Till Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane

 When Tommy and I were driving along, we both saw a tree moving along and commented almost at the same time. As it turned out, a man was cutting some limbs and carrying them in a manner where he was obscured. The limbs must have been from a dogwood tree as they looked like they grew and spread in a flat manner instead of being from a tree where the limbs had limbs in a different configuration. I immediately thought of Macbeth and the prophecy. I have to admit this moving tree unnerved me for half a second. Same with Tommy. 

Tommy said to tell you he was reminded of a WWII movie with Robert Taylor where Japanese cut limbs to obscure their advance. 

Okay, enough of Shakespeare and our fright. I was seriously doubting my sanity! Three seconds later, I understood.

Tommy has started to tell me what he says, so I do.

"We don't care if our children die in a ditch as long as they don't die in the road and make it bumpy." I watched Resident Alien and it was hilarious. I heard lots of new terms--elimination portal where aliens probed. Sooo funny! 

Today, I had a visit to a new doctor only about 5 minutes away who is from a hospital downtown. I had to see the nurse practitioner which was fine with me. AND, they could not get blood. So, what is new with my veins? I am well-bruised. I cannot handle the pain from the back of my arm or back of my hand without lidocaine and they have none. So, I am going back another day. 

Today, the visit was about 3 hours, counting seeing the np, traversing long halls, and the several attempts at a blood draw! So, I am drained. I can talk about that later or maybe not.

So, we saw walking trees. What have you seen or thought you saw, in nature or not, that was not what it seemed? Do prefer nurse practitioners? Do you watch Resident Alien?

Great Gas Prices!

 Today, I had a doctor's appointment. It took so long! So, we were out of the house by 1 pm. We were both very excited to see gas below $4. Okay, $3.98/gal. is good enough and heading in the right direction. We were home by 5 pm. 

Doctor needed blood to make a decision about my care. I would not be mentioning this except for the fact that she found the vein, it held and the whole thing was successful. Usually, my veins are invisible, roll away, blow up (whatever that means), or the nurse is mean. Probably not a nurse.

The day is almost gone. Thank goodness, there is plenty of food that we can eat without any effort other than dishing it up and microwaving. That fact alone makes this a good day! 

Cheap gas, good blood draw, and food cooked--the trifecta of happy. 

Since I had a restless night and little sleep, I want a nap, but will stay up and go to bed around midnight. 

Yesterday, I bought another 4 quarts of strawberries, so I suppose with all my free time this evening, I should get those washed and hulled. 

Monday, I looked over the ads for the next week, Wed through next Tuesday, and so far, there is nothing great on sale or bogo. Oh, the only thing right this minute that interests me is a sale of some sort on Miracle Whip. How many I buy depends on the date on the jar.

Have you found anything exciting in the grocery ads? 

Do you veins cooperate? 

What is the price of gas in your area and where are you?

 Since I needed to have lab work done for an upcoming doctor visit, I decided Tuesday was the perfect day to go to the lab. Well, these plans are worrisome things, apt to change for whatever reason. 

While washing my hair Tuesday morning, I got an inordinate amount of shampoo in my left eye. I grabbed a towel and used the towel, and obviously a few fingers, to wipe it out of my eye. I don't think I have ever felt so much pain in my eye from shampoo since I was a child. 

On the way up, I called a doctor with whom I had an appointment for an eye exam that day and they made me a medical appointment. Before I could have my aching eye seen, I had to have an eye exam. I passed with flying colors. I need an increased prescription. The macula has not wrinkled more. No signs of damage by diabetes was apparent. 

He tried repeatedly tried to turn my upper lid inside out. At one point he said,"If you keep your eye closed so tightly, I cannot turn the lid up." I was not aware of what I was doing. Having nothing to eat all day and having so many stabs that were all unsuccessful at the lab had drained me. 

First, I went to the lab where the young woman tried in vain to find a vein that did not roll away or blow out. I think she put five holes in me in vain. The vein she spent so much time twisting and turning the needle had a big bruise the next morning. She had to throw away the two vials. We made plans for Wednesday. 

I thought I could have nothing to eat or drink! No, I could have water. So, I was dehydrated. Plus, I took a diuretic on Monday. So, I was just dry as a bone. 

