Everything's Up To Date

TIMELINE:

Tuesday--up at 8:00, shower and dressed and out by 9:45 to get to the doc's office at 10:00 to get a simple blood draw to check Potassium level.  Saw Doc--high-five for BP being so much better.

Arrived up to The Farm at 11:15.  Lunch and then BIL drove us around to do what my Sis and I like to do best.  Searching cemeteries for relatives of ancestor's graves to make sure our birth/death dates are correct.  Which then leads to other questions like: "She's here with her second husband.  Where is her first husband?"

Back to The Farm to search through our genealogy records for more info.  "They had a young child that died and is buried in Byron.  Maybe her husband is there too?"  With a promise from Susan, "I have to go to the church tomorrow to knit on the prayer shawls.  Afterwards, I will stop in at the cemetery and check."

Then, she stated, "I don't have time to look through all those genealogy files you gave me.  That's a job for winter time.  I don't have the time now!"

Which led to three phone calls and two e-mails from her last evening as....she was getting into the files and reading the new info I found on Ancestry.  That's the way genealogy is.  It grabs you and then you wonder, "wait now--I thought his spouse was.........." and you go looking for more info.

John called last night at 10:30 and wondered how my day went.

"Did you get to pet any cows up on the farm?"

"No.  They don't have cows anymore."

"Then why do they call it a farm.   If they have no animals?"

"It's not an animal farm.  It is a crop farm."

"Oh...I think I read that book!"

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Wednesday:

Up early at 8:00--to get started to catch up on laundry and cleaning up.  Checked Patient Portal--results in, Potassium 4.5.  Perfect!

Saw John walking Maisey and went out to give her a treat.

"She kept me up all night.  She had another seizure.  I called the vet, he's changing her medicine."

Poor Maisey!  She is twelve.  Has Cushings Syndrome (which I thought was a human disease) and arthritis bad.

11:15--Susan called.  "I found brothers and sister and the baby that died.  But I can't find him."

"I'm looking at his death certificate and his obit and he is interred in Byron."

"Okay.  I am just going to call Sharon (the cemetery secretary) and find out where he is."

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Of course, I had the strongest urge to just jump in my car, drive up to the cemetery and walk it and find him, but...................................................it's really not worth the gas.  We can do it on another day.  Susan e-mailed me photos of the grave markers.

So--I did laundry, and straightened up and watched my Soap and crocheted and watched as the thunder storms rolled over.  Most stayed south and there was some damage.  All we got was rain.

The scenario goes something like this:Sun is out, windows and door open, nice breeze coming through.

Dark clouds--distant thunder: put in ear plugs, close windows and door.  Hard rain.

5 minutes later:  ear plugs out, sun is out, windows and door open, nice breeze coming through.

Repeat as often as necessary.

See ya.

Monday

Pretty Good Day

An example of a conversation with John:

John:  "I heard we might have some boomers on Monday."

Me:  "Yeah, I heard that too."

"Maisey is afraid of thunder.  She gets very upset and crawls under the bed."

"I don't like thunder either.  I can't fit under my bed or I would."

"I have been thinking about getting her one of those thunder shirts.  Have you heard about them?"

"Yes--I tried to buy one for myself, but they don't make them that big."

"I've got a tarp out in my shed.  That might work."

"It might, but I would need bungie cords to wrap around and hold it in place."

"Got those too."
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That's the kind of conversations we have.  Joking, kidding and fast-paced.  I have missed the fast-paced, quick wit, sarcasm and jabs that I so enjoyed with my long time friends.  He reminds me of my guy friends I had in high school.
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Remember when I told you about Dar being so upset and crying because her one brother, SIL and her 94 year old Dad moved to Arizona and left her here, "all alone".  They moved May 13th.

Guess what?  They are moving back.  The brother doesn't like Arizona--they are far away from their kids--it's too expensive to live there (even though they are millionaires.)

Dad, who hates Michigan, has to move back with them and he and Brother had a fight, so he is moving in with other Brother, who's wife Dad can't stand.

1st Brother is angry because they sold their gorgeous, big house on the lake and ALL the furniture, to take Dad back to Arizona where Dad wanted to live and feels he HAD to make the move just for Dad.

Dad is mad because they won't let him live alone in AZ--he was to sign papers on his new home yesterday.

2nd Brother is mad because Dad gave 1st Brother $5K for the down payment they lost on the house they were going to buy.  2nd Brother wants that same amount from Dad--even though 2nd Brother is a millionaire two times over.

