D - Day for Catheter

Its been a week already since the big op and tomorrow the man get to have the catheter that has been sharing our bed and his leg removed.YAY!
We removed the bandages from his incisions today...just to have a look.
I also got to watch a part of a taped radical prostatectomy on the computer (from a medical site)and they showed how the prostate is removed via the incision made just above the belly button. Totally amazing.
The man has a stitch in three of the incisions and three stitches in the other two.
Wow again...
All of us will now have our very own pads in the bathroom cabinet..the man will have his, I will have mine and our daughter will have hers.
Life is not back to normal..yet
I am just tip toeing through.

Facing the demons.

The man is HOME! YAY!!!!
The op is now over and we await biposy results.
I felt such intense happiness when I first saw him waiting in the entrance of the hospital when I went to pick him up on Thursday night.
I could finally see him, feel him and touch him.
It was good.
He is recovering well.

I am unaccustommed to feeling such fear. But the fear of losing my life partner was just way too intense.It really messed with my mind.

The man was truly the brave one.He went into it head long. There was no other option in his mind and I am astounded by how he has come through. Always a joke ready. Always seeing his predicament as being minor compared to the plight of others who are having more serious health issues.

We also did manage to collect the appropriate medicinal provisions from the Queen Victoria Markets before departure i.e.Polish jam donuts, almond croissants and other assorted cakes and pastries to assist in the man's recovery.
Again, thank you to you all...for your kindness and concern.
Thank you for your support and caring.

Signing off for a while

Hey folks..
Letting you all know that I will not be blogging for a little while...somehow the words are just not comming.
Will be back soon.

Inspirational thought of the week!
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK..THEY DON'T DO IT VERY OFTEN.
Oh so true.

I have been at my spot at the mall for 35 days now and have been abused for stealing the seating at least once, but mostly twice a day.
Today was no different..only the techniques have changed, cause the same people are coming back to abuse me.
Firstly, it was the blatant, "where have you put our seats!"
Now they have come back and see that I am still there, so they pretend they are going to buy a calendar and come up to me and ask " how long are you going to be here?" followed by " you know our seats used to be here".
But the best is when they come up with their trolleys and stop right in front of my desk..sigh heavily, grab at their backs in fake pain,gasping.."Oh God, I do't think that I can make it any further..if my seats were STILL HERE, I would be able to sit down!!!!" loudly enough for me to hear them.
Subtle eh..freaking old farts...
I hope Santa takes all their dentures on Christmas Eve and flushes them down the toilet!That will fix em...
The Jeweller right next to us got robbed today...some guy just walked in and lent straight over the counter with a shop full of staff and people and proceeded to take two items worth about $10,000 off a back wall display!
He was out of there before anyone could do a thing about it...lovely.
Must have been doing his Christmas shopping..

Serious Mary Meltdown!

Had one serious meltdown yesterday...it was bound to happen at some point..needless to say that there will be more. I have promised 'the man' to stay strong and send positive energy his way..and I will try. I promise.
Good thing that I had a bottle of Bach Rescue Remedy under the desk at work. I think I had half a bottle yesterday but the bloody stuff works.
It's getting busier now at the Square. People are buying 5,6,7 calendars at once rather than the one or two that they were getting a few weeks ago.They are much happier to part with their money now that Christmas is only 6 weeks away!
Went to Rose Cottage tonight and was part of a super fantastic drumming circle held by Larry, Michelle's (arty farty Mary)partner.
What a hoot - I am sure that the whole of Waratah new what we were doing.
I played with a gong for most of the night and irritated everyone...and I got to have a go of Larry's super duper bongos. Wow!!!I loved that.There were 17 of us going off...thanks Larry - it really lifted my spirits and I am sure it had the same effect on everyone else.
I am sure there will be pictures being posted on the other blog sites as I write.

One month down - two to go!

