Dinner, Tommy

 Since I slept only 1.5 hours Thursday night. I spent Friday trying to catch up. Of course, I still didn't get much sleep in total. 

We only went to Publix to get cooking bags and mushrooms, reduced. I will cook mushrooms and put in the spaghetti I made yesterday. 

Tonight, we cooked a pork loin, potatoes, carrots, onions, and Bell pepper in a cooking bag. That was dinner.  Tommy spent less than thirty minutes with potatoes and carrots. I trimmed them. Then, it took less than ten minutes to assemble it in the kitchen. 

Tommy and I were talking about his earlier life and his cooking. He said he was working sometimes until ten at night and he had the money, so he just ate out. He said he might have cooked more if he had not been so busy. I asked him if I died would he cook more. He said he knew more about cooking from me, so, yes. 

His father raised him and younger brother from the time they were 9 and 10.  His father tried cooking every night. But, Tommy said he sort of gave that up, and they went out to eat every night at a cafe nearby. Then, Tommy went to Auburn and had a meal plan. He gained 30 pounds. He said he was trying to get his money's worth...lol. His father died his first semester, so he was sort of on his own and both boys were emancipated. His aunts and grandparents living within blocks fed him. So, he never had a need to cook. The orphaned boys were taken care of well. He did graduate from Auburn, so I suppose not learning to cook seems inconsequential. 

So, we cooked tonight, everything in one pan! The cost of the cooking bag means nothing compared to what we save cooking at home. Neither of us must scour a pan. The dishwasher is running and the sink is scoured. Best of all, we have leftovers for several days. 

See how Tommy has progressed under my tutelage? 

Have you ever helped an adult to learn to cook?

Death Valley and Cutting Hair

 These two topics have absolutely nothing to do with each other. 

I absolutely want to go to Death Valley to feel the record-breaking heat. Neither of us can drive that far. Tommy would fund it. I am ready to go, just need a driver. At least, there would be no humidity. Right? Have you ever been to Death Valley? Experienced heat so high? I/We would leave tomorrow. I want to take my picture by the thermometer...really, I want to experience the heat. 

Today, I managed to do one more thing on my 8-item list I made on Sunday. I cut Tommy's hair. He was worse than a two-year-old! We are laughing now, but it was bedlam earlier. But, I can no longer stomp around in frustration...lol. 

Since I am not going outside the cut his hair and no one is going to sweep hair from the kitchen floor, we worked on carpet. He got a sheet from the car and spread it out. Most of the sheet is back near his chair and not out front in a more open area to work. He assures me it will be okay. Okay, we will start.

Then, he got a towel to put around his shoulders, the thickest towel he has. Last time, he used the same towel and pulled it up around his neck where I could not see the bottom of his hair, much less get electric clippers in place to cut. AAAGH!!! He got all ready with a roll of towel around his hair. I told him to feel how his hair was covered up. So, he flipped his neck hair out like a woman or person with longer hair... but straight out. He thinks i can cut that way because his lady barber did. NOOOO!

So, this led to much screaming by both of us. He refused to use anything thinner. He swears that the barber uses a towel up close, yes, a thick, big towel. He says none of them use a drape like they use on women. I do not believe a word of this. And, he refused to just keep wearing the tshirt he was wearing. 

Then, he just threw the towel down and let the hair fall on him. Fine. So, I cut it, almost falling, almost passing out. It was easy but hard. He is fine with the length, one length all over. I put the trimmer too high on his neck and hate the way it looks but he says it is okay. Whew. He said it is too short on top. It is always too long or too short somewhere. He really likes the length of the sideburns. One time, I forgot to cut one side. I am not a professional, but I pretend to be one when I get scissors in my hand. 

Any haircut is better than him going back to his lady barber. Tommy is no way balding, just thinning hair. Yet, she makes a low part about a half inch above his ear with long hair combed up. He looks ridiculous when he makes a part, gets it wrong and he had three-inch hair hanging over his ear. He thought it looked fine and would not let me redo it. 

I asked him how it felt when I first finished. He said it was not so heavy. Then, later, he said he could "feel air blowing through my ears." His scalp and ears would burn now with no hair to protect them. 

He is in the kitchen making white sauce on his own. Usually, I get out the skillet, spatula, butter, flour, and milk, measuring it all. Today, I just sent him in. I am making a familiar casserole with new recipe I am making in my head. I just found him stirring in a skillet with a metal spoon...all this time. It is a pot that cannot take metal spoon stirring.

Both our casseroles have 1/2 cup of white sauce, 1/2 can of sodium free chicken soup, less than 1/2 cup of brown rice, onions, green beans, broccoli, dried parsley, and water. Mine will have cheese. These are two servings in each square, glass SnapLock dishes. I am using the whole package of frozen broccoli. It could be healthier, I suppose, but don't bother telling me. 

Well, he went rogue and put one of the casseroles is a glass dish with no Pam! Plus, it needed more water for the rice. So, that was sort of a redo for the one casserole that was mine. Plus, I needed to put cheese in before it was stirred. 

The reason I mixed these separately and baked in separate dishes is because he hates cheese in this and I want it.  The green beans I put in were left from two nights ago, the French Cut ones. 

He is a great help with cooking, but sometimes.....

I have never seen John Wick and I love Keanu Reeves. So, we are watching that tonight. 

Have you ever seen a large, thick bath towel in a barber shop? 

Don't they use the capes hairdressers use? 

Tommy Dropped a Sharp Knife on His Foot

 The weather was fit to grill when I wanted to, but I could not get the grill lit. The tank was on/open, I turned on the gas on one burner, and then punched the starter button. I did this a dozen times or so. Then, I had Tommy check everything. He tried. He consulted the Product Guide. So, we turned it off.

He was disappointed, so I told he could put it in a skillet, which he did. These were so thin, about 1/4 inch. So, they cooked and browned quickly. He had pork and beans and tomatoes on his plate. All of a sudden, I saw something on the floor in several places while he was trying to sit down with his plate. When I asked him what he spilled in front of his chair, he walked trying to see what it was. Well, he was smearing blood! Now, that needs to be cleaned up. I used a baby wipe to see where he was bleeding. It seems that when he dropped his knife and fork, the steak knife slashed the side of his foot behind his big toe. I put Mupirocin on it after cleaning it with a baby wipe. Then, I took a Kleenex and put the stretchy bandage from my iv, and that is holding it all together. 

He has refused to use the special tub I bought him for a foot wash, one just like mine with a handle. (He paid for both.) NOW, he will if I have to wrestle him to get it done...lol. There was sooo much blood. I will have to look at it to see if he needs to have it sewn up. He will either go to er tonight or doctor tomorrow.

I had put the chicken tenders, two potatoes, one carrot, and a bit of baby carrots in the oven, so I had some of that. We watched A Capitol Fourth 2023. It was entertaining. So are the fireworks behind the Washington Monument. I missed one thing, a little girl dancing to Tina Turner song, just an audience member, so I will see that again. 

