Doctors Pushing Drugs and Plans and Stuff

 When Tommy went to his doctor, I asked afterwards how things went, what the doctor said. He said the doctor said his tests were okay. But, he said the main thing he talked to him about was buying a plan under Medicare. He said there were tests he needed that would be free if he bought some sort of plan. I am amazed that a doctor would be pushing a plan. So, Tommy is going to find one. Is this what doctors are supposed to be doing--selling for Medicare? He does not sign them up. But, Tommy was with the doctor for a long time. He did say that most of the time was spent with the doctor talking to him about the benefit of a "plan." 

In a table in a prominent place in the doctor's waiting room is a table with lots of brochures in their little plastic displays. I have never seen this before. It seems the doctor is pushing drugs to me. Maybe I go to lazy doctors who think their jobs are to make people well, not advertise for drug makers. 

In the last box of patterns I sorted, I found a pattern I hoped was saved long ago when I brought these boxes to Tommy. Well, he brought them to his own home about five or more years ago. I had a favorite sweat shirt pattern that I made out of several "scraps" of fabric that I bought from a cutting room. The thing I like about this pattern is the raglan sleeves. I hate set in sleeves in sweatshirts I have bought. So, this is a perfect pattern. 

I still have about five more boxes to sort. sigh

When I came here, I slept in Tommy's bed and still do. (He has not slept in his bed for about five years. He sleeps in his recliner.) But, his bed broke down the first day I was here, so he took a bed from another room for me. It is the frame with no headboard or footboard, the one that allows my covers to fall off. 

When I first met Tommy and was visiting for a day, the sideboard of the bed cracked somehow, a loud crack. He never even checked it out! When it broke the first day I moved here, I told him I would fix it with glue and a clamp. His bed does not have metal rails for the mattress. It has wooden rails and uses slats. He was angry his bed was broken and would not allow me to fix it. 

His parents bought this bed when they married, so it is about 70-years-old. It has a tall headboard and almost as tall footboard. 

Well, I bought glue and a clamp and waited to surreptitiously work on the bed. He refused to  me repair it, getting very angry. The other day, I told him I had glue and a clamp and could fix the bed. He eagerly asked me where was the glue and clamp. He is eager for me to fix the bed frame. So, I suppose that will be something I should do this week. I also suggested he get one of those metal boxes that takes the place of box springs. 

I looked out the fanlight window on the front door on Halloween afternoon and notice a big bird was sitting on the shepherd's hook. It was 12-14 inches high and sort of speckled. I yelled for Tommy as the bird flew off. I think he told me it was a red-shouldered hawk. Not sure. I wonder what he is looking for in our yard.  I have a raven hanging on the shepherd's hook and momentarily I wondered how it flew up to the perch he claimed....lol. I hope he goes away and does not get hummingbirds.

Dinner Sunday night--meatloaf, carrots, broccoli.

What has been your experience with doctors pushing medicare plans and advertising many drugs? 

Ready for Halloween

 

This a picture I took and won 3rd place in a photo contest. This was in my front yard on the treat table. 

I decided to get 2 little boxes of Animal Crackers for the twins who are 2 years, 4 months and so cute. From a distance they look like my son, sturdy little black-haired boys. 

The manager told me "they" don't sell Animal Crackers in boxes anymore, just bags. First of all, I do not believe that. Because I was in doubt, he said, "Well, we don't carry them here." I am not going to give them that huge bag, and I don't want to give one to share. So, I moved along and got two plastic cups of  Teddy Grahams. I also have two cups of applesauce and two dum dums are in the car. Since there are only two of them, I can be generous...lol. If I can find the blowup balls I bought on sale, I will give each one a ball, too. 

I know I could have found boxes of Animal Crackers elsewhere, but I am not interested in looking. 

Are you ready for Halloween? What are your plans? What costume are you and children wearing? Do you make costumes or buying them?

Dollar Tree Find + Bone Wracking

Last week when I went to the Dollar Tree for shelf stable milk which was not there, I found something interesting. There were very small boxes of Suddenly Salad Ranch and Bacon. Of course, they were $1. I had found the regular boxes for $1, so I have plenty. The regular size costs over $2 in regular stores, sometimes $2.98. So, $1 is my price, the most I am willing to spend. 

I wanted to compare the boxes and data on them, so I bought one. 

large box--7.5 ounces small box--3.7 ounces

large--4.5 servings      small--2 servings

Large box--upwards to $2.98/box  small box--$1

While I cannot imagine me buying the small box, I can see how it can be useful. I am not going to compare it to my sale price. So, 1) the small box is cheaper per serving and per box. 2) If a person is trying to not eat so many calories, the smaller box will save calories. 3) By buying a smaller box, a person can have a variety in meals. 

By the way, the large box I buy calls for 1/2 cup mayo. I use  half that and add a touch of milk sometimes if it seems very dry. Oh, don't use Miracle Whip in this Suddenly Salad. It is gross.

I awoke in the middle of the night Thursday night having hard chills. I checked and I had sufficient cover over me, my back was covered, hands, and I felt warm all over as opposed to being chilly anywhere, feet warm. Finally, the chills were so hard I thought bones would break from the force. Then, I did a mental check to see if anything about me seemed sick. My throat was okay, no sinus pain or ear pain. My toe that was sore was okay as well as the foot that hurt from arthritis. I did not feel feverish, no sweating, just bad chills. I tried breathing through the feeling. Then, I went to sleep. I have no idea what happened and it has never happened before. 

This morning, I am fine. It looks like October will be so much better for me, health wise, than past Octobers. Last night was a mystery. It was one of the better night's sleep I have had, only going to the bathroom once...lol. 

I may need a sweater today since the temperature will be in low 50s all day. 

Tommy had the last of the pumpkin muffins made into a cake. He said it was better the first day when it was warm. He said it was sort of "gummy" the second day. He was not complaining but answering my question of whether it was as good the second day. Maybe all the extra milk made it gummy the second day. 

We may have twin two-year-old boys here on Halloween night. I want to get candy they won't choke on. Since they will be invited, I will probably not get a full bag of candy, maybe just a candy bar each. I watched mine like a hawk at that age and broke things up or cut them. But, I am trying to figure out a full-size candy bar for these little children. What would you suggest? We would eat the rest of a bag! So, not going there. Plus, two candy bars will be cheaper than a bag.  We don't need leftover candy!

So, what would you suggest?

Pizza, Candy Corn, Chair

 There were problems, like no clean dishes to cook with, so we bought Domino's Pizza on Wednesday night. I used cooking time to put away groceries and organize a bit. So, it was a trade-off. Tommy would buy pizza every night if I even thought of it. . .lol He gets double sausage on his half and I get double mushroom. 

Since it was dark, we were going to pay for delivery and tip, making it more expensive. The pizza picked up was $7.99 but delivered was $10.99. However, there was an extra $3.99 charged for delivery. It seems like double charging for delivery to me. She said the total would be $16.99. That is for a 14" pizza with double toppings, a special price, anyway. Then, they did not put the olive oil and garlic on the crusts which makes me upset. They do this over half the time.

I am not interested in any other pizza, so don't try to tempt me. I have tried them all and prefer Domino's. If you invite me to eat something else, I would eat it. But, Domino's is what I prefer! It is what I will pay for a hot pizza. 

HA! I watched Wagon Train and Flint, Robert Horton guy, kisses girls, something Matt Dillon does not do. I really prefer not to have a lot of kissing, just killing...lol. \

I can recommend this package of muffin mix--Martha White Pumpkin Spice Muffin Mix. It called for 3/4 cup of milk. Somehow, I put in one cup of milk. I sighed and went ahead and baked it. I put it in a small casserole about 7"x9". It turned out great with a delicious flavor. With all the milk I used the little cake was dense and moist, a very nice texture. I paid $0.48 at The Pig. It may be more elsewhere. For the next package, I may add canned pumpkin. 

This afternoon, I had to search to find the candy corn, the tiny package I bought. It was time to sample them. I ate a bunch and Tommy ate less, so I tossed him the rest of the bag. At least we did not eat every candy we wanted this season. 

We found out that La z boy charged us for fabric protector. We specifically told the woman we did not want that. So, that has to be rectified. The saleswoman has chairs to sell, I suppose, because we cannot get her attention. Both these chairs are NOT fabric, so I am not sure why protector. Well, unless the conditioner is to condition the plastic or vinyl or whatever it is. Tommy says that the coating on fabric in new cars makes him itch. So, he was adamant. We were charged $69.99 twice. 

