Sunday This and That

 After the guy at Lowe's told me how early he was coming, I could feel insomnia coming on...lol. I asked him about when. Early. Before or after 9 am? Before. Ugh. So, I asked him if the could come after 9. He would call when he was five minutes from me. I asked him to give me an hour notice. He agreed and called me on Saturday morning when he was ten minutes from me. 

Oh NO. I was thinking more like the crack of noon.

So, Tommy called me at 9 am and I got up, ate, and dressed. He called about 9:30. Then, it seemed like two minutes later he was here.

He moved huge empty pots on the porch and put the table on the left side of the door. The grill is placed well. He put the tank on, connected it, and started it for me. He said to just start it. But, I wanted to make sure it really did work correctly before I tried it. So, we talked about two minutes more. I gave him $15, all the cash we had, for helping us and delivering the grill. Nice guy. He said he was not expecting pay, that he did it to help me. 

I decided I would take a nap. Well, that did not work. At 3 pm, Tommy decided to water the flowers. As he approached the door afterwards, it started raining.  It only rained a bit and thundered a lot. 

Tommy had cleared out the car but did not clean the inside of the car. There are things in there that I will sell. So, we have started a box to sell. I wish I could have a yard sale. Tommy is against it. He would be able to sit and collect money. We would have to have another person, so maybe it is not feasible. 

At the yard sale several years ago where the people gave me the wheelchair for free even though I was going to buy it, they gave me a set of sheets, too. I am getting rid of those. Plus, I have new mattress covers/pads, never opened that I need to sell. At any rate, having them all in one box as I declutter is better than stuffing things back where I find them and deciding to get rid of them "someday." Maybe someday will come sooner. 

I am too tired and it is too hot to grill right now--96F and "feels like" 102F. Maybe around noon on Sunday, I will grill before the sun hits the front of the house. 

Yesterday, while reading about one problem of mine on Mayo Clinic site, I think I diagnosed the cause of another problem. lol. No, I will see a doctor. 

When I went to the dermatologist on Thursday, he gave me a "recipe" for hand soak and a strong antibiotic. When I was young, I never had so much as a freckle, and the occasional zit once a month. Now, it seems things just grow on my skin and in the strangest places. He took a growth off my scalp earlier, and since I have heard nothing, I suppose it was not cancer. Tommy got to see me zapped with the nitrogen and yelp. A nurse said she did the same thing when zapped. Only it was in a more tender place this time. I am not visiting a dermatologist for wrinkles and superficial problems. 

Since my father and his mother both died of cancer of the head of the pancreas, I'm next. And, many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on daddy's side died early of cancer. I try to keep on top of these things. One doctor told me that with my history, I will get pancreatic cancer, but I would get it twenty years later since I lead a cleaner lifestyle. 

On Wednesday, I had an endoscopy and an insulting, accusative nurse. Thankfully, the others were great. The doctor gifted me six weird pictures of the esophagus. And, everything looked okay, I guess.  My esophagus was stretched, but I still choke on things. So, I will have to ask him about that.

Getting these two medical items out of the way was such a relief. It takes so little to make me happy...lol.

The tulip tree across the street is blooming again. It is right in my line of sight out the door. Beautiful!

Babies with Grandpa

 I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and another today. Both were stressful. But, I thought this was funny from the waiting room yesterday. 

As we sat in the waiting room, there was a couple and a child about six chairs down and across from us. The little girl, three, started whimpering then crying softly putting her head against the father. The mother came back and the child continued crying very quietly. 

Soon, the mother and father pushed their stroller across from where they sat. The little girl left with the parents as they went to their appointment. About three minutes later, I heard a tiny baby crying. I told Tommy that baby is not very old. Well, the child was starting to get louder. A black woman who sat between us and the guy got up and went to him. I was wondering if he would rebuff her. He had a baby in his arms and one in an infant carrier. The woman said something to him and then picked up a little, bitty baby. She tried to quiet him. The grandfather gave her a bottle. 

The child in his arms would not quit crying. She was not loud, but inconsolable. The baby, of course, was working on the bottle. As he walked near us, I told him--when my children about that age were upset, I told them to look for a puppy, or kitty, or cow, depending on what would interest the child. Well, he once asked her if she wanted to look for a puppy. He was not too encouraging and quit. 

In about one minute, the woman one seat down from us, jumped up with a phone and offered it to the child. Grandfather took it and the toddler was quiet. So, we all helped out. We could hear "The Wheels on the Bus." Then, there were other videos according to the owner of the phone. The woman with the baby, talked to the baby, wiped mouth and did all the things a mother would do for the baby. As she talked to him, he was very good. 

