My Ear and Siding

 For two years I have had a little bump in my ear, just a mound, not anything that feels like it is going to be infected. The ENT said he had no idea what it was but did not want to lance it for fear of an infection. He gave me a drop to use twice a day for seven days. That did nothing. For two years other similar bumps have come on the inside of my ear and on the outer ear. 

About a month ago, I started squirting this med in my ear and rubbing it to get it onto the bump next to my eardrum, Finally, I felt it and it seemed like I could scratch it off, and I did. For two days I have been free of the earache that has plagued me the two years this has been present! 

AND, TMJ has quit bothering me. Tinnutis is less. The things my body decides to do!!!

Sunday night, we had a burger from a 4-pack of premade ones, something given to me. We just ate it on a plate with a fork. We had potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower baked in the oven. I put a light sprinkling of garlic powder (not salt) on them. Tommy did not even need salt on the carrots or cauliflower, just a bit on his potatoes. The cauliflower was so sweet with only the bit of garlic powder. 

Since I have been sleepy and tired for a few days, I am going to doctor to see if it is a uti. I do not want to become ill again. 

The piece of siding under the roof has been loose, allowing water behind it. Tommy has refused to have someone repair it. Well, Saturday, a six-foot piece started flopping. He says he will get someone to fix it. I figured he wanted the piece of siding just reattached to rotting wood. Of course, I know that is not possible. Thankfully, the piece of siding broke. Otherwise, he would just want it put back. The house is a brick house, but their is siding on what would be wood parts. He said he did not want to have to paint the house, so had siding put over the wood. BAD idea. 

When I went to a yard sale today around the corner, I bought a table for $3 for the porch. I asked the man to bring it by and he readily agreed. We talked about the repair needed. I asked him if he could recommend someone. He said he is a roofer and does that stuff, too. Then, he said he does yard work. So, maybe someone to mow since our free mowing by neighbor will end. THEN, I asked about someone to help in the house. He said he can do that, too. He also sells scrap, so the rusted storage shed can be gone for free! 

We talked so long that it was 7:30 when he left, right when I would have had dinner ready. I put the vegetables in a pan and loosely covered with foil. In the meantime, I was going to cook the burgers. Well, at 8:30, I told Tommy to come and let's get dinner. The oven was stone cold. I forgot to turn it on. So, we had the burger to avoid starving to death and had the vegetables at 9:30. Some nights are like that. Right?

Have you ever had a strange large mound in your ear that puzzled the doctor? Or, maybe he gave it a name you can share with me. 

I don't often forget to turn on a meal to cook. It was not a big deal tonight, but I will have nightmares about forgetting to turn on a turkey for a meal. Have you ever had a meal that sat without heat?

 

Frozen Corn, Allergies, More Decluttering

 Tuesday, I cooked all twelve ears of corn and cut the kernels off the cob. I cut from two ears and froze those in a snack bag. I kept it up until I had five packages frozen for us, half a package apiece, so one ear apiece. We ate none of it that night. On Wednesday, I did not feel like cooking so we had what was in the refrigerator. The sixth bag of corn was eaten. Tommy had a salad with dressing, sliced cucumbers on top and chopped chicken. I had two hotdogs and too much chili. Ooops, forgot the cheese. I had something else but cannot remember what. The chili was going to be too much for my gastric system, so I only ate a bit of it and saved the rest for him.

No more patterns were sorted. 

I took my first dose of the med, snorted, for my congestion. Maybe I am imagining it, but it seems my congestion is less and my ears hurt less. Hopefully, October will not be too rough for me, no antibiotics. 

On Wednesday, I discovered I am being overcharged by providers! Medicare helped me to determine this. Now, I have to straighten it out. If they do not refund money and quit charging me, Medicare will take hold of them and beat them about the ears. I would prefer they be put in stocks.

And, another reward program has not been giving me what I was due, even though I pointed it out before. I had to call corporate to get it straight. 

Wednesday was a dreary day, no sun at all. But, somehow, it did not affect my mood. There was a smattering of rain where we are. 

I have some boxed-from-the-factory chicken equipment that my friend from Cullman is going to get when he comes down to clean Tommy's gutters. He was eager because he had five ducks and now has two. So, he said this will give them a better chance of survival. That will be one huge box out of the dining room. YAY! I have no idea why Tommy put it in the dining room, but that is where I found it. 

I slept about nine hours today, waking at 1:30 this afternoon. I had to talk to Amazon, one of those long conversation. I got something straightened out there, too. 

My ear is definitely better and I have no pain! It feels a little stuffed up, but nose is no longer running day and night. My allergist is the best. 

Tonight, we are having preformed burgers, really thick ones, cooked in the oven with mushroom soup mix over them and a bit of water. I will have a salad with tomatoes. Tommy will have cucumbers on top along with tomatoes. 

I need to make refrigerator pickles for him since we have so many they will get mushy if they are not used. 

At the grocery, I bought another basil plant since the last two bolted. I could not bend over to pink off the tops with the last one. Tommy thinks basil stinks, so I didn't ask him to pinch it. I hope this one lasts thought the winter.

There is another soldering project in the works. I feel really happy knowing that I have five meals of corn in the freezer!

What kind of projects do you have planned, started, or finished?

Tasty Dish and Wasted Bananas

 When looking into my cans of food, I found a can of Campbell's Broccoli soup and it inspired me. I had a huge head of broccoli that was still a beautiful green and I did not want it to turn yellow. I had cooked lots of chicken the night before--skinless legs, bs chicken breasts, and half a package of tenders. We had that on Wednesday night with vegetables I forgot now. 

