Success Times Three

 Have you ever had a day or days when you leave home with a purpose and things go awry. Well, today, I accomplished all three goals I set for our outing. 

1) Get the new Covid shot. It turns out the old boosters are no longer available. So, I got the latest. We would have done this two months ago, well, get the booster. However, since the vaccine works best when a person is not ill, I was waiting for a well spell and for Tommy to be in the mood. For some reason, he would just say, "Later." We have had four vaccines for Covid now.

There was no Pfizer vaccine available at our Publix. We only found the right vaccine across town at Vestavia Hills. It went off without a hitch. No one was waiting. The pharmacist was very nice. He listened to my problem with getting the last one too close to my shoulder with a torn rotator cuff. 

My allergist told me to get the Pfizer from the beginning, so I did what he said even though others told me to get any combination of vaccines. 

2) Return dishes to Belk. I ordered dishes on sale and they delivered them to the PO. ??? I took out one dish in the parking lot, put it back in the box. I hated them. They stayed in the car from Saturday to today when I got rid of them.

The woman who takes phone/pickup orders to the car was very nice and came and took them in. She took them to a register and got a return for me on the cc. I was so happy to see those gone. 

They were the style dishes that look distressed, ugly. 

3) Went to Publix near us to get Milk and Diet Pepsi for Tommy. While I was there, I got Publix hamburger buns, cheap and they are good. I have had no cheese in over a week, so got that on sale or bogo. 

Since I slept only a bit over 4 hours Saturday night, woke and could not go back to sleep, I was due a nap. No such luck. When I heard a crash, I jumped up from a near sleep state and rushed in. The 50-yr-old tv tray fell. Tommy insists putting cartons of Pepsi on it and it keep collapsing. I went back to bed, and the dogs were barking, four of them, furiously. I turned on Rod Stewart and tried to sleep. It was not to be as it sounded like someone hit the house with a broomstick, a loud crack. 

When I got up again, I was woozy, sick to my stomach, weak, and cranky. Tommy had kicked something trying to get out of his chair. For a quiet man, he made a lot of noise today. Wisely, he did not cross me by arguing with me. 

The TV tray will go in the trash can tomorrow. I have a new folding table, larger and sturdier, that can take its place. 

I sat here and recovered with a little caffeine! 

There was no way I could cook all the chicken and vegetables in my condition...lol. So, I put burgers in a pan in the oven. We ate those about 8:30. Then, I put in the hot oven three sweet potatoes, washed and oiled. Around 9:30 we ate sweet potatoes. Around 10:30, we will have a salad. Actually, this is the schedule I was told to follow--eat some now, a bit later, and more later. 

By the way, the Beauregard sweet potatoes were delicious without sugar. I did put about one teaspoon of butter mine and mash it. Tomorrow, I will bake a whole pan full and take some to neighbor down the street. Tomorrow, I will cook the chicken put in the refrigerator to thaw. 

Altogether, Sunday was great with blue skies and not a cloud to be seen. I do like white fluffy skies, though. Sleeveless blouses and sandals are still comfortable, not chilly a bit.

On Monday, the plan is to shop until I find leggings for me. Then, we will pick up my shoes from SAS. Well, that is the plan.

How was your Sunday? Quiet? Busy? What is on the schedule for Monday?

Monkey Pox, Canker Sores, Small Pox Connection

 When I was twenty-one, I had dozens of canker sore in my mouth for months. They were so painful. Nothing helped. The "cure" left black that got all over my front teeth. Other ways to be rid of them failed, too. I mentioned the pain to my son's pediatrician. She told me to go down the hall to her physician husband and tell him to give me a small pox vaccine, 8 or 12 in a row, once a week or some such number. If I missed one vaccine, I would have to start over. Twice, I missed a vaccine. That meant I received about a dozen vaccines. 

She told me he would not be happy because he didn't believe it worked. He was not! Well, it did work. The first vaccine was given next to my original one in childhood. It was less that 1/4 inch diameter. The second was a red pinpoint, a lesser pinpoint for the third. I always had the tiniest red mark. It worked. I had no more canker sores. 

I have started having canker sores again. So, my plan was to get another series of smallpox vaccinations. I have not called the doctor yet. 

