Losing face...I mean weight. Update! (corrected!)

*Thanks to Brenda for reminding me that we threw out the first week's numbers, and bought a new set of scales...so our second week was technically our first. With revised calculations...*

♦ Team Mealing♦

Max & Brenda

Currently in the lead...having lost a clean 5% thus far. WOO-HOO!!!

♦ Team Meigs♦

Mike & Teresa

In second place...also with 5% (4.7%). Yay!

♦ Team Roseland♦

Amanda, Kimmey, & Daryl

Last. Yes, last. We've lost 3% of our collective weights. Rally!

I, personally...have lost 17 pounds thus far;

make that 10 with the first week thrown out.

The pot...

Thus far, the winning team stands to split $180;

contest doesn't end until 12/15/08 though!.

Each of the 7 players had to put in $25 to participate...and so far only one person (that would be me) has had a gaining week;

I had to pay up $5.00.

If you'd like to know more about our little contest...check it out here.

The natives are not pleased...

Wishing this week, especially Saturday, that I was in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham...or anywhere a bit nearer the Alabama state line.

If I haven't mentioned it, I live in North Augusta...which is in South Carolina, and I work in Augusta...which is (of course) in Georgia. There are three primary pieces to the local fan base pie...Georgia, Carolina (Gamecocks), and then Clemson. I should include GA Tech as well...I just don't see as much of them; I'm sure I would if I were a little further west.

(I think it's funny that since living here, when introduced to others...I'm introduced as a Alabama fan. As in....this is Amanda, she's a Bama fan. There is always a little SEC posturing; admittedly, I'm right there with them...ready to bleed crimson if required to do so.)

I've been to plenty of away games (read: hostile territory)- dressed in a crimson uniform from head to toe, no less. I know what it's like to be where you are not welcome. In the last couple of days...I've had a few flashbacks. I actually walked around to the front of Sipsey (my car) yesterday....to be sure my BAMA plate was still in tact. If the plate was present (and it was), I was convinced there would at least be holes...bored from eyes that had hurled streams of Bulldog fury (there were not).

I realize I'm not the only one. To name a few... Chris and Tiff are in Newnan...closer to ATL, but about the same difference from Athens...so I imagine their experiences to be similar. Elisa & Tyler...live in an alternate universe that I won't even begin to compare mine to (Knoxville); I quiver just thinking about it. Kristin is in Delaware...where I get the idea they almost think it's "cute" that she's so into the whole "Bama thing". ...And then poor Cameron... Cameron leaves a message on my cell Saturday night, and I quote..."Amanda....Cameron. I want to share in the Roll Tide-ed-ness, but I'm on an island. ...In Idaho." It was pitiful, I tell you, just pitiful. This is not to slight or disrespect those brave and persevering Crimson souls who share air and state resources with our in-state rivals, the Auburn Kittens. I know that too, is a trying plight. Matt ("Tallassee" to most of you) actually chose to (as he put it) sleep with the enemy (he married an Auburn grad). His wording. Also his life choice (;. Leah, bless her for choosing the lesser of the two schools, is a sweetheart just the same; we all have our faults :).

I do have one coworker who let me have a little fun at his expense... Beyond the pictures below, and a Bama shaker quietly left in Allison's mailbox after the game, I've been a relatively subdued Bama fan the last couple of days...here in this somewhat hostile Georgia Jungle. Grinning, but quiet. I will happily wear my crimson to work this Friday (as I do each pre-game Friday)... Sipsey will continue to wear her BAMA plate, and my front yard...it's BAMA flag. I'll write with my houndstooth pencil...and my voicemail greeting will close with..."Roll Tide" as it always does. I'll enjoy our # 2 ranking this week... Hope that we play well against Kentucky this weekend, and that we can keep this strong season going...it's been awesome so far. Then too, if we don't...none of that will change (shirt, license plate, flag, pencil, greeting, etc...), because none of it's new :). ROLL TIDE, ROLL!!!

My coworker...

The sign I made for him to hold with the tombstone...

Bama Betty

Long overdue for an update on Betty, Saturday night's quick shaker-shot made for a nice intro...

