What I ate on Tuesday

 I woke about 10:30, took med for my stomach, waited two hours. I ate a banana about 1 pm. Then I slept for two hours. Then, I had four ounces of applesauce. I had one tiny hamburger, a $1 burger. At 8 pm, I had a salad with a bit of Miracle Whip and a small amount of chicken I cut into tiny cubes. The volume was about the amount of half a deck of cards.  Around 9 pm, I had a bar with peanuts. Now, at almost midnight I have not had one bit of reflux pain. 

Try figuring what you can eat with diabetes, gastroparesis, and reflux. It is hard. I know that twice today, I pushed it with what I ate. But, I managed to not have reflux. 

Tommy had salad with tomatoes, relish and mayo, and chicken.

Good news (at least to me)

Okay, I used my soldering iron successfully.

Did not burn myself or anything else I should not have.

Probably lost weight today. 

Stayed home except for a quick trip to Walgreen's for prescription I really needed. 

Did not get wet or blown away. 

Tommy and I got the dishwasher emptied and filled. 

I read a bit more of "I Alone."

Remembered to watch Miracle Worker: Oregon Trail. 

I now have two free hummingbird feeders.

What is good or new in your world on Tuesday or whenever? 

Smelly, Disgusting

This is an ongoing complaint. Kitchen linens start to smell like rancid oil and food.  I grab a dishtowel, clean or dirty, to contain a huge sneeze and am choked by the smell. Yes, that towel goes into the wash. There is never snot, just spray! Finally, I could stand stink no more. Nothing helped. 

Where is the Biz I bought a year ago? I found it. I had never used it because Tommy objected. ??? Well, a cup of Biz in the last load of white laundry solved the problem. I even washed some "clean" but stinky  kitchen things to get everything not to smell gross. It was so bad I could not stand to fold clean clothes from the dryer.  I suppose I will use Biz from now on in the laundry.

At my house, I would lay a dish cloth or towel in the dishwasher rack and put glasses on it or edges of bowls. Then, I would wash the dishes. Washing things like this one or two at a time eventually got the stink of rancid oil/food out of everything. Of course, there were the inevitable tiny bits of food left on laundry washed with dishes. I just rinsed the items in the sink, hung over the side of the sink to dry and dropped them into the dirty laundry. It took months to get this accomplished. 

As long as we are talking smelly and disgusting, how about roaches? When I came here, it seemed roaches reigned. Tommy would not allow any remediation measures. So, I sneaked a roach spray in and sprayed table legs in the kitchen. I also sprayed the baseboards and a bit of the carpet down the hall. When I found a roach, dead or alive, I called him so he would realize the extent of the problem. 

The other day, I washed a skillet and put it on the stove. I turned around and there was a roach in the skillet. I screamed and hit the stove with the skillet about three time hard. Now, I have gotten more roach deterrents and killers. I found these non-toxic sticky things that trap roaches. It works. Then, I got a packet of ten roach motel like things. So far, the sticky sheets work. I have no idea if the roach poison works. I suppose so. 

All this time, I have had to keep utensils and cooking utensils in a plastic box with a locking top. It is also on a chair that has been sprayed on the legs. I have had to wash items before I use them. The larger glass items are on chairs that have had the legs sprayed with the roach killer/repellent. This has made my life harder. I need to treat the drawers and cabinets as they are roach homes. I am not capable of emptying everything at once, so I may just spray in those and then wash things in the dishwasher. 

Under the sink in the back corner, there is a huge gap in the construction of the cabinet. I know that roaches breed there, probably coming from under the house. Well, I have seen roaches under the sink. He told me absolutely that no one could fix it. And, I could not spray foam in the crack. I have plans, though. Watch me. 

I did not grow up with roaches and have never lived with roaches! I hate it. Roaches are so nasty and low class! A man told me there is no shame in getting roaches; there is shame in living with them. 

Dinner tonight: Stove Top Stuffing with chicken, broccoli slaw, green beans, and dried cranberries in it, baked. There will be no soup or egg or broth. I will cook the broccoli slaw to soften it. I think it will be good. In order not to have so much bread/carbs, I will make the stuffing and then use only half, probably freezing the other half. 

Scratch that dinner above. I have been having reflux that is so painful and for almost 24 hours. Tommy decided to have the slaw from last night and a chicken Italian sausage, and three huge, juicy plums. I still have not decided what I can eat without pain.

The skies are gray; with intermittent showers. So far, that is all of Ida we are experiencing. I think Birmingham will be spared. We have plans to stay in until Wednesday. Since it appears we will be dry by then, I have a blood draw planned. How about your weather conditions? 

Moody Nap and Ugly Vegetables

 I finished A Painted House. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird, you will probably like this book. If you try it, let me know. I have no idea where I put Hillbilly Elegy. 

We went to The Pig for 50 cent bell peppers so I could make stuffed peppers. The  peppers were fresh-looking. However, they were so knotty and twisted that there was no way one could be stuffed with any amount of filling! They were ugly but okay for use in cooking. I only bought two since I still have frozen chopped and sliced packages in the freezer. I bought three bananas. The ones at Publix, while having perfect skins with no black spots and still green a bit sometimes, are rotten in the core. The ones at The Pig, so far, have been good bananas. 

Then, I went into Publix and got three samples like they had before Covid...,cantaloupe, smoked gouda macncheese, carrot cake. When I went to the car, Tommy tried the mcn chee and spit it out the door. It was not bad but he hated it. The cantaloupe was all his. I ate half the carrot cake. I had gone there to get the raisins that were bogo and got salad and, maybe something else. I did refuse to take my mask down in the store to sample.

The raisins are the kind in a cardboard box/canister with a plastic lid, 22.58 ounces, two of them for $7. Tommy demanded a box of his own. I wanted to put some in a container for him. He wanted the whole thing. We had an argument about this. He wants them to continually eat, even with diabetes. He was pouting and whining when I gave him a portion of a box. I told him we had so many kinds of fresh grapes that he should eat fresh and save most of these for when fresh was gone. He does not see it that way! 

One container is for winter cooking. He considers it mine and I can do as I wish with it, but he intends to eat the other by himself, snacking three or four times a day. He said no one saves dried fruit for eating when fresh in not in the house. Well, historically, that is correct even though we can get fresh most of the time. But, the principle holds. Fresh may not be in the house or money may be tight. I have done it myself with dried apples and dried bananas, and cranberries. 

When I took a nap this afternoon, I was dragging as I got into bed. Then, it was breezy on my feet, so I fidgeted until I got the breeze off my feet (45 minutes). Actually, I moved until the feet were in a different place. I had three blankets over me and still had wind on my feet!

I was busy in my dream. I was lying on a twin bed with my sister and lying head to feet. We were talking about something. I have no idea where this dream came from or which sister was there. Then, I awoke to pee and told Tommy to wake me an hour later than I had told him. I forgot what I dreamed about last. But, I do remember it was a busy dream and neither pleasant nor unpleasant. When I awoke mid-nap, I was surprised not to be sleeping with my head at the foot of the bed. I was tired.

Dinner was some sort of Southwest Chopped Salad with cilantro dressing and chicken. I could not eat it. Tommy had chicken thigh he had picked off a chicken I baked. I thawed a baked breast and ate a bit of that plus the leftover vegetables from last night. I should not have, but I ate banana chopped over ice cream. He had just ice cream. 