Finally, he was talking to a woman in an office right in front of him. She came out. He asked about a patient by name. Then, I heard him say to get her husband to come back. The father did and stood and talked to the older man. He smiled upon the baby. He left again, presumably to go to his wife. I asked him how old the two little ones and older child was--almost two months, almost two years, and the one with mother was almost three. He added that they had two more at home--ten-year-old and fourteen-year-old. Then, the father, grandfather, and both little children left. Hours later, Tommy saw them as he was getting the car for us to leave. Neither man had a child. 

When I saw what was happening with both children crying that were left with the grandfather, I couldn't  believe that someone had left such little children with the grandfather. He did not appear as though he was accustomed to being a caregiver. He might have been the most fun and playful grandfather ever, but he appeared to be in over his head.

My endoscopy yesterday left me with a sore throat and down into my esophagus! Today, the weather was at least 93F with large hail a bit north and west of here. 

But, I will say this, those three children were the quietest cryers ever. It is nice to have something interesting to watch while in a waiting room. One couple nearer the scene and across from us were very clearly enjoying watching them. 

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.

 

This Day Almost Killed Me!

I awoke at 7 am to get ready and be at the dr appointment at 9 am and accompany Tommy to his endoscopy. Finally, at 11:15 am he had not had the endoscopy, I asked him if he were going to stay and wait for the doctor. He said he was leaving. Another couple was there for their 8:30 appointment and had not been seen. 

Let's back up. Around 10:30, I called and told him I was faint. He told me to go get food. I asked if he wanted something, too. He did. I went to Arby's. As I was eating my sandwich, he called and said to pick him up. His sandwich was still warm as I had only eaten a third of mine. We sat and ate since we were famished and exhausted. 

We drove 86 miles for the round trip and got nothing done! We had to pick up meds for me from Walgreen's and one other small, quick chore. Finally, at 3:30 we arrived home. Needless to say, I am exhausted! I had told Tommy I would cook beef tips, carrots, potatoes and onions. He seemed disappointed when I suggested leftovers because I was tired. Right now, he is peeling carrots and potatoes. I might have chicken breast instead of beef. Okay, I put out boneless, skinless thighs to thaw, so no beef tips thawed, just thighs with the vegetables. 

I cannot find Yukon Gold potatoes. So, I just bought something labeled another kind of "gold." I have no idea what is the difference. Do you? 

I still feel like I am riding in the vibrating car. When waiting, I had the motor on, so the vibrations were endless. I am certainly glad I did not have to drive home as we were planning. 

The dogs next door are having their nightly bark session. I am so sick of this noise assault. And, their cat has decided our porch, carport, and the tops of our cars are hers. Well, I will see about that. It has fleas! 

Now is prep time for Tommy's birthday. I got him A Dog's Purpose. I will buy him chewing gum. I forgot what else I decided to give him. Now, I have to think what it was. Oh, a flashlight. We have these Vont lanterns that are a pain. The light comes out from all sides, which is good in a room with no light. But, holding the lantern in front of my face while I

 look in a closet or under the sink blinds me. And a headlamp!

While I was sitting in the car for two hours waiting for Tommy, I made calls I need to make. I found an animal shelter to take the prescription bottles. And, I discovered a close relative died from cancer. From another call, I found more relatives that died from cancer years ago. Lucky me to have this heritage!

There are three thighs leftover that I will freeze. There is a small potato, too. North to Alaska is on, but I may not be able to stay awake long enough to finish the movie. 

Bedtime here. What are all these "gold" potatoes? The tiny one I had tonight was delicious. But, I was hungry.

Chicken Pen

As you know, my hens lived in a 10'x10'x8' dog pen with a tarp over the top. I always used small, cheap tarps that didn't cover the pen completely. Once it got too many holes, I would replace the tarp with an equally inadequate tarp. The last time I got a thicker tarp that covered the pen and was attached down on the walls.

After a rain I noticed a small pool on top of the tarp as I looked out the kitchen window. After a few days I noticed a sag that was about the size of a bathtub. A few days later when I walked out, the chain link fence had collapsed. Well, the frame is mangled. I think the chain link will survive.

The water weight destroyed every thing in the pen--table, two new Rubbermaid boxes for living and laying, an old box for hens to get into when the wind blew. I think the water heater will survive. It appears the whole thing was made of foil since it crumpled so easily.

I only had one hen in the pen. Everyone asked me where my hen went. There were three options--a raccoon got in the broken cage, she got out and a raccoon got her, or she hid somewhere until she was found by a raccoon. Four days later as I came to the steps to go inside, I found a pile of chicken butt feathers. If you don't know, chickens have very fluffy butt feathers--very distinctive++. So, she lived for four days and was coming to me when she was found by a cat or something in the afternoon.

Tuesday, I had an endoscopy done. Since I am exhausted, I am not responding to comments. I cannot even see where the iv was put into the back of my hand. For the first time, a huge red band was attached to my wrist--"Fall Risk." She said they put these on people who have had anesthesia.