Dad refuses to even consider moving into an "old folks home", which would be the best thing for him.  

Dar is completely unaware of the beautiful Senior complexes we have right here in Brighton.

Judy got a listing of three of the swankiest ones here and sent the links to Dar.  I think when Dad sees how much it will cost him to live there ($2,500-3,000 a month), plus all the women who will fawn over him there, he may just change his mind and want to live there.

I told Dar to check them out and then one day, just show Dad the options he has.  Dad is a millionaire five times over!

So 1st Brother and SIL--who did not want to move in the first place, are coming back with no place to live and no furniture to put in it.  HAH

Dad is flying back next week to a State he hates (winters) and having to live with a son and a DIL he despises.

This could get interesting and probably shorten Dad's life and then all 3 of his kids can enjoy Dad's millions!!
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So the guy--that's his name, Guy, came and power washed the house and shed today.  I told him I didn't have the money until June and could he come back then, but he said, "You can give me a post dated check,"  so I did.  Wonderful!!!

 Before                                      

Now, if I just had the ambition to sweep  up all those Whizzers

 off the Maple Trees, it would look great.

I am so glad this man is running for President!

If any man knows what it's like to live in severe poverty, anger and no self esteem and then pull yourself up out of all that, he surely does.  I think he can heal the racial problems in this country way better than Mr. Hope and Change.  AND, I think he would have the intelligence to have the kind of staff around him that knows how to bring our country back.

His wife is homely.  She kind of looks like Eleanor Roosevelt and just as smart.

http://www.biography.com/people/ben-carson-475422


Have a great weekend!  I'll be here doing nothing, if you need me. :-)

ARGGH!

Wish I had a Carson to wait on me!

The funny thing is, if he turned left (N) out of his driveway and went down that street, it would be shorter to get out of the park.  He always comes by my house.  I guess he is wanting to see if I am all right?  I saw him go by at 11:30--he works at the nearby elementary school as a teacher's aid.

I have felt rough all day long!  Probably the new med?  
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Guess where I got to go today?  I haven't been all this year.

My Bridge Card got reloaded today and off I went to...THE RICH PEOPLE'S STORE!!!

What a treat to get a little bit of all my favorite deli salads and two fresh Apricots and some real orange juice and CAKE!  You knew I had to get cake

You can tell it's a rich people's store--they have purple plastic bags!

Nice Middle of the Week Day

8:00--160/62---not bad for the am BP check.

I have had no problem sleeping.  I take a Melatonin an hour before bedtime and it always helps.  If I am in a bit of arthritic pain, I also take a Tylenol PM.  Now that I am on a blood thinner, I can't take Advil or Aleve.  I can only use Tylenol or Motrin.  I do think the Ativan helped last evening.  I have them to take, but I never think about them unless I have that shaky feeling inside.

I got a call from the head nurse at the cardiologist's office.  She wanted a complete of all the meds I take, as it is far different than the last time I was in there, a month ago.  We got it done.

Then noon arrived and....John picked me up for lunch.  

After the waitress took our orders and we were sipping our drinks, I leaned forward and said, "John, may I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask me anything."

"What is your middle name?"

He laughed, "LaVern."

Our lunches came and we chatted and ate, then I leaned over the table again and whispered, "May I ask you an even more personal question."

He leaned over and had a serious look on his face, "Yes," he whispered, as he sipped on his lemonade..

"John," I whispered, "Why do you keep all the blinds in your house closed?  Are you watching porn all day or is the FBI after you?"

He practically spit his lemonade all over the table, chocked on laughter and explained.  He keeps the blinds closed because the old guy that lives next to him, Corky, is somewhat like Dar and drives John nuts and the other young guy that lives on the other side is constantly watching John's house and then calls and asks him why he is taking a nap, as he can see John sleeping in his recliner.

So now John knows that I have a sarcastic/weird sense of humor.  He is quite the kidder too.

There were no innuendos, there was no touching, except when he put a hand out to haul me up from the booth.  There is no attraction--he is 5'6" and 4 inches shorter and 4 years younger than me.

I had a good time and he did too.  We are Buds!!
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Then tonight Dar came over and ruined my mood with all HER stresses and problems.   Her Dad, brother and SIL moved to Arizona.  They were all going to buy a house together.  It seems that brother and 93 year old Dad got into an argument and Dad is hunting for his own place.  What is bothering Dar is that they won't answer her phone calls and she wants to get in on the advice giving and feel she has some control in what is going on.  She is going nutsy cuckoo--AGAIN!