Is there anything in your house that gets eaten too soon that could be stored? Then, does a fresh item get pushed aside in danger of spoiling? He will not eat frozen grapes. 

Busy Saturday

 Saturday we went to Cullman since I needed to get my mail and it should rain most days next week. There were bills and the requisite junk mail. I could not go in, so Tommy got it for me. He has a PO Box key on his keychain in case I lose mine or so he can use his key. 

Friday night, I read and could not go to sleep until an hour before he woke me. So, I am exhausted. 

We went to my yard and sat in the car in the driveway for about one minute. Usually, I want and need to sit there for at least five minutes. 

We went to the grocery store where I find carts with great markdowns. I found boxed Hershey's Chocolate Mousse mix for $0.49, so I bought 3.  the expiration date is August 24, 2021, but I am positive they are not bad or stale. The whole thing has 34 carbs, so each of the 8 helpings will be low-carb. 

Also, in the cart were tiny 6-packs of SUN-MAID chocolate yogurt covered raisins. I have never had these, but each 6-pack of snack size was $0.49. Cheap snack. I had never had these and only bought one package. They were delicious!

Those two items were in the cart. The next two items were in the ad.

Vlasic Dill Relish and Vlasic sweet relish were $0.99 for 10 ounce jars. I bought 2 of each for a total of four jars. I usually buy Mount Olive relish, but these were cheap, so I will try them. Best by date is October 22. But, I would not hesitate to eat these beyond that date. This relish is $0.98 at Walmart, but sometimes it is hard to find.

Dasani water was $3.99 for a 24 pack, so I bought 3. This is on sale this week and cheaper than I have seen it in a long time. 

I was happy with this shopping trip! 

Friday night I scrambled 5 eggs and ate half of the eggs for dinner. Saturday morning, I ate the rest with a sausage patty and a glass of milk in the car when we left. Tommy had two sausages in two slices of bread and a cup of tea before I awoke. It appears buying sausage and cooking it for him has easily broken his Hardee's habit. Those biscuits at Hardee's are too salty. It cost $4 for two sausage biscuit and a cup of coffee. 

At Publix last week or the week before, I found Jimmy Dean fully cooked sausages for $3.99. There are only 8 patties, but they are only $0.50 for each patty. I can stand long enough to cook/heat these in a skillet. So, they work. I may never get them unless they are on sale. I had one with my eggs. 

We arrived home before 2 pm.  I now need a nap at 2:30. 

Piggly Wiggly has Bell peppers for $0.50 each, so I plan to get some of those to make stuffed bell peppers. Tommy loves those. I have the ground beef thawing. 

After the nap.

Tommy called me at 6 pm and I have no memory of that event. He called me at 6:45 and I did get up in a few minutes. He said I replied at 6 pm. Obviously, I talk to him without a memory of talking. Rarely am I ever that exhausted.

Dinner was a bag of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, microwaved. Tommy had a chicken Italian sausage. I took one bite of the sausage and it made me ill, so I just had vegetables with nothing on them. Both items were given to me. 

Maybe I will make a chocolate mousse tonight. Maybe I will cook three packages of sausage patties that need to be cooked and freeze most of them. Maybe I will do nothing else. Maybe I will finish A Painted House. I only have 100 pages to go. 

What is going on in your world this weekend? Bargains? Healthy eating? Something interesting?

Birds of Prey

On Friday, or maybe the day before, I was sitting in the car waiting for Tommy to come out of the house. I saw a hawk land on his neighbor's chain link fence. A red-tailed hawk, searching for prey. I watched it for a long time, but it left when Tommy came in sight. 

At my house, I often saw chicken hawks circling around the skies over the back yard. However, I have not seen a hawk here and have not looked up to see. My chickens usually alerted me by squawking and running under a tree or bush.  Or, the bench. 

Finally, the hawk flew into Tommy's neighbor's yard and caught something on the ground, attacked, and appeared to be tearing whatever it was apart. 

From now on I will look up for them. We see them in trees and on telephone lines and poles elsewhere. The people around here don't even have cats as prey for hawks. I suppose they are not predators, either. 

Today, Friday, as we were driving in a residential neighborhood, we saw an interaction between a larger hawk and a squirrel. We stopped and watched for about ten minutes.  It appeared that the hawk was going to get the squirrel. But, the hawk did not. He either changed his mind or did not intend to catch the squirrel. We finally lost sight of it when it flew to a low perch in the trees. 

I am amazed we have only this week seen hawks hunting. I wonder if they are young hawks staying close to the ground. It was rather incongruous seeing them on low chain link fences. In our mind, the hunters should be on wooden fences in less populated areas. 

The first night I read A Painted House, I read 160 pages. Last night, I read over 100 pages. I didn't stay up late last night. I went to bed early so I could read. That is the way I should read, not watch TV all night and then read. 

Do you see hawks hunting? Do you live in a country situation or a city?  Do you lose chickens or cats like my neighbors and I did? Are the mice plentiful where you are? 

Plans and A Painted House

 I planned to start Hillbilly Elegy last night, but I left the book in the living room where Tommy was sleeping. So, I read the book I had in the bedroom--A Painted House by John Gresham. I love it and read 110 or more pages before I put it down and got to sleep at 7:30 am. There was a good reason.

We watched a movie--The Story of Will Rogers with Will Rogers, Jr. as his father. This was a conscious effort, a decision to stay up until 3:15 am. Since we have no place to go early, it is not a problem. But, my decision to read so long, while a decision, was not appropriate at 3:30 am! 

However, I never regret time spent reading. I did sleep until about 10:30 am, got up, went back about 12:15 pm  and slept until 4:30 pm. No complaints from anyone or suggestion as to what I should do. Okay? I just won't publish your comment. Got it? 

When I was getting a degree in English, I took 3 upper level literature course one semester. People, other English majors thought I had lost my mind. I was not the person who read the text assigned and came to class. I read other books, passages, and did not have a computer to read online. So, I read, and read, and read. Now, I am back on track with that. 

The stitches on my chest were removed Monday. For two weeks, it was bloody, red perimeter, and swollen and hurt it touched by my clothing. The doctor said it looked fine. Well, by Wednesday night, I can barely see where the stitches were located. This makes me happy since my clothing, purse, and seatbelt all hurt me. I am allergic to the tape on bandaids and did not have proper tape. 

Yellow squash zucchini are now cooking in olive oil and garlic. There are other things we can eat--baked chicken, carrots, slaw, salad greens, grape tomatoes and things I cannot remember. Tommy can choose his as will I. We have cherries, apples, bananas, red grapes, white grapes, and black grapes. Tommy will not touch bananas, and I won't touch red grapes. And, there is a plethora of canned and frozen foods--fruits, vegetables, and proteins. 

I may have to cook tomorrow...boo hoo. Okay, tonight, tommy wants a chicken Italian salami thing like a hot dog. That is a microwave job. 

Who loves to read so much you read what other people think is too much or too long? How long have you loved to read? Did you mind reading textbooks in school? Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? 

I'm Back

 Mentally, I feel much as I usually do. Tommy said for over two weeks I talked as though I had just gotten out of bed, that my voice was soft and sort of trailed off as I spoke. I can think. I can plan and carry it through. I can sleep at night and do not feel the need to sleep all day and into the evening.

Not once did I exercise/march

Today, for the first time in about a month, I went to a big box store. Before, I was afraid to go. Even so, today, I ran into three racks. LOL...maybe I am not 100%. 

