Just got home this evening from a day at Mayo. Heavy wet snow combined with high winds for most of the trip made it very stressful. So many weaving trucks! Snow covered the street signs downtown Rochester which is so torn up that nothing is recognizable.. I drove in circles through construction areas searching for valet parking. I was almost in tears for about an hour searching for a place to park or find valet. I got back to the valet waiting room at 4:15 and waited another hour and 15 min for my car – which was covered with slushy snow and I couldn’t get the wipers to clear it off. AND it was still snowing – and getting dark.
When I finally got on the main highway heading south I simply drove out of the snow in a few miles. Bizarre. This appointment was a CT scan that I have on a regular basis but I will never accept an appointment in the afternoon ever again. Of course as a friend said – if I don’t take it a patient coming from Saudi Arabia will be happy to take it. Sigh.
I’m out for tonight.
Hope you had a wonderful night sleep, that kind of day is awful
I’m glad you are home safe & sound after that stressful trip. We have to travel over a steep curvy mountain about an hour away for routine care. All of the large specialty hospitals are 2-3 hours away. We love rural living MOST of the time! Bet all of the furry family & Rick too were glad to see you. Sleep well.
Oh, Mary. That was a very hard day. Dr. Diane here. After taking care of your chores, Put your feet up and your blankie on and get Hazel on your lap for a nice restful nap😸. Or, watch the Olympics. USA and Canada women are playing hockey now. I have a funny story to tell you about my neighbor Golden Doodle, Hazel, but will save for a less stressful time. Take care!
Diane – did I know you had a golden doodle neighbor named Hazel????
I sent her photo in probably 18 months ago when they first moved here. With so many photos, it is easy to forget. I will resend. She is huge and adorable. Everyone in the neighborhood loves her. She was walking with her “Dad”, Kyle when she saw a squirrel that had been hit by a car and was flopping in the road. Well, Hazel took off, ran completely out of her harness and leash, and went for that squirrel. It was squealing , Kyle was yelling, and Hazel grabbed it and took off for home! Of course, I told them she was bringing them “dinner”!! On the way home, she was almost hit by a car, but luckily she is BIG and easily seen. She did make it home with Kyle hot on her tail!! All has been forgiven, but she certainly was in the “dog house” for a few days.
Diane – oh, I’m sure I’ve just forgotten. I can just see the scenario with the squirrel – eeks! 18 months ago – sigh
I decided a while back I make my own medical appointment rules. If it snowed or is snowing, I cancel. If it is raining, I cancel. I refuse to drive where I live (Chattanooga, TN) in the rain. 99% of the drivers here react to driving in the rain as if it is 80 deg, and a bright, clear day. I prefer to NOT be the only idiot on the road. All appointments must be after 9 a.m. and before 2:30 p.m. I will not drive during rush hours (reference idiot drivers). I will NOT wait longer than 1/2 hr after my appointment time to be seen. I always do pre-check in and am, at minimum, 15 minutes early. I am too damn OLD to waste my time and good temper. So be it. At least, I now live in a small city where all essential medical services are locally available and I can “afford” to be a cantankerous old biddy.
My sentiments exactly! And I live 1 mile from hospital and medical centers with various doctors and specialty practices, and 2 senior living complexes. Hopefully I will live out your life in my home, but we never know. Bought our house in 1972 when there was nothing around but cotton fields and a Circle K, got lucky when the hospital and various medical buildings started popping up all around us then ASU West built near us also. Neighborhood is very stable.
Marlene – hahaha!!! I would agree with every one of your conditions. This appointment was originally scheduled for 6:30 am and I would have had to get up at 3:30 to get there, park and walk to my appt. So I asked for it to be changed – from now on I don’t care if it’s weeks later! I’m not going late in the day especially in the winter.
Try this too.
After about 5 minutes in the exam room…open the door.
When the nurse comes in and asks “are you claustrophobic?” Answer YES.
See how quick the Dr. attends to you.