On Wednesday, I went straight to the lab as I did on Tuesday. I think she made four stabs, getting blood from two veins for five vials. I left with both arms in bandages. I was shaking. We got a burger and I just managed to make my appointment with the dentist for a crown. Plus, it was apparent that a bit of filling had fallen off. Well, it had not. I was told I had an appointment for a cleaning. I was so confused and tired. Plus, the tech for cleaning needed about 15 minutes to get to me. I just had to leave. I will make appointment for the cleaning and crown. 

I am not fond of dental appointments or blood draws. My veins rolled away on Wednesday. And, I had to fast after midnight two nights in a row. Oh, I was having palpitations all day and had not slept much on Monday or Tuesday night.  It all took its toll on me. 

Thursday, it should rain all day, and I will stay home! Tommy took down the plastic eggs from the tree in front. A woman visiting across the street said the children really enjoyed the tree. 

Thursday, I made a nice dinner to make up for the dinner of peas and hotdog on Wednesday. 

Does the phlebotomist/nurse have trouble drawing your blood? Putting in an IV? 

Fourteen Vials

Three different doctors wanted blood tests. One doctor gave me the orders about two months ago, one two weeks ago, and another three weeks ago. It was time to get these done. Two doctors will not treat me/give me a prescription until they get the results. I am glad they are not guessing at my problems/conditions.

Today was the day. Tommy drove back up here and took me to the hospital to get the tests. They took 14 vials of blood. The nurse was superb. I always watch the needle go in. It had a huge bore but she did not even hurt me. I did not feel the needle go in my arm at all! Nothing! Not even a little stick. Another nurse helped her by handing her a vial and taking a full one.

Now, it has been more than seven hours and there is still not a bruise or mark. After the removal of blood, there was a tiny red mark where the needle went in. Now, even that is fading.

On the way up in a wheelchair, wouldn't you know it, I saw people who were shocked at the wheelchair. One very good friend always thinks it is my knee. No, it is my back. She asked me why I was on that horse. I don't know if she was kidding or could not remember the word "wheelchair." I suspect the latter. The other grabbed my hand, forcing the guy pushing me to stop. I have known her for thirty years but not well at all, yet she always wants to know all the details. Both have my telephone number, but probably won't call me.

Tommy and I used a coupon and got a $2.99 sandwich--Grand Turkey Club from Arby's, got a fifty cent Coke from a machine, sat in the car under some trees by a walking trail and ate. He is good to me and runs the ac. Later, I thought he was going to come in and wait and have dinner and the squash casserole. No, he was heading home. Whew, I was so glad.

He said he only slept two hours last night which was about a half hour more sleep than I had. I gave him a bag of food I had for him and was able to come in and rest.  He calls me to tell me he arrived safely, so I will not go to sleep until I hear from him.

Today, grocery ads come out, so I cannot wait until the mail comes to see what is on sale. I saw something about a free bag of makeup at CVS, did not understand the concept, so I need to study that. I need milk, but it probably will not be on sale this week. There is nothing I really need other than the milk, but this may be a good week to stock up on sale items.

July 9 is Dress Like a Cow Day at Chic-Fil-A for a free sandwich. Okay, I will be there in cow spots.

Tommy left here at 1:15 and said that the traffic was very heavy. So, I suppose the holiday traffic has begun. One year on the 4th, I stayed here in town, right here at the house. As I came from the grocery store a half mile from home, I was almost broadsided from the left by a car that ran a red light AND was speeding. My tires screeched, my car turned sideways as I braked. I was left shaking three blocks from home in a residential neighborhood and almost hit by a crazy person. I was shaken.

I suppose it is true that we become our parents. I never want to go anywhere to celebrate. However, for about fifteen years, I did go to a block party at a friend's house in Birmingham. Be Careful!

I am up from a short nap. Hopefully, I will be so tired I can go to sleep tonight.

Yesterday, I boiled a dozen eggs so I can have a protein source when I need it. However, I just love boiled eggs. I never put salt or pepper on them anymore. I can have a couple of deviled eggs, egg sandwich, egg salad, or just plain egg. When they are hot from the boiling water, I have one egg with a bit of butter.

Okay, the ads came out. Suddenly Salad and Cool Whip were the only things I could want. I don't need either. Maybe Publix will have an ad with things I want. I really want Miracle Whip, but so far see none. Lots of mayo is on sale. Boo!