Southern-ness, that repulsive?...

Last night John and I went to see a play, Tryst. It was a small theater and we were on the front row. During intermission, I stood up, facing him and we were talking. I was a bit tired of sitting, so I decided to stand. So, as we are talking and laughing, as we always do, the woman two seats over from John starts telling me to hush. She said that she didn't need/want to hear my conversation. I said excuse me? I couldn't believe how rude she was. She didn't ask nicely, which btw, still would have made me mad, she was just rude, no manners at all. John turned to her and said, I'm deaf so she has to talk to me like this. LOL Now, honestly I have no clue that my voice carries that much, but obviously it does. But either way, this was intermission and the entire theater had people up, talking, laughing and being loud. It wasn't like I was the only one. I told her she didn't need to be so bitter. She of course didn't look me in the eye after that.

So, after the play, John and I were talking about it and he and I both feel that she wasn't annoyed by the volume, she was really annoyed by the accent. This of course isn't the first time that's happened to me. I am told that I have an accent, but I of course, can't hear it. I don't see how it's so bad. I don't care for a lot of the accents around the world, but I would never tell someone to be quiet because of it. It's called acceptance.

Oh, John also said that he thought she thought she could intimidate me, you know, dumb southerner and all that. When she didn't and I answered back, that's when she wouldn't look at me.

I told John I wanted to stand up on the stage and tell the whole audience that they had to quiet down because the princess in the front row needed it quiet. I really would have done that, some of you know that, but I didn't.

The whole thing just burned me up. Prejudices come in all forms, right?!

Since moving here, I've actually had someone say to me, "I have a southern friend." You know, like I have a gay friend or I have a black friend or a Mexican friend. Never have I felt so much like a minority! LOL

F*CK!!!!!...

So, the other night, I'm at dinner with Erika and Paul and I asked them, how many times in a day do you think you hear the F-word? Growing up how I did, I NEVER heard it unless it was a "bad" person or on the movies or something. Well, now, living here in the city, honestly, I hear it so much, I'm immune to it. I never even think about it really. When Mint, Rach and I went to the movies the other night we got there early and I was listening to lots of convos around me. It hit me after a few minutes how many times, in that little amount of time, that word was used. It was in almost every conversation from old people to teenagers.

It's totally cultural around here. I'm not saying that to be critical, it's just a fact. People in this city, and maybe others, but I know NYC for sure, just use this word like it's an every day word. I know for sure that my mouth has become more "potty" since moving here. It's a casualty of living here. When I go home to Jacksonville, I never EVER say those words and here, I don't think about it, they just come out. So, yes, in part of my brain, I know I'm saying them and can stop, but for whatever reason, I don't. It's not a "cool" factor either, it's just a thing. BUT, when I'm home with the units, yeah, not even an issue. Although when I was home last time, I did say something about the freaking this or that. I used freaking, but the reverend caught on real quick and we had a discussion about it! LOL, Yeah, I felt as though I had traveled back in time and I was 15 again!

So, what do you think? Is it cultural, is it all about the "cool" factor or what?

Peal update...

I went to see her last Tuesday and she was doing so much better. She was going to a dinner that night, honoring her. She was so excited and very glad to see me too. We walked around the building and she talked to everyone that came by. She's just something else. I swear, in a way, she and I are just alike. I don't know that she has ever met a stranger.

They did a write up on her in the Downtown Express, check it out. How cute is she?


I went to see her yesterday too. She was running around, as best she can, giving orders and so I got the job of cooking her some noodles! It seems that the pain meds they have given her are like a miracle drug. They had to stop the chemo because it was messing with her white blood cells, but they are trying this new pain medication on her. Ever since they gave this to her, she is more mobile, alert and not in as much pain. She's so very happy to have it. It's not taking the cancer away, of course, but it's allowing her to live her life better. She's still not doing what she did before, but she's at least out of the bed.

March wrap-up

So, February ended with a bang, well, it was supposed to. I went out with Erika and Kym for Fat Tuesday but we went to two seperate places and they were both so croweded, we ended up having Puerto Rican food. It was good, but not what I envisioned for Fat Tuesday.

Went to a going away party for Gerald and Carl, the food FABULOUS, the view, FABULOUS! OMG, this apartment was off the chain. The view from their bedroom, guest room and dinning room, the Empire State building and no, you didn't have to strain to see it. It was right there. We went for a look off the roof, AMAZING! It was just beautiful, cold as all get out, but beautiful.