To re-cap, Granddaddy essentially campaigned prior to Labor Day weekend that Grandmama be released and allowed to move back home; he felt she was ready and that collectively (with home-health), we would be able to provide the level of care she required. Though ideal/dreamy, no one felt it...realistic. In the end (sparing the details), it was a difficult weekend to both witness and experience, but perhaps a necessary exercise [in futility] for this well-intentioned husband...trying to do the very best he could/can to care for wife/love. I think he had to see for himself that it wouldn't work, and so he saw. Thankfully she didn't get hurt, and he wasn't injured beyond strained muscles. For the rest of us, it was mental & emotional chaos + emergency trips out each time Granddaddy called...in addition to the scheduled ones [trips]. She went home that Friday, back to the nursing home that Tuesday, and was admitted to the hospital that Thursday (9/4) for exacerbated congestive heart failure.

Picking up from there... She was released from the hospital (back to the nursing home) on 9/11...and other than a day-trip to the e.r. on 9/18 (where they did make an interesting find about the source of her chronic UTI's) + a necessary room & wing change @ the nursing home...things have been relatively quiet for the last couple of weeks. She does seem to have a stomach bug this weekend...:/. We're happy to be back on the Magnolia Wing though...holla!

She continues to participate in PT on her good days, and rest on the not-so-good days. She had just gotten her hair done prior to this picture - was pretty happy about that...and looking forward to the game :). She told her roommate, who had asked her to turn the TV off at 8pm the night before, that she and her husband would be watching the Alabama game, and that she was welcome to watch it with them :). That's my girl! In general, her mental status comes and goes.

Brenda took her outside the other day...which is the first time she's been out to enjoy the grounds. Her sister and my great aunt, Pat, along with a few other 'Bama family members will be coming in a few weeks to visit (on a by week of course). Brenda is planning a lovely picnic at the nursing home...which should be great; looking forward to it!

If we can get her to keep her oxygen tube on/in all day, every day, I'll be a happier camper. She's a sly one, that Betty (;.

3 + 1

The Bet

(This is a bit longer than most; Bear [Bryant] with me.)

So... Bama vs. Clemson (season opener)...is old football news, but I have yet to post about it and it must be done. My friend and coworker, Renee, and I had a bet...a wager...on this game. Renee is a Clemson fan and (as well known) - I bleed crimson.

The terms were simple, though loosely defined. If Clemson won, I was to wear this horror of an orange straw cowboy hat for a photograph....OR...apply ghastly Lee Press-On Clemson nails to my fingers (again, for a photo) - which I'm sure my natural nails would have rejected with vigor.

If Bama won, Renee was to pose with a true [old-school] pre-game flag from UA for a photo. Which...actually, is an honor either way; she should have counted herself lucky.

Bama won the game and therefore...I won the bet. I brought my near-vintage flag in the following Friday - which was also the Friday preceding the next football game, so I felt it to be somewhat of a deadline. Renee expressed that she wasn't "ready"...a sure sign that she had something up her sleeve. And she did. She was bound and determined to ADD Clemson paraphernalia to the photo...though the revolting orange hat was vetoed by Lisa (a third and impartial party). Renee did manage to apply the wretched Clemson nails [to her own hands] with scotch tape and quickly fashion a hideous orange and purple sign to hold as well. For her bratty behavior, she received Bama shakers in her hair as additional photo elements. Incidentally, the photo was still taken that particular Friday...prior to the defensively "anemic" and "pedestrian" win for Bama against Tulane.

Being the "rabid" fan I am (rabid is Renee's word...I think it a bit toxic), I will say the spirit of the bet was lessened in my football heart by knowing Renee had no intention of watching the game... She is a sweet & caring coworker & friend and I adore her; that being said, she will do just about anything to agitate me and egg me on...this being a prime example. She could care less about the actual game. The chance, however small, of getting me to touch or be near something orange was far too great a temptation. My boys didn't let me down though...ROLL TIDE ROLL!!! So here she is...true to her word; though tainted by illegal additions... Renee...in all of her BAMA GLORY!!!

(Because orange and purple match; WTH?!)

By the by... I had the pleasure of watching this game in a small sea of Clemson fans...with one fellow Bama fan (Kimmey saved the Bama day). Allison hosted a lovely football party for two teams she has ties to, but cares little for...being the devout Georgia fan she is. Andy had the grounds in lovely shape; the lawn made me want to play croquet. Allison decorated above and beyond (yet equally) for both teams...making everyone feel welcome though the Crimson Tide were far out-numbered; it mattered not :). The hosts and guests provided tons of tasty comestibles and even the tableware, plates, etc...were team-themed and color-coordinated! As a special treat, I left with elephantine Bama favors... Thanks so much to Allison & Andy for the super-fun evening...and for our first football game together :).