People are shooting off bottle rockets all around, with an occasional boomer. It was a good Fourth, nothing spectacular. Tommy said he got four drops of rain on him when he went out to water. He brought in three blackberries. I ate one and he ate one and he threw away the one with white on it. Mine was bitter and I don't know why. 

Tonight, later, I will have some Jello and fruit. 

I am Proud to be an American. The End. 

Where did you go and what did you cook or eat on the 4th of July 2023? 

I Didn't Fall, But I Could Not Get Up!

 

Late on Monday night, Tommy casually told me he had an appointment today. I could tell he was apologetic or feeling he had not told me soon enough. Oh well! Sooo, we had to make plans. We had to get up at 7:30 and leave by 8:30 for a 9:30 appointment for his procedure--an endoscopy. 

Since he could not drive afterwards, his car was broken, as he put it, and I don't like anyone driving my car, especially someone who has diabetes and cannot eat, I chose to drive. I only slept 2 hours, so I am not so sure how I thought I was better to drive than him.

They told Tommy I could sit in the car rather than come inside since I could not walk so far. We kept in touch by cell.

I bought along things to do--check bank balance, paid three bills over the phone, complained about not being able to order online and use a gift card. The last call was the doozy--trying to restore an account with a Medicare agency rather than the new plan I agreed to use. 

Finally, Tommy was ready. I drove to the drive-thru to pick him up. I used his walker to run in for the restroom. When I came out he was stuffing his face with cheese crackers. I could not lift the walker to get it into the back seat. UGH A passerby I asked did help me. 

I staggered around the car and tried to get into my seat. I am accustomed to Tommy's suv which is higher. I dropped into the seat and Tommy felt it and commented. As I started off to the highway, Tommy was trying to talk--Oooo, owa, aoo, ooma, ooaao. I looked at him as he was gesticulating and getting more excited. The man must have stuffed all the cheese crackers into his mouth. 

As he tried to talk with crackers in his mouth, crumbs were spewing out. I was just horrified since we were in my car with light gray upholstery! Only cheese balls could have been worse. 

He was trying to correct me on the direction to go to get out of the hospital complex. As I objected, he just became more agitated and animated, spewing cracker crumbs. I did as he said, objecting all the way. 

His clothes and coat in his lap were covered in cheese cracker crumbs. I strictly forbade him to touch the crumbs or try to clean them up. 

First, I decided we would go by the carwash and I would vacuum him at the free vacuums. Finally, I decided we would go to a food giveaway then home where I would get his vacuum and clean him up. 

I went into the house, got the new vacuum that had been converted to a hand vac for something he did. I could not stand long enough to figure it out. So, I sat on a lawn chair. As I sat, it slowly sank into the wet ground. Do you know that sinking feeling? Tommy called for help after I could not get up holding onto the car door, him, or his walker. 

Do you know how embarrassing this was, just sitting in the yard, in a chair, and waiting for a firetruck to show up?

The two guys got me up from the chair. I just know all the neighbors were watching. But, they see me holding onto the rail of the ramp. I know they see! I immediately took the hand vac and got all the cheese crackers from the seat and inside the car. Two pieces of cheese cracker were squashed and left a nasty stain, but I can clean that with the spray for carpets, I am quite sure. 

The legs of the chair had dug into the ground six inches! At least. So, I have plans. Before today, I planned to kill the clover that has claimed this area, a quarter circle of sidewalk goes from the driveway to the front steps. Of course, the ramp cover most of the sidewalk, but the St. Augustine Grass has been replaced by clover. It is pretty and green all winter, but in the summer, it is just weedy and a home for dandelions and about a half dozen other weeds. 

Now, I will put something hard there. I thought about a brick patio type area. Then, I decided bricks would trip me and be hard for Tommy's walker. Maybe I will get the largest paving stones and hope I don't trip over the cracks between the stones. 

What I really need is something like skis attached to the bottom of the chair legs to keep the legs from sinking. 

At my house, I never had this problem. It was like my soil and deep roots were safe for chair legs even after a rain. Maybe I had clay. 

Today, I sat from 8:30 to 3:30 and my left knee did not want to cooperate when I tried to get up. Plus, my back did not like sitting in my very comfortable car. 

I really need a taller vehicle, something like Tommy's. A car is definitely not my thing anymore. Neither is grass...lol. I won't be trading cars but will try to get something except grass there. 

Tommy has never stuffed his mouth so full, so I suppose he was hungry. He certainly was not himself! He came home and gave me pictures of his esophagus...so funny. It is all pink. 

Dinner: chicken cutlet, salad.

Have you ever had a chair sink into the ground? 

Guess what book I received from Amazon today.

 

Tommy's Birthday/I am Determined

 I was awake from 4:30 to 7:30. Tommy got up to go to the bathroom as I was going to bed. We pass in the night! I had told him to wake me at 10 am since I was told that the $1.49 turkey breast would be out by then. Well, I got dressed when I woke at 10:30 a bit miffed he did not wake me. I dressed as fast as I could and combed my hair in the car. On the way to Publix I did sing Happy Birthday in a creaky voice. He thanks me and liked the song. 

At 11 am, there was no turkey breast no matter how many people dug in that case of turkeys. Finally, it seemed that the truck was delayed so I could check back tomorrow. UGH! I did get vanilla ice cream like Tommy requested for his birthday. 

Since I had nothing to eat, I told him I was buying his lunch. We went to Arby's and had a roast beef sandwich with cheese and no red sauce. Other places nicer were too far away. We were on a tight schedule. Of course, I had to squirt Horsey Sauce on each bite. I love horseradish. One time I got the burn up my nostrils and loved it. Usually, we would eat in the park. He suggested I eat while we drove to Big Box and he would eat in the car. He had had breakfast. 

I did some quick shopping and no browsing. We left finally and got to next chore. We witnessed and almost head-on collision. That was frightening. 

It took a while to recover and we watched some of the news. Then, Tommy started peeling potatoes and carrots. We both worked. While I was trimming everything, he washed the squash and zucchini which I then cut into three inch pieces. 

Carrots, potatoes, onion went into the bag with the pork loin on top. I tied up the bag, poked holes, and put it into the oven. Maybe he put it in. I turned around to wash my hands as he stood near me, using his walker. He asked, "What are you going to do with the squash and zucchini? Oh, my gosh. I left them out of the bag. So, I cut the tie, dumped them in and he put them back into the oven. At least the pan was not hot at all. 

I said it was birthday present time. He was eager. He opened the shredder and was happy. Now, for three years he has opposed a shredder being purchased. He opened the book I got him--A Dog's Purpose. He seems like he might finally read it. I gave the old one with pages curled to Lynda. 

Life is short; eat dessert first!

Then, since dinner was still not near done, I asked him if he wanted carrot cake--"Of course!" So, we had carrot cake. I am so glad a whole cake was too expensive--$19--and we only had a slice each. He did not want ice cream on it. He hates ice cream or whipped cream on desserts, even when I whip real cream. Oh, I bought him a pack of Juicy Fruit since he likes gum and never has any unless I buy it. He is an aggressive chewer and saves it until morning, stuck onto something, so I don't encourage him. But, it is his birthday. 