I tried to use Fetch again, thinking it was my brain not working. Well, my brain works now, and I still cannot use it. I need help. 

I finally finished The Bird Way. Reading only as few as 4 pages some nights certainly did not make it a quick read. Now, I will start on Hillbilly Elegy. I have had this on my reading list for several years. Now, I will read it. 

Now, I have a divot in my nose. I think it is very noticeable. Tommy calls it a dimple. Who ever heard of a dimple on the end of a nose. Well, it is off-center. If it had been skin cancer, it would have been much larger. 

Tomorrow, I must pick basil if it has not bolted. It was scary to think of bending over on the porch when I was so medicated. I have a long list of items that I need to do! 

Tommy has been really good to get his food and bring me endless things I have wanted. For over two weeks, I just got up to go to the bathroom. Tonight, we went through the refrigerator to see what went to waste. The list was short--celery and a bit of salad greens. I got to see what was in there to plan when to eat what. 

I have calls to make and sugar water to make for the hummers, clothes to fold, painting, gluing and soldering (sort of), When you are discombobulated from being ill, do you have a list of things to do? 

Tommy Talking-Scatology

First, a nurse or someone called me and relayed a message from the doctor. He said I can quit Cymbalta without side effects because I have not taken it long enough to cause problems. He did say it take a long time to become accustomed to it. And, I am taking the lowest dose made. From his message, I feel like I am a quitter. Well, the feeling was too overwhelming. Plus, I was on the brink of falling most of the time. And, when I had to walk in the kitchen with a knife, I was terrified of falling and stabbing myself. So, I won't take one this evening and hopefully will feel better. It wears off an hour before I am due to take another. 

 Okay, this next is Tommy's idea to write the happenings. Don't think I am talking out of school. Every time, he asks me with a big smile if I am going to write what happened. I say I am not and he looks disappointed. Remember, are juveniles in this area. 

One day, Tommy got up and started talking to me. But, I could not understand what he said. I asked and he said he did not say anything. "Well, I know you said something!" "Well, I was talking with a different body part." I was puzzled at that. "What??? What part?" "My butt!"  I laughed because he was being so stupid. He thought I was amused with the fart and his joke, I suppose. 

Another time, we were both sitting and watching TV when I thought he said something to me. Again, I asked. He kept saying he said nothing. I kept insisting and he laughed and told me it was a fart. He says this with no shame or guilt. I think he is proud and I know he is amused. These are just two examples.

It surprises me every time. Maybe I am slow catching on, but surprising me happens infrequently. (Scatology is not strictly gassiness, but it works as an excretion, just gas.)

Well, maybe you are not amused. Do these antics go on at your house?

I Quit

 I refuse to take another Cymbalta. It is too distressing to almost fall, forget to breathe, disdain food, sleep too much. Plus, there are other effects. I certainly hope it does not hurt me to stop cold turkey after 17 days. So much for that med!

Today, I saw the dermatologist. He said he thought the place on my nose was skin cancer, but it was not. He said it was rosacea. That's weird. My cheeks were red today when I took off my mask. The mask does that to me. I have never been known for rosy cheeks. I am just about colorless in that respect. But, the tan spot on my nose is rosacea. How weird is that? 

He also froze ten spots on my back. I forgot what they are. But, the get bumpy and itch. I cannot reach them to scratch them. I have to get up and get the backscratcher. So, at night, I go mad from the itching for hours. Then, I have to get back to sleep. It is miserable and about half my lost sleep each night can be contributed to these itchy bumps. 

So, now I go back once a month to have these evil bumps frozen off. They are from my shoulders to above my knees. He will just keep freezing them until they don't come back ever. I don't consider them disfiguring, just itchy and irritating under bands of bra and panties. 

I napped through dinnertime. Tommy found food. I did not eat until midnight and had Special K, banana, and milk. About noon I had scrambled eggs and milk. So, I have lost a bit more weight. 

The day was beautiful, sun and blue skies. The hummingbirds are still eating the nectar I made them that was diluted by rain. Maybe the information about hummers shunning nectar left in rain and diluted was off. 

What Do You Need?

 The few stores I have been into seem to have lots of bare shelves. I doubt this situation is going to get any better. I forgot what item I was needing/wanting, but I became alert to the situation. 

I know it seems like a silly item, but I don't have any Hormel Chili without beans. Sure, I can live without this item. I usually only get one can at a time because it is not so important to me. Green beans is the food I need to keep in multiples. 

Toilet paper was never hoarded here. Tommy has enough for him for years. I think there were 48 rolls in there several years ago. I buy the brand I like, one that does not shed lint on my bottom. 

The thing I might need more of is bscb. I have a couple of turkeys I will cook soon. Of course, besides eating from them, I plan to freeze some for Thanksgiving or just for eating anytime. The refrigerator top shelf has to be clear so I can thaw it there. 

Oh, yes, I ran out of Miracle Whip. The overbuying of MW last year, resulting in MW soon to be out of date worked out well. I ate the out-of-date MW was perfectly fine three months later. Now, I am working on my third 8-ounce jar of MW that "expired" in May. 

I have plenty of pumpkin puree, cranberry sauce, and frozen whole cranberries in the freezer. I like mincemeat, but not in the jar. There are two of the boxed chunks of mincemeat here. So, Thanksgiving and Christmas are done here.

Fresh produce is obviously going to be much higher this year. Cabbage was $.99/lb., way too high. I know it was cheaper in another store. However, the cabbage was beautiful in the first store, old stuff in the cheaper store. 

Dinner: baked chicken, baked carrots, green beans, slaw.

What have you found is over-priced in stores? What do you need to stock up these next few weeks or months? 

Rain and More Rain

 The Cymbalta seems to be affecting me more, like it is building up in my body. I don't know. But it is almost 5 pm and I have slept most of last night and most of today, about 12 hours. Today is the day I am supposed to double the dose. But, I did not. Well, I am supposed to add a dose for morning. 

I read that hummingbirds don't like it when rain gets in the feeder and dilutes the sugar water. The woman said she covers her feeders. Well, that won't be happening. Or, she moves them under cover. Maybe the rain will let up. 

The new feeder cost $4 and arrived today. It is cheaply built, but I have figured out how to make a feeder for free. The cheap one will work. I have to be more cognizant of the different aspects of construction.

It seems I only manage to eat dinner every day, so I have lost weight, not much, but enough to be encouraging. And, my affect is gone, depressed. I never smile, get upset, or feel anything. Even when something is funny, I cannot imagine a laugh. I just say, "That's funny." 

Has anyone else take Cymbalta and had a similar reaction. or any experience? This is two full weeks and it seems I am not adjusting at all. If you don't want to comment here, you can email me at

 pparsimony@yahoo.com. 

Trump Coming to My Town

 I won't be there. They are directing traffic from the interstate which is how we would travel. Cullman is very excited. Today, Cullman declared a state of emergency because of covid, so I wonder how 20,000 unmasked people will fare. 

Cullman is in District 4, the best district in the US for Trump with over 80% voting for Trump for president in 2020. 

Friday, we left home at 2pm and got back at 5 pm. I waited in a parking lot because only one electric cart in The Pig was working. Finally, we went to another store. I left because my cart was beeping and dying at the back of the store. We went back to the Pig and I bought zucchini and squash, can of kale, and PB bogo, 2.$4. Then, we went to Publix where I got Tommy's milk, Pepsi on sale b2g1, and Coke b2g1. He will drink a diet Coke if he runs out of Diet Pepsi. But, if I have to drink a Diet Pepsi, water is better. 

