THE DOCTOR IS IN

Naturally I was in such a hurry to get out of Dumb Potter's Hell that I left some things undone.

I should have had my physical months ago, but I really don't like them and so I put it off.

I told myself that I would make that appointment and even tried once but got a busy buzz.

Then time ran out and I told myself that I would return one last time to Dumb Potter's Hell and have that visit.

No.

So my medications ran out.  I called and got a one month reprieve... which I wasted and waited until I was down to three doses to think about getting a new doc.

I am fortunate in that I have my excellent insurance coverage until the end of Sept... then its up to God and hopefully a new employer to provide.

But you know how insurance is... you have to see one of their providers or it costs more.

Here I go, on line, looking up doctors that they allow.

I am still too new here to know where anything is.

I ask Randy, who recalls very vividly how easily I get lost.  He says... I'll drive you there and show you where it is.

"It" being anywhere I want to go.

There is the insurance approved list...

all 1,276 of them!

But wait... they have a button for a map.

I tell myself... you can do this without Randy!

So I find one close to home, I think, after viewing several maps and think I have it made.  I call and they don't take new patients.  RATS.

I whine at the woman on the phone who just turned me down.  She is sympathetic and gives me a name of a doctor she knows who will take my insurance and is taking new patients.  Cool beans.

Lucky for me there is an opening.  The doctor is a woman.  I've never had a female doctor before, but you know maybe its time.  At least she will be familiar with all the parts in a more personal way.

But then there is the whole getting lost every time I leave my driveway thing.

I google map her again.  I look at the directions and think how great it is that she is so very close to me.

No asking the man to blaze my trail this time.

But I also know me... so time for an afternoon field trip, even though my appointment isn't until tomorrow morning.  

(This is a delayed post I'm doing on Thursday for Friday... by the time you read this, I'll be happily wearing my paper dress and getting my drugs.)

I figured if I am going to get lost, I should do it with a day between me and my appointment, least I miss it wandering around swearing.

Okay... here I go!

I followed the directions to a tee.  I know where Debra Street is... I've been lost on it before, though it is only a block up from my home.

I turn out of my driveway to the right, left on Debra and head straight to the street I need.

Two blocks later I see the Road Work signs.

I approach with caution.  A lovely woman in an orange vest informs me that they are paving the road.

I do not tell her that I can see that.

She explains that the paving material is over 200 degrees and will melt my tires.

I say I don't need that and she agrees.

Can she tell me how to get across the street to the lane I need?

She is very sorry but she is from P'land and does not know the area.  I thank her and back up to go back to a different street and make a right in  the direction I know I need to go.

They should have put up a sign that says "Welcome to the land of cul-de-sucks!"

But as luck would have it, a school bus passed me as I sat pondering which tiny street might lead out of this warren.  I know that school bus drivers know where they are going and they go on main streets eventually, so I follow it and hope they don't think I'm stalking a kid.

Yay!  It worked.  I end up on the right street going the right direction.  All easy breezy from here...right?

Of course not, it's me we are talking about and my talent for driving frustration.

When I spoke to the receptionist on the phone she told me to come to Laura St. and that was where the parking lot could be found... not on the street where I was that had the actual address.

But wait... there is Laura St. and I am saved!

I pull into the driveway to a medical looking building and find instead a closed office with a pile of construction workers breaking for lunch.

They all smile at the lost lady as I turn in a circle and drive back out, waving.

Up and down Laura St. which is only a few blocks long.  How can you get lost on such a short street?

I tried every public looking building I saw.

Zip.

I back track and try Laura St. on the other side of the main intersection on the street I came off of... passing the now waving-back construction workers.

Nice fellows.  I think I may have made their lunch break a little brighter.

The other side of the intersection Laura St. becomes Game Rd.  That can't be right.

Back around to make a pass by my new friends.

Everybody wave!

I decide... desperation setting in to try the one place I passed up because I thought it said 

it was a veterinary clinic.  It isn't really on Laura St. but on a small off-shoot where the street bends toward the main intersection.

Yep... its a people clinic but it does not bear the name of the doctor I will be seeing.  

With nothing better to do, I drive into the parking lot and park... intending to have a little swearing party before passing my new buddies again.

  If I had not, I would never have seen that there is another office on the back side of that building.

I got out of my car to read the teeny tiny lettering on the office door.

Inside the receptionist peers back out at me.

I smile, mostly because I am glad that my bad temper led me to the right place.

I know the question on her face will be answered in the morning when I show up for that appointment... on time and not lost, so I don't bother to explain.

I believe I may have found the reason why she has openings... she is darned hard to find.

