Bent Every Which Way But Straight

 

                                                                         (not him)

Tuesday night, I lowered my chair and was met with resistance and a weird sound.  The chair raising mechanism was toast, it appeared. Well, finally, it worked. Something had slipped under the chair and in the lift mechanism. The whole chair is now whomperjawed. The left side of the footrest is lower than the right. The seat lists to the left. The left arm is lower. This throws off my whole body. 

When I awoke this morning, my left knee would not hold me up. I slept like a log for about seven hours. I must have slept wrong on my knee. Or, the chair not sitting right could be the problem, maybe both.

After I got up from a nap, just now, the pain in my left knee is worse. I managed to get to my chair. Then, I had Tommy bring in my walker. Hopefully, using it to get to the sink to wash my hair will work. The pain is so bad, my knee just collapses. 

Now, Tommy is back to getting things for me. Usually, my knee stops hurting just as quickly as it starts. Not this time. I may have to resort to an aspirin along with the cream I am using. NOW, I cannot walk without knee collapsing and extraordinary pain. 

Thursday

Well, I just figured out Sunday is Easter. Walking is no better. 

Today, Tommy drove me to Publix--slaw mix, lettuce, carrots, milk, bread, apples, bananas, strawberries, Halls Mentholyptus cough drops, eggs, two chocolate Lindt Easter Bunnies for Easter. When I got in the car, I told Tommy I bought a slice of carrot cake to share tonight. He was very effusive with "Oh GOOD!" We enjoyed it. 

We picked up eight more covid tests. I am still negative. These tests were so hard and confusing. Okay, the directions left out things. So, I wasted the first test. There are six more. 

Tonight, I gave Tommy instructions to put eggs on to boil. Well, he put the lid on the pot. Why? I was timing them with lid off, but at least I managed to get in the kitchen to see it. He left frozen meat on the counter to thaw. Why?

Tommy's voice is suffering as he sounds like a very old man whose voice is soft but still low. I hope it comes back. He told me my voice is not back yet, either. He said it sounds hollow. I have no idea what that is. 

We planned nothing for this weekend as neither of us have much energy or ambition other than to eat well and stay well. 

He is having ham and I am having chicken breast. I think he is opening green beans. I made cole slaw in my recliner. So, we are back in the groove. Since I boiled 6 eggs, I had one with a sliver of butter on the hot egg. I will make one into two deviled eggs for me and the other four will go into potato salad. 

The eggs peeled perfectly since I used really old eggs. I need to color some just because it is Easter. We do have our chocolate bunnies, but I think we need colored eggs of some sort. I am not sure where my molds for Jello eggs are hiding. 

I forgot to call about getting the chair repaired. Since tomorrow is Good Friday, I doubt I will get much of a response.

On Friday, we need to go to the grocery store again since I did not get everything we need. Tommy is going in with an electric cart, too. Today, I hit a table with Easter cookies and pastries on it and was so embarrassed! They added a table in the aisle, so it was easy to hit. I did the same thing to the extra table with Christmas cookies. ugh! 

The Sedum Joy is regrowing after the winter. It always does. I think the Gerbera Daisy is the plant with all the green growth. 

What are your Easter plans? 

Have you ever broken a recliner or lift chair? How did you break it?

Recliners Claimed

 The recliners were put on the curb at about noon and were gone by 8 pm. Hurray! Someone can use them. I told Tommy that people will probably check for free furniture here. He has an old computer desk that needs to go. I mentioned that to him and he did not explode like he did last year. The whole thing is pressed wood, sawdust-like, and it is disintegrating. I had bought it for a hamper and he was not happy. Now, you would think it was his idea! 

I bought Tommy one of the soft cylindrical hampers. I had seen the turquoise and patterned ones, but did not think he would like that. Well, I found some nylon ones in grey, navy, and beige. I chose navy. He threw a holy fit, berated me and my effort and threw it. Then, Friday he had something in it. Friday night, I asked what he had in it. His dirty clothes! Why? Because I have nowhere to put them. ??? He is using the PO bin for his blanket, jacket and two small head pillows. He is so mercurial. 

This chair is so much more comfortable than the Lay z Boy. The only bad thing is it is not zero-gravity. My feet are not high enough, but I think I can add a pillow under my feet and calves to improve it. The L chair was just too mushy for my taste. Both of these chairs have very wide sitting and back area, unlike some chairs and recliners. 