It has already been one month since I started Calendar Club. My, how time flies when you are enjoying yourself..
I can handle it much better when I am busy but when it is slow I lose my will to live.It is so boring, I have nothing to do and know that I could be using this time to be vacuming at home, cleaning, ironing,shopping, cooking, hang on....maybe I should just enjoy the boredom?
"The man" has nine days and had to go and buy some slippers and a dressing gown for hospital saying that it would be inappropriate to get around in an old t shirt and tracky daks in el posho expensivo hospitalo!
So he went and brought slippers with Bart Simpson on them....Classy, very classy.
We are having some 'final meals' with friends this week cause after that the man wants to be 'left alone' for a while to recuperate in peace. Understandable.I wish I could do more for him, but will be stuck at Charlestown Square being bored.

Barramundi Man spotted!

If you have read my blog over the last week or two you will know about Barramundi Man. He comes every year, does a swoop of the stand and then heads straight for the "Models" section to have a good perve. He is always dressed the same way year after year, in a hat with sharks teeth around the edge,or a nothern territory cap, a barramundi T- shirt and shorts and a lurid look on his face.
Well, yesterday was the day....like clock work.
Then there's the young guy, a few sandwiches short of a picnic who wears his tracky pants up around his armpits colorfully co-ordinated with a hawaiian print shirt who pretends to look at every other calendar until he thinks I cant see and then goes to have a good perve at the models section, gets sprung and walks off with a stiffy...ewwwwww!!
Then there are the morons looking for calendars of Pomeramiams, Laksma Ashpos, Dovermans,Westfield Highfield Terriers,and several other dog breeds that I have to translate to make some semblence of sense out of...pure joy!
On the other side of the fence 'the man' got a free sample pack of nappies to try for his period of incontinence that he faces when he comes out of hospital - He modelled one for me and I told him that Michael Jackson used to pay good money to wear ones just like that......until he got sprung.
Life is a box of chocolates, isn't it?!!

But it's so expensive!

The conversation went like this....
"How much is this guinea pig calendar?"
"It's $21.95".
"$21.95?!!But that's so expensive....well, they do love their guinea pigs...but it's so expensive..are you sure that's the price?".
I turn the calendar over and show Mrs. Tightarse Pensioner the RRP on the back.
"Yes..that's right ...it's $21.95".
"I normally wouldn't spend so much on a calendar..but they do love their guinea pigs".
Waiting....waiting...
"I would not normally pay so much for a calendar...they own guinea pigs you know."
"Mmmm"
Another customer approaches with a purchase.
"Is his calendar also $21.95?"
"No, his is $23.95 - he has a 'Hot Buns' Calendar (female models).Maybe you would like that one?"
"Oh no.....I normally don't spend so much on a calendar...It's so expensive..
Mmmmm....$21.95"
"Mmmm"
"Well, ok then..I guess I will buy it then - I am being so extravangant! $21.95 for a calendar!!"
Smoke is seen comming out of my ears!!!
She pays...she leaves mumbling.."so expensive"
I guess she will go home, have a Bex and a good lie down.

Life is one big box of calendars

Well, I know that I am being tested by the arseholes at Calendar Club, cause they have chosen to see whether they can break my back by sending me three pallets of calendars this week, that's over 1000 kilos and then another pallet of 102 kilos which was dispatched today.
At the moment I am putting in 12 hour days, and thank God for the help of my mother in law and 'the man' who are bravely pretending that all is ok and that the world has not gone mad!!
So forgive me for not blogging on a regular basis for the next week, I will be in the garage with my 1000 kilos of calendars finding a vacant orifice to place them in.
I could think of a few orifices I would like to put them, but I would have to send them back to Melbourne, which would mean I would have to spend extra money.
Meanwhile, sweating out operation countdown and slowly tying myself in knots.