Jo – haha!! What a great solution! Pretty clever
That sounds absolutely terrible, and all for a scan that takes a few minutes. I’m sorry you went through that. I’ve heard the street and parking situation there is a nightmare. Any appointment I’ve had there means an overnight stay since we’re five hours away. Two years ago we racked up twelve night at the Springhill Suites across from St. Mary’s.
We are just coming out of a blizzard. We got 24 to 28 inches of heavy snow. It looks beautiful but it sure makes it difficult ro get around. I worry for my husband shoveling. He’s almost 77, but thinks he’s still 37.
Holly – Holy Cow! That’s a lot of snow!! We didn’t get one flake and we really need the moisture. It’s hard for me to be gone overnight with all the animals and a husband who’s nearly helpless – or thinks he is.
Wow! Mary what a horror trip! Mayo Clinic is so crazy with all the building. We live far enough away so we have to stay overnight. Maybe that’s less stressful in the end, then we take the shuttle from the hotel. 🥵
Well, I guess we r back to winter temps at least. The snow was cancelled for us. We need moisture as does our whole state!
I am the main driver here also with Jays eyesight right now. He had surgery again on Monday. Thankfully, Sioux Falls is only a half hour away.
Hang in there and hope your report is good! Hank will keep you going today haaha
Mary I just saw on line the quilt that won first place at Quilt Con called Mom Jeans. The creator took her old jeans and wow it was unique. Great way of reusing fabric which was her intention. It made me think of you on the cutting edge as always ( like Bullseye quilt) with rescuing shirts from thrift stores and making colorful quilt blocks. You and Bonnie Hunter have created nice quilts and I believe it’s worth promoting this path for sustainability. At the cost of a yard of fabric now, I hope it encourages younger quilters to seek alternatives too.
Oh, Mary! What a day! May today be a day of peace and calm.💙🙏💙
Wow Mary! You had a horrible trip. The travel in itself would be enough to raise your BP. Hope today is much easier for you. Hugs to you and all the furbabies. Hankster too! Warmer here, but windy – to be in the 60s but temps falling tomorrow. Have a good day!
Oh, this is hard to read. Driving in snow is my worst favorite thing. Feeling it necessary because of your appointment makes it harder. Construction makes it harder. Bring alone makes it harder. I’m so sorry for your difficulties. I’m just grateful that you were able to drive out of the snow on your way home.
Prayers for you.🙏
Good that you are home and safe. A storm is in coming today here in the SW. Stay safe Mary.
Sew group was canceled so I am sewing here at home again today.
I’m with everyone, enjoy a “ice tea”. I don’t drive that much anymore and all of my appointments have to be midday. Take time for yourself.
As I get older I don’t like city driving, night driving or in the snow. I’m glad you made it home safe.
As the chauffer for my husband who makes many trips to U of M, which is two hours in good weather, I feel your pain. I hate winter appointments because no one can predict the weather and always get it right. I don’t mind driving in snow, but it’s the other people who give you concern and grief. Have you noticed it is especially men in pickup trucks who think they are insensible? I’ve encountered those who don’t think anything will affect them and one spinning in a circle in front of me and one with a huge snow blade tailgating me almost to me out on I75 coming home from Ann Arbor. Somehow I missed both as we skidded to the median. What made it much better was no criticism from my husband passenger, he just quietly said, wow, you did everything right – he’s never said that before or since about anything I do!!!!! I will never not see that incident happening in my mind.
Glad you are home safe and sound. That kind of stress needs a couple of days recovery, I know, so do something fun for a couple of days and love on those fur babies!!
Blessings!!
Linda – good morning! I had to go pick up Hank early this morning so I didn’t get to sleep in but I was awake anyway. You had a close call! Yes, those big pickups and the semis really scare me and the high winds which have been everywhere just made things worse. Of course I have to do EVERYTHING by myself and I’ll be damned if I take anyone else to Mayo in the future.
In this day of technology, is it possible for the routine scan to be done closer to home and electronically sent to the doctor? Just asking as I don’t know?? I can have a MRI done & sent to my doctor that is w/i my healthcare group. I always ask for a CD that I carry to doctor appointment in case. I don’t know the distance but dealing w/ parking & construction sound like a nightmare. As we get older, traveling and dealing w/ changes become more difficult.
