The forecast for today is 96, then next 5 days 100+ then back to 90s. I am ready for fall but the way it is going we will skip and go right into winter once the hot leaves!
Yesterday drove to my sister's to get more of our stuff. Thankfully only 4 tubs left there. It is a little over 500 miles roundtrip. I made yesterday a one day trip cause last time we stayed overnight and he was so confused. Last night I wanted bong him. From dusk until the sun was all the way down and not glowing on the horizon which was over an hour, he kept telling me to look at it, look at the mountain peaks - as if I can turn and look while driving. All the way there: where are we going? All the way home: where are we going? Me:Going home. Him: where is home? me: to the motorhome in Richland.
Was blessed as we drove in the blackness along the Columbia River with a bright 'shooting star'. We both happened to see it at the same time.
To punish us for being gone, little kitten wanted to play for almost 2 hours. We were home at 11:45. I kept her entertained while Art went to sleep. This morning at 6 she was at it again, so I got up and played with her until I got him up at 7:15 for day care. I hated too but it was too late to cancel the bus and I want the time. After he left the three of us (kitten, dog, me) and napped for 1 1/2 hours. Oh, life being the parent of a child!!! The chart says by kitty years she is equivalent of 2 years human - terrible 2s!!
Finally around here there is decent weather for a long weekend for the working crew and not a moment too soon because that is considered the last weekend of the summer around here. The whole year has been unusually cool and unusually rainy.
Yesterday, along with the shooting star Charlotte spotted, a three mile wide rock passed by close to the earth which drew almost no attention compared to the completely unimportant solar eclipse. Just a couple of degrees difference in it's orbit and life as we know it would have ended. Anyway, on we go.
Heatwave. Day before yesterday they cycled our ac off (summer discount program) from 3:30 to 9:30 pm. It was supposed to be only 2 hours at a time. This is ridiculous. I can't sleep when it is 90 degrees in the house. 9:30 pm still over 90 outside. Yesterday they left us alone. I took photos today of the coopers hawk taking a bath. He/she has been stopping by every day for a bath with this heat. Looks like he must have caught another dove too. It is pretty cool to watch. It is a rather big dish close to the ground. But still the hawk is a big bird. He dips his head in and tosses water over his back and slaps down with tail feathers and gets a wave going back and forth giving himself a shower of sorts.
We have a photo DH took years ago of some orioles bathing in another birdbath. He didn't realize when he took the photo that there was a Wilson's Warbler in the bird bath before the orioles dropped in. The Warbler has the coloring of a chicadee but is barely bigger than a hummingbird. The poor thing was under the water looking up.at the orioles with a shocked and disgusted look on its face. It cracks me up every time I see that photo.
Usually the orioles leave mid August. But they are still here.
Animals and birds can be so entertaining. I too enjoy watching birds 'play' in the water.
Had myself a meltdown yesterday. Took the tubs/totes we brought home to storage and I was tired from that. He came home and took a nap.
Then took him to DQ for late lunch. He has been eating less, wasting more food but always ate his lunch at DQ. On the trip he hardly could eat a cheeseburger and small fry. This all started after the increase in his sertraline I think. Loss of appetite is a side effect but he has been on it for a few years so I would not think doubling it to 50mg which is still a low dose would happen. Might just be the disease. Anyone, he ate 2 of the chicken strips and a few fries - said he was full. Could not even find room for his sundae. ($5 lunch comes with a sundae). So I grabbed the one chicken strip to bring home and left.
Was sitting in my 'new to me' chair when it dropped on me. The plastic bushing on the post broke. Of course hb has no idea what I am talking about even when showing it to him or how to fix it. Headed to Home Depot, crying all the way, looking for something that would fix it. He was oblivious to my emotions but that is nothing new. Miss my Mr Fix-it!
Didn't find anything. I did buy a metal hose clamp. Came home, put the plastic pieces together around the post, tapped to hold together then tightened the hose clamp around it. So far so good. After leaving Home Depot went to DQ for his sundae, my blizzard.
He is still playing with his glasses trying to bend the bows or 'adjust' the nose piece. If these last a month I will be surprised.