I have never been so frustrated as I was today while shopping for groceries. But, it is my fault for going on a Friday afternoon. A young guy, high-schooler, customer said there was a ball game tonight. He said that was one reason for the crowd. I don't know. 

Right now, I must get Tommy onto "skinning carrots" while I prepare the bscb I thawed ready for baking. He will have peas and I will have green beans. Yes, from a can. I forgot to buy fresh green beans. 

Will you be in Cullman on Saturday to root for Trump on Saturday?  What are you planning for this weekend?

Storms, Hummers, and Booklight

 Thursday was a stormy day, lots of torrents of rain, thunder and lightning. We stayed in and I took a nap unwittingly. I had gone to the bedroom to make three calls, not to sleep. It seems when I see the bed a nap kidnaps me. 

We stayed inside except for Tommy's trip to the trash outside the door near the porch. It has to stay there in order for Tommy to reach it with trash. Plus, the neighbor who takes it to the road and bring the empty can back for Tommy. 

Tuesday, I brought the hummingbird feeders in and cleaned them with Clorox. I had read that they can smell the dishwasher detergent and will avoid the sugar water. For weeks now I have had no problems. But, the video pointed out that mold can grow in the feeders. I knew that from the time I had a feeder out years ago and attracted only large carpenter ants. 

I had Tommy put the feeders out about noon on Wednesday. Well, the birds did not come for a while. When they did come back, they drank little and traffic was light the rest of the day. I realized that I did not get all the Clorox out completely since I could still smell it. Soooo, I took them down on Wednesday and rewashed with Dawn and rinsed thoroughly. 

Today, Thursday, traffic improved. My main problem is that the reservoir cannot be opened to clean it. I need feeders that I can take apart. sigh.... So, if you buy a feeder, make sure to get one that can be opened to get mold out of the reservoir. When I bought these, it was not evident that the feeder would not come completely apart. Both feeders come apart into four pieces, but the reservoir will not open. We both tried to pry it open and had no luck. 

When I read in bed, it appeared to booklight was getting dimmer. I was madder than a wet hen. Then, I realized that it pulled apart and had a USB to recharge the light. I knew this but forgot when I was sleepy. My laptop is the only thing in the house with a USB port, so it lived there for a bit today. Now, I can read once again. I think reading at night and in bed helps me sleep. I've missed reading. 

Dinner tonight--salad with baked chicken from the freezer. It took less than ten minutes from the time I walked to the kitchen to having dinner on the plates. I love easy meals!

Will your hummingbird feeder completely disassemble? What is the quickest meal you put on the table? Are you having storms, fires, or other adverse conditions? Maybe fair skies?

This and That, Not Much

 This was another quiet day. Nothing much going on here. Today, I was feeling hung over from the Cymbalta. The day was beautiful with blue skies and fluffy white clouds. Finally, at 4 pm or so, I went to Publix. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimmy Dean Sausage Patties $4.49

*grape tomatoes $2

*Betty Crocker Brownie Mix $1.58

*Italian Salad bag $3

Red Delicious apples $2.12

Bananas $1.10

*Green Grapes $0.90

Yesterday, Tommy asked, "When are you going to cook more of those sausages? We have three more packages." LOL So, I will.  I like grape tomatoes and Tommy will get those for a salad, but he will not slice a tomato. This brownie mix is to make and freeze brownies. Yes, I will freeze them. Promise. But, just so you know, I can eat frozen brownies.

Bag of salad because we have no more salad mix. I love red delicious apples. Thankfully, I only wanted two because they were so expensive. Since I am not supposed to eat much fiber, I cut one in half and eat it on two days. Bananas are $0.69/lb. everywhere, even cheaper stores! No bargains at all on bananas. Since I only wanted a few grapes, I just bought a handful. Tommy has grapes, too. 

I had zucchini and squash on the list, but those will be cheaper at The Pig. Plus, generally they have really good produce. 

Oh, I did pay bills today before there was interest charged. In 2021 I have only paid interest once. And, it still hurts my heart because I gave away money. 

The woman with two young children across the street are moving tomorrow. I will miss seeing them and hearing them. 

Dinner Wednesday night: Chicken Italian Sausages, slaw, peas. Of course, I had no peas. And, no sausage, just meatballs.

Generally, produce prices have risen, so buying bogo or on sale is the only way to go. I need to freeze zucchini and squash for winter, just a couple of meals. 

How are produce pricess where you live?

Problem with Fetch

 Monday

Actually, the problem is probably me. Everything was going smoothly. Then, I took the picture of the receipt about 12 times. It seems the picture is too blurry. Since I don't know how to make pictures less blurry, I am stuck! 

Between Haiti, Kabul, and fires this was an unsettling day for news. Puppy and kitten pictures helped. I know that is not an answer for problems, but it sure helps me. Watching hummingbirds and Gunsmoke works, too.

For dinner Monday, I thawed cauliflower, thawed chopped chicken and heated up leftover Brussels sprouts. So, dinner was barbeque chicken, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. There is enough of all this for dinner another night and meat for Tommy's lunches. He really liked the cauliflower. 

Even though the rain was abundant in the state, we got none. It was hot and humid. AC is a wonderful thing. 

Once again, I slept well. I know most people do and this is not newsworthy, but for me it is like a miracle. When you have not slept more than three hours each night most nights for months, this is wonderful news for me. 

I have a hummingbird project underway and ordered something from Amazon. Well, two days later, there was no notification from Amazon and nothing from person shipping to me. Instead of complaining, I just ordered again. I knew it was ordered. So, today, I received both orders at once. Have you ever ordered anything from Amazon or elsewhere and got no confirmation on the order, only to have the order show up at your door? 

Tuesday

I think I took the Cymbalta too late last night because I still have a hangover. It is almost 5 pm and it seems like I have done nothing. We did get the dishes out of the dishwasher and loaded it, washed all the seals for glass storage dishes. 

Dinner will be thawed chicken breast, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. Tommy said he did not mind eating the vegetables again. Whew! 

Well, enough of this rambling.

Fred is kicking up tornadoes and violent weather to the east of us. I am so happy it is not here. Is Fred causing bad weather where you are? 

The Kind is Dead: August 16, 1977

 

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

The King is Dead: August 16, 1977

 

 

Elvis Aaron Presley

 

We all loved Elvis, except for my father. One day, I asked Daddy if he liked this song as "Love Me Tender" was playing on the radio. Daddy agreed it was pretty good, that guy could sing. Of course, he was disgusted it was Elvis he had complimented.

 

A girl at the college I attended told us she partied with Elvis and asked me if I wanted to go. I knew I would have been in over my head, but said I wanted to go. Of course, she never asked me to go with her.

 

When I was married, we lived just south of Graceland. One day in 1968, while I was working my part-time job at TG&Y, just  mile from Graceland, someone said Elvis was on a horse in his front yard, playing Christmas songs and singing. I almost told the manager I would be back in a little while

 

While we lived in that location, my NY bil came to visit. For all the times I passed Graceland, it was commonplace. The bil just annoyed me to no end as we had to stop at Graceland every time we passed by. I had never, ever stopped in front of the house and certainly would never have gotten out and gawked. This was Elvis' home.

 

When L was five-years-old, she announced earnestly that she was going to marry Elvis when she grew up. She was so convinced that it would happen and wanted me to agree. Finally, I told her that when she grew up that Elvis would be as old as Pepaw, my father. She cried and grieved all night about that fact. The child was so sad for a week that I wished I had left off the last detail. She would have forgotten her desire eventually.

