open letter to mr. stephen j. cloobeck

Today is my first day of my holiday in Florida and I chose to stay at Daytona Beach Regency. I've stayed here many times over the last decade and regard the site as one of my top favorites.
After this morning, my very first morning here, I think the bloom is off the rose, so to speak.
I had drawn the drapes last night when I finally went to bed, knowing that the sunlight would otherwise awaken me far too early. And so I slept well. Then, upon awaking, I slid open one of the drapes in the bedroom, allowing blue-sky brilliance to spill into the room. Nice!
Then I walked into the living room and adjusted the thermostat, then approached the drapes. I had drawn all of the drapes closed before retiring for the evening; all, that is, except the sheer across the glass door. That would allow some morning sunshine into the area, but not so much as to awaken me from my slumbers.
So, I approach the sheer, intending to open the light-blocking drapes to either side of it - and there is a man, rapelling from the roof, onto my balcony! Straight across from me, through the sheer! And I'm nude.
I didn't know if he saw me through the sheer or not. As soon as I saw him, I ducked behind the darkening drapes, but then I felt that I was trapped. I didn't know if the building was under attack, or if some nut had chosen the eleventh floor of the Daytona Beach Regency to break into, or if this was a stunt of some type.
I just knew there was a stranger on my balcony, I was nude, and I could not reach a phone without revealing myself to the stranger.
And all before coffee. Which I normally would be enjoying on the balcony. Especially on my very first morning at the beach.
I cautiously peeked around the drape and saw the man had moved to the window outside the bedroom. I still did not feel safe using the phone on the living room table, as that was by the sheer on the glass door. I scooted toward the bedroom door, making sure the man was not by the opened drapes, then grabbed my nightgown. But I could not use the phone in the bedroom, either, as the man would have seen me cross the room. Try to bear in mind that I did not know WHY the man was on my balcony; I only knew that he was there, as I could see him when I tried to approach the phone on the bedside table.
Finally, I saw him move back toward the living room windows and I darted to the phone and called the front desk.
When the front desk answered, in hushed tones I said, "There's a man on my balcony, a man who I saw rapell onto the balcony."
"He's just cleaning the windows, ma'am."
"No, he is not. I have been watching him. He rapelled onto my balcony, then stood there, looking at the beach. He did not clean the windows. And he just rapelled off my balcony."
The young woman responded, "Well, he's supposed to be up there cleaning the windows. I'll find out and call you back."
So, I drew the drape closed in the bedroom, then got back into bed. To wait.
Finally, a different young woman, Mandy, called me back.
"Yes, ma'am, the man was there to clean the windows. You should have been notified when you checked in last night."
"No, no one told me. I had no idea that I would be accosted by a strange man on my balcony my very first morning of my stay. I am very disappointed."
"Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, but you should have been told when you checked in. Didn't Jonathan tell you? Also, we had called the rooms yesterday to let everyone know."
"No, Jonathan didn't tell me when I checked in late yesterday afternoon. And there was no notice in the elevator or in my room."
"Ma'am, I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know. I am very disappointed. I always like to have my coffee on the balcony and look at the ocean on my first morning here and now that is ruined. I am very disappointed. I just may cancel the rest of my stay and leave."
"I am so sorry, ma'am. If there is anything I can do, please let me know."
"I'm not sure there is anything you could do."
Then I hung up the phone.

I still don't know what I will do. But I don't think I'll be referring any of my friends and family to Diamond Resorts International. I've been a member since they took over Sunterra, which I had enjoyed. DRI seems more interested in my money than in me.

cat o' nine tales: 5

Tale 5:
me: 1. no Princessa note today?? :(

me: 2. may i have the two tales i missed on M and T?

bfe: There was a Princessa trivia fact sent out today (it was a motivational poster) but she did not know how to make her technology interface with your technology. She might have to use dropbox.

me: Oooh! A dropbox treat 4 me!

bfe: A hint of things to come: Princessa has also been collaberating on a comic book of her adventures. They might be replacing the Princessa Fact of the Day. They will be bigger and better but will not come out on a daily basis due to the work involved.

bfe: But she does not know how that project will play out. She is still negotiating terms of using her and other kitteh's likeness and their stories. Zoe is really holding out for more kibble and exotic waters.