We went the short distance to the office in La z boy and I sat in a chair in front of the office. The walker is too uncomfortable. I like the chair as it was high-density foam and wonderful. It was a mission style chair, not my style at all. But, we need a couple of chairs. I need one in my bedroom. It was ~$1300. You read that correctly "about thirteen hundred dollars!"  I might in a wild dream pay that much, but not for a style I would not want. However, I was awake. There are consignment shops. Tommy was shocked as well. 

Oh, they don't carry used furniture away because of Covid. I would worry more about bedbugs, fleas and roaches or other critters. I bought a chair once and found a dead rat under the cushion! My friend's sofa had mice make nests and tunnels in her sofa. No problem with getting rid of these. We will call a thrift store or church yard sale where we go. Or, give them away somewhere, maybe sell the loveseat. It is still in good enough condition, fabric-wise to sell. It is just too worn in the seat for my back and too close to the floor.  I am sitting about 12 inches off the floor when I struggle to rise. 

I will tell you about the bed and mattress tomorrow night, the one on which I sleep. 

Thursday might, we will have the plan for last night, the casserole with Stovetop, chicken and vegetables.  

Haircut Day

 Now, our only job is to clean out the living room so the recliners can be put in here. I suppose the guys will take away the old recliners. Hope so. The rest is piled and cluttered, a mess. 

I called and finally found someone who would prescribe the lift for a recliner! And, medicare won't reimburse La Z Boy because they are too expensive. I have to get it from a medical supply for help. When I told Tommy, he said he was not going to all that trouble to save $250. Well, we are going to look and test. 

For two years I have asked at various places that sell equipment for the handicapped/disabled where I could get a recliner/lift through medicare. Not one person would tell me, claiming they did not know of any place! I have been told I could not sit in one to try it out, just order it. Not true! I will see if anyone has what they call a "zero gravity" chair, one that raises my feet above my heart, is minus that head pillow, and that the seat is deeper. 

Finally, today, Tommy let me cut his hair. I must have cut five or more inches off. We both have trouble getting through the carport to the back yard, so we do everything in front of the house. It looks tacky, like we are yahoos, but it is the only thing we can do without pain and maybe falling. I sort of got it to short and crooked on the back on one side. Just don't look there. I look over at him and I am amazed. 

When we were in the front yard, he exclaimed he could feel the sun on his neck and ears. I told him the sun was shining. He said his neck and ears had been covered for so long. He was amazed that he could feel the sun. I laughed. 

He washed a load of clothes for me, separating the things I hang into three bags--nightgowns, panties, and the white sheet of crepe back satin I use in the car. Usually, he just stuffs things in willy nilly. Of course, then he went back for the things he dried--my towels and washcloths. I cannot believe he has become so organized, something I did not ever expect. I just hang them up however he brings things in. 

He does not want me to wash his clothes or to mingle them...lol. He puts everything he needs to wash in one load every two weeks. So, he does and I don't argue. 

This fall, I intend to buy something upon which to hang clothing in a bedroom and just dry my towels and washcloths on there, too. That way, he does not have to stand in the weather to sort things for the dryer and then go back in the weather again. Also, I won't have to hang things on the door facings in the hall. I am tired of it! Tired! 

Last night, I asked Tommy was he going to get rid of the love seat I sit on. He said he  might as well. This is one of those very cheapo pieces of furniture and over 20 years old, broken down and nasty. His last girlfriend gave it to him when she moved because she could not get it on the truck. Her dog used it as she pleased, and Tommy has smoke in here until I came here. It is just nasty to me even though it still looks pretty good. 

He said he really hates there will be no other place for a person to sit when we get rid of his recliner, the one he refused to let me use, and the love seat. Well, no one else can sit in her anyway. He does not know it, but I am going to a consignment shop to find chairs. I like movable chairs instead of massive ones not meant to be moved about. This won't be my idea of a stylish makeover, but anything is better than it is now. baby steps baby steps

We went out today so I could get bananas and milk at Publix. At The Pig I found mixes for $0.48, two pumpkin spice cupcake mixes and a apple cider cupcake mix. Since I don't have cupcake papers and don't want to wash the pan, I just put the mixes in the pan and make a sort of cake in a tiny rectangular glass pan. It works. For the apple cider mix, I will chop two apples of some sort. 

Since I need to cook dinner, I think I will let Tommy clean the razor with oil and a tiny brush. Dinner will be Stovetop Stuffing with three small breasts in it, very meat-rich. I will put in the chicken, low sodium mushroom soup, egg, celery, dried cranberries or Craisins, and green beans. There are other vegetables to cook, maybe sweet potatoes. But, the sweet potatoes will not go in the Stovetop mixture. I am going to cook the breasts and celery together with sage. My mouth is watering. This plan may change right now because I am soo tired.

A Big Surprise

 Today, while I was waiting for Tommy, I was in the car. He had a doctor's appointment. I had to go to the bathroom in the doctor's office, so I sat with him for two hours while he sat in the waiting room. UGH! When they finally called him back, I went to the car and learned how to take a picture with my Android, how to edit the picture, and how to mail it. None of this was difficult at all as instructions were there and it was rather self-evident, nothing tricky. 

However, I tried to open the photo just now, and I had a 404 error. I was going to post a picture tonight. So, I don't know what happened. 

I took back the SAS shoes two days under the deadline for a refund. Whew. My big toe was killing me, the tendon and arthritis, I suppose. So, I was not up to trying on a shoe. Since I had bought two pairs of shoes, that leaves me with a red sandal. 

The next stop was wonderful! But, I will skip that for a moment. I went to big box and shopped a bit. A stop at the bread store was good because we did not have to make a special trip. Then, since I ran out of milk and had none for breakfast, we stopped at Publix where I bought two half-gallons and a 16 oz. package of bacon for a whopping $8. We rarely eat bacon and here is another reason not to indulge besides our health. 

Okay, the stop I skipped. 

I had decided I was going to get a recliner with a stimulus check I saved, 

and was not going to order one over the internet where they are incredibly cheap. So, we went to La-Z-Boy galleries. My plan was to start here, maybe going to other places. 

We both tried out different chairs and I decided which was most comfortable. I thought Tommy was not going to come in even though I asked him to help me decide.  I ended up trying them all over and over. He tried the models once. I asked him what he thought and he said to get the most comfortable and the one that lifted my feet above my heart. So, he suggested the one I should get. The woman went off to get a price. She gave us a sale price. Then, Tommy decided he would get one, too.  I was asking for an additional discount for buying two, and she said No. Well, I don't give up that easily. Finally, I asked her to give us a lamp. She said NO. I told her to ask someone else. He said NO. I told him that I needed something else since we bought two. He said NO. I asked for the Halloween bowl, not the candy. He said, NO. Well, he grabbed a dish and said, "How about this?" I took it. So, I came home with a bowl in a Tiffany-blue bag. 

Neither my knees nor my back hurt getting out of this chair! It also has heat and massage. Now, heat/massage  was something I really did not want. But, the chair is has a deep seat. That helps my knees not to hurt. I will probably just lie around heated and vibrating...lol. 

It has the fat pillow I hate and the fat arms I hate. But, my knees and back don't hurt when I get up and make me hurt as I try to do things like cooking and going down the hall to the bathroom. That is a plus.  I needed the lift and my feet above my heart. So, we will see how this works.

The chair that fit was the most expensive one on the floor! Tommy said, "Well, for the next two or three Christmases and birthdays, this is your gift." "You are buying it for me?" "Yes" I am so grateful! Now, it will be delivered in December. That is a real bummer. I need it now! 

Usually, when Tommy helps me decide, he asks which is cheapest and goes with that. He went with the one that felt the best for my back and knees and put my feet above my heart. So, that was a surprise. 

So, I am a happy woman with hope for seeing a lack of pain in December. It would have been a good day even if this chair did not happen. 

I definitely wanted a chair that did not have a space between chair and leg rest. My mother died from falling on her face and breaking bones in her face after a fall. It is surmised she fell from getting caught in Daddy's chair as she got up and rushed to answer the phone. 

Oh, for the last two weeks, when I have mentioned to Tommy he should get a recliner, too, he was adamant that he did not need/want a new recliner. Then, he changed his mine. He does that often. ??? 

Do you have a recliner? Do you have any caveats or suggestions? This deal can be undone.