Team-themed :)

Decor

Roll Tide!

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

Have you seen Failure to Launch? Elf? Zooey Deschanel has been a ton of other things, but (for better or worse)...those came to mind first. She's hysterical; AMAZING comedic timing. And apparently, she also sings. I learned about the song below through a former student (Marisol - a unique, gifted, and lovely spirit), but had no idea the band contained Zooey... The band, by the way, is She & Him. The album is called Volume I.

The video is a bit quirky, so if you have a low tolerance for all things non-cookie-cutter...play the clip and turn away so that you can appreciate the song. Once you've listened to it three times, you can then make an honest determination [about the song]...and watch the video. If you can handle quirky, watch away :).

Addendum

Grandmama was admitted to the hospital this morning.

NHC called Granddaddy around 3:30am to let him know she was
having trouble breathing & that her stats were dropping. He called everyone
around 4am to say they were on the way to the e.r....

She was admitted shortly before 7am on the basis of exacerbated congestive
heart failure. This morning they were working to help her breathe, stabilize her sugar, and draw excess fluid/water from her system.

Such is life.

(I used to make Grandmama "play" Laverne & Shirley incessantly [so says she]. The theme song makes me think of her... If we were to play now, I'd rather be Laverne...she's much funnier than Shirley.)

Grandmama went back into NHC (the nursing home) yesterday... The weekend was less than pleasant, but perhaps a necessary one; not my call. She's upset to have returned, and we all truly hate that she can't be where wants to be... It hurts my heart; Monday evening was particularly heart-wrenching. She has received good care @ NHC though...and right now, it makes the most sense.

She is on a different wing and now has a roommate; previously, she was in a private room. Her roommate seems sweet and [naturally] set in her ways; we'll see how the roommate-ship progresses. I worry that Grandmama won't ask for what she needs or do as she likes for fear that she'll disturb her room-fellow; she (Grandmama) is also set in her [sometimes submissive] ways. Her roommate is not a watcher of TV (uh-oh!) - or a lover of light (not really an issue), and is a bit sensitive to noise (they've already swapped Grandmama's O2 machine for a more quiet model). She kept Brenda and I laughing yesterday though...she's not shy; I love it. Ideally, they'll be great company for each other.

If you'd like more specific info (room number, etc), feel free to send me an e-mail. In the mean time, know that Grandmama & Granddaddy are both holding their own.

ROLL TIDE, ROLL.

...

As previously posted the title of this blog was born here...

Had I second blog, I would now have a title for it as well :).

While at work today, I was muttering to the screen of my computer... One of my coworkers was in my area mid-mutter and asked if I was talking to her or to myself... A second coworker, and incidentally the same who inspired the name for this blog, said rather than talking to myself...I must be talking to the giant, invisible, pink elephant in my office...

...my response was that if I had an invisible elephant, it wouldn't be pink. Thus, I would name my blog:

If I Had an Invisible Elephant, it Wouldn't be Pink.

Happy as an...anemone.

Love this picture of Grandmama and some of the ladies from Rose's (a store somewhere between Wal-mart and a department store - conceptually, not physically); not sure what year it was taken.

So guess who left the nursing home...and went HOME today? Correct! Though...she's the only person I've been talking about in a nursing home...so... At any rate, Ms. Betty is indeed back at home and happy as a clam.

Aside: "Happy as a clam" just rolled out of my brain, but as I wrote it...I realized I have no idea what it means. Where did this come from and how do you know a clam is happy? Are the curves of their shells constant and natural smiles? I looked it up and prefer this Brit's take.

Back to Betty. She's at home and, per usual upon release from hospital, she'll receive care from a home health nurse & physical therapist. There may be additional arrangements/care; I'm not sure. She is in...fair condition. I'm happy for her that she is in her own home, her own chair, her own bed, surrounded by her own things, and with her husband. Sadly, I don't think she'll be home for long; I don't believe she will remain well enough...and I don't think we can provide the level of care she needs. ...Not on a daily...or hourly basis. ...And not while maintaining our jobs, etc... She's there for now :).