Tuesday in a Haze

 Monday night, I decided to take a prescription prescribed to me after I asked about a cure for a problem. This problem is a big problem, but not a problem with a cure. The prescription is for another problem, depression, but not prescribed to me for that. So, I took the prescription in the afternoon on Monday. Until Wednesday morning, I was in a fog. 

Tuesday, I had no affect. I had no ambition. I even went to bed for two hours and just lay there, unable to sleep. I cannot imagine how this med could cure depression. Or, maybe it is meant to mask feelings? But, all feelings? I managed to get in the car and put the seat back while Tommy was out. Then, I just rode with the seat back. I have never done that. 

I hated the feeling, so I will never take that med again. 

Tuesday night while still in a fog, I had to think about a Wednesday appointment. No food after midnight and no water after 7:30 am. Well, I awoke after six solid hours of sleep. However, my throat hurt, was dry, and I was trying to stifle a cough and sinuses were draining. Yep. Awful. Not thinking, I grabbed water and gulped it. It didn't matter since the drive was iffy with tornado talk, at least storms. So, I cancelled the appointment. I really needed this appointment to stretch my esophagus so I won't choke on food!

Dinner: corn on the cob, peas, baked chicken for Tommy. I don't know what I want. 

I boiled the corn and it is hard and not so tasty. I think it was old. The last we had was sweet and juicy and tender. 

I cannot imagine how anyone takes an antidepressant and functions! I feel like I lost a day. Everyone promises me I will not feel so groggy, so blank, so much brain fog if I give it two days or two weeks. However, dizziness and nausea are not something I want to endure. I commented on a few blogs and typing were difficult. Plus, there was no promise that the antidepressant would alleviate the first problem. The doctor who prescribed it told me he tried it and quit because it did not help. 

Now, I am fighting the sinus infection with otc products. Of course, we watch the weather to determine how bad the storms will be, maybe dangerous. 

Today, we made our trek to three grocery stores to collect the ads. We missed the pork butt at $1.78 two weeks ago, and bought it for $1.89 last week, and it is $1.78 again this week. Right now, Tommy is going over the ads, circling things we want, things he wants, and things he thinks I might want. Then, I will go over the ads and we will discuss what we want to buy. It is a process rather than what we see and want, missing deals. We make a list after discussing the choices we underline. 

Now, I need to survey the Father's Day ads for tools I need or might need. Of course, I am not looking for power tools! I have always thought FD sales were better than Mother's Day sales. 

Do you look at Father's Day sales for things you want or need as opposed to giving something to a father?

Have you found that antidepressants side effects are unbearable?

Is there anything good in your grocery ads this week?

Forsythia and Shopping/Doctor

 

forsythia

On the way somewhere, I saw that forsythia bushes were blooming. This is a sure sign of spring. I just hope that the early warm spell is not fooling the bushes into blooming, only the destroy the sunny display. Forsythia is in the olive family, but, alas, no olives. 

Many years ago, I bought a tiny forsythia. It bloomed and grew, giving me immeasurable joy for several years. I wanted another to go with it. I waited until we had a soaking rain. Then, I went out and cut about a dozen of the long stems. The, about three feet from the first, I took the stems and poked them as far as I could into the soggy ground. Lo and behold, they all took. So, I had two forsythia bushes. My experiment worked! 

Daffodils were blooming at my house the middle of January. It is just too warm for flowers. Well, too early for them to bloom. However, I usually have daffodils around the first week of January and they live and rebloom the next year. 

Yesterday, last night, we decided to go the Cullman to AFC since my doctor cannot see me until late next week. And, the other places here are iffy as to treatment. In the middle of the night, I got up and decided to see what urgent care businesses were right near us. Well, there is one less than a mile away that had horrible reviews. I cannot endure a 4 hour wait. So, I ditched that idea. 

We went to Cullman and I saw a nurse practitioner. The whole experience was positive except for one woman who was a pain. Everyone else was super nice and some remembered me. I left after giving a specimen. And, I got a prescription. So, I will start it and wait for the incubating specimen to reveal what kind of bacteria is hurting me. I had been told the front of the card worked and, surprisingly, it did. So, I had no problem at AFC with my bill. Only the back of the card is wrong. 