Ball and Bulbs

Once in a while, I decide to check on canning supplies when in stores. I got lucky last weekend and found a box of Ball canning jar lids and rings. There was only one box. However, there were two boxes of lids for large mouth jars, so I got two of those. 

With the short life of the new lids, I am loathe to buy any more for fear they will go bad before I can use them. That's okay because I am using jars for dry storage, cannisters, leftovers. There were jars but I barely noticed how many or what kind as I have plenty. Of course, those here have rings and lids. 

Monday was supposed to be rainy. But, it was not, and I had cancelled a doctor's appointment. Rats! 

Sunday, I sort of straightened and cleaned the front porch. There were pots to toss, the black nursery kind.  It looks so much better for two minutes attention. I have Purple Prince tulips and daffodils to plant in pots soon. I have pots to plant other bulbs, too. 

Dinner on Sunday night--Chicken Cordon Bleu (given to me) for both of us. He had the rest of the quinoa with vegetables and the zucchini. I had a portion of a salad that was not good to me.  I ate it for the nutrition. 

Dinner Monday night--baked chicken breasts, two small red potatoes (one for each of us), green beans. 

Do you ever plants two kinds of bulbs together so they will bloom together? The purple tulips and bright yellow daffodils are gorgeous. 

Nurse, Roses, Great Pumpkin,

Sunday was a very gray day. However, the clouds were not low-hanging or oppressive. I had trouble going back to sleep after waking two hours after I went to sleep, so a midday nap was necessary. We went for a drive. I also keep my eye out for lumber left over from construction. The hunt for Halloween decorations was the main reason for our drive today. 

I called my new primary doctor to try to get a phone appointment. His nurse called back and left a message. Back and forth we went until we finally connected. I was despairing. Finally, I talked to her. She is so nice. Most of these nurses do not listen to the whole story, just relay what they first hear. This results in a response that does not address the problem. 

She heard all about my problems, past and present, getting blood drawn, along with diarrhea, diuretic, electrolyte drinks, heat on site, slinging arms, slapping elbow bend, nurses raking around with needle, nurses sort of blaming me, pain shot for back of hand if necessary, vein finder machine, everything. No, I was not long-winded. She said she was writing it all down. She promised me she would get everything taken care of Monday morning. Doctors' nurses talking to patients on the phone need to learn from her. 

There was something about an infusion person in a hospital who could get a vein, people who would do their job without making me feel guilty. She had watched one find a vein she could not see. She momentarily worried that hospitals don't take orders from outside. Then, she said that he had privileges at some hospital, so he could get me in the hospital lab list.

I am greatly relieved since my endocrinologist wants these labs before my appointment on Friday.  Plus, I need labs done before booster shot for Covid. And, the primary doctor wants labs. So, three doctors are waiting. 

When I went into Publix this last week, a dozen roses was BOGO. I suppose that is what it was since they were two for $10.99. So, Tommy bought a dozen for me...lol. I had his card and thanked him for them when I brought them to the car.  He looked as pleased as I did. They are a two-tone dark and light pink. Beautiful. 

We watched The Great Pumpkin! FYI, it was on PBS, APT here in Alabama. I was so thrilled and remembered how my oldest, only son,  loved Snoopy and the dog fight from the doghouse. We always watched the Charlie Brown specials. I have the Thanksgiving and Christmas Specials marked on my calendar. Did you watch it Sunday night? Your children or grandchildren? 

Solutions

 A friend from Cullman came by today as he left his VA doctor's appointment. He will cut two trees that are hanging onto the house roof, trees that are ruining Tommy's property. Tommy has forbidden me to try and cut the one growing 6 inches from the foundation. It is already 10 feet higher than the roof and has branches fanning out over the roof. 

Since Tommy swears the gutters don't need cleaning since he cut trees 20 years ago, my friend is going to do that, too. Tommy has one huge tree in his back yard that is about a yard in diameter. So, huge and tall. Tommy yells at me to mind my own business, but acquiesed when talking to my friend. He just won't admit that I, a woman, knows anything. Plus, he thinks I am taking over. And, he is cheap. 

He may be getting better at all this macho stuff because he never looked at the huge and deep cut in his tire, just bought more. He is really not into macho acting, but this doing things the right way is getting to him. He is cheap. Formerly, he would not believe the tire was not so bad as I said. 

At any rate, I have lots of tiny things for J to do besides cleaning the gutters and cleaning tree limbs from the roof. The kitchen has the hole under the front of the counter still, the one that let some critter in to drag potatoes over to the hole. Plus, a hornet, wasp, and camel cricket have been found in the same vicinity. It still gives me the creeps. Either of us could have done these things five years ago. Like I said, I can get down there but I cannot get up. Well, it takes time and effort for me to get off the floor, Tommy. too.  J will be cheaper than hiring someone else or multiple people to do things. And, he will do them right. 

When J got down on the floor to look at the critter hole, he said that there was a patch on the hole. No, not so. So, he found the hole I was talking about. There must have been another hole that had to be patched before this one. 

I was proud that the sink was clean and shiny, nothing in it. At this point, that is the best part of the house! I hope J noticed...lol. 

Friday night, Tommy is having more soup, the last big cup and zucchini. I am having a small salad, the kind you get at the grocery store. It was given to me. Earlier, we had a chicken breast from Publix as we sat in the park. Chicken breast or turkey breast is better than desserts to me. 

What is the cleanest/shiniest/straightest of your house? the part that needs no more. It can be as small as a shiny clean sink.

Meal Kit

 Thursday night, we had a pork loin, quinoa with red peppers, zucchini, and squash, with a sauce of maple and apples for the meat. Sorry, but quinoa has a foul taste to me. And, there was barely a half a cup of the three vegetables together. Quinoa was the largest portion. This was a meal kit  and not worth the $15.95 sticker on it. Of course, it was two servings and could easily have been enough for two meat meals for two. So--four servings and other vegetables added. It was given to me, so I am grateful. Tommy ate more zucchini to fill out the vegetables. I have not gotten anything else to eat yet since I only had the pork loin. He just went back for seconds on the quinoa and zucchini. So, he must like it. I will have a salad left from lunch on Wednesday. 

This was a very tiring day though I have done nothing but put on the meal and let the oven do its work. I did microwave the vegetables. Tuesday and Wednesday exhausted me. 

Well, I did do a bit of shuffling around things that needed to go into the food bedroom. I do not need 22 cans of tomato paste on shelves in the kitchen, so 22 went out of the kitchen and onto a dresser. 

We went for a drive to see Halloween decorations that are up. Tommy is quite taken with the spider webs over houses and shrubs. He exclaimed every time we saw them. 

Tommy just brought me a bird body and two wings from the car to glue together. Now, I need red paint to make it a cardinal. 

Dental Implants and Cardinals and Chow Chow

 I received a letter from my dental insurance and did not open it. I called to see if my insurance was still in effect or to find out what the bad news could be. The letter was at home and I was in the car. So, it appears for an extra $3/month, I have partial coverage for dental implants. Well, I said "yes" to that deal.  I need this. There are other added benefits, too. 

Wednesday night, after coming home from Cullman, Tommy had the extra soup for his dinner. I took a late nap and had the salad and something else. I was just too exhausted to even think about cooking. 

As soon as I publish this post, I will be finding a place to get blood drawn. I need a place that will give me a pain shot or a place with the vein finder or a magician. 

There is a list a mile long of places I need to call, things to return, and things to purchase. I am now making cardinals. Of course, the pattern is mine and I paid someone to cut them out. I glue, attach an eye screw, spray them, and they are ready to hang in a tree. Yes, I "made" them. I just need red paint for these. I plan to sell them.

I have already made 1 blackbird and 10 blue birds and 10 cardinals. That makes 21 birds, so far. Well, they are all cut, but in various stages of assembly. 

So far, this October I have been able to avoid being ill. It will be only the second time in twenty years that I have not had to take multiple rounds of antibiotics and spend days in bed during October. I even failed a class the first year of being ill all October. So, I am pleased, very proud of the state of my health so far this October. 

I put my foot down about unloading the dishwasher soon after they are washed. Since then, the sink is always clean as I put the dishes into the dishwasher immediately, the way I did it forever until the dishwasher broke. There is a "rinse and hold" function which I will use this afternoon and then load dinner dishes and run it tonight or tomorrow morning. I am very pleased with not having dishes in both sides of the sink, on counters, and on stove. 

The Pig had free Wickles Pickles or relish with $10 purchase, which was easy enough to do this last week. I got the relish instead for Tommy. 