It does not have the pillow that bends my neck too much. I even have to put a pillow there to rest my head. I am not smothered by this recliner. The La z boy was suffocating me, my arms and body. This one is quite firm, almost too much to some people, I am sure. I sit on it, not wrapped by the chair. The arms are wide enough but not so wide as the La z boy. 

In the space of one day, my back has quit hurting. Fridau night is the first night in months I was able to  bring Tommy his dinner. Usually, my back hurts so that I call him to come to the kitchen and fetch it himself. Tonight, we had chicken, sweet potatoes, and collards....again. My back is not better, just not hurting when I try to get up or walk. 

The day before we had these delivered, my left knee kept giving way. It was scary. And, this is my good knee! But, I barely twisted it, so it is not holding up. Hopefully, my knee will heal itself and not collapse. I was lucky that I was standing near something when the weakness occurred. \

Gotta go!

Recliners!

This was an ordeal! It became apparent on Thursday night very late that Tim was not coming nor was he going to inform anyone. So, we worked on and off until 2 am to get things cleared out. I am talking paper and just plain crap! Then, we started at 9 am. Well, that is when I told Tommy to call me, I think I finally dragged out of the bed at 9:30 am. 

They moved the other two recliners to the road. I gave them both $5 for doing so. The guys had to put the chairs together. They moved the chair I got last week and the thing does not fit! I got it on sale with an "as is" tag on it. Otherwise, I would try to trade it. I told you the other chair was big and square. It has to sit cattycorner and it takes up lots of room. But, at least if we have company. there is a third chair in this room. Then, with the ottoman in front of the square chair, the whole setup is massive! 

A room should have some moveable chairs. But, there is no way this room will hold one. I had a couple of massive chairs, but I had a massive house. 

When you come to visit me, I will remove the quilts from the recliners, promise. But for now, mine stays covered to thwart the crumb gremlin. I remarked to Tommy a few days ago that he could use his old quilt to cover his chair. He was loud and insulting. But, after the guys left, he went to get a sandwich from the kitchen. When he got to his chair with a drink and sandwich, he struggled to get to the quilt to cover his chair. Then, he worked to cover the arms well. So, I suppose he does want to keep it from getting gross. 

We live in these chairs! So, I hate to have them get so grimy and nasty. 

Before Christmas, I put four pieces of Christmas chocolate in snack bags and only ate one bag each day. Well, I lost them and had no candy for about a week before Christmas. Okay, today I found them in a pink plastic bin. So, I had to pay Tommy back two bags and we are eating Christmas candy--Kisses, Cella Chocolate Covered Cherries, and Hershey's Miniatures. Now, I will consume one bag instead of just gobbling down all the bags at once. 

I asked the guy to find my two shoes-- one red sandal and one black sandal. I found two knives that slipped off the table and somehow ended up under the table. Suck a mess. But, we are on the way to curing all the ills in here. 

Okay, got one more thing to do today and it is out of the house. So, gotta go. We are happy with seemingly a room full of new furniture. Only twice since I left home have I ever had so much brand new furniture. I prefer second hand. But, this is an adventure! Hopefully, he will be amenable to more change, and not costly ones. 

Do you get much new furniture? Do you like new furniture? What is your favorite style of furniture? What are your favorite pieces you have or have ever had. 

Three New Chairs

 In the store where I have bought the two reindeer and the Santa, finally bought furniture. The Lazy boy recliners will be delivered maybe February 28. Too long! Tommy paid for them in full on October 28, 2001and Lazy Boy is making money off our money. Not acceptable. 

In the furniture store I had found a chair that I do not like but feels good on sale. I got it for less than $300. Sold. 

Tommy was so angry that I wanted him to look at the chair. He cannot fathom he might see something I missed. But, he did go in and looked at it, sit in it and give his opinion. So, I bought the one I do not like--a square gray chair! The one I like was brown, a color I hate, but it had curved arms and wood down the front of the arms and across the lower part of the chair. I would have gotten it but the seat cushion did not have much support. So, I bought for comfort. There is a chance Tommy thought I got this one because it is $50 cheaper. I am quite sure he said I should get it because it was cheaper. 

In the meantime, before I purchased the chair, I asked Tommy to look at recliners. He did and I decided I wanted one from there and said he should, too.  The color is Truffle, looks sort of olive greenish, sort of tweed. I called and cancelled the order for the Laz y boy and he paid for these, two that were ordered while we sat there. 