Marcia – would I trust a second rate hospital close to my home as much as one of the best hospitals in the world? My local hospital is the one who made a mistake and I nearly bled to death a couple years ago. So, the answer is no
I totally get this, Mary. My husband broke his neck in 1982. Luckily, he is not paralyzed, but the radiology dept. at our local hospital left a great deal to be desired! Also, luckily, the attending physician sent him to an excellent hospital in Columbus which at that time had one huge building. I was there in November with my friend whose daughter was there and it is now 6 or 8 huge buildings that I had to drive around twice to find the Valet parking. But, it is still excellent and a great place.
A stressful day for you – so sorry! It’s crazy about the valet parking- coupled with the weather and construction- yuck! Glad you made it home safe- rest up and know we all love you!
So sorry you had such a terrible ordeal in Rochester. Thankfully, you arrived home safely, and I hope you sleep well. 🥰
Oh Mary, so sorry for your awful day. But glad you are home safe & sound. What a terrible experience. It’s been snowing here in Eagan all day & continuing until about midnight according to the weather reports. We’ve had enough “winter weather” already!! ❄️❄️
Hope your CT shows a good report!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Take care.
Peggy S
Peggy – Rick and I had commented that at least I didn’t have to worry about the weather on this trip – haha!! It was a mess in Rochester
OMG! I’m surprised you didn’t have a heart attack after all that. You must have a very strong heart.
I hope your test came out fine, you don’t need to repeat that.
I’m watching the Olympics, actually only a few of them, but the more I see SnoopDogg, the more I’m enjoying him.
Jo – the dr will call today at 1:15 to give me the results. And I did feel like my heart would explode out of my chest during that hour long search. I saw a terrible video online from WY with a huge pileup – wicked weather everywhere.
That pileup was on the opposite side of the state…about 400 miles away. I’ve been in one of those accidents. It’s so scary. Should you get out of the auto, or, stay in it? Either way it’s risky. If there are fatalities, the coroner has to determine who died first and second to determine beneficiaries. In our accident, it was never determined. It gets mighty cold sitting in a car, in a blizzard, no heat and blankets you can’t get to!
I can totally understand how your heart must be about to explode. I’m so glad you got home safe and sound.
Me too, Jo! Snoop seems to be really enjoying himself as Honorary Coach at the Olympics and his joy is contagious.
Hope you get a restful night sleep. I am sure everyone was happy to see your smiling face when you returned. Time to open an “ice tea” we were in Albuquerque once and were driving to Roswell and it started sleeting as we were going up the mountains . I followed an 18 wheeler. The exits had cars sideways so we had to keep moving. I told my husband we were going to stay at a hotel with a bar. I was driving and planning my drinks well once we got into the mountains it was clear and beautiful. We arrived and my husband said there is one with a bar. Nope I am good now. But I did think about it .
Your friend was right as we checked into the hotel at Mayo there were shield with a LARGE group occupying a whole floor.
Rest up – that’s a stressful day indeed!! You all must have sent your nice weather our way – it was over 60 degrees in central OH today and the sun even came out for a while this afternoon. It is supposed to change this weekend so we may have a bit more snow then. As my friend said the other day, “This is the most wintery winter we’ve had in a long time!”
Guess I’ll plan to stay inside and sew then – after I spend Saturday evening at a local venue listening to a band that plays “oldies” – which means I’ll probably know all the songs… LOL!
Gail – I remember that nice weather but it’s 23 degrees this morning so that’s heading your way, too!!
I stayed home from Ash Wednesday service as we got ice that I do not need to be on the roads driving in. The older I’ve gotten I no longer trust the other driver in bad weather so I prefer to stay off the roads.
Take it easy tonight and go to bed and read to unwind. Tomorrows another day.
Oh Mary I am so sorry to hear about this stressful trip home! So grateful you arrived safe and sound! As a fellow reader said, time for an iced tea!
You’re a stronger woman than I, as I may not have even gone due to weather. Well done, and you deserve an iced tea and bed.
Christine – we watched the weather and made the comment that at least I didn’t have to worry about that. Haha! Surprise!!