Do you remember when I bought a tall jar of Poultry Seasoning for $0.33? I used the spice blend on most of the chicken, just what I put in the oven. Tommy loved it. It was okay but not what I ever want my turkey to taste like. I only use sage on the turkey or chicken intended for Thanksgiving. 

On Thursday night, I put the tenders into a pot of water to boil. I trimmed and washed almost the whole head of broccoli. I layered the chicken first in a small casserole, put broccoli on top, Then, I poured the can of soup and half a can of water over the top. I meant to stir in a tiny jar of pimiento, but forgot. I used 1/4 cup uncooked brown rice on top of the chicken and another half cup of water. So, I decided when it was done and I had put grated cheese on it to cook uncovered, I would put grape tomatoes on top and bake it as the cheese melted. Then, I forgot the tomatoes. 

However, tomatoes are good raw when I forgot. This was delicious! So, it was an easy dinner. I only used enough rice for one serving since neither of us needs rice. This was a small dish in the oven, so it was eaten in one meal. No leftovers.

Use your own measurements for ingredients. My casserole dish had a solid layer if chicken and a solid layer of broccoli. 

Chicken

broccoli

rice

soup of any kind

water

grated cheddar cheese

I used no salt or other seasoning since the soup and cheese were salty enough.

Pimiento or grape tomatoes--I forgot both. 

I think I baked it about an hour, maybe less. Remember, the chicken was cooked before it went into the oven. 

This casserole was by no means original, just what I did with what was here.

Friday night, we are having carrots, potatoes, and cabbage with meatballs.  There will be enough left for several meals, thankfully.

Saturday, I have plans for several chores, so I will make us a chicken sandwich to take with us in order not to get a burger or whatever. 

I have so many bananas frozen that I refuse to freeze more. However, I waste bananas since I should not eat a whole one.  Tommy will not consider even a taste of banana. 

The whole side of my face hurts, so I will take another round of meds. I have no idea what is wrong with the side of my face and my ear. I am scheduled for an implant, but I won't have that done until I am free of pain. 

So, these are my thoughts on Friday night.

Groceries and Gas and Ear

There were no bananas for me and no peanut butter for Tommy. So, I struggled to get dressed and went to grocery. I got both items and a few more. The new ad was out today. 

5 bananas 

peanut butter

3 24-packs Pepsi b2g1

3 8-packs small Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free b2g1

2 bottles Bertoli spaghetti sauce 2/$4

2 Honey Nut Cheerio bogo 

Northern Bath Tissue--36 count

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream  bogo but I bought only one. It was not very good. I forgot I bought this because it was in the freezer.

 ~$40

Tommy filled the gas tank Friday because it was time. I hope that when it is time for more gas that we can find it without sitting in line for hours like we see on TV. Has anyone seen a shortage of gas or long lines?

Tuesday, I had a tele talk with nurse practitioner and got a prescription and another refilled. I have a slight temp, just enough to make me miserable. There are no other symptoms except the side of my head feels funny.  Thankfully, there is no more loud tinnitus.  I MUST get the chicken in the oven tonight! 

That's it! I am off for a nap. I told Tommy he was going to have to help me get dinner ready tonight. 

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. 

Eardrum Swelling and Cost of Chicken

The one new thing I ate on Wednesday when my ear was so swollen was Special K Red Berries. I have eaten it for a long time, on and off. But, this was a new box that said it had more strawberries. I am not allergic to strawberries and eat them all the time. 

However, maybe these strawberries had been grown with a pesticide that remained. I am allergic to wheat, just some wheat. 

Nothing else was different. Today, I had a banana and milk after I took my pill and had to wait an hour. Then, I made us a chicken sandwich so we would not want to eat out. 

We left about 1:15 and got home about 6:30. I had to rush in and eat because I was tired and hungry. Special K Red Berries with milk was my snack. Soon, my other ear drum and eustachian tube was hurting, stinging, feeling swollen. I drank lots of water. Eventually, it stopped hurting, but I can feel my ear drum, feeling funny. 

The ENT told me years ago that when my eardrums were screaming in pain that it was referred pain, that my throat was starting to swell shut. 

I will not have cereal for three days. Next Monday, I will try it again. If I have to quit eating it, Tommy won't touch it. Well, the save money and not waste food, he might. 

Today, I went to a store and the electric cart quit. It took them 35 minutes to get me out of there and find me a new cart. The guy was exhausted pushing me. Bought--2 trash cans, 2 bottles of 3 mg Natrol Melatonin, large bin for my stuff, dental floss, interdental brushes, Hershey's cocoa, candy. 

Then, I went to Lowe's and arranged for them to bring me a new picnic table and pick up this crooked one. One set of legs was sitting crooked, leaning under the table, just ready to fall down. Since someone pushed me in and around, and he was mean and rude, I stayed too long waiting to get out. The manager was nice, and surprisingly willing to make this right. So, I won't be painting this weekend.

After that, I went to Publix. Bought--5 ears of Peaches and Cream corn on the cob, 4 zucchini, 2 half-gallons of milk, bananas, family pack of chicken. I think it was $3.48.

Before I found the large pack of chicken, I picked up a two breast, bscb that was $7.69/lb.!!! I almost had a stroke. 

I have chicken cooked and raw in the freezer, not much. But, I will continue to buy about one package a week. I bought bscb for $1.49 two weeks ago. I will not pay $7.69/lb. 

Have you found exorbitant prices in the meat counter?