Home > Chewin' the Fat > Archives > 2008 > May
May 2008
I want a cruiser
Like flat screen TVs, everyone I know is now getting an Electra Cruiser bike while I’m trapped in the rearview mirror with my mountain bike that, at one point not too long ago, was the coolest thing on our block.
Now, the coolest thing on our block is Kelley’s new bike. Her old bike, a Trek mountain bike, was purchased when a gallon of gas was hovering around a buck. So, it was time for a new one. Last year about this time, I dropped five bills on a brand new Diamond Back mountain bike with all the fixings. Until last Friday, my bike ranked supreme in our garage.
When Kelley said she wanted to buy a cruiser, I didn’t know what she was talking about until she mentioned it was similar to the bike our friend Robin got two years ago. Fast-forward two years later - Kelley buys her first cruiser - an Electra Betty 3 series. Check it out:
When we went to order it from Brown Cycles, Kelley was like a kid in a candy store. She detailed it down to the pink tires, basket and bell. We paid for it and were told to expect it in about a week.
Last Friday, we got the call her bike was ready and Kelley was at the edge of her seat. We walked into Brown Cycles, past the sea of bikes and there it was - her glossy new black bike with pink flames. Kelley’s ear-to-ear grin was permanent and before I knew it, she had ditched her purse and was on her way out the front door for a test ride.
We rode and rode and rode our bikes this weekend in Palisade and in town. We are both riding them to work and not only because you now have to take out a loan to fill up with gas. And now, Kelley’s bike is way cooler than mine. There’s rumor of an all-chic cruiser gang forming between Kelley and her friends.
Unlike the flat screen TV I’ve wanted for about 37 years now, I intend on getting a cruiser. I already have one picked out:
Hopefully the cruiser-gang will let me join their posse. Hell, they probably have a flat screen in the clubhouse.
…
An update on Buddy.
To my relief, he is going to be OK. His tests came back normal, although he’ll have to be on thyroid medicine for the rest of his life. He did have a low calcium blood count, but it turned out not to be as serious as first thought.
A lot of people have been asking me about Buddy and many knows how important that big ball of fuzz is to me, so thank you.
…
And one last note - I kicked my moms butt in rummy this weekend and she was the one throwing the fits this time. Final score: a lot to a little.
Redemption is a sweet thing!
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I don’t have the patience …
My wife often suggests I try being more patient in certain situations, especially when we are out in public. Does this mean I need to be patient when:
Some lamebrain in front of me at a stoplight doesn’t recognize the light turned green 25 seconds ago because he or she is gabbing on the phone.
When I write a check at the grocery store only to have the clerk ask “Is your last name really Husband?” or “Husband, huh. Where’s your wife?” or “Is your wife’s last name wife?”
When we’re walking through the mall and every salesperson working at those booths try to sell me a cell-phone cover, some kind of miracle lotion for your face, elbows and feet, crocs in every color imaginable or some kind of device that plugs into your car radio and works as a phone.
When those same salespeople won’t take “No thank you,” “NO!” or the look of grave danger as a sign that maybe I have no interest in what they’re selling.
When I’m buying a pair of shoes and the guy behind the counter asks me to join his super-duper special shoe-buyers club and smirks at me when I say “no thank you,” or says “you should really consider this great deal,” as if its a winning lottery ticket when its just a scheme to benefit the store and not the customer.
When I’m the only one standing at the deli at a grocery store and there are three clerks behind the counter talking about the “rad” part they were at last night instead of helping me.
When I finally ask one of the three “rad” clerks to help me and they all give me a look as if I asked all of them to break off their arms and run them through the meat grinder.
- When my wife and I go see a movie and, of course, the other 17 people in the theater mistakes the quiet atmosphere for social hour.
Sitting at the doctor’s office for two hours only to have the doctor shine a light my ear, write me a prescription and tells me all is well.
When my mother wipes the floor with me in a game of rummy while my wife is laughing and making fun of me.
I know, patience is a virtue, blah, blah, blah. But there are limits to everything and when that line is crossed; it’s on like Donkey Kong!
Sorry honey. I’ll work on being more patient in trying times like these … except for those salespeople in the mall who can’t take no for an answer. Maybe I’ll bring some eggs with me next time…
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Praying my dog is OK
What was assumed to be a routine check up with my dog, Buddy, has twisted into one hell of a nightmare for me.
I took Buddy in Thursday for his annual shots and explained to his veterinarian about Buddy’s recent anxiety issues. Part lab, Buddy has a tendency to sometimes be nervous in his surrounding. The veterinarian told me this was common for dogs of Buddy’s breed. However, he did suggest blood tests to check his thyroid level or for hypothyroidism, which is a disorder in which the thyroid gland (two small lobes located in the neck ) secretes insufficient thyroid hormone.
I noticed Buddy’s anxiety issues a couple of weeks ago when he wouldn’t eat his food in front of Kelley or me. It was almost as if he was worried or felt as if he was being punished. The main alarm I had was his demeanor. He almost seemed depressed at times or inactive. Buddy gets tons of exercise. But even on our walks and runs he seemed lethargic, or just not interested.