I am in the mood for Chow Chow and a pot of blackeyed peas. I may not make them a month or so, but I have the urge. How about you? Do you ever make chow chow? I might try that. 

Wednesday--Blood Draws

Today, I am beyond exhausted and still no blood to show for two days of trying. We drove to Cullman, now, two days in a row. It makes about ten punctures. I suppose I must not take the fluid pill on Wednesday. The only thing I accomplished was giving a urine sample. The doctor said taking a fluid pill meant any excess fluid I drank just got peed out!

I drank so much electrolyte drinks and water, I was floating away. 

We picked up the church lunch and went to the lake which was closed to car traffic. You can see the workers have put up some of the Christmas decorations. So, the park will not be open until well after New Years.  We sat in a parking overlooking the lake, a view we don't get when parked at the lake. 

The meal was soup. It was delicious, but way too spicy hot and had English peas.  So, I had the salad. Tommy had my soup and a bowl zucchini for dinner. I will be having the second salad for dinner. So, we ate two meals, bought nothing and cooked nothing. They include cookies, crackers, utensils, salt and pepper. Sitting in the shade overlooking the lake and having lunch was calming after what seemed like hours of being poked and punctured. 

Driving to Cullman was my best option. I have been to clinics here and found professionals, nurses/people who were rude, slammed things around, huffed because my bad, little veins were defying them. In a word or two, they were short and incompetent. If I can go someplace where they will give me a shot in the back of my hand for pain, I can handle a needle stick there. The big, tough Physician's Assistant confirmed that the needle in the back of the hand is indeed very painful. 

This has been going on since I was 21. 

Tommy is exhausted, too, but willing to drive me back for a third time this week. I am going nowhere. 

Do your veins resist blood draws? What do you do to make it better?

Dehydrated

And, I am exhausted. Got any tips as to how to get a better experience having blood drawn? I took hot water bottle for arm, slung arms, slapped my arm, and tried to drink lots of water. Any other tips?  

Not eating until noon, and being awake for so long beforehand is exhausting. So, tonight, dinner will be taco casserole I froze in the glass 7"x7" glass pan. There is other food cooked, but half of the little pan works for me. Tommy can have any food that he wants. I doubt he will want more. I may eat an apple or applesauce. 

Once again, I slept well, but only 7 hours. And, the wool blanket is wonderful as it does not make me hot. Tommy will not even feel it as he says he cannot stand wool. Even as a child, I loved my mother's green, scratchy, wool, army blanket from WWII. 

Tuesday was a brilliant day, warm day, about 75F. It could not have been a prettier day and pleasant. Of course, I wore sandals and the black and white striped outfit. It was not too cool for what I wore. 

Now, I must go spend time standing in front of the microwave! That is exhausting. 

Tommy is so funny. He emptied the bathroom trash which has tp in it, since I won't flush it. I have no idea whether he does or not. He said he "even sprayed it with Lysol because the can stinks". So funny. He was upset when I mentioned washing out the outdoor garbage can. He wailed, "Why would I do that?" Since he prefers to throw things in the can without a bag or without tying the bag, I told him it would smell like a dumpster soon, stink to high heaven, draw flies and rats. I notice he has been more careful how he throws things in it. I think I treat the kitchen trash can in sanitary ways he has never, ever considered. 

I have to slave over the microwave now. 

Too Pooped to Type

I was so sad Colin Powell died. He was a hero of mine. His situation shows why we should be so careful of infecting people. He was vaccinated, but had multiple myeloma. So, the vaccine was not very effective for him. I mourn. 

If I don't visit or leave a comment, consider I am exhausted and have been busy. Today, Tommy had an appointment to get new tires at 11 am. We got there at 11 am and asked how long it would take. I rode with him. Then, my gastrointestinal tract betrayed me and I had to go home and change clothing. So, he took me home; I jumped out; he went directly back. We are less than a mile from the shop. 

Once I cleaned up and changed clothes, tried to recover and went back in my car. Tommy got into my car because I needed something to eat. So, did he. 

We went back about 1 pm and the car was not done because she said, "he had to leave." Yet, it was on the rack with only one tire, and old one on the vehicle. She was very accusatory which I did not like. Okay, at 3:15, the woman called back as it was done. 

I drove him back, so he could get it. It was over $800. However, there was a b3g1, and he had a coupon for free installation. So, with alignment, he paid ~ $790. I asked and he has absolutely no idea what the savings were.  And, and this card will give him cash back. So, now we are driving on good tires. 

Today, I wanted to go and buy a recliner with the lift mechanism. I really need it. But, I spent all day at the ready and spent the time getting tires! I saved one of my stimulus for this purpose. Tomorrow, we must do something else. 

The Dollar Tree was on my list of places to go. I managed to get in and shop. There was no shelf stable milk, what I was looking for to buy. It is $1, so I try to keep it. Just before it expires, Tommy drinks it. Then, I get more. No, that was not in the cards today. So, I still need to do that. 

My new wool blanket is wonderful. I put it on my bed last night, right on top of a quilt, a comforter and a fuzzy blanket. It was warm when I got into bed, but I lay still, cooled off and slept well all night.  The comforter was the only thing pulled up to my shoulders. The comforter and fuzzy blanket were only over my feet, how I have used them all summer. Now, I want to find another one on eBay. 

Right now, I am going to try to get a gigantic hen in a baking bag. This meat will be taken off the bone by Tommy. Chicken and dumplings is on the menu some day. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a brand recliner? I hate the wide arms that recliners usually have, but I want the seat to be wide. I also hate that big bumpy part for the head. It pushed my head forward and crushes my hair, and wraps around my face!

No Cooking for Two Days and Eating Well, Gunshot, Pansies

 Friday, about 2:30, we went to the Greek Festival and ordered food. It was $46 well spent. Silly us went to the park to eat. We ate so late that we needed no dinner, just fruit and cereal. Then, on Saturday, Tommy had part of my meat, rice, and grape leaves for lunch. Saturday night, he had the rest of his meat and rice. Later, when I had cooked something, we both had chicken and Brussel's sprouts, he had his meat; I had chicken breast, Brussel's sprouts, and grape leaves. We ate well. The chicken and Brussel's sprouts were from a one meal dish. It would have been $7 if we had bought it. 

Tomorrow, I will write about the Greek Festival. 

The spaghetti recipe may be coming back as I sat with a pen and paper and tried to recall it. I think I almost have it complete. When I get it right, I will freeze it in pint jars. It will be a memory. It will be cheaper. It won't be in a metal jar! Okay, I think I have remembered it. I had a pen and notebook in my lap or lying beside me. I looked at what I had written and things came to me one item at a time. Can you believe garlic was the last thing I remembered?

When I got out of the car at the bread store, my eyes were drawn to a cut in Tommy's right front tire. It was a cut in a circle about the size of a nickel. And, I could get my thumbnail down into the cut for quite a way. Tommy took it to a tire place. The guy did not want to see the cut because he said the tires were too bald to repair. Their shop would not work on it. 

Tommy thinks I worry too much and pay attention to things not worth worrying about. And, he always lets his tires become bald before he replaces them! But, Monday, he is buying new tires. 

We were sitting waiting at a drive-up pharmacy window when I heard a noise and Tommy asked me if I heart the gunshot. Well, no, it did not sound like a gunshot. It sounded like maybe a pebble had been dropped. That was spooky.  

The pansies and mums were not doing well until the weather cooled off on Saturday. I was worried since neither plant has a problem, usually. They are not finicky as far as I know. The poor pansies were drooping and not blooming well. Now, there is a profusion of pansy blooms. I saw a variety called "Old Fashioned" that were light and medium pink, maybe a darker pink, too. I think that is the name. I want more of that variety. Have you seen or heard of the pink ones?

Tommy stalled all week and we waited a week between emptying the dishwasher and reloading it. Friday, late, I told him to come help. He did. Today, we emptied the dishwasher and put things away. I immediately loaded the only two dirty items into the dishwasher! YAY! 

Do you know someone who lets their tires get bald before getting new ones? 

Recovery of a Recipe

Since I lost most everything, recipes are a problem for me. I rarely use a recipe for everyday food. But, for holiday food, I did use recipes. I tried to remember what they were, but have little idea. However, I looked at a lot of recipes and discovered some recipes from her were off cans. I am quite sure I knew this, just forgot. 

I still have not recovered/remembered all my recipes. I do have the pumpkin pie recipe. I never made it exactly like my mother did. I just subbed dark brown sugar for the light brown sugar she used. So, that was an easy. 