Now, I read small pox vaccines will help to avoid monkey pox. So, I suppose I can kill two birds with one stone. READ HERE

"Eradication" of smallpox contributed to the rise of monkey pox. By the way, If SMALLPOX HAS BEEN ERADICATED, WHY ARE THERE 100 MILLION DOSES OF SMALLPOX STORED RIGHT NOW?     <<<Click on the blue words for a link.

I am old enough to have gotten a routine smallpox vaccination as a child. Did you get one? 

By the way, I do not believe that smallpox has been eradicated! 

I was told that smallpox had been eradicated about 1974 when I took my daughter to the doctor for her vaccination. I was sorely disappointed and worried for my daughter. I feared that smallpox would rear its ugly head when my daughter was an adult with children. Maybe only children were eligible for a limited number of vaccines available. Even though I might not be alive when she was an adult, I worried about my daughter.

When my younger daughter was about 4 and the older daughter was around 9, I approached the doctor again. No, he had no vaccines.

However, He told me I could get one at the Health Department. When I told them what I wanted, I was treated rudely by the workers/nurses. They told me it was more dangerous to vaccinate my girls than to take a chance on smallpox, that the vaccine could kill. I was undeterred. So, they told me I would have to go to the pay for the vaccine. Okay, I can do that. The cost? $2.00. Every word they said to me was accusatory or demeaning.

I don't regret the decision. My daughter says that people ask about her scar since people her age did not have to have the smallpox vaccination. 

Did you receive a smallpox vaccination? Have you found a cure for canker sores? Since Covid was downplayed for so long, I wonder about monkey pox!

Friday Doings

We went to Cullman on Friday. I retrieved a can of spray paint, the red paint I used for a cardinal. While at friend's house, we left soup/tuna type cans for a mutual friend. Her septic tank is going to require $6000 work. I am not sure what that is for, but she contacted 3 companies, and that is the cheapest quote.

I went to Publix and bought a few things, went to another store and bought one thing, got the mail, found gas for $2.85, got a burger and flew home. We did not want to be out when the roads froze over. There were lots of icicles hanging from the rock/boulders that line the road where the way was cut for the road. 

At one store in Cullman I found the six-pack of Minute Maid orange juice that we depend on in the car and bought two at an exorbitant price--$4.49 while it is usually $3.30 or less. I also bought one jar of Mayo for $1.25. I bought a moderate-sized package of TP. The shelves were skimpy. I also bought two more boxes of Ziplock Holiday decorated bags, quart and gallon. 

Back in Hueytown, Tommy got his covid booster at Publix. I found his bogo Pepsis, really b2g1.  I will get my booster when I am certain the uti is gone and I won't need additional treatment. 

I am looking for Halos or similar item, but have not seen them in the stores. I did not want either of the oranges. And, I do not want citrus from Florida. Produce from Florida does not have high nutritional value like other states' produce. 

About 10 minutes after Tommy had made four trips with heavy groceries, his coat rack fell on him. I tried to warn him but got an aaaaah out of my mouth. He set it back and loaded his clothes on it and it fell three more times. He was distressed. I volunteered we would buy him a new one tomorrow or I could glue it and clamp it. He is adamant about not fixing things and said he is sick of me doing so. Sooo...

I am going to call all sorts of stores and shop the internet since I don't have the energy to traipse from store to store. This is the old me talking. 

I asked him if I could have the hat/coat rack. "WHAT FOR?" He became angry when I said I could fix it and use it. He wants me to throw it in my storage unit, not glue it here. I don't understand. I really intend to fix it and give it to him. It is the ugly bentwood kind. 

His arm is very sore from the covid vaccine. So, we won't go shopping for a coat rack today. I will continue at a snail's pace getting Christmas out of here. Friday was busy. Saturday will not be busy. 

Chicken and Rent and Big News

Tuesday was pretty quiet except for the excitement of picking up a prescription for me...lol. Oh, and we bought bread at the bread store. That was exciting/infuriating. The woman grabbed the bread by the center, and it still has several squashed slices. I mentioned it and she denied squeezing it. Whatever! 

I lay down for an hour because my back was hurting. Even though I needed sleep, the pain was too much for sleep. 