 

When I heard Elvis had died, August 16, 1977, we lived here. I was pulling into the parking lot of the city pool to pick up my children just as the news broke. My best friend arrived at the identical time. As we both emerged from our cars with babies in our arms, I told her Elvis had died. She laughed nervously and said I was teasing. Then, she looked fearful as I told her it was true. Tears came to our eyes. The babies wondered why we were crying. Both my older children cried. L was seven-years-old by then. The boy, J, was nine-years old. My husband was puzzled at all the tears. But, we cried most of the evening. The baby, almost two, cried out of concern and sympathy.

 

My youngest sister living in Memphis took the middle sister's daughter, also seven,  and they stood for six hours at Graceland to view the body. A few years later, we went on the Graceland tour. Somewhere, I have pictures of my children at the graves of Elvis and his mother.

 

I had my sister buy four copies of the Memphis Press Scimitar (or Commercial Appeal) for the three children and me. If I had thought of it sooner, I would have gotten it out and would have taken a picture of it. I always wanted to attend one of his concerts, but that was not to be.

 

No, I don't think any less of the man for his foibles or faults. He only wanted to sing and had many people shoving him in the direction that benefited them instead of him.

 

My son was born in April 1968, and Lisa Marie Presley was born earlier that year, supposedly delivered by someone in the same group of ob/gyns that delivered my son. I just checked that fact. Yes, they were in the same office.

 

Tales of his generosity abound in Memphis. One day, he passed a couple on the side of the road. Apparently, their old car broke down. He took them to a dealership and bought them a new car.

 

I loved Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, and so many others.

 

Your turn

 

Did you like Elvis? All his songs are my favorites? What are your favorites? Any special memories? Did you see him in concert?



Quiet Sunday

 This was such a quiet day or us. While I had nothing to go out and do, I also had no desire. We stayed in and watched TV.  The gully washer came suddenly even though we were warned by the clouds. One hummer actually came out in the heaviest and visited the feeder. 

Today was also the day that his church was opening up fully since the pandemic was better. Well, we heard nothing of that. I highly objected. He listens to the news, too. Last night, he said he was not going. Whew!

Last night, after finally going to sleep, I did get eight hours of sleep. This makes 3 of of 4 nights I slept well and long. So, the Cymbalta is helping in one way. And, when I can get a good night of sleep, I don't have so much muscular pain. I imagine that is true for everyone. I have no idea since I have had pain for so long. 

Saturday night, we used the last of the ground beef that Tommy chopped up in the pan. Spanish Rice took care of that meat. I had less than two helpings, but that was okay. I used brown rice like I usually do. There are 15 pounds here. I did use less rice, only 1/2 cup before cooking. Diced tomatoes and tomato paste, chopped onions, chopped bell pepper, salt and pepper was all I put in it. Even using less rice, we still have another meal for tonight. 

Tommy loves Spanish Rice. We had green beans with it last night. Sunday night, I think I will cook the fresh Brussels Sprouts. So, 2.20 lbs, of very cheaply acquired ground beef , I think, was used for four meals. I am not going to look back for exact weight. 

Before the night is over, I need to get all the seeds out of the muscadine "jam" I made. Half the jar will be frozen. I cannot eat this too often, so I don't want it to sit and spoil  This made 10 ounces in a pint jar. So, you can see how few I bought for $4. I only ate three and Tommy wanted none. 

Later, folded kitchen towels and bath towels will be put away along with hanging clothing. And, one huge sheet is intimidating me since stretching my arms far enough to straighten and fold is difficult. Of course, there are dishes in the sink to wash--as always. 

Well, it is time for America's Funniest Videos and it demands complete attention in order not to miss a moment. Do you ever watch AFV?

Blackberries and Plums and Muscadine Jam

 While in Publix, I think, there were blackberries for $0.99. It was a very small container, worth a taste of summer for so little. 

Then, I got plums, fresh Brussels Sprouts, and cauliflower. I never did get the carrots washed for Tommy to scrape, but will Saturday. 

There are guys with little produce stands all over Hueytown and Bessemer on corners, usually where there is a gas station. Today, I saw a sign saying "muscadines" at one corner produce stand. So, on the way back from the bread store, I had to stop. I paid $4 for a small container of big, fat fruits. I have only eaten one, but it was delicious. If Tommy does not want them, I may make a bit of muscadine preserves. 

I was given a bag of red/purple plums. Those are for eating, so delicious.

My Aunt Willie in Mississippi always had muscadine preserves at her house. I remember they had skins and the occasional seed in the jar and I grew to love them that way. I make mine the same way. Some people may remove skins and all the seeds. Those are the only muscadine preserves I remember eating.  Her kitchen table was full of food and covered with a tablecloth. I never saw her table bare. We were not supposed to ask for food. But, I could always depend on my younger siblings not minding her and saying they were hungry. I wanted cold biscuits and muscadine jam. 

 Aunt Willie was my great-aunt, the sister of my grandmother. And, she was more like a grandmother.  The memories of her are strong and sweet. 

Have you ever made muscadine jam or jelly? Anyone grow muscadine?

Do you have memories of an older relative and the foods they fed you when you were young? 

It's Gone

 

The coupon from KFC above no longer comes half way to my birthday. They have eliminated all the perks from their stores. Too bad. I miss the free birthday dinner and 1/2 birthday dinners. I took this picture in my lap. So, you can see the colorful outfit up close. Did you participate in their free food when you spent $75 at their restaurant? 

Cracks of thunder interrupted my nap today. It rained lots. While it had been beautiful all day, we were treated to summer thunder storms. 

We were watching tv this morning when, all of  sudden, there was no picture.  Tommy is always accidentally touching the remote and screwing up the TV, so I waited. When the picture did not come on, I asked what was going on. We decided the set was broken. 

I had to go behind the kitchen table and unearth the older set. The broken 50" set was given to him by someone in a business for a transaction reward that he did not expect. The 32" was mine, I think. He says No. When I moved here, he finally got rid of four TVs. He replaces a TV and puts it in another room. I encouraged him to get rid of them. So, he did. 

This morning, I struggled to move the TV until he could get it. We/he half drug the little TV. He moved the big TV to the back of the table and now we have a TV in front of a TV. Cool look. NOT. He thinks the picture can be fixed, so it will sit here forever. I doubt it can be repaired. 

We are presently watching Cesar Milan, formerly of The Dog Whisperer. I just love him. And, he is cute. Maybe you don't think so. But, I really like the concept that dogs are not the ultimate problem; people are. Have you ever watched his old show or the new one? How do you feel about him?

We gave the mother of two the food we did not want from the church today. I added three bottles of bubbles I got for the dogs next door and gave it to her for her son, daughter, and dog. I know dogs like to chase bubbles. But, today, the dog was trying to keep us away even though were were on the other side of the gate. Did you ever have a dog who like to chase bubbles?

Diversity

 

At Sportsman's Lake Park in Cullman, we saw these two together, apart from their respective flocks. Not only did we see them together, we saw them multiple times. They wander far from their own kind. We were impressed that they found friendship. 

About my friend from yesterday, we only know each other from meeting at a church yardsale. Of course, when I heard about her thrift/junk/antique store, I was interested. We really do care about what happens to each other, but she is interested in selling stuff. We will continue to be the same kind of "friend" to each other--not close at all and only bound by her business. But, I tried to help someone and it hit me in the face. 

