July 8: He Called me His Babaloo

This post is dedicated to Triple A who talked me off a ledge today. Today was the worst day of my tip emotionally, but my boys were there for me. I really have no idea what I would ever do without them. Even when their lives are so full and busy with very important things like their families, school, job interviews, and moving to another state they all carved out time to be there for me, look out for me, encourage me, and sympathize with me. I love you boys more than anything in the world. My life has been made more beautiful and more meaningful because you are in it.

“If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” Booker T Jones and William Bell from their song Born Under a Bad Sign.

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” Henry Ford

Waking up at the campgrounds

On the road and SURPRISE, it's raining.

and raining

and raining

Jamestown, New York - a mixture of old and new

Stunning architecture

You can read about she got her hair color.

Ghostbusters costume

Carol Burnett's costumes

The Smothers Brothers - We would watch this on TV every Sunday Night

We never missed Red on TV at my grandma's house

We actually had this record. "Hello Mudda, Hello Fodda, Here I am at Camp Granada. Camp is very entertaining, and they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining."

Who can forget this hilarious sketch with Alec Baldwin on SNL and the Shwety Balls.

This is an interactive table - You take a prop from the shelf and place it on the table and it will tell you how and when it was used in comedy.

Rubber chicken, anvil, whoopie cushion, and more.

Lenny Bruce's trenchcoat

This letter to his father is hysterical

You can battle it out with friends and family - who is the funniest?

This is my comedy profile based on where I spent the most time in the museum and what I plugged into.

This park used to be a carnival when Lucy was a teenager. She worked there.

Birthplace of Lucille Ball

Growing up with her mother and grandparents in this house.

Me and Lucy hanging out at the park in the rain. She kept trying to make me take my Vitameatavegamin, but it was easy to refuse.

First stop today was in Jamestown, New York, where the Lucy and Desi Museum is located. Also, the National Comedy Center, which is so ironic. I thought today would be fun and uplifting, but it wasn’t. At the Lucy and Desi Museum, I first found a t-shirt that says, “Lucy, what have you done.” This was something Ben said to me frequently - like when I bought something big without telling him or when he cam home from work and all the furniture was rearranged. I held it together then, just felt a bit sad. Then as I was walking through the museum, I was the only person there alone. There were several places to take photos - people waiting to take their pictures of each other. I offered to take a picture of these two couples who were traveling together, but they didn’t offer to take my photo. So disappointing when people are so self centered. After the museum there was another gift shop of course and there it was...the shirt that said, “Babalu.” I lost it. This was Ben’s nickname for me. No one else ever called me that, just him and I’ll never hear it again. That started the water works that did not stop all day. Next I went to the National Comedy Center. OMG, Ben would have loved, loved, loved it. A person could spend all day long there and not see everything. It was very immersive and interactive. George Carlin was Ben’s favorite comic of all time. When we met, we both actually had albums of his comedy sketches. What I wouldn’t give to know where those albums are now. The blue room is where all the filthy mouthed humor was located, also a room full of farting benches. Every place in this comedy mecca was filled with reminders of Ben.

Let me just talk about the weather for a sec. I haven’t seen the sun for nearly three days. It has poured in sheets whenever I get ready to drive somewhere with thunder and lightening. Today I drove most of the day with my hazard lights on and my windshield wipers on the highest setting, and still had trouble seeing.

Listed on the things to see in Jamestown were Lucy’s birthplace, house growing up, workplace, and cemetery. Found them all, except the grave sight in the cemetery. I got lost inside this cemetery - got myself into a pickle and when I found the way out there was only one way to go. Short story, shorter - I sideswiped a tree and took out my camper awning. It was bent up very badly. I don’t care, it’s just a thing, but the emotions of the day, a persistent ear infection, and an over-sized swollen foot, plus the never ending deluge of rain were just more than I was able to bear this day. Maybe I’ll be able to bear it tomorrow, but not today. That’s the t-shirt I need, “NOT Today!” I checked into the KOA at Niagara Falls, but when I pulled in and everything was muddy and there were deep puddles everywhere, and the awning was bent in such away that I couldn’t open my camper door, so my own deluge began again and I was on the ledge ready to jump into the pit of despair and self pity. I called all of my boys, because they all offer me a different type of assistance and perspective. There was nothing to be done with the camper. The awning is made of steel and I’m not strong enough to remove it. The door wouldn’t move enough to get my :0) skinny arm through to hit the awning button (just to see what would happen.) Also, can’t get to my booze, so crying was my only option and it felt so good to cry. I mean really sob it out. I haven’t cried for Ben like that since his little memorial service. I decided that I couldn’t stay at another soggy campsite and I couldn’t get into the camper anyway, so I went back to the registration office to let them know I was leaving. The line was long and the lady at the counter was getting a bit concerned because the man wasn’t leaving the front of the line. He was upset because he had a reservation and his campsite was completely under water and he couldn’t even plug in his electrical. The lady said that they had no campsites available for the next two nights. That’s when I walked to the front of the line and said. I have already paid for my two nights and I am gifting them to this man. Have a nice stay in campsite D5. It felt good to do something nice for someone else. Then I left.

Aaron helped me find a nearby hotel and talked the clerk into letting my dogs stay. We hadn’t eaten today, so we got snacks: 4 White Castle burgers for the dogs, as well as an individual microwave pizza. I had popcorn and a Ramen soup, which was disgusting and the dogs didn’t like it either. I couldn’t sleep. I was worried about my $5000 worth of Humira in my fridge and I hadn’t taken any medication for my arthritis, my blood pressure, anxiety, estrogen, or restless legs in 24 hours. My feet were cramping so bad - more crying, more feeling sorry for myself. The dogs hadn’t had this much space in a long while, so they were so happy to chase each other over and around the bed about 50 times. Anyway. I finally fell asleep at about 2 A.M. The alarm went off at 7 A.M. That’s five hours. Can’t complain.