me: Hm, that Zoe drives a hard bargain... But let Princessa know i am willing to be a silent partner. An Angel, in fact!

bfe: Zoe is just looking out for her brand. Give her a break!

me: HER brand?! She has no dog in this fight!

bfe: You do not know this comic!

me: Not yet. Soon?

cat o' nine tales: 4

Tale 4:
me: No message from Princessa today?

bfe: Little Known Princessa Fact: between 2001 to 2004, whilst living in Virginia, Princessa the Cat donated her weekends to training seeing eye dogs.

me: Laughing out loud! She is SUCH a talented kitteh!

bfe: A cat training a dog! Wow!

me: 4 realz! i can't figure how she even GOT that job! her resume must be wild!

bfe: I agree!

cat o' nine tales: part 3

Tale 3:
bfe: Little Known Princessa Fact of the Day: did you know that Princessa the Cat has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as: kindness and health issues, cat-human interactions, global perspectives on peace, and the use of natural binding agents in dry cat food? Also, Princessa the Cat always writes under a pen name so as not to sway journal referees with her fame.

me: Nice! How very considerate of her! What is her favorite nom de plume?

me: Perhaps it is Tess T. Rex?

me: Oh, wait! I saw one of her interaction treatises! She used the name Q.T. Pye, right? Yeah, I thought that was her!

bfe: Whoa! I like that second one ALOT!

love child

On Wednesday, my bfe and I watched one of the Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah's Wednesday night films at the coffee house aouth of Forsyth Park. I can't recall the name right now, but it was a campy 1970's movie about the dangers of being a rebellious teen girl around a lecherous older guy. The main character was nicknamed "Angel" by the lech, who had started off as a helper with her sports team, then a photographer, then a front man for a child pornography ring.
We both were incredulous that this had made it on the air during prime time back in the day!

Anywho, the next day, we exchanged the following silliness. Text-style, of course, as he has an aversion to actually speaking on the phone, thanks to a former B*t**.
Hey, hey, hey! I refer to her name! Sheesh.
Ahem... I digress!

bfe: Were you a love child or planned?
bfe: We should keep our friendship private between us. Don't tell your mom.
bfe: Dinner Tuesday sounds great Angel. Thank-YOU.
(The above were in quick succession as individual texts. I responded in similar manner.

me: Too late! Mama knows about you!

me: :D no, thank YOU!

me: I was planned, I think. My folks were married 2 years b4 i was born. you?

bfe: Oh, I am confident I was a mistake!

me: Nah, just unexpectedly early. i can say that because your folks are still together after all these years.

 

bfe: They were already married a year, but I came along during their junior year of college. Who decides to have a kid during their junior year?

me: people who have unprotected sex, that's who! they are called 'parents'. Yep.

And so ends another episode of "It came by T E X T", brought to you by a sandy kid with the ocean singing in her ears...

word of the day: benign

After almost two weeks of waiting, I finally got word from my doctor: benign.

Once I knew I was in the clear, I thought it best to let folks know. Heaven forbid they should find out somehow and wonder why they had NOT been informed. I would have never heard the end of it! So, here is what I wrote:
"Just to let you know...
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I had surgery to remove a lesion on my vaginal wall. I suspect it was a ruptured cyst, but it had been there for several months and was not healing. Surgery, requiring me to be put under, was required, as the lesion was near my left urethra and the doctor wanted to make sure he didn't run into any complications.
The surgery was at 7 AM on the 21st and I was home before 11 AM.
My elder stepsister knows, because she was on duty at the hospital on the 20th when they were making the call to let me know the time of my surgery.
My bfe took me there, brought me home, and took general care of me - and custody of my car - until the 25th. He was amazing, pretty much leaving me alone to sleep and recover and making sure I didn't try to jump back into my busy schedule too quickly... which I certainly would have done.
Yesterday afternoon, I had the post-op check-up. Benign! Benign!!
Thank God.
Now to be patient while the wound finishes its healing.
I am so relieved!
Due to the sensitive nature of the location (i.e., interior vaginal wall), I didn't really want to talk about to everybody. I had not informed my eldest brother, my middle brother, and my first niece (my ICE) until the Sunday before the surgery (the 18th). My eldest brother and his wonderful wife, as well as my first niece, brought me Thanksgiving dinners and visited briefly, again allowing me time to recover from the anesthesia and surgery.
I only took pain meds for three days and never had the intense pain and cramping the doc had said I would, nor did I have heavy bleeding. Good!
So, I did want you to know, in case you might hear about it somewhere along the way."