The recipe for pound cake is the hard one. I am looking for a recipe that calls for cooking an hour and twenty minutes. That is my only clue...lol. I do know the first time I made it, I had no chocolate squares to melt. I used cocoa when I subbed for the baking chocolate and never bothered to get the chocolate called for. So, that is a mission. I don't want to have to bake chocolate pound cakes until I find the right recipe! 

Right now, my goal is to make my mother's spaghetti recipe. A week is how long I plan to sit with a notebook and try to remember all she put in spaghetti. It has about 20 ingredients. 

My advice is to never have the only copy of a recipe you need to keep. I would not put these on the computer, a thumb drive, and in another location just like you would keep an extra copy of papers you need otherwise! I never shared it with anyone except for one person who is now dead. 

I once developed a recipe for biscotti that could be adapted for add-ins, different flavors and spices. It did not have lots of sugar or fat. Well, I left that on the counter on a scrap of paper. Someone "helping" me threw it out along with many receipts. They were all in a neat stack, not just in disarray. I may try to recreate that recipe, too. 

Unfortunately, I am missing about a half dozen recipes, not just one.

Have you ever lose a recipe through catastrophe or neglect? What recipe did you lose? How did you recover or recreate it? Did you give up or settle for a recipe not the same?

They Keep Dying

 I saw the obituary of a friend and wonder how he died. We have not seen or spoken to each other in about ten years. He was too far into alcoholism. When he was not funny, he was abusive. I was his computer person. The first thing I did for him had him convinced I was the best. He had had two "computer experts" (his words)  to work with his computer and printer. I was the only person who finally got his printer to quit speaking German or French or something. So, he paid me to make house calls. 

He was very young, not a boyfriend or anything.  But, I am shocked he died. Last year, I heard he was on the list for a liver transplant but recovered and did not need the liver. His birthday was September 3, and always sang the song about the third of September, just a bit of it. 

You may think he was not much of a friend if we had not spoken lately.  However, things happened and I was busier. So was he. 

Have you regretted not staying in closer touch with a friend who died?

This and That

 Tuesday was just Tuesday. And, I am eternally grateful it was quiet and easy. No drama. Not even good busyness like Monday. We went out for a bit. I did take a short nap after a good talk with a friend. 

Tuesday night, I felt very sleepy approaching midnight. When I told Tommy I was going to bed, he did not have a heart attack at my early bedtime, he just turned off the light and TV immediately.  Of course, I was not going to sleep immediately. 

I read The Beautiful Mystery, by Louise Penny,  the book I started last Friday night, but only two short chapters. As soon as I became really sleepy, I stopped reading and went to sleep. So, by 7:45 am on Wednesday, I was awake and ready to get up. 

Wednesday, I measured the half bath off another bedroom, a bathroom I am forbidden to use. It measures 39" x 49" and the commode is 8 " from the wall. That is 8" of knee-room to sit. I read that a commode should have at least 23" in front of it. And, the commode is one of the short ones. Maybe I cannot use it...lol. Some pull bars would help. I wonder if I could sneak a gallon of paint in there and paint it a pale pink. 

I sprayed my wire chicken again. It will take more spraying to get it covered. Next spraying or two, the chicken will have to be upside down. The wind keeps changing while I spray it, but today I wore a black and white outfit, so if it gets sprayed, it will not show too much. Besides, the outfit is something I wear at home. My black leather sandals won't look too bad with white specks! 

Wednesday dinner was a chicken breast in the park and a huge salad a bit later at home. Tomorrow night, it might be a peanut butter sandwich since Tommy shows no signs of helping with the dishwasher. Next time, he gets to load dirty dishes and to wash the ones that don't come clean because of the way he loads it...lol.  We may have to have a come-to-Jesus-meeting.

I came upon a green jack-o'-lantern and my metal Halloween box, so those are out. I need to look for the ghosts we used last year. Did I say my wooden blackbird is hanging where one of the hummingbird feeders was hanging? 

A friend with whom I have not spoken for a year is having surgery Thursday on a trigger finger, so that call was longer than I planned. She is the one who is getting the recyclable cans to redeem, the cans I delivered to a mutual friend on Monday. She does not want patterns and said she was looking at hers yesterday and is going to give hers away, too. But, like me, does not know where to take plastic bottles. 

I have about 15 pounds of ugly, misshapen carrots to cook, 5 pounds of zucchini to cook for Tommy, and about 8 very large cucumbers to wash and slice for him for salads. So, I have lots to do on Thursday, maybe into Friday. 

Fall weather is supposed to arrive this weekend. Rats! low 70s during the day will call for taking a sweater along, just in case. Then, 60s on Monday will mean I will need a sweater early, late, or in the shade. I wonder if this is the end of summer. 

The new ads came out yesterday. I found Kraft Miracle Whip and Kraft Mayo bogo at Publix. So, I got one of both, each of which have date of 4/22. I use very little Mayo, but do put it in Suddenly Salad. The Granny Smith apples I bought for $1.49/lb. are now more than twice that--$3.99/lb. I need to look online for The Pig and other ads. 

My back hurts me so from spray painting. If I don't paint today, the rest will have to wait until spring or a very warm snap later this year. It was not the painting, but the carrying/dragging the heavy wire chicken and the chair to sit in. 

What have you been doing? What are your plans for this weekend?

Wonderful Monday

 We stayed up too late on Sunday  night to get up early on Monday, so I told Tommy to wake me at 10 am. Well, I awoke at 8:45 and lay there until 9 and left about 10 am. I diced boiled eggs I made Sunday afternoon and had egg salad, which for me was just diced eggs and Miracle Whip. 

We stopped at Publix so I could get cash to pay for yard mowing.

Tommy watered the flowers without me asking. He likes to keep flowers alive for me. We were taking recycling to Cullman, so he got that in the car. The day was very pretty, sunny and pretty clouds. The breeze was warm and easy although it got brisk and back to gentle all day long.

The Day and not in order:

Store where there is a cart of reduced items. There was nothing I used, wanted, in the sale cart. I did get another Hormel Roast Beef and Gravy, dated 2024. I found the Munchies peanut butter and crackers 2/$4. Since they have gone up about 20%, I was thrilled. However, the best by date was the end of November. I doubted we would use the two packages before then. So, I only got one box. 

Post Office--lots of mail, nothing earthshaking. Some junk. 

My lot. Friend mowed it for me. Well, he and adult son used weed eaters. He wants some quarried rock left there about 1 foot x 2 feet. So, we traded. No money was exchanged. The yard looks good. 

Bank. closed! 

Sweet potato farm--none ready that will be washed and cured. I hate uncured sweet potatoes. I need to go back in three weeks.

Friend's house. She is putting the water/drink bottles in her recycling, two kitchen trash bags full. Plus, we gave her smaller bags of soft drink cans and soup-type cans to give to a mutual friend who cashes them in. 

Publix. Pit stop! And, I bought a ceramic pumpkin with a Halloween scene on it. I got two boxes of Cheerios bogo, and a small coconut chocolate for $.79. I think. 

Arby's. He was having blood sugar problems but would not admit it. So, I wanted the least carbs possible. He never wants fries at Arby's. There is lots of meat and cheese, protein and fat except for the bun. Actually, he is totally unaware of how he feels once his blood sugar starts dropping. 

Friend's house who cleaned up my lot. He had been drinking so he was mellow and smiley. Funny! 

Belk's. I had a $10 coupon, so I went in looking for something I wanted that would cost me nothing. I got a $26 starfish bracelet that had been marked down twice on clearance and walked out without spending a cent, using $8.23 of the $10. It will be a next-summer bracelet. I bought my Halloween spider ring at Christmas last year the same way. I need to get that out. 

Gas. He yelled Oh Wow.  Gas was $2.85, best price he has seen lately. So, he filled up. 

That was a busy Monday, and went off without a hitch or rain, or wrecks on interstate. 

(I started reading my new book, new to me, on Friday night. I love it. Only one night since I started reading have I missed a night. I barely got covers over me that night.)

Monday was a perfect day. After Saturday and Sunday and car and ATT, I needed Monday. His hissy fit spoiled lunch, but it could not spoil the day. 

Have you ever really needed a good day? My bracelet is so cute!

