My Quest; My Hair

 Tuesday happened like I planned it. The day was well under way before we left the house. We picked up my shoes from SAS. I need a wider size because of my swollen feet. sigh Then, I looked for leggings and came home empty handed. 

However, I did find some long-sleeves tops that may or may not fit. I have yet to try them on. I tried on the two dresses and they both go back. sigh 

I did find the pants like the ones that dumped things. However, the pocket is a bit deeper and not sewn down. So, these may work. When I try them on, I will just put things in stacks, fit and return. 

Sunday night, I slept well and slept until about 9:30 Monday morning. Then, I fought a nap when we arrived home. Since we had meat cooked in the refrigerator, I still did not cook the chicken. We agreed to eat what we had: pork, sweet potato and salad. 

I like water, so this is not a problem with getting enough liquids. But, the three days I made and drank iced tea, I did not want a Coke or even milk. I did drink milk, but didn't seem to drink it many times in a day. Tommy does not have an ice maker and I don't see him ever paying anyone to hook one up even if he gets another refrigerator. 

Yes, it is a quest. I want two ice cube trays with lids. The Amazon search is still on, but nothing measures up. I want two trays, one for Tommy and one for me. I don't think, well, I know his hands aren't clean half the time! The freezer has limited space and things are always crooked. So, I need a tray that will hold the cubes until we crack them out, one at a time if necessary.

No, there is not room for a box on the door where we can use a scoop.

I remember Tupperware having a tray with a seal. Tupperware seals did hold well. I looked at Tupperware recently and the lids/seals come off very easily. So, Tupperware is out. All the other trays with lids do not hold. I read the reviews for each one. All the reviews so far have the complaint that the lid falls off or is not tight. I am not trying to keep air out, just cube in the tray. 

Does anyone know of a brand of ice cube tray with a lid that holds tight?

Two days ago or more, I cut the length of my hair where I could see it. When I would flip my hair forward where it hung over my shoulder, it was really long, so I cut about two inches. It is still long enough that it touches my shoulders. Then, I decided to cut a bit more of the length of the back since it looked silly with the longer area not blended. 

Today, I sat in the lawn chair and had Tommy cut the rest to a length that blended and was a U-shape. Then I pulled up all the crown straight up and had him cut off the length and straggly part. So, now it is done unless I decide it needs layers, especially around the front. That will be for another day. It looks so much better and feels better. It was getting overly shaggy and weird looking. Tommy said it looked like jack o lantern teeth in the back with some places two inches longer and other places just snaggled. 

My hair color with tax is $10.95 in the store. From Amazon I can get it for $6.63, so it will be delivered every month. 

The weather is so nice, free of rain, sunny, and just warm enough. I woke this morning needing my inhaler and running a fever. So, maybe October won't make me too miserable this year. I just heard on the weather that it has not rained for 35 days. So, with nothing to clean the air, the dust is making weather people miserable along with me. 

Right now, we are making a list of things that we need to do on Tuesday. It is long but easily done. If we don't get things done, we can carry it over to another day. 

Do you know of an ice cube tray with a lid that stays on? Do you have someone who is not a licensed professional who helps cut your hair? Or, do you have a licensed professional who does your hair at your home? Has this always been available to you or has covid led you to seek help at home? 

Highly Discouraged--Small Rant, Kitchen Shortcut Bible

 I need clothing, warm clothing. Big Box was where I was going. Last month I found a sweatshirt and a jacket of same fabric and bought one of each. I wear the sweatshirt over my nightgown because the covers slide and I get cold. The jacket is sort of like a housecoat for me because I don't have one. I had two that were lost.

This house has a breeze! It is not too cold, but there is a constant breeze. It could be because there is a quarter inch gap around the front door. AND, the storm door does not meet the door for the last 18 inches. Right now, I can see daylight around the front door!

I could wash clothes often, but it is a trip outside, down the ramp and up a steep ramp to the carport to the utility/laundry room. I hate being nasty from cooking or eating...lol. it happens! So, Tommy has to do the laundry. He gets anxious about washing every other day. I don't blame him. 

There is no room for my sewing machine yet. I know it does not take much room, but even a tiny bit is not free. So, I buy clothing! Cheap clothing! 

How can a person bring home 9 pieces of clothing and only one piece fit? I have no idea but I cannot get into the dressing room and back and forth! 

Now, it all has to be returned on Sunday and I must do more shopping. No, I cannot stand up long enough to shop in a thrift store. I am very demoralized right now. 

In Cullman I had the friend who was druggy to help me shop. She never tried to encourage me to get or "just try" anything I did not like. Oh, she cleaned for me, how I met her. I need her. 