Dinner smells so delicious--Applewood Pork Loin, potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, squash, all in a cooking bag. There is enough for another meal even if we both eat lots tonight. Plus, there will be enough for sandwiches. I bought slaw mix to go with any of the above meal if there is enough for more meals.

Determined? I will get two more turkey breasts! It is getting hard, but I will persevere. Next time, I will be at the store early on the day ad starts instead of noon the next day. But, things happened on Wednesday. No more excuses for sales. Tommy exclaimed, "Where are we going to put two breasts?"

I am determined to get two more in the stuffed freezer! I can thaw and cook one, if push comes to shove. One time about 8 years ago, I put three turkey breasts in one turkey bag and sent Tommy's home with him. It can be done. 

I ordered a Christmas cd for when Lynda comes to visit. Later tonight, I will listen to it and see if it is good. This will be a "party" done right. We might have dancing! jk

At 8:30, I called Publix. The meat truck has not come in yet. So, someone must stay until it gets there. At least, at this point there will be turkey breasts in the morning. We would not have gone in tonight, anyway. 

I asked Tommy if he wanted any ice cream. "At about 10:30." So, he is enjoying his birthday. Cake, ice cream, shredder, gum, a good dinner, Auburn t-shirt, and a book made him happy. The flashlight and head lamp can wait until Christmas. 

Are specials and sales becoming hard to find because of low stock? 

Do you ever become determined to get the deal?

Sunday This and That

 Rats! I forgot about the Budweiser Clydesdales in four or five different places right near me this last week! I am disappointed. I remembered in time to go to Cullman, but I have something hard to do on Monday, so I let it go. 

Saturday night, I slept about 7 hours and was ready for a looong nap four hours later. Maybe I can just sleep through the winter, hibernate. Actually, a lymph node is swollen on the side of my neck. So, I will struggle to stay well.

Tommy usually disappears into the kitchen at night. Sometimes, I cannot hear him. Other times, I hear little noises. If I go in there, he may be giving himself his night shot of insulin. I don't like to go in when he is giving himself insulin because I might bump him as he turns loose his walker and stands with both hands on the needle. So, I just sit. 

Saturday night, he was in there forever and making little noises and then long stretches of silence. Finally, during the little noises, I went in. He was sorting dishes in the sink. He told me he put all the plates in the dishwasher and all the utensils! Glory be! The man is almost tame. I felt bad he did all that. Then, later, he showed me that largest of the plates we have and asked could he mix the sizes. Well, of course. But, I pointed out that putting all the same diameters together would eventually leave a bit more room in the dishwasher. I was nearer the dishwasher, so I told him I would just put it in and not to rearrange. 

When we got the dishwasher, he did not know the baskets for the utensils would come out of the dishwasher. When he figured that out, he started removing the basket and taking it to the drawer to put them in their little nooks. Will miracles never end?

Slowly, we are figuring out more items to recycle. It occurred to me that the paper recycling could hold receipts and torn up notes we have written. Now, I need to find out where to recycle other items--dark plastic med containers from prescriptions, glass dark glass med bottles, labels that have sticky on the back, etc. 

Composting is something I need to figure out, too. For twenty or so years, I threw apple cores and such into a hole in the edge of my yard. I suppose I only drew critters. No, the raccoons only came for my chickens. But, nothing went into the landfill. Then, I built a compost pile inside a cage of building blocks. Finally, the chickens arrived, and they took care of kitchen scraps. Now, I cannot get into the backyard. So, I am stuck throwing kitchen scraps into the trash. I don't know anyone here who gardens, or I would offer scraps. So, I think about this lots. 

My red Kiss is sitting on a table nearby and is very handy for keeping coins. 

The low was predicted to be 30F last night and the same for tonight. It is past time to bring in the hummingbird feeders. So, no flowers, no hummingbirds here, just as well since we cannot leave the door open. I am against cold weather. 

Sunday night, we took a quick drive to see what was already up for Christmas decorations. There was a Thanksgiving decoration-one white, huge, turkey--inflatable, and lit. 

The Christmas movie classics are back, so that is a good thing for me. I love those. 

    BESURETODRINKYOUROVALTINE

This was a pleasant low-key Sunday. How was your day? What did you do this weekend? What are your plans for the week?

I Think I Broke Tommy

 Still Memorial Day

At 1 pm, I went for a nap. Around 2:45 I awoke to go to the bathroom. Or, did I? I could hear rattling around somewhere in the house. Okay, he will quit. No, he did not. So, it was about time I wanted to get up since 3 pm was how long I wanted to sleep.

As I stood in the kitchen door, I was stunned. He had on a pair of clear plastic gloves and was using the pot where I boiled eggs to wash all sorts of utensils. 

I finally broke him. (not broke him in)

I went to my chair. Then, he dried everything and put it away! Having put on gloves made me think he was getting dishpan hands. I had moved one of the boxes into here, out of my room, so he uses them. 

THEN, he went outside and watered the flowers for the second time today. 

Around 5 pm, I noticed that the five ears of corn had all the silk removed and were drying on a dishtowel on the stove. Since I only planned to boil one ear each, I was shocked all were still out of the refrigerator. He said he only wanted one ear. Finally, I asked him to put the other three back in the refrigerator. 

Dinner was excellent. I heated the meat in bbq sauce. I love bbq of any kind with slaw. Of course, the corn was sweet and fresh and deviled eggs were a treat for me. He hates eggs so never eats deviled eggs.

I did not exactly break him. The one thing he does not do is wipe the water off the floor when he washes dishes. I suppose since he washes dishes and all sorts of stuff I will drop a towel on the wet floor and mop it up with my foot. He has never done any of these things before, so maybe he will catch on to the water on the floor. 

In the Middle of the Night and a Favorite Food from Childhood

 That is me, up in the middle of the night, typing. I went to bed early at 1 am. I was so exhausted but cannot sleep. 

On Saturday night I want to make a favorite dish--salmon and eggs. Mama made this for us and I loved it. The ingredients are simple--eggs and a can of salmon. You just scramble the eggs, cook until almost set, and add the canned salmon broken into chunks. It makes me hungry thinking about making it. We always had this with home fries and gravy. 

I don't like food slopped all over and on other foods. But, gravy on the eggs and salmon and potatoes did not bother me in the least. It seems we always had it with a bowl of beans, probably Great Northern beans. 

A bag of navy beans happened into my hand and made me want to cook some. I was rearranging things when I came upon the bag. I am rethinking cooking beans. The refrigerator is too full right now to add anything to it. 

There is a huge bowl of cooked savoy cabbage, and the leftovers of another head. We need to deal with those first before I cook beans. 

Dinner tonight--pork loin stuffed with asparagus and cheese, butternut squash. This is one of the meals for one that must be cooked. It was given to us. I find these work for both of us when we add more food. We had cabbage and potatoes, leftovers. Between the two of us, there might have been three small pieces of asparagus. 