I get back in my tiny clown car that allows me to drive in circles inside parking lots and make my way back to Laura St. and stop at the stop sign.

All my new friends are watching.

I put the car in neutral, set the hand break and get out.  I wave at them and yell

"Found it!"

I drove off to cheers, pleased that I knew how to get back home again.  I didn't get lost even once.  

In retrospect, it is very close to home and easy to get to... if you know where it is.

I am proud of myself.  I did it alone.  Randy will not have to drive me there first for a change.

When he gets home in about an hour and says

"Hey babe... what did you do with your day?"

I'm going to smile and say

"Nothing special."

But it is pretty special to be able to find my own way.

As for the new doc... now that I'm dreading.  But that's tomorrow morning.  I am ready to enjoy tonight and worry about that when it happens.

Whatever happens it will be Friday.

YAY!

What will you do with your weekend?

I'm going to look at puppies!

And Sunday... "MY choice day"

We are going out to go shooting.

Watch out world, Anandagirl has a gun!

Hope I can find the target.

BIG GRINS EVERYONE!

GETTING A BANG OUT OF LIFE

Back to last Saturday's fun. You can see what this is.
See that greenish oil bottle... my enemy! The object of my aim and by golly, as DH promised by the end of my first lesson on
how to shoot... I was able to hit it and make it dance. Weee

Okay... not every time, but often enough to please me.

He showed me how to load and unload it, how to sight and taught me the safety rules... safety first. He is a real stickler for that. I was in those good hands up there.

A patient man and very calm. A good teacher. Do I need to tell you that I had an absolute blast? Pun intended. He laughed at me when I collected all my spent shells for keepsakes. I have every single one. I don't know why I didn't stop to get a photo of the holes in the bottles. Too excited I suppose. I was too.

I have never fired a hand gun before. This one is a
Colt 6. I took every single thing he told me very seriously. Listened as he watched and told me "low" or "right" and adjusted accordingly. I could not believe how easy it was with good instruction. Not that I am a good shot. But I was able to be successful. This one is a .22... not very large. Light in my had compared to others.


DH said that my aim was close enough, even when off a bit that I would certainly hit a heart if I was aiming at it. That is the idea. I will soon live alone and I often travel alone. Not that I have been a big gun fanatic. But I see nothing wrong with them either. A bit of protection if handled with responsibility and caution is fine. I am interested. Funny how that has come about of late. Not that I ever want to harm anyone or anything. DH pointed out that if you are willing to point a gun at someone... well, you have to be prepared to use it. So there is that. A huge responsibility.

He showed me the firing ranges for hand guns and rifles. Also fascinating to me. Noisy. I like the smell. I am going to get my license. Ha... can you imagine that Bear? But that is the point here. This is the first time its been a possibility in my head. I haven't known anyone who would teach me... and never thought to ask before either. Next time I get to fire the .357 and some others. YAY! My second lesson depended on how well I did this one and kept the safety rules. I was a careful and serious student.


DH is a marksman with experience in teaching others how to shoot and care for the guns and ammo. He has many interesting items. I enjoyed seeing them and touching them. Now that sounds weird, but you know you see them in photos and it's not the same. I got to feel how heavy they were or not. Got to look at the differences in how they are loaded and unloaded. We watched a couple of good videos on the development of guns over the years. Very interesting. Yes, he is licensed. They are kept locked up in a safe when not in use. No way a child could ever come across one. That is what matters most to me. He is a careful man.

But I have to tell you this much... hope it doesn't piss him off. Naw... he has an excellent sense of humor too... his gun room is pink with white lace curtains with embroidered butterflies on them. I raz him without mercy about it. But I also promised to help him paint it when time and weather allows. He has not lived in his house for long. But isn't that a hoot?

DH can also use two bullwhips at one time and handle them with skill... other weapons too. What fun. But you cannot meet a nicer or more gentle person. Well you know I'm a fan of the man. He's added a great deal of fun to my life.


So that was the middle of my Saturday... and I was tickled pink to be able learn. Thrilled to be able to take the photos that I took and have shared... as well as those that I won't share. DH's privacy is an issue that I respect.

But I have more to share for tomorrow too. Roads. Yes, roads and their stories.

So come on now... here is controversy... how do you feel about guns? Hand guns? Rifles? Hunting. Self protection? You cannot offend me. All opinions are welcome on Funch... you know that. Speak your peace... or is it piece?


Below, because it refuses to be moved up... is a stump that has had the holy heck shot out of it by many. I thought it looked interesting. I loved the experience and learning something new. Very cool beans!