Hi Tech Surgery

How much would you pay to see your loved one well and free of disease?
Everything that you had? Yep - without a doubt. You would do it in a heartbeat!
So this is why the man is going to Melbourne to have his surgery. Professor Testicleremover is THE BEST - he invented the bloody machine that is going to be used to do the surgery - he has a world patent on his wall, along with a signed photo of George Bush Senior and various other famous people, including the Packers who thank him for his work and dedication.
He uses a technique called robotic surgery (not done in NSW).
A huge robotic device enters the body through 5 small incisions in the stomach area and the professor sits about a metre away with his head in a huge microscope thingy that allows him to manipulate the robotic arms to cut and stitch with the utmost precision.
What this means is that there is a greater chance to preserve the nerves that run near the prostate and are needed to insure continence and erection probability in the future.
As the man is so young, he has a good chance to regain all uses given time.For every man it is different - but definately harder the older the patient is.
The other type of surgery is what is called open surgery, where the doctor makes a large cut in the lower abdomen or near the anus and goes in through muscles and such and causes a lot more damage to nerves and tissue in the process.
The second type of surgery is much more invasive and recovery is a lot longer.
We envisage the man going in on Tuesday 21st November ( yep - that's D Day!) with one day in recovery and he is up and ready to travel home by Friday. Totally amazing and achievable all going well.
The result?
We don't know until a byopsy is done at the time of surgery - then we will know if all the cancer has been taken or whether the man will require further treatment as in radiotherapy or hormone therapy.
This this is not the end of the story - this is the beginning.
We need to get through this stage to get to recovery stage and then take it day by day - incontinence pad by incontinence pad!
I just want him alive and home so that I can continue to breath.
At the moment I feel drained and tired.The man is holding up and is much stronger than I am. I crumble like a hysterical mad woman and cannot bear to think about it all for too long.
Our short time in Melbourne was great - even though the Victoria markets were closed we made due with a trip to a Greek cake shop to buy a dozen creamy, chocolatey, delicious cakes..yum. Part of the man's therapy, of course!
I love Melbourne - must go there more often.
To all of you who have sent their wishes over the last few days and have waited for info, we again thank you!
I have felt so much heartfelt support from you all that it is truely uplifting.
The man has been overwhelmed and is also very thankful.
Our love to you all.

Gremlins in the Blog machine!

Is it only I that is having problems posting lately or are other bloggers being sabotaged too?
Must be aliens in the ether - or are we blogging so much that we are creating a systems meltdown....
I had Mr.Garlicbreath today..
He approached from around the corner and before I knew what was happening, it hit me! A tornado of semi digested pungent garlic breath eminating from an abbyss edged with half rotten teeth..yewwwwww!!!!
I think he melted away the top layer of skin on my face before I could take a step back and take a breath..what was it that he wanted? Who cares!I told him I didn't have it hoping he would just GO AWAY!!!
Yet another day in paradise!

The week that was....

This was week number 2 of 14 and what a big week it was!
The comming week will prove to be bigger with a trip to Melbourne to see Dr.Testicleremover and to learn what the next phase of the "C" story will be.
Had a 'moment' this afternoon when the world stopped turning and I gave the whole affair a little too much thought.
The worst news of all is that the Queen Victoria Markets will be closed on Wednesday and we cannot stock up on smelly Polish sausage and jam donuts.Oh no!!!!
I encountered "Mr.Sunshine" today. This is yet another crackpot that frequents the Square and chooses to bother me and other patrons while thinking that he is oh so amusing."Hi love, how are you! Keep smiling - I want to see a smile on your face - now!!" As he stares at you with those piercing repugnant weedy eyes.Yuch!Creepfest central!
Then there was the lady that spent half an hour tellng me about the way her staffy dog spins and spins around the kitchen so cutely..oh, whatever lady, just buy a bloody record and get lost...oh and by the way she came back ten minutes later to tell me that she could not do her grocery shopping before going to the doctor's cause if she went to the doctor's with bread in her bag the bread would get contaiminated with germs from the doctor's office....oh my lord!!!
How I love retail!

Are these records?

If I hear that statement one more time, I will kill someone!
Get over it people....I AM NOT SELLING RECORDS OK!!!!!
I have come to the conclusion that reading the back and front cover of my calendars is as close as some people will ever get to reading a piece of literature!
I thought lobotomy's were illegal, but there have certainly been a few performed on local inhabitants of Newcastle.
Am I beginning to sound bitter and twisted?
Well, it has been almost two weeks - only 12 more to go!