On a positive note, little kitten let me sleep from midnight to 6 am!! Pestered me for an hour then settled down so I could sleep another hour or so. Jasmine still does not like her but the kitten will bug her to play. I think Jasmine does but her pride says she has to play tough. The kitten does entertain us a lot. I forgot how soothing a cat's purr is.
A few days ago we had a.12 hour power outage. I've been keeping my car in the add on single car garage. Realized the door is blocked so I could not get to my car without the power. Since truck has been in shop, that's the only way out of here. Sooooo cleaning and rearranging the garage. Yes, I put the car in the main garage til we get the truck back. I have been working out there all afternoon. Almost done and here comes DH. TV must have got boring. I try telling him what I am doing. Go into the main garage for a drill.and some hooks. I return to find all the equipment I had moved out of the way right back in front of the $&$*%*# door! Perhaps you will be proud of me for not blowing my top. Got that project done.
Had started to do some pressure washing. Thought I might leave the damn thing in the garage til.tomorrow.morning. OHhhhh Noooooooo. Can't do that. Had to take it all apart and put it away. Smashed my finger doing that. Serves me right. I am a painful mess with black and blue spots all over from stubbing my toes, hurting my wrist, bumping into counter corners. Doing all these things I don't know how to do. Better go buy some more ibuprofen. Better take a day off I think. But then I get bored. I want to get this place in a state where I could sell if I decide to go somewhere near people who love me. There is so much to do. I've alreay been at it for a year.
Well, my 'fix-it' on the chair didn't hold. I did loosen the clamp and put it back in place - how long it holds who knows. He (and the kids) always got new or almost new chairs - I would get the cheapest that would work. Guess maybe I need to change my thinking even though it will be hard.
I washed the car this morning getting all the bugs off from the trip on Thursday. Now my right arm hurts. A lot of good it did to get the cortisone shot when I keep over working it before it has a chance to help!
BHV -I know when I am tired and/or frustrated is when I start bumping into things, stubby my toes or like when I hurt my left shoulder requiring the surgery - I trip and fall.
Like you, every time someones spouse dies I am jealous. Happy the spouse is free of the disease, but jealous or maybe envious is a better word. When my friend died from ovarian cancer last month I thought how unfair it is. She had everything to live for, had a loving extended family, tons of friends, was a great example of showing Christ love to everyone.
Yes, proud for not blowing your top - I probably would have. And knowing he would forget it I would not feel bad about it.
Charlotte and bhv, I wish you were both closer! I could use a couple of fearless Western gals right about now. I had another mouse incident with Lucy tonight. She cornered a rodent but it kept playing dead. She even carried it around and then let it go. As usual, I'm holed up in the bedroom with the door closed and a rolled-up towel in the space under it.She doesn't understand why I won't let her in. The rodent looks exactly like a mouse but seems a bit larger and is all black ( previous mice have been bicolor.)
They say you should check around the perimeter of your house to see if there are any areas where a mouse could get in. I don't know how to do that. All I see is foundation but who knows what's beneath the grade. This is a long low house that is more than 60 years old.
Myrtle, that sounds like a rat! You need to check your corners inside, for entry points and if you find any, no matter how small ( I am sure vermin don't have bones!) stuff steel wool or even squashed up, tin foil into the openings. Sorry that you have to endure this, they strike fear into my tough old heart as well!
I hate mice too. Traps work although I hate them too. I have one of those grabber things that you use to get things off top shelves or the floor if you can't reach. It is marked and solely used for mice in traps which I dispose of together. I never recycle a trap, wasteful me. You just can't let Lucy anywhere near them. I use peanut butter as bait. This is the time of year they come in. I've had both kinds of rodents over the course of 30+ years I've lived here. I'd delegate this job in a heartbeat if there were anyone, including a Lucy, to delegate it to.
I was up half the night, traumatized by this thing. Can hardly keep my eyes open. No dead body has appeared so it looks like we've got another night of fun and games ahead of us. Last night's creature did not have the body shape of a rat. Maybe it was a vole or a shrew. Lindylou, If I ever caught one in a trap, I'd do exactly as you do. Traps are cheaper than medical treatment for a stroke, heart attack, or nervous breakdown. I just called an exterminator who advertises that they go around the house and plug holes. It says that if the rodent's skull can get through a hole, the rest of the body can get through.