Here are some of the responses I received. I truly am blessed to have such caring people in my life!

my SAR bf (who had a cancerous kidney removed about two months earlier) said:
"Y'know, you didn't need to have sympathy surgery to show that you care.....
Glad to hear that everything is, as my sister put it, "unremarkable".
Isn't anesthesia fun?
On my end, my MRI came back clean this week. Next thing is a CT scan in
March to monitor the suspicious location in my lung. So it looks as if
I'm clean for now. (Time for a victory dance....oh yeah, oh yeah...)
How long is your recovery time? Are you back in the swing of things yet?"
my reply:
"Victory dance is good!!
I'm glad this is the end of the term. Mostly, I'm grading Final Exams, so I'm on my butt and off the streets... mostly!
<3
Glad to hear all you are passing all of your tests with flying colors!
:D"

My copper friend proclaimed "Am verrrryyy happy for you!! Bestest news I've heard all month!!"

My first niece said:
"I take it you got the results from the cyst?
I love your word for the day then.
I love you."

The Canadienne wrote:
"whoopie Benigh is Awesome. Been saying quite a lot of prayers, nice to know they were answered..
Ok Time to Happy Dance xo nice pic too of the canteen lol. Now working at a local bar for only 8 hrs a week, looking for a second one too. HOpe you have a really wonderful Christmas too. My youngest daughter is coming to Windsor. Love to all! xox"
my reply to her:
"Happy dance all around! <3"

my melaness (the cystologist) said:
"omg girl that's scary!!! Usually those are benign unless you've had abnormal paps. Ill pray for you to have a quick recovery! NO SEX either!!!"
my reply was
"No sex???
That's what the doc said, too.
Not even with my toys.
Damn.
For at least three more weeks.
Damn!"
She nearly fell off her chair, laughing!

The ex, when I told him, said:
"I am so thankful that everything went well and that the biopsy was negative. Thank you for letting me know.
Pending vacation approval, I'll be driving down for Christmas, traveling December 21-22 and on December 31- January 1. I'll let you know more soon."
I told him:
"Please do let me know as your plans evolve.
I'll be away, but returning on the 23rd, with no plans for further travel.
I have NO idea what is going on for Christmas Eve this year... I have heard nothing about a family get-together."
(Turns out my eldest brother was to have passed the word to me... oops!)

my stepmom told me:
"and again, Thank God it was benign…
I am sorry you had a confining Thanksgiving.
Your bfe sounds like a really good guy…
Let me know when you can spend some time together…I can come to Savannah if that would be better..
No more surgeries …"
I say, I sure hope not! This isn't the first time I've had a little alien hanging out where it doesn't belong. I do hope it will be the LAST.

My paternal aunt put it into perspective:
"Needless to say I didn't know about your problem, so glad that it was not "BAD". My middle daughter's was of course. Had a complete hysterectomy. Has finished the kemo and radiation. Her hair is comming back in. We had Thanksgiving dinner there this year. She had just had her last radiation treatment the day before but I didn't know that, she was afraid we would not come if I knew that {probably right}. I am happy that things proved good for you. We love you."
Nothing like hearing the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence.
"Oh, my, I feel like such a wienie. I'm glad things are improving for Beverly... I had no idea. Thank you for letting me know."

This points out two important things.
1. Stay in touch more often.
2. Realize you are not the only one.

get well soon

Tonight, I was given a postcard.
And I remembered.
I remembered you asked for my address while we were in the waiting room. I started to give it to you, then my name was called and I had to go.
I remembered that you kissed me on the top of my head when time came for you to leave my pre-surgery room.
That was a very sweet surprise.
I had sweet dreams when I went under that morning.
Thank you.

Thank you for taking such excellent care of me during a difficult time for me.
And thank you for the postcard.