I could spend the money on weatherizing the doors on this house and would not need so many things to wear to stay warm in this breezy house. But, Tommy wants no improvements to happen, just keep paying high utility bills.

Really, I don't even like buying clothing. AND, I cannot afford this expense. Even cheap clothing is expensive. 

Right now, even though my feet are well off the floor, there is a strong breeze about two feet from my feet and legs to the floor.

On the upside, Saturday was a beautiful day even if it was cold and had biting wind.  The ride was pleasant and people were not driving crazily. That is always a plus. Sunshine makes any day great! 

Okay, I was so discouraged by the events of Saturday and this rant, I did not publish this. Really, the weather, the sky, it was all so pleasing on Saturday! 

But, it is Sunday, so I will visit this bummer shopping trip on you. I needed to complain beyond Tommy. 

Sunday has been a terrific day. I only slept 5 hours but my body said to get up. I did. In 1.5 hours, my body said to go to bed. I did. So, at 2:30 I began the day...lol. Since then, 2 hours ago, we have emptied dishwasher, filled the dishwasher, watched seals/lids for glass containers, put away lots of things out of place. While Tommy was washing pots and pan and lids and crock pot, I was busy.

There are two large square table, one on each side of my recliner. They are basically where they were when I arrived. The one on the right side was in front of the sofa/love seat. It has since been sort of pulled back beside the recliner. 

Underneath was a cardboard box full of stuff. STUFF! I have been hanging over the edge of the recliner and pulling things out, one piece at a time. I found treasure. This is where the clothespins were placed. Much of the stuff belongs to Tommy. Obviously, I stashed stuff on top. I found my round mirror, the kind that has the little metal legs that fold flat, can be hung, or opened up to sit on a surface. 

The best thing is a book, never even opened, it appears. I wonder where I got this--free books, gift, was it here? I was pleasantly surprised to see it was published by Little, Brown and Company. Teh Little, Brown Handbook is a standby for English language type students who want to learn or perfect spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage. 

I think I got this at the free book place. I have been perusing the contents, recipes and pictures. 

Now, if I only had a bundt pan. 

Sunday is a beautiful, warm day. I have been inside, either sleeping or catching up on things we should have done. It feels good to have gotten such a lot of decluttering done at once and have dishes done. But, here at 4:45, there is plenty of sunshine left to enjoy going out to water the paperwhites. Maybe we can take a short ride. We need nothing at the store. 

After we come home, we make soup. "We" because he will scrape the carrots. He can chop them, too, because my hands still hurt from cutting carrots from last week. At least half this soup goes into the freezer. A turkey or breast still has not been put into the refrigerator to thaw! 

How has your Sunday gone? Snow? Good food? Company? Happy with the little things? Plans? 

I really wish the weather where you are can be so beautiful like it has been this weekend and for the next five days. 

I Need Red Clothing, eBay, Dinner

Yes, it sounds like a silly thought. But, I have one nice, dressy-ish t-shirt that is red, nothing else. Well, one red long-sleeved cotton sweater. However, all summer long I have had to wash the red shirt separately and alone in the washer. I tried washing it with black, but it got little gray balls all over it.  Tommy picked all those off. I need more red items to wash with it so it won't distress him so...lol. I don't like washing one item, either. 

I had two red coats/jackets, a red sweatshirt, two or three raggedy red tops I wore around the house. Now, I only have this one nice blouse/tshirt. I also had dark pink coat and a pink tshirt that were washed with the red items. Now--nothing else. Yes, it is a first-world problem. But, I need to use water more judiciously. All the tshirts I find are sooo thin. 

Winter blouses are another thing I need. Since I cannot stand even a short sleeve under a sweater, I need sleeveless tops. I wear sleeveless things all winter under sweaters, mostly tank tops. My daughter in NYC wears tank tops all year long, even when it is snowing!  She understands. Usually, I buy my winter wardrobe in the spring. This year, I did not. Between not getting into stores much and there not being much when I got there, I seem to still be lacking in tops.

I bought a new phone like I already owned on ebay. It was advertised as 4G, but it is 3G. It is a Rugby 4, not a 4G phone. I hope I can get a resolution in my favor. 

Earlier, we had seen an ad for Domino's pizza, two large for price of one. Yesterday, I was so stressed I wanted the deal and we were going to freeze the majority of the two pizzas. But, when I called the store, they had no idea what we were talking about. We discussed getting something else, somewhere else. Finally, I was to emotionally exhausted to discuss it. I said, "Let's go home and find something." We did. But. the first thing I did was take an hour nap.

There was one slice/shred of turkey left from the package I bought to feed J. There were collards and two baked sweet potatoes. One small bit of mac n cheese was left. I thawed meatballs. We had turkey, meatballs, collards, sweet potatoes, mac n cheese.  It was a great meal. Money saved!