Thanks for your advice. Will let you know what happens.
I used to be afraid of things like that and spiders. Then had a.job as Live in Counselor at a school.for juvenile delinquent girls. Big, beautiful very old house in Valley Stream NY. No ac, illfitting screens. Teenage.girls.screaming over spiders.got old quick. Then I got up one morning to find the kitchen a complete.disaster. girls had.apparently cooked at midnight and left food all over the place. Two squirrels were on the kitchen table stuffing thieir mouths and chattering about the glorious find. You would not believe the decibel level.of the shreiks when the girls came downstairs before I.could corral the squirrels and get them outside. I think there were.about 20 girls in that house. I was never fearful of spiders or critters.after that. Just take care of them immediately, if not sooner! I must admit the maintenance guy set mouse and rat traps and took care of them. The room I had in that house was in the attic with dormer windows and lavender flower wall paper and it was a.huge room. It was the loveliest retreat. That's the room I imagine at.the cottage or Christmas lodge.
Myrtle, the exterminator is just what you need and well worth it. I might use the idea of the grabbers, but usually I just use my mechanics gloves. I get them whenever on sale at Harbor Freight and use them outside for every kind of work. My hands do not do well with anything on them and the mechanics gloves allow me to pick up things more easily. They last longer than fabric gardening gloves and are wayyyy.cheaper than the leather gloves.
We used to live behind an elementary school. DH would use a bb gun and shoot the rats that came from the school.yard to rob the bird feeders. My second doberman, Shelby, would get so excited when he picked up the gun. She would race to catch the.rat and play with it til it stopped squeaking. Then she would drop it and give DH.a look like you wouldn't believe. She.would come up to him and whine and try to drag him over to make it start squeaking again. It cracked me up every time cause the women at work were.constantly buying those "adorable" squeaky toys at the pet store for their pets. It is exactly the same squeak.
Myrtle, if Lucy is carrying the critter around, steel your nerves and take them both outside and wait for Lucy to drop it. I guess that won't work if Lucy is an inside cat though. Just a thought.
Day 2 of the seige. Lucy is an indoor cat so putting her out is not an option. Called an exterminator about plugging up holes in the foundation but they still have not called back. Will try another company in the morning. The thing is still alive. I was out all afternoon and all was well when I got back but as soon as it got dark, they went at it. I immediately established my headquarters in the bedroom, where I am now.
Update on Day 3. Exterminator called this morning - will come next week to find & plug entry points in foundation. Creature emerged again this afternoon so I called former home health aide, who is fearless. She came over and removed it. Said it was still alive but barely.
OMG. I can't imagine how stressed out you must feel living 3 days.with the creature! Seriously. I would even be a mess if it was.out there and I couldn't catch it. So glad you thought of someone to.call!!!!
The exterminator said it was probably a mouse, just not a field mouse, as the others have been. Or possibly a vole. Thanks for understanding. I have done a lot of things that others would have feared to do but this aversion of mine to rodents is very strong and primitive. Yet the young woman who removed it for me was ho- hum about it. It was no big deal to her.
Had some light winds last night. The air is a little better but still smokey. My car was covered with large pieces of ash which came in with the winds.
He is off to day services. This is the early day which is always hard. I let him sleep until 7:15 because the bus comes by 8:15 (9 or later the other days). He is barely ready - just finished his breakfast when it showed up. I am considering Thursday instead of Friday. I should call and find out what the bus schedule would be but then that means a three day weekend with him home vs 2.
Sage (kitten) and Jasmine are playing more often together. I usually start it by playing with Jas in bed in the morning, and Sage will attack her tail! Sage still gives us lots of laughter.
Found where the ash/cinders are from. Lightening last night started a fire on one of the hills about 10 miles away last night.
