Author Archives: lindalouslife
Friday Funnies

Oops. Looks like we forgot to let the cat out of the bag! (Photo bomb courtesy of Bear.)
When Potato Chips Equal Love
As y’all know from a previous post, I finally found someone who listened to me about my ongoing gallbladder issues; I just needed to have a few tests run to make sure there was nothing else going on that might mimic gallbladder symptoms. I’m pleased to announce that all of the tests are behind me and nothing mimicking gallbladder symptoms was found. Now to get the referral to a surgeon…
My last test was my every-five-year colonoscopy; this was my third one. For each colonoscopy, the prep has been different, but never fun. The day before the procedure you can only have liquids, including broth and gelatin. An all liquid diet is hard enough but I don’t like broth and you can’t have red, purple, or orange gelatin. (Those colors could look like blood during the procedure.) However, I don’t like lemon or lime which limits my gelatin choices even further. I settled on blue “mixed berry” gelatin and Kenn found some green watermelon flavored gelatin that I was willing to try. Much to my surprise, I preferred the watermelon over the berry. I even managed to choke down a small amount of broth. I try to be a good patient but I spent most of the day complaining that I just wanted some potato chips. I love, love, love potato chips and desperately needed something salty to balance the sweetness of the gelatin. However, I was good and did NOT have any chips.
The next day, when I was back in the truck after the procedure, Kenn pulled out his insulated lunch bag and presented me with a bottle of soda and an individual serving-size bag of potato chips. Y’all, I almost cried with happiness. I also told Kenn that it’s one of the most romantic things he’s ever done for me. He found that statement amusing, but I was completely serious. It shows that he listens to me and went out of his way to do something to make me happy after a procedure he knew I was nervous about. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

Side note, if you’re over 45 and haven’t had a colonoscopy, please get on the phone and schedule one ASAP. There is no history of colon cancer in my family, yet precancerous polyps were found in my first colonoscopy (which is why I have to have one every five years). If I hadn’t had a colonoscopy as recommended, within the next several years, I would have developed colon cancer. A colonoscopy won’t be at the top of anyone’s list of Fun Things To Do, but, as the saying goes, it’s better than the alternative.
Now, what is the most romantic thing someone has done for you?
Wordless Wednesday

Friday Funnies

I totally understand sealing salt against humidity; here in the South it’s a must. (It’s also why you’ll occasionally find uncooked rice in salt shakers; the rice keeps the salt from clumping up.) However… trying to “raise spout” through this sticker took fingernails, a knife, and a kitten.🤦♀️
Friday Funnies

Bear wanted to make sure his photo shoot qualified for a PG rating.😂
Tanglewood Mansion
It’s not uncommon when we’re traveling for me to see something and think “That would make a cool photo.” It’s not always possible to stop and take a picture, especially when towing a travel trailer. Other times, it’s just a matter of not taking the time to stop even when there’s no reason not too. Proof in point are the intriguing columns I’ve seen every time we go to South Carolina to visit our kids. During one of our trips earlier this year, I mentioned to Kenn my plans to eventually stop and take a photo. Being the good man that he is, the next time we were out Kenn whipped into the parking lot, we got out, and I actually took. the. pictures!

We couldn’t have stopped at a better time; the lighting was perfect. The photo above is one of my absolute favorites. There was actually more to the site than I thought. The columns are what is left of Tanglewood Mansion. According to the sign, Tanglewood burned down twice: the first time in 1908 and again in 1970. (Yikes.) The Tanglewood property was eventually purchased for use as the location for a new branch of the Anderson County Library System; groundbreaking took place in 2004.

I love old architecture and I’m a big fan of older buildings being repurposed while allowing the age and history of the building to shine through. In that vein, I’m glad that the site for the library wasn’t razed to remove all traces of the mansion. I enjoyed looking at the remains of the structure and trying to figure out what was where. We were able to determine the location of multiple fireplaces; each chimney had at least three fireplaces associated with it.

The back view of the columns shows that they were actually brick and not wood which is one of those things that I think is really cool.

I’m also a big fan of stairs to nowhere.

Going forward, I plan to do better about stopping to take the photo or smell the roses or whatever. How about you? Do you make the time to do the things that are important to you – even when they just nourish your soul and not your wallet? (Our success driven culture can make those decisions difficult.)