Too Much to Do

 Well, nothing much was done, things that needed to be done before our 4th celebration we will visit. 

• color or wash my hair
• bake brownies
• make the beans and franks
• polish nails on hands and toes

It is now midnight on Saturday night, so this all has to be done between now and 3 pm on the 4th. I was going to do all this from Thursday to Saturday. You see how this has gone. 

Friday night, I was horrified at what Tommy had in mind to wear on Sunday. First, I got a striped shirt from him out of a free box. It is awful. It has little skinny stripes and just is not something I want him to wear. Then, he told me he was wearing a cheap pair of pants I bought for him with his money. They actually look okay except for the fact that the back pockets are blue. The cheap pockets sort of gap and the blue shows. I was mortified. 

Today, I went to big box and bought him another cheap pair that actually look fine. When we came home, he said he was not going to wear the shirt I hate. He is going to wear a button up shirt instead of knit shirt. I don't know why, because I don't mind knits. But, he won't look so shabby, at least. For that I thank him. 

Right now, I am going to get up and slice the hotdogs, two packages. I could polish my toenails. Maybe not. I have too much planned for tomorrow! I am going to wear makeup for the first time since last February. I hope I remember how to put on makeup. We will be wearing masks indoors! But, outdoors we will not ear a mask unless I hear talk of no vaccine.

Tommy helped me by getting the dishes close to the dishwasher so I would not have to walk back and forth from sink to dishwasher. Tomorrow, at some point, I will have him dry all the plastic lids for my glass dishes as I wash them.  

When I need something from the refrigerator that I cannot find, he knows where it is. He stacked the boxes with greens and different lettuces all in one place. He stacked lunch meats and his cheese, and a slice of tomato on top of the cheese and meat.

He is catching on to using plastic bags. When I give him too much meat for dinner, he just puts it in a sandwich bag and saves it for his lunch the next day. Before, he would leave it for me to store. 

No hummingbird today! At least I didn't see one.

Have you ever objected to something husband/SO or kid was going to wear? How did that turn out? 

This and That

 We went out for one thing today and forgot the watermelon to eat with mustard. But, there is a list for tomorrow and the watermelon is on the list. 

About ten days ago, I talked with two friends. These were the conversations that leave a person happy and filled with a satisfaction. You know the kinds of conversations I mean. 

Dinner Friday night was turkey breast slices, carrots, and potatoes, all baked in the oven. 

I received a pair of pants and two blouses I ordered from Amazon and nothing fit. Bummer. 

The neighbor that mowed Tommy's yard had to have someone mow his yard and had the service mow Tommy's, too. I think another neighbor is sick. Remember, one died. 

Instead of using storage bags, I mostly use sandwich bags for short-term storage. Tonight, I put two pieces of chicken in a sandwich bag instead of a storage bag. We will eat the chicken tomorrow. Sandwich bags are cheaper. 

Once a month, whether I need it or not, I buy a package of Northern in the purple pack, any size. 

Tommy lets oranges waste because he does not eat them regularly and just lets them sit. But, when he does eat and orange, he eats three. I don't understand. I rarely eat an orange, actually never because I cannot eat much fiber per doctor's orders. 

Tomorrow, I hope to get my car jumped off. The battery has been dead for about two months. I doubt I can help Tommy with the battery. I can sit in the car and start it...lol. We need someone to help us. 

Thankfully, we are eating down the food in the refrigerator. Tommy had two gallons of milk and I have five half-gallons. I cannot search, so he has to. Now, I can find things on my own. 

I had the nose-pieces changed in my new glasses from the ones that came on the glasses to new silicone ones. The tech said the ones that came on the glasses were plastic. The plastic ones make my skin, hurt, burn, sweat, and turn red! So, now I get to wear my new glasses again. 

Do the little nose pads on your glasses bother your nose/skin? 

He Is Paying Attention

 The other day, Tommy was going to take out the garbage. He usually asks me if I have anything to add. Sometimes, I get the garbage from the bathroom where I now throw all tp. Then, I might have something in the bedroom. Often, I have a little bag of trash I have gathered from around me or lunch. 

After he took the garbage out, he told me he took the skillet where I scrambled eggs and wiped it out into the trash with half a paper towel. Wow! Good for him to take the initiative on that. 

He also knows I want to wash every dish towel or dish cloth in the kitchen. So, he asked one day about a dish cloth, asking me if he should wash it. I had not added to the wash in the kitchen. I had asked him to take the kitchen things out and wash them. 

After I made the taco casserole, I asked Tommy if he wanted taco casserole again or would he rather I just freeze it. He hesitated for a moment and offered--wouldn't it be good to have something in the freezer when we are gone for so long you don't feel like cooking? I froze it. He listens to me, catches on, and gives it back to me. One night, I had been out for too long and we did have taco casserole! 