The chair was delivered free of charge since we had paid for delivery on the recliners. I gave the guys $5 apiece to carry the loveseat to the curb. We immediately put a "FREE" sign on it. 

So, I am sitting in a chair that supports my back. I am exhausted. Furniture shopping is tiring. Spending so much money is a stressor. However, the recliners at Lazy boy were twice the price as these. However, these don't have heat or massage or zero gravity. I really need the zero gravity! I can do without the heat and massage.  Anyway, it is done! Oh, these are lift chairs. But, the lift scares me.

I forgot to say that these don't have the huge pillow at the top, so it does not push on my head. 

I haven't bought new furniture since 1972, preferring antiques, curb shopping, any furniture that might need to be upholstered or in need of new springs. Having to spend real money on furniture, and furniture yet that I don't even like hurts and stresses me. 

Do you find that shopping for brand new furniture is stressful? 

I gave the guys $5 apiece to put the loveseat on the front lawn near the curb. Well, I went out after Tommy looked under the cushions and put a "FREE" sign on it. But, they have the loveseat facing the house! What is with that? And, Tommy put the sign on the back of the loveseat and thought it was just fine to face it away from the road/ GOOD GRIEF! I want it taken before it rains, otherwise, no one will want it. 

We are supposed to get the recliners between one and two weeks from now. I surely hope so. In the meantime, Now, the ottoman I was given works with this chair at the right height not to hurt my back and legs. 

He found $0.49 under the cushions.

Wednesday and Booster

 I have nothing. I slept well on Tuesday and several hours on Wednesday. I have done nothing! We did go to Publix to get Tommy's covid booster. They were out of Pfizer! So, we will go back or elsewhere. 

We know the best booster is the one you get, but my allergist was adamant about getting a booster like the original inoculations. So, we will do exactly as he said. 

While we were in Publix, I purchased four more Christmas design storage and freezer bags. That makes 16 boxes. Several years, I have not gotten the reduced items fast enough, so this will hold me if I miss them next year. 

We also cruised the neighborhood and picked up 4 more of the pink bags with paper inserts. We want the Cheerios coupons. Tommy is cutting the rest out for my friend. 

It is bitterly cold even at 54F degrees, which is not that cold! Plus, I only wore a sweatshirt. Being ill affects my perception of how cold it is. 

There were phone calls I needed to make. So far, I have managed one call per day, not good. 

I know I am dehydrated, and I have lost another pound. Ugh! And, all of Christmas is still up in the house. ugh ugh

My goal today is to cook the steak more from yesterday. I may cook the fresh green beans we received, too. I also need to fold clothes, wash the plastic lids from glass containers, put away folded towels and such. 

Tommy is going to clear the way to his other recliner so I can possibly use that until we get the good recliners. It is filthy, looks filthy, and absolutely needs to be vacuumed, but I am going to throw a quilt over it and use it if I can. 

A Big Surprise

 Today, while I was waiting for Tommy, I was in the car. He had a doctor's appointment. I had to go to the bathroom in the doctor's office, so I sat with him for two hours while he sat in the waiting room. UGH! When they finally called him back, I went to the car and learned how to take a picture with my Android, how to edit the picture, and how to mail it. None of this was difficult at all as instructions were there and it was rather self-evident, nothing tricky. 

However, I tried to open the photo just now, and I had a 404 error. I was going to post a picture tonight. So, I don't know what happened. 

I took back the SAS shoes two days under the deadline for a refund. Whew. My big toe was killing me, the tendon and arthritis, I suppose. So, I was not up to trying on a shoe. Since I had bought two pairs of shoes, that leaves me with a red sandal. 

The next stop was wonderful! But, I will skip that for a moment. I went to big box and shopped a bit. A stop at the bread store was good because we did not have to make a special trip. Then, since I ran out of milk and had none for breakfast, we stopped at Publix where I bought two half-gallons and a 16 oz. package of bacon for a whopping $8. We rarely eat bacon and here is another reason not to indulge besides our health. 

Okay, the stop I skipped. 

I had decided I was going to get a recliner with a stimulus check I saved, 

and was not going to order one over the internet where they are incredibly cheap. So, we went to La-Z-Boy galleries. My plan was to start here, maybe going to other places. 