Saturday and Sunday Problems

 Plans were made for Saturday morning. And, things got off to a good start. We emptied the dishwasher and loaded it. Tommy was washing a huge pot he did not wash last time. I sat while he was working because I wanted to wash my hair in the sink. He obviously washed everything and then washed the sink, thankfully. I washed my hair, bathed, and started the dishwasher. 

Tommy took the jump box to the car and I went out, too. Well, the jump box would not jump off the car. I told him to go get the guy who three weeks ago said he would jump the car with his car. The guy came with tools to remove the battery since Tommy asked him to remove it. He could not get it out. There is a brace from the front of the car to the side. Weird. At some point this guy got a suitcase full of socket wrenches, borrowed from another neighbor. 

Tommy had to walk three doors down on thick, wet grass. Then, he could not get to the door because it had no railings. So, he lifted his walker to the porch and went up on his hands to the door, managed to get upright and not fall off and rang the doorbell. The guy took the battery out, finally, and brought the battery to the car. I told Tommy I would drive. 

Adjusting his seats is hard for me, and I never got it quite right. But, we went to Auto Zone as I have explained a few paragraphs later in this jumble of writing. 

The guy had arrived with the suitcase full of tools and Tommy was not yet home. In a few minutes, I heard Tommy talking and realized he wanted me. I looked back at his car and he was sitting. I asked him what he was saying. He was yelling but nothing made sense. I went back to the car and he had the seat leaning back and nothing he said made sense. I was really frightened. I could understand "drink" and got to the house as fast as I could. That hurt. I brought back orange juice and a real Coke and a package of peanut butter crackers. Every fiber of my being was stressed, hurting, and wanting to cry. 

I have to tell you that I always rise to the occasion when there is an emergency.  Another day, I will tell you the story of my mother paralyzed by an emergency.  In an emergency when most people throw up afterwards, my tension is relieved in the other direction. I got this from my father. Mama said he ran for the bathroom after trauma, which was worse than mine on Saturday. 

I was in my car and tried to call Tommy for something. Well, AT&T "redirected" my call to them and had a long message about them giving me a new phone and setting me up with 5G. My head almost exploded. They have "redirected" my call about 7 times on Friday and Saturday. I yelled and screamed at them to give me back the service for which I was paying. This woman that I could not understand and barely hear just kept talking about how they were trying to help me.  I got my service back and almost had a heart attack, I am quite sure.

We took the battery to Auto Zone, and they did not have a tester as theirs was broken and parts had not come in. They sent us to Advanced Auto to have them check it and we could bring the battery back to AZ. Advanced Auto could not be bothered to even talk to me as I sat in the car. 

After we left Auto Zone, I was light-headed and Tommy was not doing well. We got Burger King.  Finally, we went back to Auto Zone. The guys said that they should have not sent us to the other store. So, we left with a new battery, their idea. But, I have a long history of buying from AZ. 

We ate, and went to AT&T store where we are going to get my new flip phone activated. AT&T actually "redirected" my phone again and also twice on Sunday when I was trying to call Tommy to tell him I was leaving a store. 

The guy who took the battery out of the car came back over to install the new one when I called him. I was screaming into the phone and he had a funny look on his face. I stopped and told him I was yelling at AT&T. He gave a look of "oh, I see." I used "AT&T" several times in each sentence.  I go ballistic when I talk to ATT and it has gotten worse over the years. I usually just get angry at them and now go ballistic. 

He brought another guy with him. It took two of them to get the battery back into the car and the brace reattached to the frame of the car. The car started, a healthy start, nothing whining. THEN, I backed it into Tommy's ramp, scraping paint off the car and doing nothing to the ramp. 

We left to get the car washed. That car wash terrifies me. In what world am I supposed to be comfortable with turning loose the wheel putting, the car in neutral or something, and not using the brake? And, then the car is pulled along? So, the car is clean. We made it home and sort of recovered. I forgot what was for dinner. Oh, the burger was dinner and something later at home. 

To add insult to injury, I had left my lights on. So, I went back to the car and turned them off. I really did not care at that point. But, I dragged myself out of the house, climbed the incline to the carport, turned off the lights, and got out of the car. Just as I twisted out and got up, the carport light went out. Now, I had to navigate and orient myself at the same time, blinded, trying to figure out how not to step off the carport but go beside the car, figure out where the incline dropped and see the ramp. HE HAD TURNED OFF THE CARPORT LIGHT KNOWING I HAD GONE OUT TO TURN OFF MY LIGHTS!

Oh, he heard about it and he did not seem to care. I yelled at him a bit and he was not sorry for what he did at all. You know the electricity to burn that light another 30 seconds might throw him into bankruptcy. 

Sunday, I went to big box to get something. I wanted the date on camera corrected and had another question. So, I took my camera and put it in my pocket as I was able to snag an electric cart in the parking lot. When I got to electronics, about 30 minutes later, I had no camera. And, then I wanted to tell Tommy because I was so upset at the loss. AT&T had redirected me again! I started yelling right in the store. One woman gave me a "go girl" look and gesture. A guy was smiling. I was yelling "ATT cannot keep doing this to me." Once again, I used ATT in each sentence, saying I paid my bill. Yelling in a store is not my way. But, AT&T  causes me to lose all reason and raising! 

The camera fell from my pocket as I sat on the electric cart in the parking lot, I suppose. So, gone and not turned in. I hate this new pair of pants. The pocket opening is so low and huge. I need to sew it up so things stay inside. Everything comes out of these pockets.

I finally got into the car and was ready to cry. Fibromyalgia still had me in pain after Saturday. I think that being old and upset wears on a person, too! Saturday was spilling over into Sunday as Sunday went down the drain! 

Saturday was so draining. And, then I worried about Tommy. I need to watch out for him better.  He still says he was just thirsty and his mouth was dry on Saturday. No, he was not making sense. And, I lost my camera!!! Sunday just topped off the pain, mental and physical! 

Is AT&T redirecting your calls and depriving you of the service for which you pay? As you get older does stress destroy your nerves? I need a vacation from adulting! I am becoming  a crazy lady from AT&T's unabated abuse of their power. 

Sunday Trauma

 Saturday took a lot of out of me. Sunday compounded the emotional injury. I felt beat up. If I feel better on Monday, I will post about it. 

Sunday night, we had salmon croquettes. There was only one because I used a short can and then it was full of skin and fat which I discarded. But, the salmon with egg in it made two good-sized croquettes. He had peas and I had green beans, the rest of the can from Saturday. Then, afterwards a salad and a peach dump cake with half the sugar and 2% milk. 

My freezer door won't stay shut at the top. It is getting all frosty and runs all the time. I had to use packing tape to keep the top part closed. It is really weird. Since it is past the warranty, I am not sure what will happen. The freezer door appears to be bent open. Weird. Have you ever had this happen to a new freezer? Or, an old one? 

We are forecast another week without rain, so I am happy for that. 

Short Post

This week, I managed to keep up with the days and not get ahead of myself or the calendar. This week ended up sunny and bright, unlike the middle of the week. Tommy is not balking at helping me load the dishwasher, he is just not ready, I suppose. 

Consequently, there was nothing to cook in or heat in tonight, Friday night. I ended up opening a can of Hormel Roast Beef, made Idahoan instant potatoes, and either peas or green beans. Then, I had a banana. He eats the peas; I eat the green beans. His putting off the emptying and filling of the dishwasher is annoying me. Tonight was a $7 dinner, unlike even picking up burgers. 

We will load the dishes on Saturday. Then, Sunday they will be taken from the dishwasher. This makes my life less stressful when the dishwasher is empty to fill as I go. 

He did help me get food sorted and took something from the living room that had been put off for weeks on end. He also used his walker to carry food to the bedroom where the overflow lives. This is the bedroom where things of mine live in boxes--the sewing patterns and notions. There is other stuff, but nothing comes to mind. 

Saturday was horrendous, so I will leave that for tomorrow. I am exhausted and disgusted. 

Do things ever pile up and not get done? UPDATE: Things piling up does not necessarily mean just dishes.

Sweet Milk and Mt. Dew

On Tuesday, I tossed a empty milk carton with use by date of August 12, 2021.  Yes, I knew the date and drank it anyway. It was fine, very sweet. You may remember this is a2milk, $4.49 for less than a half gallon. I try to buy it when it is on sale. I found it 3 for $10 and bought 6 cartons. And, it remains sweet milk 7 weeks after the expiration date. Now, I have a carton open that "expires" the middle of October. I wonder what they do to this milk for it to remain sweet and not sour for so long.

I remember when milk was referred to as "sweet milk." Do you?