Things go more smoothly and efficiently with his  brain added to mine...lol. It really helps. 

I hang items from the wash on hangers and then hang them in doorways--my clothing. Towels and wash cloths are dried.  There are not enough doorways since I never put one in a doorway he must go through. So, I am going to get a rod to hang in one doorway. It comes with two little things to put in the doorway so the rod rests on it and will not fall with heavy clothes on it. That way, I can hang towels on it too. Currently, towels are dried. Since this will cut down on his trips to the washer and dryer and cut down on electric use, I am quite sure he will agree. Okay, I asked and he agreed. 

Dinner on Wednesday was so easy since it was another box lunch like lunch--ham, greens, peas and snaps, and cornbread. Thursday was easy, too. Leftover chicken plus newly cooked cabbage, and newly baked sweet potato. Since I awoke late and had to take a pill and wait an hour, I had for brunch at noon--a banana, milk, and a boiled egg, adding no salt at all. Then, this Thursday afternoon I had less than a tsp of peanut butter. I feel good about my food intake today. 

So, I just ruined my good eating record on Thursday. I took a spice cake mix and drained peach slices and added that to the cake mix. It was delicious. We are freezing the rest for another day. 

Leftover sweet potato and cabbage will be saved for Saturday evening since we will be gone part of Saturday. For Friday night, I will cook and chop lots of ground beef, put some in spaghetti for Friday night. I will freeze chopped and cooked ground beef. 

We sorted a bit more food, denoting some to give away. Plus, more was dated. That helps a lot to know what to eat when and what we have. Now, I just have to put it on shelves. It may not get done today, probably tomorrow. I want to sort a bit more today. He does that for me since it is in the kitchen. The more he must use a lantern, the easier he will take it when the ceiling lights are installed! Besides, the cans are in boxes or on chairs, and standing hurts me so. 

To answer  a question--the machine is not like a bicycle and the pedal goes round in a circle. The pedal goes in the shape of an ellipse. But, it is not just back and forth. Did I make it clear?

Friday

I can barely walk and back hurt me so that it was 6:30 am before I went to sleep. ugh! I think the machine made my spine problem worse. But, I am not giving up.

Oh, this is something funny that Tommy does. When he heads to the kitchen, I ask him to look in the pot I have on the stove and tell me what is happening. He comes back and tells me there are tiny bubbles all over. I ask, "Boiling/"  He says again--small bubbles. Or, large bubbles. Or, not much water. He does not know words like-gently boiling, hard boil, rolling boil, boiling dry. There are other things he says to describe the state of food, but I cannot remember. It is amusing. 

Does it help to have someone in the house sort of pay attention to get things done fully and in an efficient manner? Does anyone in the house have a funny way of describing the state of food?

Our colorful Clothes Are Killing the Environment

 Click Here to see how the color in our clothing is polluting Third World countries. I have no time to write, no energy, nothing to say.

Okay, one more thing I have been meaning to say. So...

The dental insurance that I spent $499 on and never used has come in handy. I have to have a crown which will cost $745. The insurance will pay $501, leaving $245 I will owe. However, I have a $10 credit at the dentist, leaving me owing $235. I will get money back from the oral surgeon where I/Tommy paid the full price and insurance will pick up part of that. Hopefully, the amount I owe will be lowered more by using the overage at the oral surgeon. So, once again I am happy with dental insurance. 

Okay, my second wind kicked in. 

I bought two light fixtures, one for kitchen and one for dining room. I started off by saying we needed lights every day for weeks. He also has to search with a flashlight for items I need. Then, I told him I found a nice one in Lowe's,,,several times. Then, I brought them out of the store and put them in the Rogue. THEN, I brought one in the house and left the other for him to bring in. THEN, I showed him the chandelier. So, all is well except for someone to install them. 

Neither of us can carry the ladder from outside. Neither of us has ever installed a ceiling fixture. I did install a light by the door. I had just had knee surgery, stood on a chair, and installed the fixture to a live wire. I wondered why my fingers were tingling. In my defense, the switch was at the off position, but I had the wrong switch because the electrician hooked up wrong light switch to wrong wire. 

Okay. Have you ever installed an overhead light?

Saturday Stuff

Only one of 13 items fits that I chose at Belk's. And, I really do not like it without the matching top. If I could set up to sew, I could make things! Tommy refuses to open a bedroom with window, small ones, but they are windows. He insists I can sew in a room with an unusable light fixture. The window is large, but it has two pair of drapes on a curtain rod, not a drapery rod, so I cannot draw them. Still, not enough light to sew.

