Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Fair Time & Texas Hold Em Showdown






The weather is changing quickly - 90s last week & high of 52 tomorrow - yep, that is a sign that the fair is only a few days away. The photos were some taken at the 2008 State Fair with that ever cute Peed family. We all eat our way through the fair with the usual pickles, milk, hush puppies, funnel cakes, steak sandwiches, corn on cob & etc plus always something new last year the fried pecan pie (Dare & Mark loved it) , look at the cows & sheep (no swines for us). The boys rode a few rides - some went better than others hehe. So I look forward to another 5 pounds - maybe not thanks to the strictness of the new diet from the doctors (they are ganging up on me I think). Fun will be had at another North Carolina State Fair.

It has been beautiful weather during the last 3 weeks (mostly) but rained every Saturday so Mark is really getting antsy to sail. I stay light headed enough that sailing makes me a little nervous but I will adapt. Mark loves sailing & has really enjoyed driving around making lots of sales calls in the cool weather. His sales are up & so is his spirit.

Mark & I are still enjoying our Texas Hold Em tournaments. We continue to learn and improve while meeting some nice people, some interesting people, and some real jerks. Hey, just like every where you go in life. The people range from College Professors & students to people we do not spend anytime with. We get to pick where to sit so we avoid the jerks & strange people. We usually avoid sitting at the same table unless we both make the final table of 10. We start with 50-70 usually and take people out one at a time. Each with 10,000 chip points - 2 hours later one person has every one's chips. We usually at least make the top 20 & sometimes better. We have both finished 2nd but that 1st place keeps eluding us. We have been playing less than 6 weeks & some of these guys have played for years many in Vegas for money. No money involved for us but it keeps the mind working.

Mark is off to the Calloway Golf Resort next week for their annual sales convention. He has a sales award coming this year & hopes to repeat the 1st place golf tournament placement. He has the same golf team - the others want a chance at revenge. haha!! I hope he wins but mostly has a great time smooosing the bigwigs. The company is owned a French company who is taking control from the American division that were running it for them. They are a great company to work for ... benefits, insurance, holidays & etc. Mark loves working for them.
I will be home alone - staying out of trouble. No plans...I will have to think on it.

Doctors are still poking & prodding but some good news & some not so good & some retesting. Today I got 5 new prescriptions like I do not have enough already, but the tissues came back benign. The cardio doc agreed on a 3 month reprieve on the heart Cathe if I would walk 30 mins a day, lose 10 pounds by Jan 5th & 30 lbs all together (he says within the year) , no caffeine, & etc. Add prescriptions for high everything including a 2nd blood pressure medicine to help the 1st one work better. It still sounded better than letting him as he calls it take a look inside my heart. The exercises from the physical therapy has helped my left hand a lot - they helped me learn to shuffle cards with one hand stronger...haha it helps with the poker games & was only $200 an hour for the insurance. I quit going & work at home on hand & trying to standup with my eyes closed, then I will go back for the next set of exercises working on my balance(that $30 copay twice a week was killing me... well when added to $15 copay doctor & $30 co cardio & neurologist). Our insurance is great... they have billed $29,200 in 9 weeks so far our part has been copay only about $800 & all has been paid by them. That included having the benign cyst removed from my ear & the $324 mousse for my head that in less than 2 weeks is 95% better. The prescriptions are $15-$40 a piece & they are killing us but I do feel better & Mark's physical with his new doctor was great only minor issue. His blood workup was super good. We both love our new doctors & are grateful the Lord directed us so our health problems could be taken care of. Other than balance issues & occasional chest pain I do feel much better.

Well, I miss my family and am looking forward to Thanksgiving & Christmas with some family visits. I got worried I may never see any of them again, but I feel better and am impatiently awaiting visits. My Dare comes over usually weekly & we see the Peeds at the boys soccer games (this is a post unto itself...too cute). Take care & remember who you are. I love you!