I used the rest of the UHC $150. allowance for otc and healthy food. I had $35.12 left to spend and $1.11 on a Publix card for a return. 

White grapes

quart of strawberries

3 red delicious apples

clamshell of Romaine

2 pints grape tomatoes

2 lbs. carrots

5 lbs russet potatoes 

2 bananas (I had 2 at home)

small bowl of watermelon (to eat on the way home)

2 Stovetop Stuffings

Tinactin foot spray

Bottle of Dasani (because I dropped my lid on the floor in the doctor's office and I was not going to use the lid again. I was not going to try to keep from spilling water. So, I wasted it and bought one bottle.)

I have not had white/green grapes in ages. I just buy red for Tommy. Everything else will be eaten or it will last. None of it except for tomatoes and lettuce will be in danger. But, we will make sure nothing goes to waste. 

Since Tommy and I did not keep up with the total well, we got more than we had "money" on the card. My total was $13.41, Over $4 of which was tax. We had the opportunity to put some of the food back but chose to pay for it. Another benefit was that I got rid of the Publix card since those cards do get bulky in a tiny purse. 

Overall, it was a good day, but it ended up cold and rainy. I have meds, lots of fresh food, and feel hopeful that I will get better. We will have a salad with chicken, tomatoes, and cheese, and dressing. Tommy will not want cheese. 

It is cold here. Tomorrow, I will make soup with vegetables and hamburger meat I have thawing--1lb of ground beef, carrots, potatoes, corn, green beans, tomato sauce and tomato bits or whole, celery, onions, bell pepper, lima beans. Part of the ground beef I cook will be saved for the Kraft spaghetti kit. Since I am using the crockpot for the soup, it may not hold all the cans I want to put into it. I will only put two small potatoes diced small. Then, I may not put the whole can of vegetables into the pot, saving them for another meal later. Pepper, savory, and a bay leaf will be added. Of course, I will take the bay leaf out after cooking. 

I cannot wait until dinner on Thursday. I have not had this soup for several years. I don't know why. 

How was your day? Cold like mine? What are you having for dinner? Got any soup plans for the rest of the week?

Decluttering, Feeling Puny, Spaghetti

 There has been no rain in three weeks. Last week, we had 0.003 of an inch of rain. Or, was it 0.03 of an inch. Either way, that is not a lot of rain. Combined with the leaves falling and something growing to which I am allergic, I am fighting a battle to the end of the month! Humidity is 29%, just the way I like it whether hot or cold. 

The first time I was ever ill the whole month of October, I had just gone back to school, taking a heavy load. I failed one class and dropped another. The class I failed was a humanities participation class, 1 hour! Other students asked me how I failed that class. Easy! You don't ever show up. These were lecture, dance, theatre, and always on Friday night. I went to class on Tuesday and Thursday that semester, plus one class on one Saturday, and a Sunday class. Going on Friday was just something I could not handle. So, I failed. I was beyond annoyed at my state of health. Every year since then, 30 years ago, I have been ill every October. 

Ground beef is now $3.99/lb. and boneless skinless chicken breast is $2.99, prices I have not seen so low in almost a year. Hopefully, this will be a trend, lower meat prices. 

I had a coupon for a free loaf of bread. There was a bogo sale for the same bread. So, I should have been able to use the free coupon to "purchase" one loaf and get another free. I explained all this to Tommy when he went in to get it. But, did he get that deal. No, he gave up a coupon AND paid for a loaf of bread. If the coupon could not be used that way, I could have saved it until bread was not bogo. Did he do that? No! So, I have to go back and get some sort of satisfaction. He wasted a coupon. 

We took four little plastic grocery bags with things in them to the Thrift store and put them in the donations. Tommy insists that t-shirts should go in the trash here at the house. Finally, he said they had to go for donations even though these are old and will bring money. He wants to drop all old electronics into the garbage in front of the house. I really don't understand his thinking. But, three small bags are gone from the house. 