I am going to ask him to pay for my clothing now. LOL He is all about how much it will cost him to use ac in one more room and to call electrician about the light fixture. He is over here "cleaning" a plastic knife for reuse later. He is using a dirty napkin and hands that are dripping with watermelon. This knife has been reused for months. UGH!

Finally last night, I was able to sleep after two days and nights with only about nine hours total sleep. When I got up midmorning, I was out of my med for my stomach. After calling, stalling, and getting dressed, it was 12:30 before I got the med. I went to Publix to get milk and could take my med then.

We got small burger from BK because I wanted to look for yard sales in the area. Well, he drove down a five lane road with undeveloped land. ??? I pointed out it would be hard to find a yard sale here. He said it would be a hell of a lot easier than driving down Allison Bonnet. Yeah, because there a re lots of side roads intersecting and people advertise with little signs to their neighborhood. He said we could search the neighborhoods. I was ready to go home but got three new pink bags with coupons in them.

When I went into Publix, I got me two gallons of milk and bought one of the personal watermelons--little round ones. I asked a manager if he could slice it into two pieces and put one into the huge plastic bags I see people carrying full of lobster. He did and put in two forks since I had told him I wanted to take it to a park and share it with a friend.

I asked Tommy how much he thought it cost. "Oh, about a dollar." When I told him it cost $3.99 after $1 off, he said DAMN. I asked him how much two ice cream cones or two milkshakes cost. He actually figured both in his head for me...lol.

We did eat some in the car under a tree and thoroughly enjoyed it. At home I managed to slice one of the halves in half and put  a quarter for each of us in a mixing bowl. At least nothing slid off anything else I had.

Plans right now are to finish planting around 5 pm and water again. We are not planting enough to warrant planting in the heat.

I did not walk yesterday, but will today. I will get there with the habits, but after a hard day yesterday and two hours sleep, I could not have walked safely. However, I did manage to make a pouch of brownies.  Yesterday, before the brownies--chicken sandwich, banana, romaine and tomato salad, baked chicken and carrots. So, I suppose brownies were not too bad.

Dinner--baked chicken, carrots, onions, potatoes I cooked all this in one dish. All was leftovers from two different days. I avoided waste.

Do you ever figure the high cost of fruit to the cheaper cost of chips or something and realize that the higher priced fruit is a bargain? Or, do you have to point this out to someone?

Dreaded Visit to Belk's

For a while I refused to go into Belk's to return items I bought that did not fit. I had five things I ordered from the internet and took them all back. However, I had ripped the tag off one,  a jacket with a zipper that would not zip. She would not take it back. I did not argue. I will take it up with someone else with more clout.

Using my walker, I shopped for clothing that was 60% off regular price. I tried on nothing. Next Tuesday, I will return what does not fit and see about the jacket return. I wanted sheets, but could not walk that far. I went to the purses and just left. This would be a great time to buy children or teen clothing.

We carried chicken sandwiches and ate those at the lake, looking at the ducks and people. It was so pleasant that I hated to leave. I really wanted something else. When I went to Publix, I bought a quart of strawberries and we ate those on the way home.  So, no bought lunch today.

I also went by my house and someone mowed my lawn. ??? I think I know who and it was not out of generosity. Self-interest was behind the gesture. I could be wrong.

On the way into town, we saw two yard sales I planned to stop by on the way out of town. The first turned out to be a mobile carwash set up in front of the courthouse. The next was gone, but it was 3 pm. So much for a yard sale.

I took money from the bank, gave Tommy what I owed him, paid a bill, found nothing of interest and not cheap at another grocery. I got the mail and there was nothing urgent or of interest. I kept ten ones for yard sales.

The bill I pay with cash at the drive-up window has a $3.95 charge if I use a card. Since it is a 3 min stop and near everywhere I go, I opt to pay cash at the window.

I sent a fax at Office Depot. Tuesday Morning is going out of business, so just I had to shop on the sidewalk and inside. When I came back to the car, Tommy asked me if I found anything. "Yes, I found needs/wants/wishes, but nothing I was willing to lay down money to buy."

When we got home, I had to rest a bit and then we watered the plants. I was talking baby talk to them when Tommy wanted to know what I said. When I told him I was talking to my plants and they liked it. He said, "Talk to them like you did your chickens and I will know what you are doing." I thought I was.

Now, I need to try on all those clothes and get them ready to return to Belk's if they do not fit. I cannot justify keeping all of them. Trying on things is something I hate with a passion.

Many businesses were going out of business! I am not surprised.

Do you talk to your plants and chickens, talking baby talk?