I spent an interesting time in the Emergency Department the day before yesterday. I had been told by surgeon to meet him there between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. so that he could remove the soluble sutures that hadn’t dissolved from the March 6 surgery. I arrived at 10:00 a.m. At 6:00 p.m. Dr. Chang, his surgical resident, arrived and said that I didn’t have any stitches, that staples had been used, that was the surgeon’s normal procedure. I told her I could feel the stitches: they felt like cat gut, the kind you use on the end of a fishing line for a leader (she didn’t seem to know anything about that), and I could feel the knots at the end of them. She looked up the surgical report on Emerg.’s computer and said, “You’re right, but there are only a few stitches. He must have put them in for extra strength. If you could be patient for another month, I assure you the stitches will absorb, or tissue will grow over them.” I went home and had a poached egg on toast and a cup to tea, my first meal since breakfast at 7:00 that morning. While in the first waiting area in Emerg. a tanned, middle-age man wearing no shoes, and whose feet were painted white (some disinfectant) struck up a conversation with the rest of us. He wandered away several times and came back eating chips or other snacks from somewhere — he seemed to know the hospital layout well. “Yeah, I made a hundred dollars already today on the streets,” he told us. He offered to make the two or three other patients waiting tea or coffee (he had several single envelope packets in his backpack). On his final trip away, he came back with a pile of clean linen stacked up one arm, including a blue thermal blanket. He put the linen in his backpack, told us he was a street person and said a cheerful goodbye. Another patient, age 26 with a serious skin infection on his scrotum that hadn’t responded to two courses of antibiotics, well-dressed, from England, in sales, paid $2250.00 rent per month, told me he was very sad because of the state of the world. “I don’t even understand the next generation. They’re all wearing masks. They’re pretending to be successful, they’re trying to be rich. As if that’s all there was. They have no God. I’m not religious, but we have to live better than this. We’re all stressed out with this kind of life, and then we don’t behave well. It’s even worse in England. The class divisions are still there. There are people who are very, very rich and people who are very poor, and the poor and middle-class want more of the riches.”
Mary, I wrote a post that I decided wasn't very helpful...was just feeling angry that you are being put through all this. So I deleted it, and thought some more about your situation while I was outside walking with the dog. I'm wondering if it's possible that what you are feeling are not actually the sutures...which surely should have dissolved by now if they were truly the soluble sutures...but could you have formed some scar tissue, adhesions of some sort--that are pulling and causing the discomfort? Just a thought. The other thing I was thinking was that maybe your doctor could refer you to a major medical center--not sure what is available to you up there--something like our Mayo Clinic. A place where they are used to dealing with complex or difficult cases, and perhaps could make a difference.
My first response would have had you reporting your doctor to the authorities for medical mis-management. Well...maybe he needs to be reported (you would know)...but that still doesn't help your problem. I'd like to see you feeling better first...and dealing with him later.
Thanks, dear friends. I'll have to wait until I feel better to decide what to do. I'll probably go to the hospital's person "in charge of patient care." She'll probably know what to do. By the way, this is the Catholic hospital I trained in from 1948-51. They still have the original marble floors, gray speckled from one of the Gulf Islands, I think. In the meantime, I'm not only beseigng (sp? — it's late) St. Jude for Mim , but for me, too.
how is Mim doing? I tried to find the thread we had going in the past asking but couldn't find it. I hope the next round of treatment is going well with not too bad of side effects.
Mary, I hope you have found out something more. To make you wait sounds absolutely insane.
Hb continues to be more confused all the time. I went through the tub we had pictures in that we brought home from my sister's. I was showing him some of the pictures of when the kids were little - couldn't tell how much he remembers. In 1992 he went to Japan with YWAM to build a church. He has so many pictures - probably 100 that I gave him. He was looking at them but, again, not sure how much he remembers. Then I have all these pictures from his Navy days before I knew him. I do know he did not recognize most of them but he didn't a couple years after he got out of the Navy so that is not odd. But Hawaii pictures he had little memory of. :-( When we brought home stuff I dug out his Navy training year books and his high school year book. Neither interested him - they sit by his bed. So even though many with AD like to look at pictures, he doesn't. Which is where it is hard to fine something for him to do. He just has no interest in coloring, drawing, etc. His dad use to cut the drawings out of coloring books - he won't. So he has to be happy just to sit which is fine with me.
My kitty is a pest! At first she was waking me up around 6:30, now it is 5:30. She does cuddle - have found her next to me, halfway under my pillow or she will lay on my head with her head on my nose. That causes problem cause I can't handle having to breath in anyone else expelled air. You will rarely ever find me face to Art's face sleeping. If he turns over towards me I will turn over with my back to him. I have been that way for our whole marriage.