Thursday night, I cooked four chicken thighs. Tommy ate one along with baked onion, potatoes, and radishes. Since I hate thighs, I had another meat along with the radishes, potatoes, and onion. I had left the kitchen needing attention. 

Tommy went into the kitchen and cleaned it all up and even put one thigh in a freezer bag in the freezer and put the other two smaller thighs in a sandwich bag, stuffed them both in and put them in the refrigerator. He has never done anything like this, storing food in freezer and refrigerator. I was shocked and felt guilty. 

On Saturday, we need to wash all the snap lock lids in the sink and load the dishwasher. I need to find the fireant bait and apply it. That ought to finish me off. 

The very first night I transplanted my Romaine into a pot, something started munching on it. I think maybe something was in the old soil and welcomed a dinner of Romaine. Maybe I need to put in new soil. And wash the pot. 

I have had Verizon less than a month and already it is a disappointment. It is just like AT&T! Annoying. 

Tommy seems to be on a mansplaining kick. When I complain, he says he just wants to make sure I understand. Just shoot me now! 

It is 3 am, and I am getting drowsy. So, off I go. 

Have you ever eaten salmon and eggs, just cooked in an iron skillet and served with home-fried potatoes and gravy? I won't be frying eggs and making gravy. 

Tommy Cooks! Pay Attention

Friday night, for some reason my stomach hurt. I had eaten oats because I was starving. Right below my breastbone, if felt like a rock was inside me. I did not feel well at all. I told him he needed to cook his own dinner--a pork chop. He agreed. He did ask if he needed to put oil in the pan. No. 

Of course, I had to talk him through the process. There were still collards and cole slaw, so frying one pork chop was all he had to do. First, he wanted to know if he needed to put oil in the teflon-like pan. No. Since the pork chop was partially frozen, I told him to put a bit of water, like two tbsp of water just to thaw it in a heated pan. No, I don't boil our meat. When the water boiled away, he said he turned it on simmer to cook it. 

Well, I told him to turn it up and brown it. He still wanted to know about oil. I told him to put maybe a tsp of oil in the pan. I did tell him to salt and pepper it just a bit. He ate it and had a good meal without my cooking by adding slaw and collards to his plate. When I feel better, later or tomorrow, I will cook mine. 

One day, I looked up and Tommy was carrying the yellow Tupperware cannister out of the living room and into the kitchen. I said nothing. I keep noticing things are disappearing from the bookcase between the front door and his chair. Good job. He is making the place look better for company and us! 

It is very cold and windy here. The wind snatched the storm door from my hand as we went out. I made a decision--we are not going anywhere Saturday since it is going to be even colder! Tommy is more than okay with that. 

I have 3 pounds of hamburger meat thawing. Tomorrow, I will make another pot of soup. We ate all the last gallon and never froze any. Soup, even the same kind will be good for the next few days when it will be so cold out. 

Well, another comment on the chair is forthcoming. Tommy said the chair is sort of hard. I call it firm. The thing I did not like about the La z boy recliner was that it sort of enveloped me. It was squishy. I sit on top of this chair and like it. Before we got our chairs, Tommy was adamant that he was not covering his new one. Eeww, sleeping and eating in it would make it gross. He slept and ate in his old chair for about 12 years with nothing on the chair. But, as soon as the guys delivering them left, I suggested he get the quilt I had out here. He immediately covered his chair and we both make sure we cover our chairs when the quilt slides off. We tell each other when the quilt has slipped off and a head is touching the chair.

From 6 pm until 10:30 pm, I kept hearing loud noises outside. Tommy said all the banging around was just car doors, people coming and going up and down the street. Well, it sounded like someone was throwing a ball at the carport wall. The utility room door does not fit well or stay closed. He went out and put a piece of cardboard in the door to keep it shut. Well, then he went out and put the cardboard in tighter or something. Finally, the noise was driving me mad. I asked him if someone was in my car in the carport. He went out to drag a bag of soil in front of the door. The noise stopped. The woman whose bedroom is next to carport probably was as irritated as I. 

Even though it was Friday night, these people around here are not noisy or apt to be out much at night, so I doubted it was car doors. No one had lights on and there were no moving vans, so where was the noise? I suppose I will have to apologize to the woman next door. 

He downplays everything. When I smelled gas at his gas meter, he said he could not smell it at the front door and that the only reason I could smell it was I went to the meter at the side of the house. It was not a bad lek. He finally called the gas company "to shut me up." Yes, we had a leak. Yes, I complained nonstop. 

It is now 5:30 am on Saturday morning, and I cannot sleep. 

Has your persistence in raising the alarm ever solved a problem or averted a catastrophe? 

Tommy's Day, Death, Stupid Mum!

 Well, Tommy's birthday is over. He liked the chicken and the zucchini. There were other vegetables I could give him, but he just wanted zucchini and lots of it. 

In the end, I put a small jar of apricot jam, 10 ounces of Italian Zesty Dressing, and a package of Onion Soup mix, cooked together on the stove and poured over the chicken tenders. I should have cooked them at the last uncovered, but they were fine covered and baked in the oven for an hour. I still have half of what I mixed up, so I can do this another day. There are two tenders left for lunch tomorrow. 

The brownies were a hit even though I obviously did not leave them in long enough. So, I scraped his liquid brownie into another pan and baked them again. Same with my portion that had not been removed from the pan. The last time I thought I had forgotten how to bake, the thermostat was broken. This oven bakes 50 degrees hotter. However, it could be fluctuating. 

He never wants anything--pie or brownies or cake--defiled with ice cream. I knew that but thought he might relent since it was his birthday. No go.  He also likes his ice cream plain.

The temperature is rising and will be up to 65F by 6 am. We will pay for this weather with a chance of tornadoes on Saturday. 

I saw in the obituary of another person that a friend died this summer. The obituary said she had predeceased the person who had died (did not know her.) I was beyond shocked! We were not close and never could be. Her daughter committed suicide at fifteen about 15 years ago. Five years ago, her husband committed suicide almost on the same day her daughter died. 

Funny story--She believed very much in the Rapture, which I do not. When her husband died, so did her mechanic. (Her joke, not mine.) So, she had to buy a car and bought a new one. When I saw it, I told her at the Rapture, I wanted her car. She became angry and defensive, yelled at me and told me her sister would get it. I laughed and asked her if her sister was going to still be here. She realized what she had said and would not laugh, just was embarrassed. 

For fifteen years, she served as a voluntary phone counselor for people who were considering suicide or who had a loved one commit suicide. My friend had to take sedatives to sleep, something to wake her enough to function, something for depression. I think her continual immersion in suicide could not allow her to heal. I mentioned this to her only once, and she said she had not thought about it that way. I have no idea if she continued with the counseling others because she sort of disappeared, moved away, I think. 