At the beginning of the year, I found Kraft Parmesan Cheese in the can with the green top. I got another coupon as they were available and ended up with 3 or 4 coupons for $0.50 off. I did use them before they expired in May or June. Well, now there are more coupons and I have 5 more of the same coupons that expire December 31, 2021. Now, if I can find a good sale this Fall. 

Today, Thursday, Tommy helped me as I unloaded the dishwasher. I give him a stack of bowls or whatever and tell him where to put them as I hang onto the counter and bend. Later, we will load it. In the meantime, he did something else.

Then, I put two packages of ground beef in a tall, wide pot with a half cup of water and he chopped it with the multiple blade chopper. I used 1.05 pounds of 90/10 and 1.25 pounds of 75/25. When it was done, it was chopped more finely than I have even seen ground beef chopped. Then, I put it in a collander and poured over it water boiled in the microwave to remove the grease. I froze two pint bags with 2 cups of meat in each. A little over a cup is in the refrigerator for dinner.

It feels good to know that two more meals of protein/meat are already prepared for whatever I cook for two meals. Plus, those dishes will probably make another two meals for for meals of meat. 

Tommy is going to peel two pounds of carrots, so I must go in and wash them and bring it all to him. I am not working him to death, but he just carried clothes out to the washer. It is a semi-busy day for both of us. 

Usually, the hummers have a battle with everyone involved. Today, I watched one of the smaller hummingbirds approach the feeder and a larger one chase him away. This went on for about ten minutes. If I had filmed it, no one would guess it was a different chase each time. 

My nose hurts and is swollen and red. I suppose when a tip is sliced off, no matter how small, the nose will hurt and swell. 

About the picture, no one helped me to figure out how to post it. I think I finally got enough sleep several days in a row so I could think logically. I have never posted  a picture this way, so I hope I can do it again.

Going Ballistic Today

 For the past week or more, when I make a phone call on my flip phone, I am redirected to ATT about my account. Since I knew it was paid, I assumed there was a glitch in the system and it would be straightened out soon. You would think. Right?

Noooo! Today, I had twenty minutes to finish getting ready--bathe, dress, and fix hair. But, when I tried to make a phone call, I got a message, the same one--that I needed to talk to someone with the company. Then, a man came on with a different message, saying my phone calls would "continue to be redirected" to an agent. Okay, they admit they are messing with me.

I was connected to someone, Japanese, maybe, with a tiny, soft voice and a limited understanding of English and read me a dialogue. I was told I had five weeks to do something. I kept begging her to speak up (she did for about five words) and to slow down (again for about five words). 

When I asked her to let me speak to someone in the US, she said she was not allowed to transfer anyone to the US. Liar. 

The gist of her message was that they wanted to "help" me get my service back by selling me a new phone. Even though I told her I had a new phone but had not started using it, she started over with her dialogue she had to read. 

Finally, I started yelling at her that she needed to restore my service that I was paying for and was not behind on the payments. (I have auto pay.) I screamed this to her about ten times, getting louder each time. Then she said to hold on and she would restore my service. She came back on the line and said the service was restored and STILL wanted to read to me about getting a new phone by five weeks from now. (I think that is what she was saying.)

When I called Tommy's phone, it worked. And, I was able to make calls for the first time in a week. Whew! 

I know for a fact I have until the first of next year to get this done. Besides, this flip phone is toast. So, I will get it done. Now, I will call for a credit for totally unwarranted interruption of service. I wonder if they target old people. 

Have you had your service interrupted to get you to catch up to 5G service by buying a phone? 

I was thinking about my friend in a wheelchair and how she cannot get out of bed without assistance and cannot cook. So, I told Tommy I wanted to get her a burger when we got one and drive an extra ten miles to deliver it. 

When I called, she said she would love something from Burger King. Then, she called and asked if I could bring something to her friend who was still there and she would pay me. I took the burger, fries, and Sprite to them and she did not pay me! I told her the price of the extra burger twice. Of course, BK did not give me a receipt and Tommy forgot to ask like I told him. 

It was only $2.75 for the other person's food, but I feel used. I will never offer her food again. Well, if I do, I certainly won't be furnishing food for someone else! 

Her "friend" is someone she pays to help her. 

I took things to give her to sell and she gave me credit at her store. I spent $2 there, so my credit is $2 less now. Her friend came running to the car and said my friend told her to tell me just to take that off my credit. HUH? I told her I owed my friend nothing, that she owed me. I rolled up the window and told Tommy to go. My friend yelled that she would have to go to the bank. I don't believe she did not have $2 on her or in her shop! Really, my friend has plenty of money, just is tight. 

I left very disheartened to have tried to do a good thing and then get stiffed.  I am not ballistic over this, just sad.

Comments are way down below.

Don't Cut Off too Much of My Nose!

 The dermatologist pointed out that it had been 23 months since I had been in his office. If it were not for a suspicious place on my nose, I would not have gone in today. 

In the end, I had a biopsy on the end of my nose. This involved a couple of injections and slicing off a tiny sample. Daddy had skin cancer in almost the same place and had it removed. So, I have a bandaid on the end of my nose. I thought the place was a quarter of an inch in diameter, but it was much larger. 

He froze two places on my face. That blast is not what I want near my left eye, but it happened. Now, one itches so that I need to scratch it. 

For the last twenty years I have had a blackhead on my chest. Yes, embarrassing. I can get it out, but it gets larger. So, he used something to take plug out, treated it, and stitched it up. 

Now, I have to wait a week for the results of the biopsy. In two weeks, he needs to take out the stitches. I am quite sure the biopsy will show cancer since that is just a reality in my father's family. 

The first two days of taking the Cymbalta were rough. But, the hangover has diminished to only about an hour each day, thankfully. 

The heat was oppressive today. It was though a had a hot blanket touching my skin, palpable. It was 91F with heat index of 101F. Weather like this makes me like AC even more. 

Other than a nap, that has been my day. Now, I need to cook dinner in a pan in the oven--one small potato, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, and bell pepper. Maybe Italian sausage with it will be Tommy's choice. Maybe I will thaw a baked chicken breast. 

Have you been out in the heat? How hot is it where you are? Have you ever had skin cancer? How did that turn out? 

Stocking Up, Amazon Fail, Butter

 Since Hunt's Tomato Paste was often hard to find last year, I ordered 24 6-ounce cans from Amazon. Each can is to $0.72, a good price, I believe. At least I will not have to search stores if I need a can. I painstakingly lifted each can and examined for dents. Thankfully, there were none.

I started using tomato paste in meatloaf and on top to avoid the sugar in catsup. Plus, I use  it in soups. The 'best by' date in December 2022.

A tart pan in with the tomato paste is dented! The nail topcoat is the wrong brand! Actually, I did not order topcoat of any kind. Such confusion. But, now that I am straightened out and the order is straightened out...okay, the topcoat came from WM. I am so confused. 

Tommy is getting better at helping me load dishes. Like I said, I hold onto the counter to bend and he hands me dishes. You know how things fit in a certain way? Well, mostly he handed me things willy-nilly. Now, he is getting it. As I staggered away to sit down, I noticed he grabbed a dish towel and was wiping down the sink where water was on the edges of the sink and on the divider between the sinks. He was totally oblivious to water before...lol. 