Back in my mother's time, when milk was fresh, it was "sweet milk." When it was old it was sour milk or clabbered milk and used in baking.  No, it has no sugar added to it. 

If your milk hangs around until is is not fresh and sours, just use it to bake. It won't hurt you. As you may remember, if my milk turns, I just put chocolate in it and drink the chocolate milk. I cannot tell the difference. 

My mother and grandmother referred to milk as "sweet milk." My mother did start calling it just
milk." I rarely ever hear anyone refer to milk as sweet milk, anymore. Do you talk to anyone or hear anyone who refers to milk as "sweet milk?" Did older relatives call it "sweet milk?"

By the way, if you have never heard it called "sweet milk," pronounce it quickly as if it is one word with two spondees. Both words are accented. Got it?

Mt. Dew? I love it. Never have I loved something so much yet not imbibed for so long. I think Mt. Dew is the best thing ever. But, I won't drink it. It causes my heart to beat rapidly because of so much caffeine. Plus, I do not need the sugar. Diet Mt. Dew is nasty and still has all the caffeine. Even years ago, I drank it once every six months. 

The only place I am tempted to drink Mt. Dew is in Lowe's because Lowe's does not carry Coke products. Plus, the cooler keeps drinks almost icy. Actually, I would buy a really cold bottle to drink in the car. Well, I did about ten years ago. 

Nowadays, I occasionally buy a six-pack of bottles bogo. Then, about once a month, we put one in the refrigerator.  Two inches in a cup are all I allow myself. It feels so good going down my throat. Tommy drinks the rest. I am quite sure Mt. Dew is pure poison. 

This willpower is something I need to harness for all my food loves. 

Do you love Mt. Dew?  Do you have a good story about sweet milk or Mt. Dew?

RAIN

Well, we are still working on the list from a few days ago! The rain is part of the problem. In places in Birmingham, TEN inches of rain fell. And, October is traditionally our driest month of the year. Well, that did not happen so far. Okay, that ten inches is the official rainfall, but some places received more rain. 

Tommy hung my black bird in the tree IN THE BACK of the tree! I suppose I will have to redo that, but not until the grass is dry. I hope the bird has been painted enough. I only got one coat on before rain and high humidity put an end to painting. I had him hang the black bird from the shepherd's hook instead of the tree. It looks great. 

A few weeks ago, I had the most wonderful ice cream, Mayfield's Snow Cream. And, yes, it does taste just like it was made with milk, sugar, and vanilla flavoring with bowls of snow stirred in. Try it, you will like it, or maybe you have. 

My youngest daughter who just turned 46 went out to gather snow when she was five years old. I told her about bird poop and not scraping too closely. She was so cute doing this, so focused and careful. 

Last night, I finished The Bear. It was wonderful. I felt I was in a land I could never know or imagine. For a post-apocalyptic story, it was pleasant, but poignant. This is the story of the last person on earth! I was mesmerized. If anyone wants it, I can send it media mail to you. 

When I get the stuck-on egg from the egg beaters, I will cook scrambled eggs for the next three days. Six broken eggs wait in a bowl. I am so hungry, so this will be lunch. I suppose he can help me empty and refill the dishwasher when Jeopardy is on TV.  He does so many things. He went to the kitchen and washed dishes when I had wanted him to only get off the stuck on cheese on two glass dishes. But, he washed most of the glass dishes. He is not lazy. 

For Tommy, I ordered a large hot water bottle. It hold 90 ounces of water and is skinny and long. His hips and knees hurt him because he has osteoarthritis. Hopefully, by getting this long bottle, he can apply heat to both hips or both knees at one time. He has a heating pad that is too old. Plus, I don't trust him not to turn it off or remove it from his body. 

A couple of days ago, I got into the car where Tommy was set to drive. I tried to put something into my pocket, and my pocket had mysteriously disappeared. After a bit, I realized my pants were backwards! Ugh! Tommy asked me if I wanted to go back and change. I was hurting so that I said no and just wore the pants backwards. These pants were new. I had worn them and washed them before this day. I thought to myself that they fit better and washing and hanging to dry. I would have been too embarrassed to admit I put them on backward and then wore them after I realized my mistake. But, I am over that now. I do check twice now to make sure they are on correctly. 

Just now, we put the pumpkin and the pot it sits in on the other side of the porch in order to balance the decorations. It's not much of a Halloween display, but it works for me. I have only spent $10 on Halloween. When things are on sale, I will be buying a fake pumpkin for next year, hoping it won't fade. But, I suppose I can spray it if it fades. I do have orange spray paint. 

We got our sun today by going to Publix to return brown lettuce that is two days from expiration date. Then, we zipped around the corner to The Pig and got Dasani water. I had earned money on a card, so it cost me nothing. We sat in the park for about 20 minutes, made a tour of the park and came home. it works for us. 

So far, that is our day. 

Have you ever worn your pants backward on purpose or accidentally? How did they feel? Have you had Mayfield Snow Cream? How did you like it? Did you think it tasted exactly like snow ice cream when it snowed?

Wednesday

 My mums are not the color I wanted. Oh well. Do I need to deadhead mums to encourage more flowers to bloom. 

Dinner on Tuesday--sweet potatoes, green beans. Tommy had sort sort of Italian turkey sausages (2) and I had a very small chicken breast. 

Sunday, Tommy went with me to buy a gadget to start my car. He heard me talking to the guy. My car is dead. The guy down the street said he would come down to help jump it off. Tommy and I together cannot hook up battery cable we have. Plus, my jumper cables are trapped in the trunk of my car. This seems like a failure in design--jumper cables cannot be removed from trunk of a car with a dead battery.

Well, I got the thing home and it talked about plugging it into an outlet and all sorts of information that did not seem pertinent to what we were trying to do--jump off my car from his.  I was sputtering about how it made no sense. He informed me I did not buy a jump box, just something to fully charge the battery whether it was in or out of the car. 

So, Tuesday, we went to Auto Zone and called as we sat in the car. The guy came and got the cc and went back in and brought out a Duracell jump box. 

I have never heard of a "jump box." Have you? Do you have one? This thing is heavy! And expensive--$74. Now, we have to take the other back to the store.

Tuesday, Tommy took a marker like I asked and drew a face on the jack-o-lantern. It looks so funny, strange. But, it is just fine. When Halloween is over, we will turn the face to the back, using it until Thanksgiving. So, we will get to use it for 8 weeks. 

He also broke limbs from the pine tree and put them under the pumpkin so it would not sit in a wet planter and rot. The wire chicken holding the mum was due for another coat of paint, but due to humidity rising and then rain, that will have to wait. It looks fine from the road, much whiter than it was before the first coat. 

After examining the yard sale pot, I found it has holly leaves and berries on it. I might paint that for use on the front porch this spring. 

On Tuesday, I awoke feeling a bit better. My fever was down. Today, Wednesday, I feel almost normal and not ill. Maybe October will not beat me this year! I finished I Alone and started a book from the box of books--The Bear by Andrew Krivak, finishing over 100 pages last night, over half the book. So, tonight I will surely finish it. 

In the late 90s Krivak, only 17, was convicted of raping and murdering a 12-yr-girl and spent 24 years in prison before the wrong was corrected. His story is interesting, to say the least. 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have continued reading and NOT taking melatonin. It seems to work. I only slept four hours Tuesday night, but a nap will fix that. Of course, I may not nap. The deep ache of no sleep and continual tiredness, weariness is gone. 

Today, I plan to go pick up loss leaders, mainly cheese, since I have not had Kraft cheddar cheese in three days. There is yucky American cheese that was frozen, cheese curds, and feta. Those won't do when I want Cheddar. 

Have you read The Bear or anything by Andrew Krivak? I get frantic when I don't have a banana, but it has been years since I ran out of Kraft Medium Cheddar, and I am really missing it. What food do you really miss and want when you run out? 

Right now, I am waiting for Tommy to ruin the jump box by using a very old, small extension cord! He is a destroyer of things. UPDATE: We went to buy an extension cord!

Stockpiling on the Cheap

 Monday, feeling as tired as I was, we went to the park for pine straw and pinecones. What looked like pine straw was really rings of straw that had disintegrated and mud. So, I left that. I found a pine branch with a dozen pine cones on it. Tommy can break up the branches for the pumpkin to sit on instead of the dirt in the pot. It will work as well, maybe better than the straw to keep the pumpkin off the wet dirt in the pot. We sat and ate a brownie. 