Even though she had diabetes and had to have half of several hammer toes removed, I wonder how she died. Covid? So, now I have to find one of her relatives listed in her relative's obit and see if I can find out what happened. I wonder if the two deaths by suicide by her family, and all the drugs she contributed to her death. ???

There were a group of women bullying me and I had no idea why. When I told her, she knew why and had moved to stop them. One woman had told people I had chased her and tried to hit her. My friend told the other women that she had seen me walk and there was no way I could chase anyone. Plus, she told them I was not like that. So, some of the women came separately and apologized when they saw me. 

I have a stack of obituaries that need a bit of investigation. 

On Tommy's birthday, I did not ask him to do anything to help out. Of course, I didn't do it either. We went to get his oil changed and mail a letter for me. He seemed to be out of sorts at time, but I said, "Okay, let's have an argument, okay?" and he stopped picking a fight. 

I give up on the mum I was going to spray. I refuse to throw good money after bad. I might give it a spritz of the clear glitter spray to see how it works, but I refuse to spray it all over first time. If it looks okay, I might throw a string of fairy lights from last year. It has a remote, so it will be easy to light. 

So, Tommy had a very good day, it seemed. Tomorrow, we will plant our Amaryllis (pink one and red one) for the house since they should have been planted two weeks ago. Maybe Saturday, we will put up the tree. 

Did you have a very good day, too?

Well, I had this post ready and the computer quit. The cord from here to wall died. The last time this happened, I got a warning. On Friday, the laptop just quit. Saturday weather was not conducive to driving to Hoover to get a new one, Or, to Big Box. So, on Sunday we left about 1 pm to search. I found one at Office Max and paid too much. But, laptop now works! 

AND, I am tired. Tommy actually fluffed the tiny tree and did it right. THEN, he said don't you want me to put the ornaments on the tree. He likes it, obviously. Nothing for Christmas was done today. So, I think I will go with red and green. I am going to cook pasta for spaghetti and have salad or just steamed broccoli--red and green. I might get out the ornaments. 

Did you get any tornadoes or bad weather on Sunday or anytime on the weekend

Tommy's Birthday

 He is 68 today, December 9. So, I robbed the cradle. I have things planned to cook for him. I asked him if he wanted cake and what kind, or brownies. He said, "Oh, just brownies." I have vanilla ice cream, which I know he will love on brownies. Or, maybe not. He likes his ice cream "neat," same with brownies.

His canes by the door and his reacher. They always fall down, and he has to get something and scrape it along and finally get it up. I know somewhere in a thrift store or antique store is a reasonably priced umbrella stand. But, I just cannot walk and search. So, I went to the internet and found some cheap umbrella stands. But, the reviews were awful, saying they fall over. We don't need the whole stand falling over. 

So, I came across the blue Tardis umbrella stand and got him that. You could tell he was happy to get it. Thrilled! He loves Dr. Who. Plus, I bought him a box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates. The Tardis is very heavy and does not fall over!  It will probably never hold an umbrella, but that's okay. Reachers and canes need support. 

We have been discussing what he wants for his dinner. Well, we could not find any ground beef in the freezer. It is there, just not discoverable right now. So, he is getting chicken. I am making a new recipe, so he won't just have a chunk of chicken, which I love. I have a pack of chicken breasts I will use. I put in the refrigerator to thaw a pack of Italian Chicken Tenders, a boneless turkey breast, and something else in the poultry family. 

I will mix Italian or Russian Dressing, apricot or some kind of jelly, and onion soup mix, cook it and pour it over the chicken to cook in the oven. I suppose I will cook zucchini in olive oil and garlic, and whatever else he wants. 

He takes the ads each week and looks it over. I tell him to circle things on sale that I buy, that we need, or he wants. He always circles zucchini and squash. However, I am not paying $2.99/lb. I do find them cheaper elsewhere. Wednesday, I found zucchini for $1.99 lb. So, we are both happy. 

Thursday is a day of Tarzan movies from 30s and 40s, so we are going to binge watch these movies. This will be fun. 

One store in Cullman has a buggy or two of deep discount items, some weeks more, some weeks less. forty or four of the same items. I always check this. As I did check it on Wednesday, I thought it was strange. There were Dr. Pepper 8 packs stuck on the sides of the buggy. A mess of greens lay in the bottom of the buggy. There was an odd assortment of other foods, no two alike.  I reached in to pick things up. 

A couple standing and talking, stopped and looked at me. I was horrified when I realized I was looking over their cart of food. They laughed and said they had done the exact thing with a lady's buggy, shopping out of her buggy., so they understood. We had a good laugh and talked a bit. My cheeks burned for an hour!

Okay, change of plans. I awoke after 11 am since I could not sleep last night. He said he wants to go and get his oil changed for his birthday. ??? He watched Tarzan. 

He likes his candy. He has never had a box before, in his hands, all his own to eat whichever piece he likes. I am the candymeister...lol. I sang "Happy Birthday" in a little, squeaky voice because I had just that minute gotten up. He laughed. 

Okay, I have to gather things for this chicken dish. And, cook. 

Have you ever shopped from another customer's buggy/cart? Or have you had someone shop from your cart? I hear people deliberately steal items from a cart if the store has run out.

Exhausting but Happy Wednesday, Now Thursday

Wednesday morning, I awoke mostly rested, since I never feel well in the morning. I woke at 8 am and washed my hair and made a chicken sandwich to take with me for breakfast. We were out of the house by 9:10. I ate the sandwich and a glass of milk in the car. Then, we hit a 10 mile traffic jam and never did find out what happened. We mostly sat and occasionally drove 3 mph! 

If I look closely to my face, I am probably wind-burned! 

A church was having their monthly lunch pickup. It was going to be turkey and dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, roll and cranberry sauce. Plus, there was chocolate cake or pecan pie. Consequently, the line was longer than usual.  The word gets out and people come in droves. Plus, some people picked up 30+ dinners, picking up for groups of people or individuals who cannot get out of the house. 

We invited Tommy's cousin to eat outdoors with us at a different park. Sportsman's Lake is closed while they decorate for Christmas Light Tour in the park. We also planned to pick up two lunches for our 90-year-old friends we usually meet in the park. He is ill and had been in the hospital and won't eat or drink enough to survive the kidney infection. 

We sat for two hours talking and laughing with Tommy's cousin. We really like him. The wind was blowing in gusts that blew my hair in my eyes and face and twisted it up. I fully expect to wake on Thursday with a horrible sinus infection and accompanying ear pain.  I sat where the wind was in my face. Tommy and cousin had it to their back and side, better positions, I think. 

The leaves were falling and flying in the wind. Even under the pavilion, two flew into my food, three or four onto the table, and one huge one fell on Tommy's food, and more on all of us, the table, and onto us. The venue under the trees was very pleasant. 

We forgot to go the PO, went to two grocery stores, my house. We were home by 4:15. It was a long day. all the talking and laughing and the hard wind took their toll on me...lol. I took a nap from 5:30 to 7 pm and got up to eat with Tommy. 