It's all happening this week.
The man has been summoned by Dr.Testicleremover to Melbourne to have his wallet and its contents permanently dislodged from his hip pocket.
Yes...consultation number one coming up, so we are all heading down for a quick 24 hours in the Victorian capital.
Some quick planning has the shop taken care of and all under control.
But I will be missing Beltane festivities at the Cottage, bugger!

Blogger identities revealed!

Today I met two bloggers who came and visited me at Charlestown Square.
You know who you are!
I must say, it was great to see you both, but I was not at my cheeriest. Maybe the fact that it was Thursday night shopping, when the feral hordes descend on the Square.
Also the fact that Michael Hill Jewellers had a sprucker sending me into violent fits of hysteria because of her constant prattle on a loud speaker since 8.30 in the morning.Maybe, because I had to send staff home to pick up a delivery of calendars that never came till late and I was tired.
Maybe....
Maybe because I was asked at 9 oclock in the morning whether I had a calendar of Monkeys in the kitchen working....
Maybe....
Sorry girls, I am usually more sparky then that!
Next time I will be better, I promise.
Come again!

Staff number two starts her 3 month trial today!

Staff member number two, Mary Raihn came on board today and arrived early....then promptly went to buy coffees for both of us ( scoring high brownie points here!!! )
I must admit Mary Raihn is one smooth staff member, schmozzing the customers big time, calling the old timers 'darling' and handing out pocket calndars like there was no tomorrow!
Boss Mary was very impressed and I must say that my two new Staff Marys are totally cool and perfect. I am truely blessed.
Things are progressing slowly and both ladies will get to become 'more experienced' as the weeks go on and it gets more busy.
My feet hurt less this week, but I have thrown away the idea of looking totally professional in neat shoes, black stockings and short skirt and gone to comfortable but daggy pants,black socks and totally flat shoes.
Terribly unglamorous and dowdy...but hey, that's no different than any other time.
Why did I even think that I could look good and work 10 hour days?
Waste of time - thank you Sandy for coming in at 4.30 today and saving me from a nasty bladder accident..Phew!!!

Sunday!

One week completed and only 13 to go - it's a breeze....NOT!!!
Today was Sunday trading and as slow as hell. I was bored and could not get motivated to be at my selling best.Worst trade day to date, but overall the week has been much better than last years first week.
A guy came up to the counter this morning and I noticed he had a worm on his shirt collar. It was wriggling as he talked to me and so I commented to him that he had a worm on his shirt. First he thought that I was having a piece of him but the woman I was serving said that there was actually a worm on his shirt.
At that point the man got irrate and told us both to mind our own business and that if he did have a worm on his shirt, it was his worm and he was entitiled to have it wherever he wanted to have it.
I was going to suggest that he obviously had an even smaller worm in his pants, but thought it best not to go there.
I vowed and declared at that point that I would never tell another man that he had a worm on his shirt ever again!

S.W.A.T. Marys!

Last night I collapsed into bed, one very tired Mary.
Unfortunately, I ate too much before bed and watched S.W.A.T. on tv, which then produced a most vivid dream including the rest of the Mary's and led to me oversleeping and being very late to work this morning.
Yes - there we were, the Marys and me. We were being fitted out in hi-tech swim togs for a secret S.W.A.T. mission! We had arrived by black van to an undisclosed location and led into a fitting room where we proceeded to get these rubbery full length body suits for our scuba diving adventure ( shades of support hose deja vu in there somewhere).
Mary Raihn chucked a spack cause her cossy didn't fit and walked off totally pissed mumbling, "I've had a gutful!". My cossy consisted of a long shirt thingy that went all the way to the ankles with no pants, but I thought that I could tie it up somehow and make it work without drowning and Mary Ancell's fitted perfectly ( bitch Mary!).
I then left Mary Anchell looking quite chuffed that her bum did not look too big in her rubber suit and ran after Mary Raihn yelling that all would be well..we had a mission to complete!!!!!We were S.W.A.T Marys!
Oh yes!!!!Then I woke up and realised that I should have been on the road and at work right about then, so I ran out the door and having made good time and set up before the hordes of plebs arrived to part with their hard earned dracma, got totally abused by a 70 year old stupid fart of a woman for having "stolen her chairs" and where was she going to sit now after she got her medication from the Chemist???!!!
I suggested she start a petition to "get rid of the calendar lady who has stolen our chairs and where are we going to meet with the rest of our stupid, old, sensless pensioner friends to whinge the rest of the day away?" She told me to have a nice day.
I told her to......
have a nice day too!