I have had a 42 ounce can of pimiento waiting to open and share with my neighbor for over a year. I finally did that, so one can and clutter off the counter in the kitchen. We took it to her on the trip to grocery and thrift store. There were seven people/cars waiting at the pharmacy drive-through, so we will do that another day. 

I am struggling to stay well. But, in a few minutes, I will wander into the kitchen where he is cooking ground beef for spaghetti. I will add caramelized onion, garlic, and olive oil to the jar of pasta. We can have a salad. 

On Monday, when I awoke feeling on top of the world, I looked for otc meds I keep in a bin in my bedroom. I try to never let my otc meds run out. Since I struggled to find dental floss in the store about 18 months ago, I had bought a box of six from Amazon. And, where was it now? So, I uncovered my favorite dental floss, Glide Pro-Health Original. I have no idea if the shelves are stocked with what I need, but my bin is stocked. If there is any on the shelf, it is probably higher than the price I paid last year.

Tuesday and We are Going to Have a Come to Jesus Meeting and Grocery Shopping

 I was trying to listen to the DNC, and Tommy asked me a question. I answered and he kept talking! I said, "I am trying to listen." I gestured toward the TV. He said, "Well, it is not like it is something important!" Good Grief! Before he met me, he always voted Independent.  Okay, I am not going to have to explain to him that I AM watching the whole DNC. And, the current DNC is important.

Monday dinner was nothing to brag about, but it was delicious--Kraft macaroni and cheese, field peas and snaps, and sliced tomatoes. There was no cooked meat in the freezer or as a leftover. It was the only box of macaroni and cheese, so this won't be repeated anytime soon.  Tommy had a couple of oranges. 

Yesterday, I called a doctor to see what day, Tuesday or Wednesday, I had an appointment. Nothing, none of the lines or options worked. You have to sit in the car and call them, saying you are there,  and they call you and tell you when you can come in. In my case, they have to bring a wheel chair. So, this was not going to work because their phones don't work. 

Tommy and I both tried the doctor's number. Then, before I awoke on Tuesday, he called and talked to their answering service. Then, the office called and talked to my voicemail, telling me that they understood I wanted to cancel my appointment and I could call back to reschedule. But, the woman noted, their phones were not working, so I could not reach them. 

No, that was not the message Tommy left. That needs to be rescheduled now.

Then, I got a voicemail that I have an appointment with another specialty on Wednesday that I will not be able to keep. Grrr! Now, this doctor's appointment needs to be rescheduled also. 

And, I need to make the appointment for the test to see if I need the stint. 

I was out of milk, so I went to Publix. I found a brand of green beans ( Margaret Homes) I  wanted. They were now 4 cans for $5. That is not a good price, but it was lower than most. So, I bought 8 cans, stock up. Since I want 100 more, I have a way to go. 

a2milk 2 x $4.49 

8 green beans 4/$5

strawberries $3.99

2 bags Romaine chopped bogo $3.99

2 Long Johns 2 x $0.90 I know, I know

That shop was a few cents short of $30.

A new ad comes out on Wednesday. Well, I have it now, but the prices are not good until Wednesday.

Tuesday dinner--half a chicken breast, green beans, baked carrots, Romaine salad, strawberries

The only other thing I ate was a sandwich of pb, MW, banana and the Long John.

Wednesday grocery shopping--

12 oz. Hormel Roast Beef and Gravy

14 oz. Classico Pizza Sauce 

4 tiny jars Dromedary chopped Pimiento (grown and processed in USA)

2 boxes regular mouth lids (thought I was getting rings, too, and I had a coupon)

2 bottles Lysol Concentrate (brown liquid, brown bottle, to dilute)

TADA

16 oz. jar DREAMLAND BBQ SAUCE only $3.50

I paid 20 cents less for the pimientos than at stores here.  In the future when I use pizza sauce, I need to freeze the rest so it does not go to waste. 

We went to a drive by  pickup lunch and met a couple for a picnic at the lake. It was a fun little event.

We had pork chop. blackeyed peas, roll, casserole thing. The casserole thing was mixed vegetable that come in a can, mushroom soup, dressing mix from a box, salad,  two cookies. we drank water.  There may have been an egg in the casserole so it baked well. I gave my casserole to Tommy.