We brought home two lunches and had them for dinner. We shared a small piece of cake and a small piece of pie. I seriously overate and could not finish my meal for dinner. Tommy took my turkey and put it in a sandwich bag. He has baggies down pat and sees the slice of turkey as his lunch. Good man. 

Wednesday was a very good day with a friend, picnic, and great lunch. I did not freeze the sweet potatoes. Tomorrow will be a new day. Maybe I will make mashed potatoes and freeze them. I do know I won't make sweet potato casserole since I have had my fix and need no more added sweetness. 

We did stay a bit and talked to the wife of friend who won't eat or drink enough. His wife is so worried. The next time we go, we will get watermelon chunks in Publix and take that to him to help with hydration. They are 90 and both still drive. Last year, they drove to Michigan and made it back in one piece. 

Thursday

I slept well and awoke ill. This is what the wind does for me. Nose, sinuses, ears, sore throat and chest all involved. Now, my job is to soothe and decongest all this. Otherwise, a fever will ensue and I will be miserable. I went to bed at 1 am. Tommy stayed up later. And, he always accuses me of making him miss sleep...lol. 

I do have things to do. I plan to freeze the sweet potatoes in portions, make gravy. If all goes well, I will have the gravy to the point of using fresh turkey drippings. I will save out enough sweet potatoes for one meal. That huge bowl will vacate a huge space in the refrigerator. I need the room. 

This is something I started about 40 years ago. I don't want to be stirring flour on the stove with oil continually to brown it on Thanksgiving Day!  My back cannot handle that these days. But, I started this just because it was more convenient. I can put the browned flour and oil mixture into a very small bowl to store it until Thanksgiving day. Or, in this case until I put the turkey juice in it. By that time, I will have the stored turkey and at least one of the ten half-gallons of milk from the refrigerator. 

Maybe I will just make mashed potatoes and freeze them.

It is almost 3 pm and I am tired and losing ambition. Tonight, we will have turkey breast, sweet potatoes, and kale. 

Has anyone done the hard work of browning flour and oil for gravy ahead of the day? What dishes do you or did you prepare before the DAY? By adding drippings later, the gravy does not have to fit into the refrigerator. Mama was always cooking everything on Thanksgiving. So, did I until I figured out better. There were reasons she worked unnecessarily hard, so not judgment there. 

Tommy Amuses Me--Grocery Shopping

 Tommy has never been a coupon or ad user. But, he has changed. 

When I got the pink plastic bag of ads I would go through the coupons and cut them all out. One day, I asked him if he minded doing the cutting. He leapt at the chance. Then, after that he eagerly sought the bag of coupons after I had taken them out, giving them a cursory glance. He knew we were mailing them to my friend who is in charge of the food bank at her church. 

Well, those pink bags never come anymore. 

One day several months ago, I was not feeling well. I asked him if he look for a certain ad I thought I had seen. At some point I asked him to look in the ads and circle what was there that I always bought or looked like something I wanted and just anything he might want me to buy. He never circled anything he wanted. 

That all changed. 

I was going to the store on Saturday and had him look for items, same ones--things I bought, things he thought I might want, and anything he saw that he might want. Later, I looked at the ad. He had circled Brownie Bites from the deli/bakery, packages of Doritos/Fritos. He had circled an ad for Fritos Party Sized Snacks, Pepsi cartons, Cheerios. I never eat any of those except for chocolate! I thought this was highly unusual. It turns out he wanted something for the Auburn game on Saturday. I always ask and he never wants anything for the game! 

On Saturday, I did not want to go in Publix. 

He was very accommodating as he usually is and went in. When he came out, he had lots of stuff. I noted a huge bag of popcorn and commented that he still had microwave popcorn. He said he wanted it for the Auburn game that evening. Of course, I don't care. I always tell him exactly what to buy and anything he sees that looks good. Well, for once he added something! Oh, yes, he got the bogo Cheerios. I had gotten the b2g1 Pepsi the day before.

He has become very invested in coupons and bogo ads at Publix. I have never fussed about what he buys. And, since March 2020 he has not gone into a store until this last two months. I always asked him what he wanted me to get and to call me in the store if he thought of anything. 

Do you have someone who really gets into coupons or shopping or buying things not on a list? 

I smile inwardly just thinking about this.

First Bicycle

 Tommy and I were watching "Frasier" where Niles and Frasier learn as grown men to ride bikes. I told Tommy I got my first bike on my sixth birthday. I asked him when he got his first bike. 

Unbelievably, he said he was a senior in high school. That was shocking as I knew they could well afford a bike when he was younger. And, they were kind, caring parents. Well, this led to more shocking revelations. His father did not want Tommy and his brother, one year younger, to ride bikes because he was afraid a car would hit one of them. 

I thought this was bizarre. However, he had ridden the bikes belonging to friends. But, he was always blocks away at a friend's house. He rode in the street and never died. I was amazed that he never had a bike until he mowed yards in high school and saved his money to purchase a bike. 

He then told me his father bought Tommy and his one-year younger brother shotguns when they were ten and eleven. I was shocked! However, Tommy said they had been shooting his pistol and over and under rifle/shotgun since Tommy had started school. I was reeling with all this. 

The story I was telling Tommy was that I fell off my bike one day and hurt myself so badly that I left the bike in the big rocks in the road and walked home, crying loudly. The street was in a paved area, but it was a loop off the main road and had no pavement. The rocks were irregular and the size of golf balls or larger. It really hurt to fall off into that road. Daddy had to go get my bike from the road. 

As a teen, I loved to ride my bike along a country road. I would ride fast and loved the wind in my hair. When I was pregnant the first time, I rode on the isolated area along a road of a not fully developed area. When I went to the doctor for pregnancy checks, he told me my neighbors told him I was on my bike when I was eight months along. He said they told him to tell me to quit riding a bike. I asked him if he thought I should quit and he said he did not think so. I rode my bike until the week before I gave birth.  

My first bike was pink and I got it for a birthday present when I was six. All four of my younger siblings learned on my little pink bike. I never got another new bike, but did get a used bike that Daddy painted blue. I rode that bike into my 30s. 

When did you or your child or sibling get a first bike? Tell me your bike stories if you will. Did you ever fall and hurt yourself?

My Mother's Birthday

March 8 is my mother's bithday. That was Monday, and I did not forget. She would have been 100 this year if she had lived this long. 

Tommy was busy on Monday, while I stayed in the bed most of the day. He washed four loads of clothes, three of mine and one of his, dried my clothes that needed drying, and brought in the other clothes I wanted to dry inside. He went through a lot of his belongings and threw away lots. 

He made himself a salad while I managed to heat the cooked chicken for his dinner.  

On Sunday, I asked him to find his own dinner. He went to refrigerator and came back with a huge plate of food. He found a box of romaine and one of spinach, the grape tomatoes, dressing, cheese, and rolls. I heated some meatballs and insisted he have some. I was quite surprised when he told me he stacked all the salad items in one stack so it would be easier for me to find. 