Last week, I bought two packages of bscb. I paid more than I like to pay.  It was not my $1.99 but bogo at $4.99/lb. This is still a bargain because there is less scrap. They call it wing meat, but it is not flesh. Plus, the joint where the wing is attached is usually there, full of tiny cut and broken bones. It is just a waste of money. This week, I am going back to get two more packages of bscb.

I bought $10.70 pounds and paid $25.09.  That was for 9 breasts. I am glad we are not big pork eaters as I suspect the price will go through the roof for pork soon.

We had a salad with the chicken, very little chicken. Tommy got his own and added shredded carrots and grape tomatoes to his Romaine. 

I put two of the cooked breasts in the refrigerator. I put two into two quart freezer bags and stored them in the freezer. The other bag of chicken is in a gallon freezer bag. I didn't want to think I could cook it and then procrastinate and let it get any older. Each breast makes at least two meals. So, ten meals are cooked. And, eight need to be cooked. Okay, the protein part of the meal is cooked. Vegetables are easy. 

My friend Charlie took the vaccine as part of research and also had a booster. I knew he had the two doses of vaccine, just not the booster. This was before the vaccine was approved, so he is fine with all the experimenting on him. 

He has forty rental houses. Not one is paying rent! And, some of them are not going to get the help they can. He is annoyed. He is making no money and still must do repairs and pay taxes.. I wonder why people would not rush out to get help with rent. Maybe they are wanted or in some sort of trouble. I realize some people might not be able to get there. What other reason would people not try to get rent assistance? 

Big News--Burger King finally fixed the three potholes in the route to order.  They did not put a dab of asphalt down in the potholes and call it good. They put a huge, long and wide patch. I hope it holds. They even got their speaker fixed so we can communicate with the person taking orders. Yes, we go there one a week or every ten days. 

Do you get annoyed at paying for bscb and have part of it not be meat?  Does anyone squeeze your bread leaving a dent where several slices are not straight? 

Phones and Me, Vaccine, Nightmare

 I love my flip phone. Most of the time when there is a problem with it, the problem is an operator problem! I love the Rugby phone from Samsung. But, I suppose it is phased out. I did buy my last one from Etsy or somewhere online for $100 and it is now broken from dropping it. 

The android was stolen two years ago, so I bought another cheaply for coupons and such. Finally, it quit working before I could get things set up. Since last summer, I have fretted with it and nothing works. Well, they tell me at ATT it has not been paid for since May 2020. I thought I had it on autopay, but obviously not. 

That leads me to having to shop for a phone! Just kill me now!

First, I usually consult my friend, Charlie. He knows everything about anything computer-y or phone-related. 

However, commercials do catch my eye. I saw the prettiest, blush Android or iPhone. It was so cute. -you know I like pink. When I was in the ATT store, the woman did not know what phone I was looking for. Well, I saw it over her shoulder. She said it was $1100.00. Yeah, I will be buying that. 

Finally, the young woman said they had a phone for me, but it was $70 so go to WM and get it for $30. Usually, the guys get tired of talking and their eyes glaze over since they only want to sell a phone. 

So, now I am in the market for phones. No criticism of owning more than one phone. I have kept phones for years. When a feature quits working, I find a work-around so I won't have to buy a new one. I have trouble holding an Android, so that is not a good phone for everyday use. But, the little flip phone won't do any thing but call. The trouble of texting on an Android or iPhone is just not worth it. 

Okay, about the Covid vaccine. I woke this morning with little pain at injection site, only when I touch it. Tommy's site is very painful and he cannot use his walker without extreme pain in his arm. So far, not a bad reaction for either of us.

Last night I had a nightmare. I had a very high temperature and my head hurt so that it felt like my head was too heavy for my body to hold. The whole ordeal was very frightening.  When I really awoke, I was much relieved not to be so sick. 

The woman at ATT suggested a tablet or something like that. I forgot what. What would you suggest in ATT version? I only use ATT. Like Samsung products.

Strawberry Fields Forever and Rivers and Second Vaccine

 Dinner Tuesday night was sliced, baked chicken, sweet potato, cabbage. Getting two sweet potatoes into the oven was the hardest part. 

