Another Lesson

I baby my back and shoulder--because of the pain.  You know, the more you sit to relieve the pain, the worse it gets from not using those muscles/joints.

I have found, when I "work", although my back and shoulder may hurt, they recover quite well with rest AND I feel so good at knowing that I have done something really useful (to me), that the work renews my spirit and I feel better emotionally.

Spring cleaning.  It has taken me a while to get motivated, so I made out my list of what needed doing, so as not to miss cleaning something that I get used to looking at and forget--it needs a good cleaning.

For example, the ceiling fan in the living room.  It is kind of a scary thing to do--standing on a low stool, looking up and taking off the glass shades and reaching up to wash the paddles.

 At Christmas time I bought this 3 step ladder with the hand grip on top.  I can lean my leg against that top platform and feel quite steady.

I put the glass shades in the DW, along with other colored glass,

that needed cleaning, and the fan turned out nice.

I think I told you last year about the special cloths Karen gave me to wash windows.  The blue one is for washing, the purple one for drying/polishing.

These things are a wonder!  Just use plain water and wash the window or mirror, or picture frame glass with the blue one, then dry with the purple one.  Once over, and there are no streaks--none!  The greasy film is gone and the glass absolutely sparkles!  Amazing.  Sure saves my shoulder and not spritzing Windex and then going over it with 452 thousand sheets of paper towel.

It took me less than 4 minutes to do both kitchen windows!

Another product I absolutely have to have with our rusty, calcium laden water is:

Over time, my white clothes and kitchen curtains have become a sort of rusty/beige.  Put a cup of this in the washer, put the curtains in, agitate for a few minutes, then let soak for 20 minutes, add detergent and put through the wash cycle.

This is what the curtains looked like last week.

This is what they looked like yesterday after their treatment in the soak.
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Bedroom and bathroom on Monday.  Laundry area and kitchen on Tuesday and today, the living room.  I pulled out every piece of furniture into the middle of the room and dusted it, cleaned out the table drawers, vacuumed my chair and couch and vacuumed the carpeting where they one sat.

Then put everything back and vacuumed the rest of the carpet.  Put up the new metal art that Jen gave me for Christmas, under the cross-- over there by the couch.  Everything looks so clean and shiny, the place smells good and I feel so comfortable.

Not a very good photo.  Off to the right, you can see the computer room, and the room I will tackle on Friday.  I should take a before photo just to scare you all.  LOL

Tomorrow, lunch with the Old School Gal Pals and a visit with my sister at The Farm and maybe a stop at the cemetery to say "Hi" to Fred.

Lessons Learned.

I keep learning lessons--hard lessons.  It seems I kind of take things for granted and don't notice problems until it is too late.

I contacted Comcast in February, when my yearly promotion ran out.  I was "told" that my new promotion would be lower in price, with the same channels.  YAY!!!  

I got the bill for March and it was $20.00 higher than the one in January.  I assumed it was just a correction.  Then I got my April bill--again $20.00 higher at $163.00.  I panicked!!!

I called them Friday, they said there was a problem that they would correct.  "Don't worry.  This will be taken care of."  They always say that.  I checked on-line to see my corrected bill on Saturday.  Still the same.  So I called.  The agent I talked to said she couldn't access my account because the last four digits of my Social Security did not match my account number.  Wait.  What?

I actually started bawling and hung up.

I called back Monday morning and was finally transferred to the Retention Department to a woman that knew what was wrong.  "Don't worry.  This will be taken care of."

I had been given a new account number in January--as were all their customers.  Although they had my name, address, phone number, blood type, the gender I identify with, because of security, they could/would not access my account to make changes.  I would have to go to the local Comcast center--brick and mortar--to show my ID and get my Social corrected.  She did confess it was someone there at her office who had made the typo in my Social.

Off I went to the local store--thank goodness, only 10 miles away.  I told the guy, he took my Driver's License and Social Security card and had the correction made in 20 seconds.

Back home and called the Retention Department to get the promotion and my bill lowered.

Thankfully this time, I got a woman with a Southern accent, but almost as difficult to understand her as the woman with the East Indian accent.