He has gone about the house, keeping things as nice/neat as they were and even improving a few places. Plus, he gets anything I need. If he thinks I need something, he volunteers to get it. I have forgotten what else he has done today. Some things I did not see him do, but he told me. 

After he cleaned the stainless steel sink, he showed me how he cleaned the counter behind it. He did only wipe it with a paper towel, so it needs actually using at least water...lol. 

My ear is getting one little sore that is visible. Before, places hurt, but nothing was visible. My outer ear hurts. There are tingly places on one section of my scalp, my scalp seems swollen in the same places, It feels like there are sores on outside of my ear. And, the little swollen place inside my ear canal is swollen once again. I suppose that I will go back to the ENT. I hope this does not get worse. 

I looked through both purses for Tommy's cc, and it was nowhere. Finally, I asked Tommy if he looked in my bag we carry to the car. He looked and his cc was in there. I suppose I let it slip when I was holding it. So, mystery solved. 

The person who will clean called to see if I wanted her and when and how I was feeling. She seems like the nicest person I have talked with about cleaning. 

He is very willing to help do cleaning chores that he and I can do. I made the statement that everything we clean is something he does not have to pay to be cleaned. I think that made him think! 

I have been hiccupping for weeks now, several sessions each day, like a dozen episodes that last about ten minutes, sometimes longer, sometimes not. 

Typing is tiring me.

Daylight Savings Time will make me so happy! Are you looking forward to DST? 

All the above was written Monday night, so today, Tuesday, I am a tiny bit better since the pain in my ear is gone. 

Vick's Vaporub

 I am a heavy user of Vick's Vaporub. I discovered it is a great itch reliever. So, it is applied to itchy places on my legs. I can scratch until I am bruised and bloody. Plus, it works to soften elbow skin. Unless I lean on a counter or cart, my elbows stay soft and creamy looking. But, I lean on the counter too often lately. And, I really don't care if I smell like Vick's! 

I discovered it was good for mosquito and flea bites, making them less itchy. Vick's even keep mosquitoes away. So, I could smear it all over me to stop mosquitoes from landing. But, I don't. I just dab it in a few places on legs and arms to create an aura around me. 

Do you use Vick's Vaporub? For what? Have you ever used it for an itch?

By the way, for those of you who think I am taking over his life and meddling in Tommy's business, remember this. 

He was standing in four inches of water when he showered when I came here. The water did not drain from the tub between showers. There was always two inches when he went to take another shower. He said it was his business. Well, it was until the commode overflowed and black nastiness came up into the bathtub. That cost a plumber visit, about $800 and two men hours of working. 

Because he would not get it clear to the road, it overflowed AGAIN and I had to clean up the bathroom floor. The first time, I had been here maybe two months, and he screamed and yelled that my long hair stopped up the sewer. The plumber said it was a bad plug forty years in the making! When a shower/tub would not drain, it is a problem that he refused to acknowledge. Plus, the kitchen sink took an hour to drain. I did try to unclog everything with him yelling at me! So, there is the other reason I did not wash dishes.

He does nothing to maintain his home. The only things he will do have me as a catalyst. He did not even wash dishes! Three windows are bare! I will fix that.

Wednesday night, we had a can of Roast Beef and Gravy, cooked potatoes, tomatoes. I could not face cooking.

Thursday, we are going on a picnic with his cousin who is going stir crazy. He travelled for business before he retired and is very gregarious, so none of the isolation is sitting well with him. The forecast is for 70, so it should be a pretty day. KFC is on the menu, so I will really enjoy the picnic.  Cousin called. Picnic cancelled. 

Birthday Again

 Wednesday was Tommy's birthday. So, we did it all on Sunday and I had nothing for today. I sang "Happy Birthday" to him as soon as I awoke. He laughed because I was so sleepy.

Remember--cake, candles, ice cream and presents happened on Sunday. 

I ordered us a Honey Baked ham sandwich from, the Honey Baked Ham Store and went to Vestavia Hills to pick it up. We drove to Vestavia Hills Methodist Church and found a shady spot and ate. He absolutely loved his sandwich. I should have ordered turkey breast for me.

The church had a garden with sweet potatoes, a "Sweet Potato Garden" on the sign. It looked like they all had been dug. 

We drove around a bit. It was his birthday, so I just let him go whereever. Then, when we came home, I took a nap and he watched Jeopardy. 

I felt worse when I awoke. AND, all the dishes were dirty. I have not felt like standing for a week. And, was not going to ask him to wash dishes on his birthday. I gave him choices--last of the turkey and a vegetable, meatballs and same vegetable, or wash dishes, or KFC or his choice. He chose KFC.

KFC was delicious! 

I still have to make him homemade ice cream even though I bought ice cream. 

Thursday morning, we wash dishes. I wash; Tommy dries. The dishwasher not named Linda arrives on Monday. YAY!

Nothing Christmas to report. I am just too tired. 

Tooth Extraction and Christmas Commences

 This writing is on Sunday night as I will be up at 4:30 am to get a tooth extracted at 6:30 am. I am afraid, very afraid. 

Tommy's birthday is Wednesday, but since I am not sure what I will feel like then, we celebrated his birthday Sunday. I don't feel like cooking a proper birthday dinner. So, we made do.

I took a chicken out of the crock pot today since I put it into the crockpot Friday. I took out the breast meat, gave him the rest and he took the meat off those bones. His dinner was chicken, stovetop stuffing, cranberry sauce, slaw. Then, he had vanilla ice cream on a slice of Red Velvet cake with two lit candles. I sang "Happy Birthday." 

Publix had Mayfield Ice Cream bogo so one-half gallon of vanilla and one of chocolate. And, I got one slice of Red Velvet Cake and we shared it. 

Then, he opened his gifts from me--nose hair and ear hair trimmer. I think it trims sideburns, too. It has batteries, four tips, beard trimmer, and two combs for eyebrows. He smiled broadly when he saw it. I also gave him a book--Birds of Alabama and a cd that goes with it with Bird Songs of Alabama. This will go with his binoculars. He is always talking about "wonder what kind of bird that is" or "what bird is singing?" 

He spent a long time putting batteries in the trimmer and looking it over and reading the instructions. Just now, he spent a long time in the bathroom using it. So, I guess it is a hit.

Ordering from Amazon is so much easier than going into a store and searching for the product and going to another store when I cannot find what I want. 

I have been looking for a mesh sweater dryer. I had one but cannot find it in stores. I have looked a dozen times for the last few months. None of my sweaters have been washed from last winter. Now, I can dry two at a time since this is  a double decker that can be used singly instead of stacked. 

You know I have been searching in stores for original Dawn. Well, three bottles were delivered last week and there was a problem. They sent more and told me to throw out the others. I now have six bottles of Dawn. If I were paid for the times I searched, I would comfortable. I won't have to order these again for months. 

Plus, these are aisles I do not have to worry about shopping and infecting myself with covid19.  There are items I buy each month, and I am slowly ordering these from Amazon. It is just as cheap most of the time, and I $ get credits if I don't need it tomorrow or the next day.  

