A Vacation Nightmare (Part 2)

Con’d from Part 1… 

So… my family got the information on where I was on Saturday night.  My mom got on standby and didn’t make it down to Freeport until Monday afternoon.

 In the meantime, as I said, I was sharing a room with 11 other women.  The elderly lady across from me yelled two things all night long… every night.  (1) “Somebody call the police” and (2) “Somebody check the baby.”  It took everything I had not to yell back to her that the dingo ate the baby!  Sigh.  The woman next to me kept throwing up off the side of her bed, and the nursing staff was not all that anxious to clean it up.  The meals were served on paper plates with foil on top.  The food conformed to the shape of the foil because every meal was some type of shredded meat with either rice or grits.  Not that I would have eaten or drank anything anyway considering the bed pan only came around twice a day and I had to start asking early for it… ah, but not TOO early.  Tricky.

There was a tv in the ward where I was and they played the gospel channel all day.  At one point I woke up to strangers standing around me, with their hands on me, praying.  Not softly together, which may have been calming.  But loudly and separately, but at the same time.  Much like healers or evangelists, which was more startling then calming.

At this hospital, apparently it’s the patients’ responsibility to not only bring their own linens (the emergency room was nice enough to loan me their holey blanket), but also to bring their own soap and towels.  Since my original plans didn’t include a Bahamas hospital stay, I neglected to pack these things.  When it came time for my “bath,” the nurse brought out the only thing she could find… a big bottel of Purel.  Now, don’t forget, I have wounds and road rash all over.  Purel = alcohol = OUCH!!  No, I didn’t let her do it.  I stayed grimey.  Additionally, there were no extra pillows (or anything apparently) to prop up my ever-swelling right hand/wrist.

A group of doctors came through each afternoon.  Every day they asked me my address.  When I told them Cincinnati, they specified that, no, they wanted my Bahamas address… Every day my response was the same… “This BED!”  Remember, my ship and my now-ex bf were long gone.  I had no Bahamas address.  And every day they got a good laugh and moved on to the next bed.

But thankfully, like clockwork, I got my injection of something that made it tolerable.  Finally on Monday afternoon, I saw my mom’s face.  I think I actually stuck my arms out and cried “mommy.”  LOL.  It was like a mirage at that point but it really was her.  I was drugged, swollen, dirty, severly injured and yet untreated.  And we still had no solution to get me out of there.

To be continued…

Let it snow…

Ah, Michigan in the wintertime.  I think it must snow here without a break until spring.  Today didn’t turn out like I had hoped so, while I don’t have much to report on my search, it’s still a nice night.  My friend from work and I got some wine and some spiked egg nog, drove back to the hotel in the snow and are sitting in front of the fire relaxing.

I did go ahead and pay for eharmony.  I don’t know why I didn’t learn the first time.  Eharmony can’t find matches for me.  I swear, I must answer the questions oddly or something.  I’m just being honest but maybe other people aren’t… or maybe I’m just unmatchable… LOL.  (Is that a word)?  I’ve gotten about 5 matches in 2 days.  Shallow as it may sound, if they are 5′2″ and 57 years old, I close them out.  Truth is, I like to feel little next to a man.  Even if it’s shallow, I have to be realistic about this whole thing.

Sooooo, waiting on a pizza, drinking some wine… unless the pizza man turns out to be something pretty special, I don’t think I’ll have much to report tonight.  LOL… Hey, I’m the ultimate optimist… You never know!

Searching America for Love (my recent history in a nutshell)

I leave tomorrow morning for Michigan.  We just acquired 7 centers there.  I’ve been to MI twice now but both for very short periods of time.  This time should be more interesting.  I’m feeling very energetic and really needing to go out and find some fun.  My worst problem is if I meet someone I really like who lives far away from me.  It has happened a couple of times before.  MI is really a fairly short drive though (compared to Arizona where one of them is/was).  So, since I am alone and would like to have a relationship, I wouldn’t mind meeting someone really great.

Last time I was there, I did think one of our therapists was handsome.  He seemed at least mildly interested in me (good eye contact, joking around, that sort of thing) but I sent him an email to which he never responded.  That makes me think he is either taken or not interested.  My email was on a personal level asking if he could tell me if there was anywhere fun to go around there.