I took the first two generic Cymbalta Friday night and Saturday night, and the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, I was hungover until an about an hour before time for the next dose. However, today, Monday, I was not hungover at all. I am so thankful that stage passed. 

It is so much easier to use butter at room temperature rather than frozen or refrigerated. Why? Do you ever consider this to be a problem? I was so frustrated and wondered why butter left out of the refrigerator was suddenly so hard. Now, I think I know why. Butter that is hard at room temperature probably has palm oil in it. Cabot Butter was the brand. Never again! 

Have you found that butter is sometimes hard at room temperature?

Useful, Pretty and Cheap

 At The Pig on Saturday, I found a package of three rolls of tape, 1200" total reduced to  $0.50. They were three different colors--yellow, lavender, and pink. I tried the pink on white paper and it is not dark pink, just a hit of pink. This tape was purchased as cheap, quality tape, not for the colors. But, it does not hurt they are pretty on the roll. 

Saturday night, Tommy voluntarily made himself a salad with chicken. I had promised meat balls, spaghetti and a salad. I am so groggy. One day last week, he had sliced chicken. I keep it in a glass dish with a snap lid. He told me he washed a knife really well, put it in a sandwich bag, and stored it in the glass dish with the chicken breasts. He surprises me sometimes with ingenuity with food. 

He knows I hate it when he used a used/dirty knife for chicken or anything in the refrigerator. He has said I am afraid of germs and that he is eating the chicken he is slicing, so I should not have anything to say about it. If he wants to put a piece of chicken on his plate and cut it with a dirty knife, I don't care. It is the chicken left in the refrigerator with germs on it that bothers me. I told him germs can breed even in the refrigerator. I guess it soaked in and he does not want to wash a knife each time (not that there is never a clean knife). It was handy having  a knife right with the chicken. That way, I did not have to move to find a knife to use. 

The lethargy from the Cymbalta wore off about nine or ten o'clock Saturday night. My arms still felt heavy. 

Sunday now. I am so groggy and breathless. I just got up from a nap at 5 pm, and feel so weak, groggy, breathless, and limp. Maybe this will wear off later tonight. 

OH NO! Price Hike! New Med

 I love the cheap machines for Cokes and Pepsi. I like paying $.50 for a drink. But, they went up to $.75 cents, a 50% hike. That is bad! It is not just right. Have you noticed this?

Friday, at the new doctor I was given a new med over my objections. He did not force me, of course, but told me to take it for about three weeks and make up my mind. He put me on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia. I cannot drive with this stuff in me. But, I have not driven in over a year, so not a problem at the moment. 

Friday night, I had a sudden urge to go to bed at 1:45 and went. I slept until 6:30 and woke and could not sleep another wink. I got up at 8 am because it was hot in the bedroom even though the thermostat was on 68F. About 10 am I could not keep my eyes open and slept until 2 pm and got up about 2:30 because it was hot again. 

This is no way to feel, to live, or to be. Words don't come easily right now. It has even affected typing. 

Tonight, we will have spaghetti and meatballs and salad to bread up the monotony of chicken and salad. I could eat chicken breasts three times each day, but Tommy is not so eager. He has eaten it four nights in a row, so I am not complaining. 

The neighbors next door are planning a blowout. There is a huge party size tent in the back yard. Her picture is out front--she's 50. And, there are lots of metallic balloons. Two banners adorn the chain link fence, one for her and one for a person turning 21. They had to remove the swing from the large covered patio and two cornhole games are leaning out front. An industrial size fan and another large one are both pointed toward the big tent. A party company set all this up yesterday and stuff keeps appearing out front. No, we were not invited. Saturday night and no place to go. Well, it is that way all the time...so we will not suffer. These are the neighbors who pay someone to mow Tommy's yard. 

This afternoon, I bought at The Pig and got free sour cream, buying nothing extra to get Kraft Cheddar chunk cheese at $2.27.  

Have you ever taken Cymbalta and how did it work for fibromyalgia pain?

Right-handed or Left-handed?

 At the 4th party, I saw a friend I had not seen in maybe 20 years. I was complaining that I could not find my curling iron after blowing my hair furiously and making a mess of it. She commented that she gave up on curling her hair because all curling irons were for right-handed people, that no one made left-handed curling irons. 

???

Well, I told her that curling irons were neither right- nor left-handed. She assured me curling irons were all right-handed. We went on that way for a few minutes, and I gave up.

Opinions. please! Are you right-handed or left-handed? And, do you believe there is any such thing as a right-handed curling iron? Or, a left-handed curling iron? 

I have sat looking at mine and can not find any evidence mine is for one or the other. I can use it as easily with my left as right hand. I have always curled both sides of my hair...lol. 

What do you think? 

August 5th Birthdays

 My father was born in 1916. He would  be 105 today! However, I have heard it was 1915. My brother was born on Daddy's birthday. Mama had a C section, so I thought she had requested the date. She told me she never even mentioned it was Daddy's birthday because she wanted the decision on surgery date made by the doctor so she would not feel responsible if anything went wrong. Wise woman.  

She let the four of us older children choose his name. We loved Anthony but did not like Tony for a nickname which eventually he would surely be called. So, we searched until we found something we liked to put with Anthony. We liked Mark, so ended up with Mark Anthony. I was only thirteen-years-old, so was not thinking Shakespeare or anything, obviously. Mama later said she was on pain killers and the name sounded familiar in her fog. 

I saw a sight today that I have never seen as long and as closely as I have been watching these hummingbirds--one pooped as it was sitting at the feeder. Now, I wonder if the ground is covered with hummingbird poop underneath the feeder! I do stand on the landing on the ramp where it makes a turn when I remove and replace the feeders. And, the feeders are over the grass. So, maybe I won't step in it where they all poop. 

Mealtimes have been good with scrambled eggs ready to eat and sliced chicken breast. For one thing--I don't have to think about what to eat or cook. And, on a day like today when somehow I hurt my knee again, it is just physically easier. 

Tommy cut my hair late this afternoon. It looks great. He only cut off about 3/4 inch, but that was split ends. The hair from my crown is almost to the length of my hair in the back. I don't need my hair all one length, so I suppose I need to layer it. Layering my hard is hard on my shoulders, but the look is worth the pain. And, I don't have to layer it so often. 

I have an appointment with a new doctor on Friday morning. A new doctor is always stress-inducing for me. At least I am going to a doctor where there is no stress getting a wheelchair and someone to push me.

Relief!

 Today's doctor visit was very stressful. I am in danger of losing my vision.  I was very frightened.The macula is pulling the retina from the back of my eye. The last time I saw the retina doctor, he gave me an Amsler grid to test my eye EVERYDAY. Think graph paper. I cover my right eye and see if all the lines are straight. Well, no, not straight. There were bulges in the grid.  So, terrified of losing sight in my eye, I dreaded this visit. Well, what I dreaded was the operation to save my eyesight. 

He took pictures of the backs of my eyes and said nothing has changed with the macula of my left eye. And, that I did exactly as I should have done by coming in to see him. The people at the Callahan Eye Hospital were very nice today. My visit to the ER was not pleasant at all. 

Of course, every time I go to a doctor about eyes, they must do all sorts of procedures. Tommy was sitting closer to the screen than I. I could read everything down to 20. He said he could not read the last couple of lines. He was amazed I could read all the smaller letters/lines. I was so upset that I had him go in with me to the visit. 