So aside from his annual shots and tests, Buddy’s veterinarian told me he was pretty sure from what I was telling him about Buddy’s anxiety it was a thyroid issue. I started to get emotional, but then the doctor explained it to me and assured me if it indeed was he thought it was it was very treatable.
I left feeling better about the situation while the tests were being completed. An hour or so later, Buddy’s veterinarian called me with the news. The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response test, which measures thyroid-hormone levels in the dog’s blood came back low. In addition, Buddy showed signs of having a low blood calcium level.
The veterinarian explained to me he wanted to take X-rays of Buddy’s chest and check for any tumors, which is often a concern with such test reults. At this point, I heard nothing else and my heart dropped. Although he told me he thought the possibility of tumors were slim, he couldn’t assure me until we saw the negatives. Regarding the low blood calcium level, he told me that could be a sign of troubled kidneys. A simple urine test will tell me more, but again, he didn’t think this was a sign of kidney problems, just something that needs to addressed now.
Although Buddy’s veterinarian told me he thought things were going to be OK, I have been a ball of stress sense and my mind can only process “what if my dog is sick?” I’ve done a lot of research since talking to the veterinarian just so I could understand what I’m dealing with. It would be easy for me to say to myself and everyone around me that Buddy is going to be OK, but in reality, as well as I know my dog, I’m not an expert and won’t know for sure until I hear all the test results. I need to be prepared for the best or the worst - I need to be honest with myself that there’s a possibility my dog may be sick.
I’m scared, nervous and incredibly sad. Buddy is my buddy and has been by my side through some rough times. He knows when I am down and often walks up to and sits next to me as if to say, “Daddy, it’s going to be OK.”
I wish to God I could give Buddy the same reassurance right now, but I can’t. I can only hope and pray he is going to be OK.
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I was dead wrong
On Monday, I predicted Syesha would be voted off American Idol this week. But, after last night’s horrific performance from wanna-be Jason Castro, I’d like to take a mulligan and try this again.
For the life of me, I can’t think of why I was pulling for Jason. Honestly, he sucked and has sucked for the last two weeks. After destroying a Bob Marley’s classic then missing lines to one of Bob Dylan’s signature songs, I was amazed he made it this far and Michael Johns was voted off weeks ago.
I’m out of mulligans. Hopefully I didn’t totally blow my survivor prediction.
…
Here are some entertaining pics from the ‘ol Husband family tree.
My niece, Emma Drew, all scratched up.
For the love of God, someone please play with me.
This potty chair once belonged to my mother-in-law. Now, its a flower pot.
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I have to admit …
… I am addicted to American Idol and Survivor.
I once shouted from the rooftops I would never, ever watch reality television. I swore I would rather observe the grass grow, the pant dry or view the life cycles of a weed before I watched reality TV. I invested greater delight in reading, going for a run, walking my dog or doing whatever else in the world there was to do than convene in front of the television and waste my time with such nonsense.
My tune on reality television has since taken a complete 180.
I still consider most of reality television dense and a waste of time, but Idol and Survivor, as my mom, wife and many friends have told me in the past, are two shows that raise the bar for reality TV and isn’t like most reality TV. For instance, my wife and most of her friends like Rock of Love with Posion frontman Bret Michaels. His quest to find true love from a slew of women who scream, spit and punch each other is in my mind as ridiculous as his fake hair - this is my idea of a waste of time.
Whew! temporarily sidetracked.
Back to two really good reality shows. I began watching Idol last year with my wife. It took awhile to get into it, but I ended up liking it and was pulling for Jordan Sparks. After the show ended last year, I remember watching a bit on CNN suggesting there was nowhere else for the show to go. Even though I didn’t watch the first six seasons, I think this has been the best season yet simply because of the talent alone. I was stunned last week when Brooke was voted off. I agree her first song was horrible, but her second “I am I said,” I thought was awesome. Take a look.
In my opinion I think David Cook could stop singing now and walk away with the title.
This week’s Idol prediction: As much as I can’t stand Jason Castro, I think Syesha will be the next one dropping tears on stage.
Survivor, I have to say, I never thought I would watch. My mother has been tied to that show since day 1. She’s been telling me for years to give it a try. My wife and mother were glued to it last year and because it comes on before The Office on Thursday nights and my wife practically begged me to watch with her I gave it a try. I was drawn in.
This show is real and challenges competitors against the ultimate tests - skills and trust. Right now, it’s not so much a matter of skill as it is trust, which both Jason and Ozzy learned in the past. And thank God someone finally played the hidden immunity idol last week. Good for Amanda. I was bummed to see James go due to injury, but even more bummed that I have to sit and listen to Natalie foam at the mouth about how she wants to demolish the men and rank supreme or the fact Parvati has yet to be slapped.
This week’s Survivor prediction: Erik wins immunity again which could hurt Amanda, but I think Natalie is a goner.
There you have it. I’m glued to Idol and Survivor - as well as Hell’s Kitchen - with no shame. I can’t wait for The Shield to start, but until it does, I’ll settle for these shows to hold me over.