A Dress, A Skirt

Remember, I could buy these clothes because a woman picked out clothing at Belk's and not one piece fit me! I took them back and got a gift card for other merchandise. So, I could choose and I did. I got the floral pants and top, black and white top and pants, and a black top and pants to match.

The Rafaella above is a dress is of the same fabric as one of the three outfits I got on sale last fall--blouse and pants. I did not get a dress.  However, even though the top is sleeveless and has armholes that are cut back, the style of the top is not the same as the style of the dress pictured above. This outfit has full legs that I love. They are very long, palazzo pants. Tommy really hates the wild print on blouse and pants. He likes for me to wear either a black top or black pants with the wild, tropical print. I like it worn together!

All three can be mixed and matched. I like that!

The Rafaella skirt below was very cheap and has waited for this spring to wear since I think I bought it in December. The only problem is that I have to shave my legs to wear this skirt. It was $3, I think. Maybe not.

In Cullman today, we drove up 31, parallel to 65 and saw the damage from the tornado on 31. It was east of the damage on 65.  One building was destroyed. I think that is what we saw across highway 31 and thrown into trees.

Okay, I cannot get the skirt and picture together because, I just cannot.

My mail is no longer being sent to PO. I have no idea what they are doing with it. When I talked to PO, it was all my fault. But, since I did everything the way they told me to do it. I am not buying that. I hate problems like this where no one accepts blame. They said they throw mail that away!

We took a chicken sandwich and a halo and water and ate at the lake.

I found sanitizer made in Alabama, 80% alcohol, $5.95 + tax. It is just a liquid to spray, not something with body...lol. 8 ounces. Tommy has quarts of 91% alcohol. I doubt he spent that much for a two-pack of the 91%.

When we got home, a lawn service was working on the yard. It looks great after a weed eater neatens it up. The guy across the street owns a lawn service and has his men mow several yards on this block. Several people are incapable of working on the yard, including Tommy.

Bugs in the Garden and Grocery Shopping and Clothesline and John Prine Died

On Monday, I went out and picked enough Romaine for two meals since it should rain today. There were little worms everywhere and tiny clusters of tiny eggs. I brought it all in and picked off and squashed the clusters of eggs, worms, and bugs. Then, I put it in basin of water and vinegar. We left to go to Publix and Piggly Wiggly.

I left it in the sink and when I came back I realized the Romaine had been soaking all that time. Of course, it hurt nothing. Lots of once-live things were floating about. I let Tommy dry and break up his own while I brought in a bowl of diced tomato.

At Publix Beef Steak tomatoes were $4.99/lb. !!! I bought 3 tomatoes for $6.30 . We will eat a half tomato for the next three days. We will survive. Chicken on top will make  delicious salad.

How on earth did I spend $54?

Raspberry Egg $0.50
2 Wheat Thins $5/2
Boneless, skinless chicken breast $11.83 (small package w/three breasts, but huge ones)
Ruffles, Party Size--$2.64, a promotion
Beefsteak tomatoes, $3.99/lb, three tomatoes !!! $6.30 I am horrified
Domino' Granulated Sugar, 4 lb bags x 2, $2 each
Kraft Grated Parmesan, 2 for $6, bought 2
Milk Chocolate Lindt Easter Bunny $3.50 for Tommy
Easter Bunny plate, $3.50 for me
2 lbs Butter, $6 for 2 1-pound packages

Saved $14.64
Total Spent $54.20

We ate the raspberry egg in the car. The chicken and tomatoes were an exorbitant price in my book. One Easter, I bought Tommy a chocolate bunny for Easter and he was so happy, smiling and just overjoyed. I asked if that were his favorite candy. He said that he always got a chocolate bunny in his Easter basket when he was a child. So, he will be glad to see that.

Everything except for the chicken was marked down, pr bpgp. There were so few packs of any kind of chicken that I felt lucky to get that.  Eventually, I only cook with cheaply bought food. The cheap Ruffles caught my attention, my favorite chips. I eat Kraft Parmesan on spaghetti, pasta and olive oil, and salad. I have not had either of the first two for weeks. But, I eat a lot of Parmesan when I eat it.

Then, we went to Piggly Wiggly to get two gallons of vinegar for $1.74 each.

The guy next door was mowing Tommy's yard, so that made me extremely happy on Monday.  I think I will give them enough Romaine for a salad.

I walked all the way back to the clothes line. The line is rusty wire. I will get the wire covered in green plastic unless someone has a better idea. Anyone? I like hanging out clothes. At my house not one soul saw my dozen pair of huge panties on the line. Here they will unless I wash sheets and hang those on two lines around my panties.

When I grew up, Mama taught me to hang panties on inside lines. Did your mother teach you that? Do you hang your panties in plain sight or hide them?