I finally got all the strawberries capped, washed, and sliced. Now, there is a huge bowl of strawberries ready to eat, freeze, or cook. 

Tuesday night, I did not get enough sleep but was happy I slept four hours. I wanted to get up and 8:30 and leave by 9 AM. But, unfortunately, I awoke at 7:30 and, left by 9 AM.

We had plans for Wednesday: 

*Get second Covid vaccine. 

*Pick up lunch at church.

*Eat in park at lake with friends.

Attend a lecture about rivers  under a pavilion. 

Well, as I left the house, I turned back to get  a sweater. It was frigid, cloudy and so blustery. When I got into the car, I told Tommy I was doing nothing outdoors, that if we could not hear the lecture from the car, we would just miss it. Or, he could get out and I would sit in the car. And, we were not sitting at the lake with friends. He had not even brought a light coat! 

We both now have the second vaccine. The woman pushed me right in to the table to get the vaccine. It was over in 45 seconds or less. I did not even feel the needle go in. Tommy had to walk the length of the building pushing his walker. When he finally arrived, it was time for me to leave, the end of my 15 minutes to wait for a reaction. 

We had plenty of time to get to the church as it is right near the hospital. So, we headed over to the site for the lecture--Peinhardt Living Heritage Farm. We were able to pull right to the pavilion. With both windows down and the guy using a handheld microphone, neither of us had trouble hearing. Lectures are right up my alley. Tommy like them, too. 

We both took our walkers out to walk in the pavilion and talk and browse. Tommy does not spend money on books, but bought one here--Alabama Rivers--A Celebration and Challenge. So did I.  Right now, he is reading. 

There was a table with items for sale. I chose a turtle that looks like it is carved from stone. Plants were on sale, 1/2 off. Now, I have the Hosta I want. Both items were a total of $3. I think this must have been the remains of a garage sale. 

The friends we were meeting had a pair of wooden birds for me. We picked up those and talked for a minute. By this time, the sun was coming out.

THEN, I asked to go to the farm to buy more strawberries. It is a long way, but he was okay with it. The sweet potato farmer directed me to go the strawberry field where they were picking. The farmer's kid got us a fresh basket, we paid and were on our way. This added another 20 miles to the trip home.

On the way back through town, we dropped off the papers for the attorney. 

The clouds were almost all gone and the sun shone brightly the rest of the trip. Of course, we ate strawberries on the way home. We are happy people. 

Others have complained about the cold, but we got it today. Today, a package was on the porch when we arrived. I got a new blanket as it was on sale 50% off. The trouble is the blanket is foam, sort of. It is Vellux. I can barely stand to touch it. Tommy was sort of surprised it was foam. It feels yucky, but maybe it will not touch me with the sheet between me and the blanket. 

After feeling ill, coughing, and running temp, I awoke feeling like I was okay with no fever or cough. But, I knew I had been sick. I went to get the second vaccine and eight hours later feel only a bit where the needle went in. I will get a test to see if I made antibodies after a few weeks, whenever my doctor says to do so.

Have you ever had a vellux blanket, with brushed nylon over foam? Are you as cold as I am? 

Wouldn't you know?

 My allergist office called me to tell me they had vaccines! So, I could have gotten the vaccine in an atmosphere and location where my allergist was present. I would have felt safer. But, I took a deep breath on Monday, and decided I would just go ahead with the opportunity I had at the time. 

The injection site is about the same as for an antibiotic injection, and a lot less painful than flu vaccine. Tommy's is painful, but he thinks it is because he uses muscles to push his walker and lift heavy things. 

Tuesday, I went to Publix  to buy four things. I came home with more and had spent $60.

*sausage patties bogo

*smoked ham center slice

cups

white grapes

*Italian salad greens

*grape tomatoes

*celery $0.99

coleslaw mix

*strawberries

*2 lbs butter

*3 Grands! Buttermilk biscuits

*3 Philadelphia Cream Cheese 

*jellybeans

*cranberry sauce 

Welch's Grape Juice

bananas

The sausage patties were on sale bogo and were cheaper than the roll. I am going to make and freeze sausage biscuits with Grands! for Tommy so he won't stop for one on the way out of town. I was shocked I spent $60, but have bought little the last two or three weeks. If grape juice and wine are good for the heart, I opt for the grape juice.

