IntrinsicTina

Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas (full version) ♫ On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♩  On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♩  On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♩  On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♩  On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Five red heart ornaments, four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♩  On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Six bags of kisses, five red heart ornaments, four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pic...

Getting right to it, Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas nears it's crescendo:  ♫ On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... eleven Trophy Cupcakes, ten Snowman bright lights, nine Fran's dark chocolates, eight Christmas crackers, seven cotton candies, six bags of kisses, five red heart ornaments..........four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♫ I have to share with you, the effort my husband is making. He brought me a few different choices for the eleventh day of Christmas: Eleven candy canes, eleven Lindor truffles, and eleven Trophy Cupcakes. Of course, I cannot possibly eat all of the nummy goodies, so my caregivers are, deservedly, getting tasty holiday treats.

♫ Ten, ten, ten, ten, let's sing a song of ten. How many is ten? ♫ Like, literally, millions of kids, I grew up watching  Sesame Street and The Electric Company. I watched those programs well into my teens since I was the eldest of four kids. Longer if you factor in seven year gap between the middle children. Of course, I introduced my daughter to my old pals. Is it any wonder that I naturally think of ditties when I hear numerals from one through ten!? Anyway, this is the next verse of Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas...  ♫♫On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Ten Snowman bright lights, nine Fran's dark chocolates, eight Christmas crackers, seven cotton candies, six bags of kisses, five red heart ornaments, four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. ♫♫  We are getting ever nearer to the end of the song. Wonder what that husband of mine, has planned for the finale? 

23 The ninth day of Christmas, and I'm peaved. I was so excited to see a Fran's Chocolates bag, and so disappointed to find out that five out of nine were dark. I don't like dark chocolate! I know, I know, I'm terribly ungrateful, and I'm not proud of myself. On the contrary, I'm ashamed of my attitude. I fully understand that I am not owed anything. I know full well the consequences of ingratitude. I am lucky that my husband visits me as much as he does, much less brings me gifts, tacky or not. And still, I was powerless to stop my train wreck to crazy town. Nevermind, that I am worn out by well-meaning caregivers. Some days one after the other, for everything I must do in a day. By the time he shows up, I'm done with patience, tolerance, and kindness. If I ever ever even woke up with any... Oh, admit it, nobody always awakens joyful and happy. I woke up happy then I had a bad hair moment. Here is the most recent installment of Tina's Twelve Day o...

Got a chance to let my party goblin peek out a little at Bailey Boushay House, in Seattle, Washington. God, I love these parties!!! They are a real boost to my spirit. Day in and day out, I am in my room, pleasant as it is, I get starved for new understanding peeps to interact with. Additionally, I need new foods to pass over my bored palate. (Sorry, Daniel, as good as your food is, I am not accustomed to the limits set by institutional standards, for my level of dysphagia.) Thanks to Chef Daniel, I got a chance to sink my teeth into...wait for it...Beef Wellington, Stuffing, Sourdough Bread, Caprese Chicken, Cranberry Pear salad, and Broccolini. Following a fantastic meal, Chocolate Lava Cake accompanied by thick, rich, and creamy Egg Nog. How do I convey the deliciousness? My eyes rolled back and my taste buds practically sang. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. ♪ Tis the season to be jolly, ate my fill, plus cake by golly. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪♪ Not only did we dine, we got to listen to...

...On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... eight Christmas crackers , seven cotton candies, six bags of kisses, five red heart orns, four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree.  What the devil is a Christmas cracker?! That is my question. They look like brightly-colored, wrapped candies but they are not. I hope they are not firecrackers; I hate firecrackers. Oh well, they look beautiful, bright, and shiny.

Yes, it is the eleventh of December, as a matter of fact, however Hot Rod, my husband, has just gotten to the seventh day of Christmas. What's more, is that I'm amassing quite the cache of candy, more than I can eat or store. Sad news, huh? Don't cry for me! I can share and I have. Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas  On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...A glass pickle to hang in the tree.  On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Five red heart orns, four rein-dogs poopin', three chocolate Santas, two red ...

2 Back to the important things in life, fun and presents. On the sixth day of Christmas... What do mean it's not the sixth? Oh yeah, we are giving my husband a mulligan. He thought it was a good idea to give his true love, six slices of white bread. 😼 Yes, I know, I know I married him. That is just the way he rolls. As he said, I'm just a dumb tinner and YOU married me! I remember marrying a sexy cowboy-type who rode a sexy, black, iron horse. I guess we know where my head was at. On with Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas...  On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a glass pickle to hang in the tree.  On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Three chocolate Santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Four rein-dogs poopin', three choc...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, every where I go.... And these days I usually go in my room. I got my favorite Christmas minion to decorate a bright spot, or two, in my room. My in-room artwork, provided by Bailey Boushay House, sports battery-operated, white, micro-lights and my glass pickle, thanks to my minion. And, I have my tiny Christmas tree, prominently displayed on the countertop, right at my eyeline. To my left is the end table with my two poinsettias, my chocolate Santa suckers, Jelly Belly-poopin' rein-dogs, my Seahawks "12" Snowman (from my bestie, Rita), and my emperor penguin. My favorite minion, a.k.a.Flhrod@comcast.net, a.k.a. Hot Rod, a.k.a. Rodney, also known as my husband, brought me another gift of five christmas tree ornaments. Thus, continuing the saga of Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas.  On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...A glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the second day of Christmas, my true lov...