Callahan has an all-night ER for eyes. I have gone there twice after midnight, once at 3 am. I was seeing flashes in my eyes. It is a bizarre thing to happen, but not waiting until morning is imperative if you want to save your vision. I felt silly at first and called before a 6o mile trip in the middle of the night. They pressed me to come if I were seeing flashes. 

I asked the doctor, "You mean you can operate on the inside of my eye and everything not run out  and make me blind?" He or the nurse explained that he would poke three holes in my eyes and drain my eye and put saline in the eyeball and it would stay there instead of the eye liquid. Hmmm. 

We had to go up to the seventh floor to get into his office with someone getting me in a wheelchair. Well, no, obviously not. When we got to the 7th floor, I called as directed and we were supposed to be on second floor. Actually, we were told we could go to one of four floors to gain access in a wheelchair. So, back down to the second floor. 

The wheelchair was so tiny! I am quite sure I will have bruises where I forced my hips into it. And, I probably will have bruised on thighs, too. The only I could get out was to grab a doorknob or railing and pull while the person pushing me pulled back on the wheelchair! 

When we entered the parking deck, Tommy took a ticket. Upstairs, he asked about the cost. Well, they would scan the ticket. If the ticket was not scanned, the price was $20 for parking. He left it in the car. Sooo, he went back down and brought it up to be scanned. It only cost $3 for parking. 

So, I am in no danger of going blind right away. I just need to check every day! But, since I can type pretty well by touch, that is the only way I am getting to type since I can barely see due to having my eyes dilated! 

Have you ever had problems with your macula? I have for over 20 years, but there is nothing to do but watch and wait until it gets dangerous. Well, mine is dangerous, but not dangerous enough to have risky surgery--his take on operating. 

Macula or vision problems? What kind?

After the first comment there is a ways down to scroll to get my reply and possibly more comments.

Chicken and Rent and Big News

Tuesday was pretty quiet except for the excitement of picking up a prescription for me...lol. Oh, and we bought bread at the bread store. That was exciting/infuriating. The woman grabbed the bread by the center, and it still has several squashed slices. I mentioned it and she denied squeezing it. Whatever! 

I lay down for an hour because my back was hurting. Even though I needed sleep, the pain was too much for sleep. 

Last week, I bought two packages of bscb. I paid more than I like to pay.  It was not my $1.99 but bogo at $4.99/lb. This is still a bargain because there is less scrap. They call it wing meat, but it is not flesh. Plus, the joint where the wing is attached is usually there, full of tiny cut and broken bones. It is just a waste of money. This week, I am going back to get two more packages of bscb.

I bought $10.70 pounds and paid $25.09.  That was for 9 breasts. I am glad we are not big pork eaters as I suspect the price will go through the roof for pork soon.

We had a salad with the chicken, very little chicken. Tommy got his own and added shredded carrots and grape tomatoes to his Romaine. 

I put two of the cooked breasts in the refrigerator. I put two into two quart freezer bags and stored them in the freezer. The other bag of chicken is in a gallon freezer bag. I didn't want to think I could cook it and then procrastinate and let it get any older. Each breast makes at least two meals. So, ten meals are cooked. And, eight need to be cooked. Okay, the protein part of the meal is cooked. Vegetables are easy. 

My friend Charlie took the vaccine as part of research and also had a booster. I knew he had the two doses of vaccine, just not the booster. This was before the vaccine was approved, so he is fine with all the experimenting on him. 

He has forty rental houses. Not one is paying rent! And, some of them are not going to get the help they can. He is annoyed. He is making no money and still must do repairs and pay taxes.. I wonder why people would not rush out to get help with rent. Maybe they are wanted or in some sort of trouble. I realize some people might not be able to get there. What other reason would people not try to get rent assistance? 

Big News--Burger King finally fixed the three potholes in the route to order.  They did not put a dab of asphalt down in the potholes and call it good. They put a huge, long and wide patch. I hope it holds. They even got their speaker fixed so we can communicate with the person taking orders. Yes, we go there one a week or every ten days. 

Do you get annoyed at paying for bscb and have part of it not be meat?  Does anyone squeeze your bread leaving a dent where several slices are not straight? 

Monday and Masks

I was going to cook all the bscb I bought on Sunday, but wanted a clean sink to do so. I told Tommy I was not cooking since I was not going to get raw chicken all over the kitchen. That dinner we bought was a disaster. 

At 9:30 I told him we were going to finish emptying the dishwasher and filling it. He readily came in and helped. It took only 15 minutes. I had to sit and supposed he would be in the living room soon. He came through with the garbage to take out at about 9:57.  I asked him what he had been doing since I thought he was getting something to eat.

"I was cleaning bits of food out of the sink. Then, I thought, that I might as well just scrub it out. So, I did." Good for him! He also wipes off the stove after I cook!

Today, about six o'clock, he said he was going out to pick up a prescription and to get gas and dinner. The day was gloomy at first and sunny later. It seemed the hummers do not come out as much on a gloomy day. I thought the blazing sun in front of the house might keep them away, but that does not seem to be the case. Do you find they do not come to feeders in certain conditions?

A few months ago, I told Tommy, " I PROBABLY BE WEARING A MAS K at least through 2022." Click on the red letters to see an opinion on my statement.

Sunday Groceries and Low-key Day and Recycling

 Sunday, and I feel much better. Today, we have done nothing at all. I lay down and took a nap. We did go out for a bit while I bought  groceries. 

BSCB is buy one get one free. I got two huge packages, but they charged me half of each price. Weird. 

3 packages of Jimmy Dean sausage patties. Since I have bought these, Tommy has not wanted to stop at Hardee's once when we are going out early.

3 bananas because I have two at home. 

2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios, large boxes. He bought the smaller size one day and paid 8 cents more per ounce. He said he did not see any larger boxes. 

I have a blueberry muffin mix that I may fill full of fresh blueberries. We are having BBQ chicken, slaw, and tomatoes for dinner, so the carb count is down for dinner. 

Today was clear and mostly sunny, some clouds. Next week is a lot less rainy than the last four weeks. I am tired of rain! 

One day, Tommy came in the house talking about a strange scent. It was basil and not strange at all to me. A few days later, I came to the front door and was unlocking it when I looked around for something rotting on the porch. Tommy said it was the garbage can. He refuses to tie up bags or bag something messy, just tossing it in. I told him the can would soon smell like a dumpster. So, it does. He did use the can of Lysol I left near the door for him to spray in the can. From what he said, he did spray it well. He has started tying up garbage bags and smaller bags now. He thinks I am too bossy until his way causes a problem! 

I have not seen many flies around the door and only one in the house this calendar year. If I do see any more, I will spray Clorox in the trash can. Flies hate Clorox. 

Other than going to two doctor appointments and going to check my mail, I have two things I want to accomplish. I cannot find a place to recycle plastic bottles. I need to figure out how to use the apps I had R put on my phone! 

Several weeks ago I was complaining to Tommy about this city not having a recycling bin for each home. I want to recycle his Pepsi cans and tuna cans and water bottles. There is no place close by I know of to take them. I can take plastic bags, foam containers, and paper to Publix.

I continued to talk about it. Finally, he yelled, "That is what I pay taxes for--to take off all that stuff."  Oh well! I continue my search for recycling places. I have three garbage bags of water bottles, and soon neither of us will want them in the way. Okay, just now, he told me does get a separate bill for sanitation aka garbage. 

We are watching History of Sitcoms on CNN. Tonight is about race. Have you watched any of the History of Sitcoms episodes?