I have ammended the Easter menu...lol. We will have ham, slaw, green bean casserole, fruit salad, and sweet potatoes. If I add more, okay. It could all change! I bought the ham slice because it was on sale and we have not had ham in ages. Tommy won't eat deviled eggs, so I am going to take two boiled eggs and make deviled eggs for me. I will also color eggs. 

I was looking on my shelves and found a cannister of french fried onions. the best by date is Jan 21, so it is time and they still taste good. 

After having only about two hours sleep on Monday night, I did not take a nap on Tuesday. But, I went to bed at 10:30 and slept until 3:45. That is the best I have slept in ages. Of course, I took a leftover opiod from the tooth extraction. That is not the way to go, and I only have four left. sigh

Are you adding or subracting, generally reworking your menu for Easter? What will you eat on Easter? Is anyone else cooking for your meal?

Vaccinated!

 Sunday night, I went to bed at 10:30,  a new for me when I am well. Then, I slept soundly until 3:30. Sleep did not come again. At 7:45 I got up and washed my hair and we were gone by 9:15. The cloudles, sunny day was very pleasant. 

We had to drive to Cullman to get our first Covid vaccine. I was giddy after it was over. My reaction to the relief from stress that is medical is to become giddy and ravenous.  This has happened before. 

I could not even feel the injection in my right arm. Tommy said it hurt. It has been almost twelve hours and I have a tiny spot that hurts like any injection. It is a nothing to me. 

Of course, the really bad reaction I had to a tetanus vaccine did not occur until 24 hours later. So, I suppose I will just wait and see. 

Now, at almost 10 pm, I am ready for bed. 

Tonight, Monday, I put 10 chicken legs in the crock pot. In a cooking bag I put 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and 10 filetted thighs and 1 leg. Yes, I cooked a few meals tonight and emptied three packages of meat. 

For dinner, I had half a breast and Tommy had 2 very tiny  filleted thighs.  He will only eat one thigh from now on. We had a salad of baby greens and grape tomatoes. 

The chicken cooked in the oven is done and frozen. Tuesday morning Tommy will take the meat off the 10 legs and I will freeze that.  Tomorrow, I think I will cook an oven full of sweet potatoes. 

Tuesday, my arm was itching during the night, so when I went to the bathroom, I took the bandaid off and looked at my arm. The only problem was a huge red place where one side of the bandaid was still stuck to my arm. It looks like I was branded. I AM ALLERGIC TO BANDAID TAPE! I knew that.   Plus, the nurse put the tape, not the pad, over the injection site. So, I have had no reaction to the Pfizer vaccine. I know not to allow a bandaid to remain on my skin!  Tommy said his arm is throbbing. It has been over 24 hours since the vaccine, so I hope these are the only signs we had it. I certainly don't call my bandaid burn a reaction at all. What were your reactions. 

I cannot believe after so many calls and websites, that I finally got an appointment so easily. So, I am off to Publix to get sale items--cream cheese, celery, salad greens. Somewhere, I will get grapes and slaw mix. Maybe Piggly Wiggly. I will look at ham, too. I don't want to be shopping later in the week due to crowds and shortages. There will be no other ads before Easter. 

Have you finished Easter shopping? 

Is it cold yet? Good News

 Bananas are within arm's reach. Since it is wet all over the northern half of the state, the roads will freeze tonight. Thankfully, I have bananas. Otherwise, I would now be out getting bananas if I did not have any. 

First world problem? Yes, I have so much more than bananas. 

Last night, amazingly, my feet were warm. So, I slept well. Now, my feet are almost skinny again. I need to keep them skinny for my comfort. And health. We still keep the heat at 64F, so I am not sure how I kept them warm. AND, I keep my feet on the ottoman.

However, I am still barefoot and in short gown. Tommy dresses more warmly. I have a light, soft, knit jacket I often slip on so my arms will not get cold. It is going down to 14F tonight, so Tommy has gone out to hang a bulb in his washer so it won't freeze. 

Good News

My allergist has been approved to receive the Moderna vaccine! I have had my name in for a month. This vaccine will be for those who are patients of the allergist. So, now the doctor must receive the vaccine. I am much relieved he is approved since I had a bad reaction to a vaccine and so did my infant daughter 4 years later. 