Been doing a lot of dinners with friends. Rach, Mint and I seem to gravitate to BBQ's no matter what. LOL, we've eaten there so many times, but we love it.

Got my taxes done, yippee! Not! How can I owe the government that much money? It's so not right.

Went to dinner at an Italian Place, very similar to Patsy's, so good. There were like 10 of us that went, total blast and LOADS of laughs.

Family nights are going strong. P, T, E, and I try to get together at least once a week. We usually go to P&T 's house and we end up playing scrabble, yeah, I suck at it. I lost again this week and let's not even get started on the Farkle game, I lost by so much, it was almost an art.

T, E and I went shopping on 8th Street, shoe heaven, and T got the coolest boots. E got her hair did! LOL We ate at Johnny Rockets, I LOVE that place.

Went to the movies and dinner with my Bryon, we saw King Kong, we hadn't seen it and wanted to see it on the big screen. It was good, but so long.

Hung out with Wendy and Mint one night, total blast at Peculiar.

For St. Patrick's day, we had plans to go to some place in Lower Manhattan, we ended up at Foxhounds, which was great with me. Great time had by all. Luck of the Irish to ya!

Went to Bubby's for breakfast with P, T and their friends and it was so yum! Sitting a table over from us, John Stewart! Yep, Mr. I hosted the Oscars!

Peter had a recital at his apartment and oh was it good. He and two other pianists played and they were wonderful. We had about 25 there and the food, music and fellowship were just wonderful. Went to Ramon's after, his view, the Chysler Building! Dang it, I want that! LOL

Had to go meet Daniel one day and I was so late. I had gotten the wrong street and was so lost. Finally found out where I needed to be and as I'm walking down to mee him, yep, there filming a movie, George Clooney! OMG, he is just YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY! He's just hot.

Went to see Thank You For Smoking, great movie. Critics didn't like it, but I sure did. I laughed so much, it's so funny and true in and sad way. Kind of an eye opener for sure.

Also saw Final Destination 3, SUCKED! Do not waste your time. *note to self, Mint and Rach do not pick the movie ever again! Went from Bubba Gump, such a great meal to a sucky movie.

Monday...

I went to see Pearl on Monday. She seemed a bit better than she did on Sunday, but she was still very weak. When I got there, a lady was there talking with her about her meds, so I didn't stay long at all. I hugged her, talked to her for about 5 mintues and then left. I was on my lunch break, so I couldn't stay as long as I wanted to anyway.

I called today and she was sleeping, she's doing that a lot lately. The aide said she would pass my message along to her, I hope she really does. I don't want Pearl to think I'm not checking on her.

I'm dealing with some allergy/cold stuff so I'm afraid to go over to see her, the last thing she would need is me getting her sick.

Hospice...

I went to see Pearl today after church. She was in bed and not able to talk much at all. I hugged her and she just hugged me as tight as she could. She told me they have called Hospice in. I'm not sure how much time they have given her, but it's not going to be long at all. She told me that she's ready for it to be over.

To see this vibrant person turned into this shell of what she once was is very hard.

I told her I would come by every day, if for nothing else but to just hug her. She said she wanted that so much.

Pearl...

My friend Pearl is 91. I met her a few years ago when I started volunteering for the Hallmark. She was fiesty and independent and funny and sweet and just a joy to be around. She and I became friends and would go to dinner, plays, Atlantic City, and just hang out together. She and a another lady there, became my surrogate grandmothers for me. I have always had a love of older people. I love to hear the stories, hang out with them and get to know them. Pearl and I are friends and I adore her.

About a month and a half ago, I went to see her and found out that she had just been told she has pancreatic cancer. This has totally changed her, of course. She was always in a meeting for the community, going to the YWCA for bridge and leading the Hallmark in all kinds of events. For the last month and a half, she's just lost the ability to do anything. She has lost so much weight and just can't function much at all. I've tried to go visit her but when I call, she's not up for it. I'm going to try again tomorrow after church. I hope I can see her then.

She's just a sweetheart and thinking that she will not be here, is hard. I just lost my last grandparent in August and to lose a surrograte grandma so soon, just seems so unfair.