Anyway--I could not get the promised promotion I had in February, I could get the same price=$109.00, but at a lower tier and lost a few channels--a couple of my favorite channels, I might add.  This promotion is good for 1 year and I can call back next year to see if I can get another promotion with a higher tier, at the same price and get my favorite channels back.  ARGGH!!
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I have been on a Budget Plan with my gas and electric company ever since I moved in here.  For the last year, I have paid $42.00 a month for gas.  I noticed my last bill had a higher amount, but not too worry, I sent in my budget plan amount of $42.00.  This months bill was quite a bit higher and there was a note on the bill that if I didn't pay the bill in full, my gas would be shut off.  Wait.  What?

I called.  Unbeknownst to be, my budget plan had been dropped 8 months ago!!!

The woman said, "There probably was a notice on your bill then, but it would have been in small print and you might have missed it."

"Can I get back on the Budget Plan?"

"Certainly."

"Good, can I do that now?"

"Sign up for the budget plan is in May.  You can do it next month."

"Next month?"

"Yes, and your account has to be paid in full before you can sign up for the plan."

I owe them over $100.00 to pay in full.  ARGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I just want you to know, I did not cry one tear from frustration yesterday.  I was calm, controlled, overly polite and thanked each customer service agent profusely for their help.

Then, I spent the afternoon, cleaning the kitchen and mopping the floor, using up any left-over frustrated energy!

Now--I have to deal with my car/house insurance agent because that bill goes up $3.00 each and every damn month!!

Perfect Poo, Baseball and Frustration

I had an Enterologist once tell me that the perfect bowel movement should be a semi-soft, but hold together, long continuous , about 1" around, like a sausage, with a "J" form on the last part.

I had one of those Thursday and I cannot begin to tell you how I laughed and rejoiced!  I just stood there, looking down at it, like I had just produced a rare artifact!! I almost didn't want to press the flush lever.

It must have been because it had a nice, cleared out slide to come down, from the colonoscopy.

Today, I am back to my normal, constipated self.  The memory of that perfect poo will remain with me for many years!  I almost wish I had taken a photo of it--just to prove to myself, it can be done.

I did it!! I finally did it!

TMI?  
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Today was glorious!! 60 degrees, with lots of sun.  I had the front door screen up to let in the fresh air and a couple of windows up too.  No socks or slippers today.  I got to go bare foot in the house.

Took the insulation off the back door so once again, light/sun is streaming in through that window and lighting up my hallway.  Makes me feel better.

Other than that, I had a bad morning of frustration.  I never cry, but I was so frustrated with a customer service rep, that I actually got to bawling and just hung up and cried for a couple of more minutes!!!  I will try and deal with it again on Monday.

Then I watched the baseball game--my gosh it seemed so slow after having watched basketball for the last few months.  I watched two movies also, but I didn't do any of the stuff I should.

I am beyond unmotivated!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is Sunday and my day of rest, so don't expect me to do anything.  HAH!!

Lesson I should have learned by now..................

.....one should not post on their blog when they are tired/depressed/having a pity party!

Sorry for the downer post yesterday.  I almost deleted it this morning, but--after all--this is my journal, so I guess it stays.
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It's hard (for me) to get in the mood to spring clean when the outside weather is gray, cold, rain dripping days with 4" of snow predicted!  I have some how lost my, smile and push forward attitude.  Where it went, I have no clue.  How to get it back, seems a mystery.
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The water heater repairman--expected between 12 & 4, called at 10:00.  He checked the vents and lit the pilot light.  He explained to me that these kinds of heaters are vented through the roof AND through the floor.  Any little cross breeze can poof out the pilot light.  
"So there is no way I can fix the problem?  I have no control over it?"
"Nope," he said, "It's like an act of God."
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After he left, I hurried up and got my garbage out for pick-up.  Most times I set it out the night before, but it was raining and cold last night, so I decided to wait.  Luckily, they didn't come today until after 2:00.  So, for all my planning of taking it out when the weather was better, I got to haul it out in the cold, wet falling rain/snow.  I'm brilliant!!!
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Put the closet back together, watched my Soap, did the last load of laundry and a full dishwasher of dishes.

Tomorrow I get to go to the dentist and on the way home, stop at Walmart for cat food, milk and something to eat.

My life is so exciting I can barely stand it!