GEEZ LOUISE!

Appointment at the primary care doc's at 2:30.  BP still too high, I guess. 180/68.  The bottom number (diastolic) is fine, but I can't seem to keep the top one down.  It will be low at one time of day and high 6 hours later.

Doc says, "I am at my wits end to figure you out.  I usually have no problem getting the blood pressure down."

"I know Doctor John.  I'm perplexed too.  This is way beyond anything that I have researched or tried to figure out."

"I want you to go home and make the earliest appointment you can with Michigan Heart.  Any cardiologist that is available."

"I have an appointment in June with my regular cardiologist."

"Nope...I don't want you to wait.  It isn't real critical, but.................wait a minute...I'm going to page your cardiologist.  Can you give me a urine sample too?  I want to check something out."

"I'm on water pills, remember?  I have to wee like crazy."

"Okay--go pee then come back."

So I did and when I came back, he said, "Dr. Leonen is not returning my page.  He is an awfully busy man.  You go on home.  Call them and tell them I want you in soon."

So I left, stopped at Discount Tires to check the tires and when I got home, there was a message from my doctor's office telling me that the cardiologist called back, wanted me to come in right then.

So up the road I went to the little hospital.  I didn't see the cardiologist, but the nurse said he wanted me to get a blood draw.  

Luckily,the lab is downstairs in the same building.  Got three vials taken out, I didn't even feel it!!!

Got home, another message from the doc's office.  Doc had called in a new med for me.  It would be up at Wal-Mart--back towards the doctor's office.  I went in the bathroom to pee again and the phone rang.  Another message for me from Wal-Mart that they had a prescription ready for me.  Off I went again.

So--one round trip up to Howell and the doc's--10 miles.  
One round trip the other way to Brighton and the little hospital--only 3 miles
One round trip back up to Howell to Wal-Mart--5 miles.  (I guess this is the good reason I don't live way out in the country!)

When I got home, another message--this one from Pammie.  She had stopped in on her way home and I missed her!!!!!

I was damn near exhausted!!!

Then, I heard on the news that we may have a frost tonight so....I had to do this........

 I took an Ativan at 8:00 so now, I am feeling pretty relaxed. :-)

Nice Weekend

Little bit of rain.

Little bit of planting.

Whole lot of crocheting.

A small party on the porch.

It's been kind of hot and muggy, because of the rain I suppose, but a nice breeze.  Nothing like what other people west of here are going through.

Saturday I decided I should get my porch pots planted with the annuals I bought.  I wasn't really in the mood, which is unusual for me, but my porch was so dirty, I wanted to get it back in shape.

Sunday, I crocheted most of the morning and early afternoon.  I am getting paid to test out this pattern, so I need to keep at it/

Sunday,  late afternoon  I planted a couple more pots and then Pearl walked down.  We sat out on the porch and talked,  Than next door Tami came over and Pearl and I sat and listened--there is no conversation with Tami--she talks, you listen and nod--a whole lot like Dar.

Just about dark and John walked by with his dog, Maisey and he came up to the porch and then Tami's hubby came over, so we had quite a chat. 

9:00 rolled around and Pearl wanted to walk on home, but was afraid to break up the party--I had 3 people sitting on the porch steps.  I was getting kind of tired and there was a TV show on I wanted to watch, so I just rousted every one up and walked part of the way with Pearl  When I got back, John, Tami and her hubs were gone.  PRAISE!!

Today my lawn guy came and woke me up at 8:00 with his mowing under the bedroom window.  I jumped on here for awhile, then out to finish the planting.  Crocheted, watched my Soap, then up to Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription that I was out of.  

Had to go through a song and dance this morning to get it.  I was taking 3 a day--doc doubled it, so I ran out, but my insurance wouldn't pay for it BECAUSE it wasn't time!.  Called the doc and had them call in a NEW one that shows 2 tabs, 3 times a day.  Of course that took some time for the doc to get it done and for Wal-Mart to get it filled.

Just saw John walk by with Maisey.  The dog now wants to come up to the porch every time they walk by now.  She's a sweet pup and he's a nice guy, but I wasn't in the mood and glad they didn't stop.  
<He is hinting we should go out for lunch.>

Hot Pink, Dark blue/purple and Chartreuse--again this year.

My view from my recliner.