He does keep calling the kitten a dog, even thinks at time it is a puppy not a kitten. He thinks we have two dogs like we did our first 13 years of marriage.
Thanks, Charlotte. I'm still waiting, but I see the surgeon this coming Monday — I'd made this appointment some time ago. Not long ago, someone posted there hat she had levelled with the doctor, who had been fluffing her off, by saying she had total medical reponsibility for her husband and she wanted to know everything. I'm going to try the same approach with Dr. K. "I am a widow and on my own with no family here to look out for me. I want to know everything there is to know. I need you to tell me, as if you were talking to my spouse, so that I can make informed decisions regarding my own health care."
Might also be a good idea to request a copy of your medical records including the surgical records. I don't mean the little printout they give you when you leave, but a copy of the notes the doctor writes in your file.
Charlotte, thanks again. I know that my family doctor has the operative report from the surgeon because the family doctor read it out loud to me. I'll ask him about the surgeon's office file reports. It will be a good idea to see my family doctor, anyway, and let him know what's going on. He is good at tying loose ends together and is there for me. Three months after the surgery, I got a request in the mail from UBC saying they were doing research on post-op patients, and would I be willing to answer a questionaire now and again at 6 months? It was a 6 page well-designed study that took me about 1/2 hour to complete. So I did, and a couple of days ago I got the 2nd. or 6 month post op questionnaire. Included was a thank you note and a phone number if I wanted any further information. I phoned them to ask to tell them of my recent experience with the surgeon and in Emerg. and ask them how I could work within the system? I said, "That's no way to treat a paient, especially an older patient. That's pathetic." I'm waiting to hear back from their boss, who is awayfor a few days. I think there are probably answers; I just know them yet. I know there is a geriatric nurse on each shift in the hospital, and she's there to make sure that seniors don't fall through the cracks. As you can imagine, she's run off her feet, it's large city hospital and busy. If I find myself in a similar situation again, I'm going to ask that she be notified. And I will get in touch with the person in charge of patient care at the hospital when I feel better.
Very interesting post, Charlotte. Thanks for making it available. I love the grandmother in blue holding the author's hand at his wedding. We recognize the look.
OK, faucet fixed. Dunce hat on me! Turns out we had put the aerator back on minus the screen and aerator part - only the water saver part was there. I couldn't tell because minerals had built up on it. Bought and aerator today but was the wrong size. Scratched off the mineral buildup and saw it was the aerator itself. Now before it would not turn but when I tried it, it turned easily. Must have loosened it with all the 'drilling' I was doing on the water saver part. Went back to Home Depot and got the right size - even the gold color to match. They had one and Art just happened to find it. So faucet all fixed running like it should!!!
If any of you are my Facebook friends, I posted a picture today of Sage sleeping curled around my head. It took 3 tries to get it since I was shooting blindly. The flash is on the back of my phone which is why it took 3 tries. I am calling her Sage but for some reason I often say Sara. Not sure why - maybe she is more of a Sara.
The A/C's have both been dripping inside. He just finished cleaning them. Said the dripping is because the drain trays are cracked and somehow the moisture removed from the air is finding its way back in. Only way to fix it is to replace the whole a/c unit. $$$$$$$$$$$$ Guess I need to consider moving to somewhere it doesn't get so hot by next summer!
I guess he found a huge wasp nest in the front a/c - told me he doesn't charge for exterminating. He was surprised they built it since we used it all summer.
Kitten is going crazy with someone walking on the roof and the noise of the air blowing out the dust.
Charlotte, I've dealt with the dripping A/C problem in our motorhome, and the problem was just something (like fungus or accumulated trash) blocking the outlet from the drip pan to the hose that's supposed to conduct the condensation over to the side of the rv. Since I've reluctantly given up climbing on top of the motorhome because of age (closing in on 90), I was able to just climb up on a ladder beside the motorhome and direct my son while he removed the plastic shroud and then unscrewed some sheet metal to gain access to the drip pan and then clean out the obstruction. Lots cheaper than a new A/C!
