feeling pretty jealous these last few weeks & I’ve been meaning to write a post or two about her. But as always…something else seems to come up first.

Tee

Unfortunately, that’s the hard part – not worrying. I can only go for so long & then it pops back up. But if you know a trick, I’ll take it.

Gen

Thank you SO much for understanding the ‘you’ll be fine’ bit. If I was to ever break down & write up my top 10 pet peeves, that would be number 1. And yeah…in an odd, off-color & completely disturbing way…“yoo have some-ting in yoor brain” was pretty funny the second time I said it out loud. Telling Eric the first time – not so funny. But that will be one of those memories that will stay with me forever & will always make me laugh at the thought of it. I’m weird that way – just one of those people who make light of things when it hits the fan.