We both tried out different chairs and I decided which was most comfortable. I thought Tommy was not going to come in even though I asked him to help me decide.  I ended up trying them all over and over. He tried the models once. I asked him what he thought and he said to get the most comfortable and the one that lifted my feet above my heart. So, he suggested the one I should get. The woman went off to get a price. She gave us a sale price. Then, Tommy decided he would get one, too.  I was asking for an additional discount for buying two, and she said No. Well, I don't give up that easily. Finally, I asked her to give us a lamp. She said NO. I told her to ask someone else. He said NO. I told him that I needed something else since we bought two. He said NO. I asked for the Halloween bowl, not the candy. He said, NO. Well, he grabbed a dish and said, "How about this?" I took it. So, I came home with a bowl in a Tiffany-blue bag. 

Neither my knees nor my back hurt getting out of this chair! It also has heat and massage. Now, heat/massage  was something I really did not want. But, the chair is has a deep seat. That helps my knees not to hurt. I will probably just lie around heated and vibrating...lol. 

It has the fat pillow I hate and the fat arms I hate. But, my knees and back don't hurt when I get up and make me hurt as I try to do things like cooking and going down the hall to the bathroom. That is a plus.  I needed the lift and my feet above my heart. So, we will see how this works.

The chair that fit was the most expensive one on the floor! Tommy said, "Well, for the next two or three Christmases and birthdays, this is your gift." "You are buying it for me?" "Yes" I am so grateful! Now, it will be delivered in December. That is a real bummer. I need it now! 

Usually, when Tommy helps me decide, he asks which is cheapest and goes with that. He went with the one that felt the best for my back and knees and put my feet above my heart. So, that was a surprise. 

So, I am a happy woman with hope for seeing a lack of pain in December. It would have been a good day even if this chair did not happen. 

I definitely wanted a chair that did not have a space between chair and leg rest. My mother died from falling on her face and breaking bones in her face after a fall. It is surmised she fell from getting caught in Daddy's chair as she got up and rushed to answer the phone. 

Oh, for the last two weeks, when I have mentioned to Tommy he should get a recliner, too, he was adamant that he did not need/want a new recliner. Then, he changed his mine. He does that often. ??? 

Do you have a recliner? Do you have any caveats or suggestions? This deal can be undone.

Too Pooped to Type

I was so sad Colin Powell died. He was a hero of mine. His situation shows why we should be so careful of infecting people. He was vaccinated, but had multiple myeloma. So, the vaccine was not very effective for him. I mourn. 

If I don't visit or leave a comment, consider I am exhausted and have been busy. Today, Tommy had an appointment to get new tires at 11 am. We got there at 11 am and asked how long it would take. I rode with him. Then, my gastrointestinal tract betrayed me and I had to go home and change clothing. So, he took me home; I jumped out; he went directly back. We are less than a mile from the shop. 

Once I cleaned up and changed clothes, tried to recover and went back in my car. Tommy got into my car because I needed something to eat. So, did he. 

We went back about 1 pm and the car was not done because she said, "he had to leave." Yet, it was on the rack with only one tire, and old one on the vehicle. She was very accusatory which I did not like. Okay, at 3:15, the woman called back as it was done. 

I drove him back, so he could get it. It was over $800. However, there was a b3g1, and he had a coupon for free installation. So, with alignment, he paid ~ $790. I asked and he has absolutely no idea what the savings were.  And, and this card will give him cash back. So, now we are driving on good tires. 

Today, I wanted to go and buy a recliner with the lift mechanism. I really need it. But, I spent all day at the ready and spent the time getting tires! I saved one of my stimulus for this purpose. Tomorrow, we must do something else. 

The Dollar Tree was on my list of places to go. I managed to get in and shop. There was no shelf stable milk, what I was looking for to buy. It is $1, so I try to keep it. Just before it expires, Tommy drinks it. Then, I get more. No, that was not in the cards today. So, I still need to do that. 

My new wool blanket is wonderful. I put it on my bed last night, right on top of a quilt, a comforter and a fuzzy blanket. It was warm when I got into bed, but I lay still, cooled off and slept well all night.  The comforter was the only thing pulled up to my shoulders. The comforter and fuzzy blanket were only over my feet, how I have used them all summer. Now, I want to find another one on eBay. 

Right now, I am going to try to get a gigantic hen in a baking bag. This meat will be taken off the bone by Tommy. Chicken and dumplings is on the menu some day. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a brand recliner? I hate the wide arms that recliners usually have, but I want the seat to be wide. I also hate that big bumpy part for the head. It pushed my head forward and crushes my hair, and wraps around my face!