I really spent a lot this week, but I did not have to buy Romaine or any greens for salads because I picked what would be the equivalent of about $10 in Romaine and kale and red lettuce. Of course, I never buy that much, so this will be a treat.

What do you use, type of material, do you use for your clothesline?

AND, John Prine died. Tommy has never heard of him! And, when I played "Paradise," he said he never listened to THAT kind of music. I cried.

Black Friday Scare

I had Tommy wake me at 9 am. I was up late. After I stumbled into the living room, I sat and finally had Jello with fruit. Then, he was soon ready for lunch of turkey sandwich and a Granny Smith apple. Ooops, I forgot to give myself the injection for diabetes. Unfortunately, I had very little left in the vial, but I injected it anyway.

Around 2 pm, I decided to take the night pill since it basically does the same thing, I guess.

From noon until about 2:30, I tried to get my endocrinologist but his office manager would not give him the message because he will not prescribe unless I am in office. I was fit to be tied. So, we headed off to urgent care where I go. I left the first office after signing in because they said they would not help me. We went to another who let me get temp and all that stuff done, THEN they could do nothing. Once again, I was much miffed. My blood sugar was 91 and going down.

Finally, I called the office back home, and they called in the one other prescription. Yet, none of the same offices down here would call Cullman, offices with same headquarters.

When my blood sugar was 91, I had a nurse get Tommy. He came in and had drunk the orange juice and the pb crackers. Rats. This young, frightened woman said she could not give me anything because I might be allergic to it. She will not get far in health care. Sure, she has to be careful. She told me to find a vending machine. I staggered out and found four pb crackers in the car.

On the long trip to the pharmacy, I just knew something would happen and I would not get the injection I needed. I did. But, since I took the night pill about noon, the pharmacist told me to wait until tomorrow to start the injections. Two of these vials last 13 days, and I get two prescriptions per month. It makes no sense.

We stopped by Piggly Wiggly and got a few things for the Iron Bowl and more six packs of orange juice. Sometimes, we take a bottle or two with us and can bring them back if he does not drink them.

When we got home, I rested a minute or ten. I made us a plate and microwaved it. I ate too much. Now, I feel like I need a nap.

I was worried about the traffic at rush hour on a Friday night, and a Black Friday with shoppers at that. The traffic was light. Tommy surmised it was because so many businesses were closed. True. And, I supposed most everybody that was going shopping was already there. I was stressed at the prospect of so many people on the road, but obviously I was just borrowing trouble.

Since I spent my pumpkin pie baking time on the road and sitting in doctors' offices, I will bake during the Iron Bowl.

The weather has been so beautiful here. And, the temperatures in 60s.

Oh, today, I received a huge package, the third from a blogger. Inside there was a nice warm coat, a cute green and a cute pink dress in the same style. I haven't tried them on yet, but I know they will fit. There were lots of items, including a dressy sweater that has lots of pearls, beads, sequins and decorations. It is very tasteful, not gaudy. There is so much more. Thank you so much. I received it before I left for the doctor, so rushed through it and am now going though it again. This is fun.

My medicines, two of them for diabetes, would have cost me $820!

Well After Midnight

Tommy let me watch Modern Family until 1 am. on Tuesday. I am sitting in bed, typing. It's not easy.

Last night, my feet were cold. Every time I moved, I had acid reflux. Then I had to get a sip of water from the bottle on the nightstand. I did not get much sleep and slept late.

I wanted to go to Cullman tomorrow, but the window where the temps are above freezing is short. So, another day will do.

My ankles are still swollen. I looked up the reasons ankles could be swollen and immediately ruled out two: too much sodium and pregnancy. That left liver, kidneys, and heart. None of those are good news.

My vertigo is still bad. I think the dust in this house and third-hand smoke is the problem. I wonder if he has had radon level checked...just think what I am breathing in.

Tonight, I fought the cpap machine at the backside of the bed, getting it out and dusting the table with wetness, trying to get some of the dust out of here. There were so many pieces to it and all hooked up to one another. It is impossible to get behind the bed, so I was lying across the bed trying to keep the nasty thing off the bed or me. I think he needs to throw it away. He said "NO." He has not used it since 2007, so I doubt it is something the doctor wants him to use. He probably got it in early 2000. He cried out last night and went right back to snoring! I am glad we sleep at totally opposite ends of the house. I went in and stood in the door to see if he was okay. He needs a new model and needs to use it.

Monday night was an easy dinner: frozen Crowder peas, mac and cheese, sliced tomatoes, and a piece of fried chicken from freezer for Tommy. I did not have any meat. I know the mac and cheese had sodium. It tasted too salty. I don't salt tomatoes or frozen peas. There are more tomatoes for a few days, two more helpings of peas and of mac and cheese. I suppose I will bake sweet potatoes for tomorrow night.