I’m not an overly aggressive girl but if I like someone, I make it pretty clear.  I don’t have a lot of time to waste playing games.  That might turn some men off but the number of times that it pays off makes it worth the risk to me.  I’m not afraid of rejection.  It’s a normal part of the process that everyone in search of love has to deal with.  I don’t take it personally.  I’m one of those “everything happens for a reason” type of people.  And, since I am particular myself, I would never fault someone else for it.

I think it’s worth mentioning, I was married for 10 years, divorced going on 4 years (I just turned 40 but I think I’m very young for my age).  I have no children… and don’t get me wrong, I like kids, just never had any of my own.

Over the last 4 years I have taken what some people might consider as extreme measures to find love.  I have dated maybe 3 guys a year since then.  I’ve been out on dates with a lot more but I don’t date most of them for any length of time.

I have been on match.com, perfectmatch.com, eharmony, lovehappens.com, myspace… and probably a few that i can’t even remember.  Because i travel so much for work, it’s really hard to meet new people.  I have met some nice people and have had a few nice relationships but nothing that has held my attention for long.

I don’t think I’m asking for too much and I’m willing to let a few things slide.  Some things I really like but aren’t deal-breakers… a tall, masculine man with a deep voice and dimples makes me melt.  The things that are a must for me are a man with a good sense of humor who is passionate, even-tempered, sweet, responsible and considerate.  He doesn’t have to be a model, but there has to be chemistry.  And I do like him to be the decision-maker for the most part because I really like to just go with the flow.  Now, is that too much to ask?  Really?  It’s been a tough search.

I’ll give you the rundown.  Please keep in mind that I am a mostly normal, intelligent person who has made a few wrong choices.  I’m trying to at least learn as I go!  I won’t use their real names so as to protect the innocent (or guilty as the case may be).  I’m including their ages they would be now because as far as I know, it might help me figure out where I’m going wrong.

Ex spouse (FL, 44) – Great guy but no passion and a refusal to discuss it, my first true love and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for him.  He treated me like a princess.  I like a lot of attention and got it from him.  *What I learned: I can’t live out my life without passion.*

The concrete guy (FL, 38) – Cute & fun but a little cynical and critical at times.  Seems he lost interest and we just kind of fizzled out.  *What I learned:  You can’t make something out of nothing.*

My mover (FL, 37) – Great passion but we fought (and I never fight with anybody).  He quit his job without securing a new one, sponged off me for as long as I let him (which was too long by anyone’s standards) and had quite the temper.  *What I learned: No matter how hard you try, you can’t make unhappy people happy.*

The Marine (GA, 34) – I was like putty in his hands… Tall, handsome, strong, huge.  Made me feel small and safe.  But (there’s always a but) he was guilty of some major false advertising.  I watched his life fall apart in a matter of months (all at his doing).  There is only so much I can do to help.  And oh SO controlling.  *What I learned: Be careful of people who don’t keep in touch with their families.*

The bartender (AZ, 40) – Wow, issues, yeah.  He was so much fun and really cute and funny.  He paid so much attention to me and it surprised me right off the bat.  $7k later… Sigh… *What I learned: Don’t blindly give people money, especially if you don’t have it to give.*

The friend of the bartender (AZ, 36) – We always had an amazing time together, so much fun.  We laughed like crazy when we hung out… Until we were alone.  Then not as much.  He lost interest (or so I was lead to believe) so I didn’t press the issue.  He recenlty invited me to visit for New Years (last New Years was our first real time together).  I’m going to go, so I’ll keep you posted.  I still love to hear his voice.  But if it didn’t work out the first time, it probably won’t now.  *What I learned: I would have said it was not to give up so easily but it may evolve into a different life lesson here soon.*

The car guy (OH, 21) – Ok, yes I know, I know.  But he was the first guy in a long time that I really enjoyed hanging out with.  Unfortunately he hasn’t learned how to communicate or how to hold his liquor.  *What I learned: Passing time with someone is ok as long as no one gets hurt but all the while, time is passing.*

The other bartender (WV, 34) – This is the most recent and I really really like him but there have been some concerns.  Last time I was there, he chose to go home one night rather than spending it with me.  I’m not there very often or for very long and I tend to take that personally (even if it isn’t).  *What I learned: Long distance relationships are way too hard, especially for someone who needs attention like I do.*

That is it.  You’re all caught up.  So Michigan tomorrow through Wednesday, KY Thursday and Friday and NC next week.  Since I’m dedicated to this blog, it will force me to make myself go out and meet people, which I usually do but this will be my extra motivation.  Wish me luck!  Oh, and if you have any single friends… LOL