My husband took my mom and dad to the airport early Saturday morning.  What a good son-in-law he is! He even asked my dad if he put anti-freeze in his car. He did not and there's snow in the forecast! Whut whoa! My husband took the initiative and put in anti-freeze. I forgot to mention that they are on their way to Maui. I guess Dad had his mind on other things... My husband had plans to ride his Harley to the Toy Run in Olympia. However, he forgot to do his homework and find out exactly where the event was. He rolled into the Black Lake area of Olympia and no Toy Run. I find this hilarious! Why? He owns a smart phone, and is such a luddite, he did not bother using his phone to get the location. Typical Rodney. Oh well, I guess we know why I got a big, stuffed, Emperor Penguin. Rodney did bring me another installment of Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas. He found the cutest, little, novelty reindeer, actually the reindog creation from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The Nove...

Another verse for my Tina's Twelve Days of Christmas 'and a new name, for my husband's sake. He has an aversion for acknowledging the inevitable, the impending end to me. That's kind of gratifying. He loves me. He found my twist on the old standard amusing and is taking up the challenge to bring the song to life. I love it! And I love him! On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...Two red poinsettias and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Three chocolate santas, two red poinsettias, and a glass pickle to hang in the tree.

My husband has been bringing touches of Christmas cheer to my hospice room. Thus far I've received two red poinsettias and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. Oh no! That could be the start of whole new version of  The Twelve Days of Christmas. We can call it The Dying Woman's Twelve Days of Christmas or something in that vein. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...A glass pickle to hang in the tree. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two red poinsettias and a glass pickle to hang in the tree. Sing it! Feel free make suggestions for additional verses....

1 1 1 2 I feel good, I knew that I would now... , screams the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Music and soul food was the point of the night...another heartfelt offering to we, who have found ourselves, less than whole, victims of circumstance, ripped from our lives...such as we were...into such as we are. A night to forget our unfortunate circumstance, and remember who we once were...through music and food. We entered a roomful of musical notes, literally and figuratively, hanging from the ceiling and filling the air, spilling out of music videos. Familiar and new friendly faces greeted us, making certain each and every one of us was well-situated and comfortable, presenting us with printed menus. Like a well-appointed restaurant, with a well-paid wait staff, it's easy to forget that most are volunteers with hearts of gold. They could be home watching Game of Thrones or going on their own night out, instead, they chose to be here at Bailey Boushay House, making our night ...

Tonight we had a very special evening event at Bailey Boushay House. Viva Italia--a night of opera and delicious Italian fare. It was like a night out on the town without the logistical problems associated with transporting people with disabilities. The third floor dining room was transformed into an exclusive Italian ristorante´ resplendent in cabernet-colored linen, candlelight, plants, and sculpture. Flutes of sparkling cider caught the firelight playing on the computer monitor. It began with several opera numbers (I'm an opera idiot and couldn't begin to offer further descriptors) and proceeded with a gorgeous Caesar salad in a baked, filigree cheese bowl. A few more operatic tunes followed by a delicious tomato basil bisque that I'd swear contained real basil, rosemary, and parmesan reggiano. More gregarious opera and then a plateful of rustic Italian favorites, manicotti, pasta Alfredo, and chicken Parmesan, asparagus, and red pepper. Mangia, mangia, mangia! Still...

Writer's block. So much to say but how do I say it? Melancholia. I was ready to go on time. Up and at 'em at 0745. Shower accomplished. Appropriate wear for a choir concert held in Shoreline. I shouldn't care but I do. Snapped out of my funk when I chose to attend a music group. Rousing renditions of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Isreal "Iz" Kamiole and Cassidy and our own, Nadine set the tone. We "sang", Nadine carries the song, Jola soloed, I'm the human metronome until I tire, Trish puts in a good word, and the volunteers join in. So, we sang "Stand By Me", "Lean On Me", "Under The Boardwalk", and "Sunshine On My Shoulders". And Nadine improvised a personalized summertime blues, including all of us. One cannot help having their spirits bouyed to a better place. One good decision leads to another. Next, I was blessed with Elizabeth, a sweet volunteer, who read "Awakening the Buddha Within...

The classic David Bowie rock ballad is running through my head as I sit in my power wheelchair with my v-pap strapped to my face. I mean, how space age is this?! And I'm communicating with human beings all over the planet from my Tobii. When I was a kid, the Viet Nam war was regularly on the news.  The Bay of Pigs was a reality. There was no such thing as a reality shows. Astronauts walked on the moon and we watched it on TV. We stood up at the beginning of class and put our right hand over our heart and pledged allegiance to the flag and the United States of America. I watched The Nightly News with Walter Cronkite, Dragnet, Lawrence Welk,  Hee Haw, and Laugh In with my grandfather. I watched Sesame Street, Mister Roger's Neighborhood, the Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, Wild Kingdom, Disney, and lots of cartoons. With my mom, I watched Dark Shadows, Peyton Place, Days of our Lives, Twilight Zone, and movies, especially scary ones. You know what's scary? All the things...