27-Mar-07

We’re in a hotel in Oklahoma City.  I ususally report to you all of the wonderful features of each hotel I stay in.  So I must tell you, Holiday Inn Express is… right across the parking lot.  Oh how I love Holiday Inn Express… I wish I were just a bit closer so I could use thier WiFi.  Instead, I type this in notepad and will post it later.

My room is nice and inexpensive… and it smells just like a Motel 6.

We had a good drive.  As much as I avoid it in the city, I actually like Interestate driving.  It gives me time to think. Time to pray.  Time to make up bad poetry that rhymes when it shouldn’t and doesn’t when it should.  Time.  Time to ponder time.  Astrophysics and retrocausation and memory.

Driving gives me time to write.  Aloud.  In my head.  Though I don’t physically write, because I have no pen or paper within reach and if I did, I’d probably drive my car right off the road…which is what I almsot did while I was thinking this thought.

Driving makes me think I should start writing again.  Really writing.  Not blogging.  Frequent blog posts do not necessarily suggest frequent writing.  A large percentage of blog entries are not, in reality, ‘writing’ at all.  They simply link to someone else’s writing,  or deliver useless information.  Many blog posts are merely digial displays of affection… of one’s self. Is it affection or pre-occupation? Perhaps obession with the idea that people actually want to know things like how dark I roasted my last batch of coffee or what another blogger ate for dinner.

Those meaningless blog posts are probably more honest than the others.  Because our lives are not constantly filled with inspiration, meaning and productivity.  Sometimes they are simply… mundane.

What puzzles me is this:  How can life seem so mundane and so surreal in the very same moment?  Right now, I am in a cheap motel with my two young children.  I’m on my way to see my family for spring break.  There is nothing special about this day.  And yet, today is one of the days that I will remember.  Maybe not this day specifically but this group of days. This phase of life. The time, years ago when my husband was at war and my children were young and I was going to seminary.  Wow!  Remember then?  Remember now.

After a nap and a brief pity party, I’m ready for a roborant cup of coffee and a little road trip.

Anyone remember my “Word of the Day” series? It’s back.

Word of the Day for March 27, 2007

roborant \ROB-uh-ruhnt\
adjective:
1. Strengthening; restoring vigor.
noun:
1. A strengthening medicine; a tonic; a restorative.

In addition to the vocabulary lesson, the coffee, and the nap, I’m also listening to Brian Littrell’s “In Christ Alone” again, and again and again. And quoting Philippians 4:8. Which is easier to quote if you remember the phrase “True Horses Just Puke Lovely.” Yep, I learned that in Missionettes 17 or 18 years ago.

Lab work and CT Scan came back as perfectly normal. The doctor said perhaps it’s a skeletal/muscular thing instead. She suggested… wait for it… wait for it…

IBUPROPHEN.

Yes, my nurse told me to try taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for 10 to 12 days and see if that helps.

I told her I’ve been doing that for two months and it DOES NOT HELP.

Update:
She called back.  They’re going to refer me to physical therapy…  I think I need a nap.

We’re still not in Texas.  We were supposed to leave on Saturday, then Sunday… Then Monday.  We plan to leave in the morning.  Hopefully my family isn’t too disappointed.  We had so much to do before we could leave and I still don’t have half of it done.

The kids have been more distracting than usual.  Jeremiah is sick.  I took him to the doctor today.  He has an ear infection.  Poor little guy.  Hopefully he’ll be well enough to travel in the morning.

I wanted to stay in Springfield until I heard the results of my lab work and Cat scan.  But the nurse didn’t call back today so I assume they didn’t figure out what’s wrong with me yet.  Guess I’ll just take extra Advil on the trip with me.  And water.  Of course, because in the Army,  ibuprofen, water and 100 mile hour tape will fix anything.

A few highlights for the day:
My bedroom is clean!!!!
We finally are on the right Tricare plan.  The doctor’s visit cost us… NOTHING.
We have another care package sealed and ready to mail to Joel. It weighs 7.5 lbs.  Most of that is sugar.
We ate green eggs tonight… the Dr. Seuss obsession continues.
Jeremiah and I got birthday cards from Joel’s mom!  Woohoo!  Thanks!  Oh, and I guess inexpensive or pre-purchased birthday cards are OK.  I’ll make an exception for mother-in-laws who include gift cards!

In order to support my ongoing coffee addiction, I think I need to sell some of my ignored coffee making devices. I’ll probably put them up on eBay soon.

I thought I’d give my readers first dibs.

First on the auction block:

A very slightly used White Senseo.

Next up:

My beloved Alicia DeLonghi Electric Moka pot.

Long time readers will remember Alicia. Check the archives a little further and you’ll discover my unnatural obsession with Senseo.

Let the bidding begin! [In the comment section.]
If you’re just looking for a really cheap coffee maker… more power to you!
If you’re looking to buy some GentleWhisper.com memorabilia… Um… Ok then, that’s a little surprising, but I’ll autograph it for ya!

Sarah took this photo of us at the airport on February 5th. It was the last time I saw Joel.

I really miss this man. Counting the days till I see him again.

Jeremiah and Sarah just ran to me exclaiming, “We saw a cardinal!”

Jeremiah said, “It landed right outside on OUR deck.”

Sarah said, in a very excited yet mythical voice, “When a red cardinal comes to our house that means Papo Bolivar is coming back to the baseball game!”

Jeremiah shook his head showing his disbelief. I motioned to him to keep his doubts to himself. Let the little girl dream.

P.S. Papo Bolivar played for the Springfield Cardinals during their first season. Sarah was two and in love with Papo. After 2005, Bolivar left Springfield with no forwarding address. He’s not playing pro ball anywhere. Even the sports writers wonder what happened to him. I doubt anyone misses him as much as Sarah does though. She talks about him almost daily.