I will put the pinecones in the oven on low to make them dry and full. Then, I can decorate with them... cheap decorations. 

I decided to go to Publix to get more Campbell's soup. I bought one can each of cream of broccoli, asparagus, beefy mushroom, cream of celery, French onion, and 6 cans of cream of mushroom, and  5 cans of cream of chicken and 2 cans of chicken broth. I bought 17 cans for $1 each. Usually, I only buy cream of mushroom and cream of chicken. I only buy chicken broth to drink when I am ill with sinus problems. I paid $1 for each of these varieties. 

All these cans will go in a separate place in the bedroom, not the kitchen so I will use what is on the kitchen shelf first. They all have "23" on top and front to help me find what I need and use the older ones, the ones with "22" on the front and top. I may have a few with "21" on the top and label. 

Even better news is the cream of chicken was unsalted. The "unsalted" cream of chicken had only 50 mg of sodium, whereas the regular cream of chicken has 870 mg of sodium. !!! That is quite a large difference. 

The items on my to-do list did not all get done as I felt worse during the day. I am still working on those items. I did get one hummingbird feeder filled after dark, so they were without nectar all day. I was afraid they would give up on me, but they are back this morning. 

I did get out one more box of patterns to go through. And, we are calling today to have patterns, books, and a recliner picked up by a thrift store. I am going through withdrawal because I have no cheddar cheese!

For Monday dinner I told Tommy to make himself a salad and get a piece of chicken to go in it. He got two Roma tomatoes, carrots and Romaine for his salad, a huge one. He knows how ill I feel. Besides, he never minds making his own salad. I made a salad for myself later. 

Monday night, I really, really wanted to get KFC. I started to have Tommy take me there just to get gravy. I lived without it. But, I might have gotten better if I had some gravy. 

Have you found  a good price for stocking up on anything? Are your hummingbirds still coming to the feeders?

Today's Agenda and Ebay Surprise

 There are things that must be done today. Even though I awoke very ill, these will be done. Tommy is perfectly willing to help, but he needs direction. 

It is 2 pm. I just got out of bed for the second time today. When I awoke about 9 am, I barely made it in here. And, I barely made it back at noon for a long rest. 

clean off end table. Tommy did that while I lay down. I cannot stand and bend to do it. So, I gave him a bin and asked him to just take things off the table. Even when I try to twist to pick things off the table, I cannot for long. So, I have a bin of junk I can put in my lap or beside me to sort.

wash and refill hummer feeders. That is the next thing I do when I quit typing.

sort at least one box of patterns.  I think there are three or four more boxes. 

wash and trim sweet potatoes and bake enough for several meals.  There is enough baked chicken for two or three meals. 

gather and box books to give away. Tommy has about 100 in his bedroom. I may bring those in here to have him make the decision. I have about 50 that need to go, no decisions needed. All go.

empty and fill dishwasher. 

Make two very important telephone calls. 

Everything above here and some other things will get done today if it kills me. Oh, I won't be bringing Tommy's books to him. 

I ate nothing before 2 pm. When I did eat, I had a can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup. I don't dilute it, just eat it from can, heated. It seems more efficient that way and takes less time. I did eat the low-sodium stuff. A banana is next. 

This bit of illness is my October problem. I am medicating with otc, prescriptions, foods, and rest. Hopefully, this will not be another lost October. Maybe I won't have to take an antibiotic. Keep your fingers crossed. 

Hopefully, I can get to the park and get pinecones and pinestraw today, just what I need to be doing with allergies assailing my system. I need pine straw to put in the pot of dirt where the pumpkin lives. The pinestraw is for drainage so the pumpkin will last longer. The pinecones are for putting in the pumpkin for decoration and later for Thanksgiving and Christmas. At my house, I had three pine trees and never lacked for straw or pinecones. Maybe I had five pine trees. 

Just now, I received a box from ebay. Now, what did I order? So, Tommy cut it open and I looked inside. BOOKS!!! These are not going to go away until I read them Thanks. A blogger friend said she was going to mail books to me. It had slipped my mind. So, I now have a dozen really good  books to read. She know me well. I was thinking about getting a copy of Moby Dick. And, she sent me a copy of Cliffs Notes. Cool. 

I suppose it is a good thing so many books I don't want to read are leaving here to find new homes. 

Do you ever decorate with pine cones for any holiday? When I was a child, I liked to paint them silver for Christmas. I did that too as a young adult. I think I got silver paint to paint them one time. I remember drippy silver paint.  I loved silver paint! Did you ever spray pinecones for Christmas decorations. 

Okay, it is almost 3 pm, so I need to start on my list.

Not on the Shelf, Sleep

 While I was thinking of it, and for something to do to get out of the house and into sunshine, we went to Publix on Saturday. They are out of the fried onions! Monday, around 4 pm they will have them on the shelf. I will be there! 

I bought ice cream, 3 huge Granny Smith apples for a pie which will only have a top crust. Thanks Barbara.  Campbell's Cream of Mushroom and one of Cream of Chicken, (Healthy Choice) were $1 each or 2 for $2. I got one of each just to keep up my stockpile. At least these have less sodium for our green bean casserole. 

Saturday, my bird to hang in the tree got two coats of black paint. Then, it rained or sprinkled on the bird and it is sticky now! I suppose tomorrow, I will hang it in a tree in the front yard. 

For dinner on Saturday, we had a chicken tender I baked in the oven and turnip greens. Then, later, we both had a salad. It is best for me to eat dinner or any meal in two sessions. It is what is recommended for my stomach problem. 

We went to the yard sale near us at a church, the one I always visit. They had no more large purses. So, my Pink Purse Project may only be two purses this year. My back hurts too much to get out at most sales. I actually went straight to a chair and sat down, no looking around. I found a Christmas decoration with poinsettias I could use to make a wreath. Then, I saw a pot with a poinsettia in it. So, I got that. I liked that it was sitting in a pretty pot. Well, that "pot" is actually a cup with a handle. For $5 it will work for something at Christmas. At least it won't die. And, the pot can be used for other plants, real ones, I hope.

If the cup has a hole and can be used for a plant, I may use it on the porch for plants and get rid of a plastic pot I found on the road. Maybe I will spray paint the pot. 

This next spring, I am going to plant pink vinca to sit on the front porch. I love vinca and pink. I love how vinca blows in the breeze. 

I finally saw Being There and loved it. We stayed up late to watch it. Tommy had seen if before and wanted to see it again,  I knew it was a wonderful movie since he usually sleeps that time of night, no matter what I want to watch. Have you seen Being There? Did you like it?

Good news! I slept 8 hours on Saturday night. I am in pain as usual, but clear-headed. When I was sleeping two hours or 4 every night, my first thought was to plan a nap. Now, I lie down about twice a day for my back. I usually do not fall asleep. If I do, I rarely sleep more than one hour. I have Tommy call me if I am not back in an hour. 

This makes more than one week with sleep. Now, I have a mind that can tackle mobility and pain issues. 

Today, after hanging my black bird, I will get out the ghosts we had in the tree last year, and get them into the tree. 

What are you doing for outside decorations at your house? 

What Have I Forgotten?

 I have repeatedly gone over in my mind what I need for this holiday season--October through New Year's Eve. While I have a turkey, any poultry will do. I even have frozen berries and canned cranberry sauce. All of a sudden, it hit me like a bolt from the blue. There was no thought of "what do I need." It just hit. 

Tommy really likes green bean casserole. And, there are no fried onions here. So, that will be a list of one thing I need. I do need some pie crusts, the ones in the aluminum pie pans. 

One day, I came into my mother's kitchen when she was making pies. It was shocking to see bought crusts with her filling in them. When I questioned her as I was in a state of shock and disbelief, she was not at all apologetic or guilty. She said it was too much trouble and she did not feel like making crusts. She had horrible back problems and fibromyalgia. I understood. The next time I made pies, I used bought crusts and never looked back. 

No crusts are here and I really don't need them and won't miss them. I have made pumpkin pie in a casserole before, and can now. No, I won't be making pie crusts. With diabetes I cannot eat like I did. So, crusts can go. That hurts to say it! 

Maybe I need to get apples for a pie or just to cook. We both like to just eat Granny Smith apples. So, it will be no loss if we eat apples and don't cook them. 

Maybe I should make a list on paper...lol. We really would survive without green bean casserole. But, he love it. He is like a little kid looking at cookies when I make it. 

Have you gathered all you need for the holiday cooking?