I had looked for a pair of binoculars for me, and could find none of quality in stores. Okay, some were just too expensive. Now, I have a good pair and did not have o spend too much. 

Now, I cannot find Ziploc Pint Freezer Bags. I use a quart bag for really small amounts. So, I ordered 300 bags, Industrial Box at $.08 cents per bag. 

I even have some items sent once each month. I forgot what that program is called. I am not taking money from local businesses since they don't have some items. 

Tommy and I can spend our "out" time looking at Christmas decorations or something other than my going into a hotbed of virus and his sitting in the car. 

I got a mesh wreath for the front door. It did not show behind the storm door, so I put the hanger on the storm door and it is outside. Now, it needs fairy lights so it shows up after dark. 

Tommy finally pulled down all the branches on the tiny artificial tree so I can decorate it.  I bought another set of small ornaments as there were not enough last year. He put out his dancing Santa that is solar. 

I just looked up the address of the oral surgeon I am going to and have used before. I needed to see if his office had moved. It has not. AND, now he has an office in Gardendale. Going to Gardendale would save us about 80 miles on the round trip! 

Okay, tooth out! Back home!

I was going to have a root canal, but decided the infection might not be 100% gone and bacteria would be left to cause another infection/problem. The alternative to root canal was extraction and implant. I did not want the implant immediately since the ground bone could be put in the hole and still have infection left. I ran my thoughts by the endocrinologist who agreed with me and thought it was prudent since I have diabetes. 

So, the tooth was pulled and in four months I can have an implant. I opted not to be sedated. He gave me extra numbing for tooth and pulled it without breaking off the tooth. Believe it or not, this was the "best" visit to a dentist in my whole life. I felt nothing. 

I have more azithromycin and oxycodone. I took about a third of an oxy and could barely get into the house. Since I am woozy, I am going in for a nap and it is 10:45 am.

Back up from nap. I obviously will not be able to take a whole oxycodone since I can barely walk. At least, I can take half one during the day and maybe at night. 

So, now I will be okay for Christmas.

Tommy in a Facemask

On Tuesday I was headed into Publix. Tommy had to go to the bathroom, but so did I. I could not find another face mask, so we were going to have to share one. He said he would just use a tshirt. I had asked him to put a couple of his hundred old tshirts in the car in case we needed a rag.

The tshirt was not in bad shape, just horrible dingy. He did not try to figure out how to put it on straight. He just picked it from the floor in the back seat and wrapped it crazily around his face and tied it. I laughed hard at the sight he was. I suppose he had about six or more layers over his mouth and nose. I was happy to see he was protected.

I left a Lysol Wipe on the console so he could grab it and use it before he got back into the car or touched anything. He is careful about 99% of the time.

Last week, I asked him why he had so many tshirts and button shirts. I knew he was not a person who bought a lot of clothing. He said his cousin gained weight and gave him the shirts. Now, I know. One day a few months ago, he said he ought to give them away. I have a better idea--cut napkins from them! He would use them and consider them a good thing. I can hem them. Since I have no fabric, I can use them for facemasks.

While in Cullman, we went to my friend's junk store. She was not there as she had fallen out of her chair twice in one day. So, I am not sure what is the problem. Hopefully, she will not catch Covid19. But, her face is "messed up" as her son told me. Never fear, I was not going inside.

Do you have an unusual face covering? Or, have you seen any?

Thursday, Census, Weight; Friday, the Curve, shopping

I slept soundly and awoke on Thursday morning feeling well, really well. This does not happen often, so I was thrilled. In two hours, about 10 am, I felt drained. So, I went back to bed for a nap. It never occurred. I got back up and tried again at 3 pm. The guy next door started hammering. He nailed for a minute, shut down the noise for fifteen minutes and started nailing again. . over. . .  and. . . over. Then, someone was honking as they drove around--back and forth. . I just got up and forgot about sleeping!

Something on the TV reminded me of the Census and pointed out it could done online. So, I volunteered to submit Tommy's online. He readily accepted my help. It was soooo easy. I figured that since it was government, it would be convoluted. Nope. Easy peasy. We are counted.

Since the Beanie Babies were staring me in the face, I packed those and several other things and taped them up, stored them. When I get around to selling them, I can bring them back out of the room and unpack them.

Yes, Thursday was slow. However, I did things that needed doing--a load of laundry. He put them in as we left to get in the car, and got them in after dark. I went out at dusk to pick lettuce, but could not see, so I came back in. I need a light out there. The cabbage plants are so close together. I wonder if that is okay. But, the woman who supervised said it was okay when we were planting.

I had a little talk with Tommy. I feared to broach the subject--his weight. He had a spare tire around his waist. Now, he is fat from chest down. It has no relation to his looks, and he knows I feel that way. He had gained 6 lbs when he went for a checkup two months ago and was not happy.

His response--He said I gave him too much food for meals I bring to him. Since I fix his plate and bring it to him, I don't want to be stingy. But, he told me to quit bringing him so much. So, now it is up to me. We both need to eat less junk food.

So, since I felt so horrible Thursday, we got Domino's pizza. I know. I know. We can have vegetables later instead of more carbs. I love Domino's pizza. Okay, it is later, five hours later and neither of us has wanted a bite of anything!

On Friday, I woke without ever getting even a wink of sleep. So, I have been like a  zombie today, but I needed to go out because I do not know when all will be shut down. Northern toilet paper is back, along with other brands. I used my 50 cent coupon and got 48 rolls. Two more hair color boxes were needed. I think the bottom will drop out of this and hair color will not be on the list of things going to stores. Well, how could I face the day alone here without looking like myself?

Another nightgown and some panties were needed by me to keep from doing such small laundry loads so often. I did find elastic to redo my bracelet but none for my pants.


I got a few things that will run out--Pam, Glad wrap, peanut butter, bananas, Halos, kitchen garbage bags, two half gallons a2milk and other stuff. All was on sale or had a coupon. Well, the bananas and Halos were expensive, as usual and no coupons. And, the sacker made sure she put the bananas and Halos on the bottom with the rest on top. This frosted my so that I called the manager before I got out of the parking lot!

We left here about 11 am and returned home at 3 pm. I took chicken sandwich for Tommy and just chicken for me. He also had pb crackers and oj. We did eat what I took and did not eat even a small burger. I had water.

One obnoxious woman, about 30 or younger, was talking on her phone in Publix, entertaining us all with her conversation...NOT. She finally said, "Well, I have to get out of this place; it is a madhouse, and NOBODY is flattening the curve. I wanted to bop here, well at least point out she did not have mask, gloves, or sanitary wipes.

I thought about listing the large Beanie Babies on the internet, but decided not to do so, as it might be a bad time to sell them.  What do you think?

So, I am sitting here all loopy from no sleep. I will go to garden and then go to sleep. Or, maybe I will just take that nap.

Just now: Alabama is under a shelter in place order.