How cold is it at your house? What is the projection for tonight?

Is anyone having a vaccine at an allergist office?

Food, Exercise, Vaccine, Grocery Shopping

 On Friday, I got my name in for a covid vaccine at my allergist's office. I had a terrible reaction to a vaccination, so I need to be at his office. The thing is, I only had the reaction after about 10 hours and it lasted for over two days. So, I at least feel safer. And, if I end up in the ER, he will have my history.  I am not yet 75 (only 74), so not eligible for current lists. I do hear otherwise, but have not found it to be so. 

I got Tommy on a list last week, so I am not sure what that will mean for him. He is only 67 but has diabetes.

The first day, Thursday, on the elliptical just about killed me. Fifteen minutes was too long. I was in pain and had legs and toes go numb and my back was in the worst pain ever. So, today is Friday and I will only pedal for 5 minutes today. I am not giving up, but I am not pushing.

Right now, it is 57F at 5 pm. It has been nice today. Tommy washed clothes and brought in the ones he dried out of that load. I still have to hang the wet things.

We were both out of milk. He can drink mine, but I cannot drink his milk. He is working on expiring UHT milk, four quarts. So, I shopped.

3 half gallons of a2milk

cheapish grape tomatoes

Publix bag of Italian salad greens

Thursday night after the first 15 minutes on the elliptical, I was in misery with parts of leg and toes going numb and pain elsewhere. So, on Friday, rather than give up, I vowed to do 5 minutes if it killed me. Well, it almost did. Tommy timed me with the stopwatch on his cell phone. I dragged myself off. 

I told Tommy we were washing dishes at 6:30. 

1 $0.59 truffle Valentine candy

3 Kraft Chunk Cheddar Cheese 2/$6

2  bags grated Kraft Cheese 2/$6

Bologna for freezer

Special K bogo, I got one strawberry and one raspberry

1 lb. butter

maybe something else, but doubt it.

Tommy cleared out two blazers and one suit to donate. He insists one suit still fits that he bought 20 years ago or more. I doubt it. But, whatever. 

Thursday and Friday we gave food to individuals in grocery parking lots. Yes, we should have made one trip. Both women were happy to get any kind of food. 

At 6:30 pm, we started washing dishes. I lasted until 6:35 and went to bed and curled up. I had decided that i would lie there for 10 minutes. I did and got back up to wash again. Tommy was drying all the time I was washing. Then, at 7 pm we started dinner--Texas Toast type bread with butter and garlic and put under the broiler. We had salad with it. The hour and a half of torture just about did me in. 

Thursday night after the 15 minute session, I had lot of pain and numbness during the night. Friday, I was still  in lots of pain from the 15 minute session on the elliptical. I only did five minutes on Friday with Tommy timing with the stop watch function on his cell. It is still Friday night right now, and am no better. 

Maybe I will get a steroid shot in my spine. 

I must get up early on Saturday, so tonight, unlike other nights will be an early turn in. 

Saturday

I saw an ad for StarKist tuna for $0.79. A store in Cullman had the same sale, so I bought the tuna there.

8 small Starkist tuna@$0.79

1 12-ounce can Hormel Roast Beef and Gravy

1 Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows @ $0.20 (not bad tasting)

Solo cups

Publix

2 12-oz cans Hormel Oven Roasted Chicken Breast 2/$2.79

Diet Pepsi B2G1

Summer Sausage reduced 1/2 to $3 for Tommy

We went to PO, mailed things, went to my house, went to two groceries stores, decided to come home. So, we were home before 1 pm. Now, it is nap time. Some of the food is stockup--cans, butter.

Dinner Sat--Sweet potatoes, cabbage, chopped bbq chicken. All are leftovers, meat is from freezer. It makes me happy not to waste food or to have to cook!

I will do another 5 minutes on the elliptical on Saturday!

Have you ever had Special K with Raspberries? I had a bowl Friday. It is okay, nothing special, not as good as Special K Red Berries Strawberry. The Special K Banas still is my least favorite. 

Have you gotten your covid 19 vaccine or do you have your name on a list? Or, do you have a definite appointment?