The week that was....

This was the week that saw me:
1.Be happy that the man's test results came back negative - so next step is the BIG OP!
2.Go back to work ( what WAS that last word? )
3.Cut off the circulation to the lower part of my body by wearing support stockings.
4.Nearly breaking both wrists by trying to put said stockings on and take them off.
5.Managing not going to the toilet once in 12 hours - that was today.
6.Seeing the most horrible hairy arse crack ever ( well, since Calendar Club last year)-Ewwwww! This poor girl had so much arse crack hair you could style it!!!!
7.Get repulsed by the fact that some simple minded moron left their chewed gum stuck to my cash register when I wasn't looking - Ewwwww!
8.Eat too much food too late at night and then bloating like a zeppelin.
9.Become addicted to chocolate popcorn from the popcorn shop next to my stand at Charlestown Square.
10.Have dark rings around one eye only.
11.Not be able to stand on my feet when I got up in the morning cause they hurt so much from standing!
12.Amost getting through my first week.
13.Lasting till day 5 before getting really pissed off with my moron customers who cannot read , think I sell records and cannot put anything back the way they found. it.
14.Be abused repeatedly by old aged pensioners who claimed that I "stole" their seats and when was I going to kindly leave so that they could park their sorry saggy old arses back down on the seating provided by the centre right in front of the Chemist where I now am.

96 days to go!

Yay!!! I have gotten through the first two days of work but have extremely aching feet. I remember my feet aching lke this when I used to go out dancing on a Friday night( days of disco)and I could not manage to get back to my car the pain was so bad. Now the pain is from standing on them for 10 hours a day.
This usually subsides by about day 7 or 8 at which stage they just go numb and I am fine after that.
Had the obligatory " are you selling records? I thought you couldn't buy them any more!" comment yesterday. Within a hour of opening too! How competely stupid!!!!
But then I have'nt seen Mr Barramundi Man this season yet - he is a classic!
Every year he comes in with his "uniform" of barramundi t- shirt and barramundi cap, shorts and thongs and goes straight to the girlie section and drools for about 15 minutes and then goes away.Ewwwwwww!
Yes, he comes back over and over again!
Had my first "Staffy" in today - Arty Farty Mary!
She did real well - Brains as well as beauty ......mmmmm!
For those of you who have not heard, the man got back the rest of his test results and we can breathe easy as the cancer has not spread. So, next step is to send results to specialists for a second and third opinion on who is going to perform the operation. At least one bit of good news this week - yay!!!

End of Freedom as I know it!

Well today is the last day before Calendar Club starts...I see my life flashing before my eyes.I have already started the countdown....only 98 days to go!
I know, it's so sad - I have not worked full time for many years ( not hard to tell eh)and it means my freedom and flexibility is being taken away for the next three months.I go through this agony every year. The man will finally see me doing some 'real work', he just wishes it didn't involve so much of HIS time.
I am pretty lucky to have it - I am, really.I should be working full time,but can't due to many factors, so the whole famly chips in now and we all get to make a bit of pocket money to keep us going.
This afternoon we will head down to Charlestown to set up. This will take a few hours.The kiosk is installed by the man and his cousin (thank's cuz)then the women will move in and throw on the calendars as quickly as possible as we have a tight time frame to do it all.We are all frazzeled by the end.
I am hoping this season will be a good one, although in 98 days anything and everything can and will happen!