When I went to put two red blouses in the washing machine, UPS had left a package I was expecting last Friday. A blog reader and sometimes commenter had sent me some clothes of hers. A black jacket will be warm. Warm black gloves, and socks I could not get on my feet were included. Three or two pullover shirts do not fit over my behind. One, a high/low blouse fits fine. I cannot remember the rest of what was in the box.

Before, I had several red blouses and two red coats for a wash. Now, I only have a red blouse and a red tshirt. I thought he might say something about the small load, but the tshirt had not been washed. I do adjust the water level and length of cycle according to load. I was not going to put it in with white things. Or anything.

THEN, there were spices in the box. Sooo many spices. I will list them tomorrow. At one point I lay down to rest and kept smelling some spice that was way too strong and smelled stronger by the minute. When I finally sat up, I realized I was lying on two plastic bags of spice! I was heating them right up and the scent was wafting from between my shoulders to my nose. I think these spices are expensive. There are even vanilla beans. Yes, multiple kinds and several in each package. There will be a complete list tomorrow.

I think we will get our flu shots this week. I was waiting until I felt better. But, the doctor took a blood sample and said there were no white blood cells, so I did not have and infection. Publix gives a $10 gift card for getting a flu shot at their pharmacy. $20 worth of groceries, free and clear will be nice. Tommy will probably want his all in chips! It takes $7 for me to get a gallon of a2milk.

I am very hot right now! it is about 40 outside and the heat is set on 64. I have on a summer nightgown and a pair of short pajama pants I wore all day under the gown--such a fashion plate I am.

The high temp for Tuesday will be 39F, so when it is the warmest, we need to go the pharmacy and to Publix.

I want and need chocolate ice cream. But, by tomorrow the urge will not be as strong as it is now. I won't get any.

This post is all jumbled, but so am I right now.

Do you know anyone who refuses to use their cpap?

Thursday Shopping and Friday

I went to three stores--The Pig, Foodland, and Publix. I was particularly looking for six-packs of Minute Maid Orange juice for Tommy's dangerous hyperglycemia. I am not buying the Atkins bars since it cost $7 for six and we eat them. I want to get Frito Lay Munchies peanut butter crackers. They taste better than other pb crackers and the ingredient list and the nutrition facts are better. He likes these too, but at least they are more easily replaced. The Pig had the juice, but I could not find the crackers.

On Friday I want to return something to Belk's. Tommy hates one top I bought, so I am returning it. Normally, this would not happen. But, he gets so angry when I ask him not to wear something torn or faded and states his right to wear what he wants to wear. So, I am giving in on this. I had two outfits I was considering for my reunion. I really wanted to wear one he hates and did not want to wear the one he liked. After he gave me no fight on what he wore, I decided not to wear the outfit he hated of mine. No problem. He rarely has any opinion.

So, onto what I bought today:

The Pig aka Piggly Wiggly

Concord Roasted Potato Seasoning $1.15
Uncle AL's Stage Planks $0.24
Ragu Pasta Sauce $2.27 (wrong price!)
3 MM Orange Juice $3.47 x 3

Now, I will have to go back tomorrow to rectify the wrong price. It was supposed to be $1.70. Those two cookies, the chocolate stage planks, are delicious!

Food Giant

Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.79

Publix

Kraft Parmesan Cheese 2 for $6
Publix Cooked Bacon $3
Ronco Spaghetti $1.69
Cracker Jack 3-pack $1.50
Romaine $3.50
a2milk $3.50
Blueberry Muffin Mix $1
Strawberries $3.99
Classico Spaghetti Sauce 2for $2.88
McCormick Maple Smokehouse Seasoning $2.19
Black Cherry Jello $1.19
Carrots $0.99

Total spent was about $72.

Everything was BOGO or on sale except for the Jello and the McCormick Seasoning. I still have meat in the freezer, so I need to see what is there before I buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Thursday night, I did not sleep a wink. Sleep would not come. I got up and straightened up things in the bedroom, trying to be quiet. About 7 am, he awoke to a nasty alarm and I went in to sit n the sofa. We left about 9:30 to go to Belks for me to return something I did not like. I found a cheaper sweater whose price I liked better.

Friday--I slept three hours this afternoon. Now, I must bake sweet potatoes, wash clothes and figure out how I am going to keep from freezing to death without clothes to wear in this weather. things I bought were summer clothes but not everyday-bumming-around-the-house type of things. Maybe you do not understand.

Tommy turned on the heat last night. But, it did not come on until this morning. I spent the night barely able to breathe without ac, but still chilly. I would keep the ac on until at least Thanksgiving. Does anyone get this?

I found the Frito Lay pb crackers--6 for $2.