When I was a teenager, my parents would leave the house to go to the grocery or somewhere, and I would stay home. Mama would tell me to wash the dishes while she was gone. I agreed begrudgingly.
However, I would sit for hours and watch TV, getting up to run to the dishes and clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes before they returned. I look back now and laugh at my drawn-out dishwashing and how I fragmented the job to make it last hours. I was not afraid my mother would be angry. I did not want to disappoint her by not helping like she asked.
My habit did not end when I grew up. When I was married and going to school, I would do the same thing, clean house and wash dishes only during commercials. Really, there was not much house to clean.
Then, I had a baby and just took care of baby and watched TV when I could. Later, I had three kids in school and did the same thing sometimes. I was losing opportunities to watch TV since life was all about doing for them and with them and driving them to sports, dance, and school.
Then, a few years later, I spent nights exercising and ran up the stairs in our large and tall house. I could even run up taking two stairs at the time--only during commercials. I had an exercise bike set up in front of the TV, and I did exercises on the floor. For the bike and floor exercises, I did not need to exercise only during commercials.
By the way, with all the TV watching, I never watched soap operas! Of course, some days there was little opportunity to watch TV since there were many rooms to clean and that was done in one big cleaning frenzy some days.
I have never complained how long commercials lasted or how many were shown at one break. I always have something else to do.
Edit: I never left the TV on all day, just a few hours in the afternoon, if at all, and in the evenings.
Today, I had the ultrasound on my thyroid. It went well and took no time. Getting a wheelchair out to take me in and waiting in two successive waiting rooms was what took time.
I called Medicare and Medicaid and was told in no uncertain terms that wheelchairs would not be provided except for use in the home. There was much disdain expressed when I said I could hold onto things and that I had a walker. So, I was I could not get a wheelchair just to go shopping or my recreation. Even when I explained I could drive to the doctor but could not walk the distance to the offices or even to the buildings, I was treated with disrespect. So, I have a call in to my doctor.
It appears a person must stay housebound. I would think a person's mind would deteriorate when nothing outside the house is available. How sad.
I slept three hours on Sunday night and tried to nap after we got home. However, I could not sleep a wink. I hurt all over. I set Tommy to making dinner.
We had two small potatoes he peeled and put in the oven with garlic powder and onion powder. He found thighs in the freezer for him and a breast for me. He opened green beans for me and turnip greens for himself. I told him to find the meat in the freezer. It was his idea to get turnip greens. There was also Romaine for a salad. This was not a fancy meal and none of it has a name like Parmesan Chicken. But, it was healthy for us and filling. He even seasoned the potatoes with the spices I said to use--garlic powder and onion powder.
I am not sure how much thigh is left, but there is enough breast to make two more servings. Tommy said there is another serving of thigh. These meats are some of what I freeze after large amounts are baked in the oven. These days when I am beyond exhaustion and hurting all over, these meats come in handy.
Just now, he came in and was telling me what meats he found--rest of cooked pork loin and cooked ground beef with onions. He is catching on as to how all this cooking, storing, and meal planning works.
Today was a beautiful, clear, sunny day--delightful.
Have you dealt with getting a wheelchair through Medicare or Medicaid? I was worn to a frazzle talking to people in the offices. I felt like I was being treated like a scammer or thief. All the other Medicaid and Medicare offices are so nice, but not durable medica.