Update: Today I emailed, and left a phone message, for the Director of Patient Care at the acute care hospital. At least it is now on record. I've asked how I might handle a similar problem in the future. Monday, I see the surgeon in his office.
Gourdchipper - it is that drip pan that is all cracked. He said to take it off and try to repair, which he has never done, would cost as much or more than replacing it. According to him, the a/c has to be totally removed to get to the drip/drain pan. The RV is 17 years old. we have never had real problems with them even running all summer long. And, I don't have anyone I could send up to 'direct' them how to do it.
Mary so glad you sent it and followed with the phone message. Hopefully you will get a reply back next week. On Monday also hope you get some help from the doctor.
Charlotte, I am so proud of you fixing the faucet. Bet you will have a big smile whenever you use it for awhile. I don't know anything about motor homes but it makes sense what he said about the drip pan. Oh bugger. It has cooled down here and I have been able to keep windows open. Nice. Hope the smoke goes away in your area.
I noticed a couple of comments wondering how I am doing. Well, this round of chemo is much rougher than the one last year. In 3 weeks, I've had two semi-good days...most of the time I'm so exhausted & weak that I don't seem to be able to do much of anything. I take anti-nausea pills, not throwing up sick, but queasy. There has been abdominal discomfort & some downright painful times. I don't even spend a lot of time on the computer, not much interest. I don't post because I do not want to whine & complain...it's better to just remain silent (THAT isn't like me!) Mary 75, I do hope that things get straightened around for you. Must be so very frustrating.
Thank you for thoughts & prayers.
Wanted to add that the thing that bothers me most is that I just simply can't drive the 20 miles each way to see my husband. I know he doesn't realize it, but it hurts my heart. I did manage, with our son, to see him once & he isn't faring very well. He had that bladder cancer scraping on Aug. 15 & he's just not bouncing back even a little. He's still in a wheelchair because he's too weak to walk unattended, isn't eating as much...I think I'm just not going to allow any more of that surgery. I can't do that to him again. Don't know if he's in pain, he's sleeping more (in the wheelchair). Just emotionally trying times, I guess.
Dear Mim, thanks for keeping in touch, you are in my mind and heart, and prayers are going up continually. Yes, it is very hard for you not to see your husband. You can be with him in spirit —I fiemly believe he will feel the comfort. If it were me, I woulndn't allow him to have any more surgery, either. I would let nature take him gently.
Mim - you can whine and complaining anytime you want. You are going through a lot and if it helps, then do it. Or you can email me. Either way, please keep in touch at least once a week - please?
Today is Art's birthday - he is 70. Means nothing to him. I might take him out for a blizzard otherwise nothing else. I was talking to the neighbor and she was telling me he is sneaking up on her when she is outside. Luckily her dog is not there or else he might attack hb. So far, there has been no problem with Dakota but he is so protective especially when her husband is at work, one never knows. So looks like I will have to keep an eye on him when he goes out.
Glad to hear from you Mim, even if the news is hard to hear. Want you to know I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, and have for a long time. Hoping you get through this soon.
Charlotte, you are amazing what with air conditioners and faucets and the hyper vigilance needed to keep track of your husband.
Mary, I hope your appointment goes well on Monday.
And Myrtle, I have a mouse story I'm afraid to tell. Suffice it to say, you are not the only one freaked out by a mouse this month.
Mim, you and Dan are always in my thoughts and prayers. I know you weren't up to coffee last month, but even though we may not be able to meet at Panera or on the porch, or wherever...and of course I'm back in NY now...I am there with you in spirit. I am sending good vibrations and caring thoughts by ESP to you both.
So here is my mouse story. We have a cabin and many years ago we had a large maincoon cat who would come to the cabin with us. Small bedroom and we would put the cat bed under a chair in the bedroom. One day we arrive at the cabin I go to put the bed under the chair and there is this grey furry ball under the chair. The last time we were their the cat must have gotten a mouse then left it under the chair. So we went back and forth who was going to pick it up I got a small shovel and started to take it out then ooh there was this gushing pink spot where the head must have been he must have bitten the head off. So I rolled it over then wait a minute there is a sticker on that mouse. Last time we were there a peach must have rolled out of our grocery bag and landed under the chair. First time I have every been afraid of a peach