Wednesday, tonight, we had the same for dinner. YAY for food already cooked! 

That was my Tuesday and Wednesday. All that is left to do is to watch the DNC. I am all set. 

What bargains for stock up or now did you find?

An Outfit

This is one of the two Rafaella outfits I bought the end of last summer on sale at Belk's. I was going to wear the other outfit to my reunion, but Tommy hates it and wanted me to wear this one to my end of September class 55th high school reunion.

Thankfully, summer lasted here for a long time znd spring stated early. I last wore this in October with a black cardigan. The legs are wide. It has been a long time since I wore a top with armholes cut back so far like this. But, my arms are not too fat...lol.

Today, we went to Cullman where I replaced some of the chicken for $1.59/lb. BBQ sauce was on sale--got two. I found children's fluoride mouthwash on sale for half price, so got that even though it is bubblegum flavor. At least I won't have to swallow. I found a 4 oz. bottle of Pompeian Olive Oil. Rats, i don't think it is virgin. Oh, well, I wanted the bottle to decant a larger bottle over time.

Since I did not go back to Publix for another two cartons of a2milk on Friday as I planned, I ran out of milk last night. There was no milk or banana for my breakfast. I bought three cartons today. I put it in a cooler in the back of the Rogue. One carton was just sitting in the back, but I will drink it first. No problem!

Triscuits--$0.99 for Tommy
1 Gerber Chicken and Gravy  baby food @$0.29 for me
Mouthwash for me

I feel this post is disjointed!

I bought a single roll of 2-ply TP and bought it to see what was the quality. It is 4X 4.25 " and 550 embossed rolls. If I cannot use it, Tommy can. I wondered if it was like the Scott.  There was about ten feet on the shelves, and maybe hundreds on each shelf. It was quite amazing. This store is not going to run out of tissue. Have you ever seen this tissue in the mint green paper package, on roll, with darker green print?

So, I am exhausted and must get the chicken on for dinner. Today was a beautiful spring day with fluffy clouds and a breeze that was strong at times. I hope you had pretty weather today.

How do you like my outfit?

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I Forgot to Tell You--Turkey Breast Sale

Turkey breasts are $0.99/lb., fully cooked, with gravy. It said it has the wings, too. I think that is strange. I will get a couple of breasts this week. This ad is good until next Tuesday, April, 21st.

When I went to the Publix in Cullman today, the breasts had not come in. The one down here did not have any yesterday. I wonder if they give rain checks. ???

A friend gave me a very generous gift and said to get Tommy something, too. I am getting a $9 pair of Haggar khaki pants. Plus, I asked him if he could get on bathroom scales. No, he could not. The only way he can get on scales at the doctor's offices is because they have grab bars for him to pull on and hold onto.

I asked him if he could hold onto the refrigerator. He said that would work. The scales I am getting have the vertical pole-like thing with a display up about 46" so he does not have to bend over. Well, he cannot anyway. I think it is a lighted display. If you know of one that would work, I have not ordered this yet.

Gas is $1.45 here.

Today, we went to Cullman. The bank only has windows open, no lobby. Not another soul was in the PO. I called County agent at his home as he is not in his office. I talked to city guy who was locked in building. When I went to junk store, my friend I talked from about 10'+ from each other, and I did not get out of the car. I went into two grocery stores and found nothing I wanted. The Medical Supply Company where I had to pick up a medical device did not let me in. I got out of the car so she would not be invading our car space. The private nursery where I wanted to go does not answer so I can get blueberry plants for our area.

I paid $1.59/lb. for boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, buying three packages for a total of about ten pounds.

Since I slept two hours Wednesday night, I was not sorry to stay in the car so much and start home early.

Today is what Spring is all about--Sun all day, low humidity, bright Sun and good companion.  We went to the lake to eat and saw five children, all under about six-years-old. One was roller skating, one was on a bike, another on a skateboard, and one on a tiny skate board, and another had a scooter. Tagging along behind were two young women, one pushing a stroller. Ducks were playing in the water and air.