Middle of the week blues--------

Trying to get winter things cleaned-up and put away.  So far--I have de-limed the humidifier and got it back in the storage box.  That's about it.  I have soooooooo much to get done before May.  Painting the porch and steps one of the biggest projects.  Cutting down Lilac bush suckers and putting some mulch on the area around the bushes--another big project.  Washing all the windows inside and swapping out my new curtains--still haven't even taken them out of the box they came in a month ago.
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No hot water --AGAIN!!  I heard the water heater come on last night as I was going to bed, but ice cold this morning when I wanted a shower.  The last repairman--March 13th, put in a new thermocouple so that is not the problem.  I think it is the gas exhaust vent on top of the roof, is situated in such a way that any little breeze blows the pilot light out.  I need to get someone up there to see if that might be the problem.  Thankfully, I have appliance repair coverage through my electric company so I don't have to pay the repair guys to re-light the pilot light as I can't get down on the floor to do it anymore.  The only problem, the water heater is located behind a pull-out panel in the back of my bedroom closet.  I have to clean out the clothes, shoes and other "stuff" stored there and that is a big pain in the back!!
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PT today.  She is now working on my lower back.  I don't think it is helping one bit, but my neck and shoulder ARE better from the previous manipulations.  <sigh--Arthritis is a mean thing.>
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With all the increases in price of car insurance, health insurance, food prices,  my budget is back to what is was a year or so ago.  I guess I shouldn't have redone my living room and put that money away for this year.  

While I am on the budget plan for utilities, their price went up, so my budget payments did also.  I had NO idea my health insurance was going to triple or my car insurance was going to increase $30.00 a month.  It gets a bit discouraging to have to use thin Marcel toilet paper and laundry detergent that smells like oil, that I get free from the food bank.  I want to buy Charmin Extra Soft and Tide detergent.  Those are luxuries to me now.  I am really grateful that we have a food bank that I can use.  And grateful that my food assistance went up to $23.00 a month, which isn't a lot considering the price of food, but anything helps.

There are positives to being poor.  I am probably healthier than I was five years ago, when I had meat everyday, and potatoes and bread.  I am 30# lighter and that's a good thing.  I usually only get beef once a month and vegetables to go with it.  A supper of Cheerio's and milk is pretty healthy--except I like lots of sugar.  Nowadays, it doesn't take much food to fill me up and that's a good thing too.

At least I don't have to file income tax.  Nothing I receive is taxable.  HAH!!

There isn't anywhere else I could live cheaper.  Rent is $377.00 and includes garbage pick-up and water.  I checked into government housing--egads those apartments are tiny, and it would cost me just about the same as living here.  I can't bear the thought of having to live in an apartment, with windows only on one side of the place, one bedroom.  I so love it here.

No more buying anything that isn't absolutely necessary for me to live.  

Sorry for the downer there.  I know that something will come along to help.  It always does.  
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I'm worried too about my Pammie.  She is working a school custodial job at night.  She isn't suppose to be doing that kind of work.  She has two missing vertebrae in her spine.  She has had all the X-rays, CAT scans, MRI's that prove she can't do this kind of work, but every desk job pays way less than this job.  Every specialist she has seen told her to get disability, but here, you have to be out of work for a couple of years before the government will give it to you.  How can she do that?  Make no money for two years?

She keeps her thermostat at 50 degrees all winter long and lives in her bedroom where she has a small electric heater.  I wish I could help her in some way.  She is such a wonderful person.  Always doing as much as she can for others.  

It would be beneficial for her if I moved in with her and gave her my Social Security check every month.  But, neither one of us really wants to do that.  I told her I would if it ever came down to where she couldn't make it on her own.  I at one time, wanted desperately to move back to my growing up area, but now, I know that now and as I age, I need to be close to grocery stores, the food bank, doctor and hospital.  If I moved out there, I would have to change doctor's and dentist to a closer town.  Plus, it takes an ambulance 45 minutes to respond and the nearest hospital is 30 miles away.

What to do, what to do?  Life gets very hard at times.  I never realized that until a decade or so ago.  We become too soon old and too late smart!!!!  I never should have gotten divorced!!!
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Oh well--what can I think of that's positive?  We are expecting 4.5 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow--I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow.  Baseball is starting Friday, so I can enjoy watching that.  This weekend the temperatures are supposed to be in the high 60's and next Thursday, I can go to my Old School Gal Pals lunch and after wards, visit my little sister and travel the roads back home.  Stop at the Cemetery and see how things look around the graves and have a chat with Fred.
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My colonoscopy was clear, as well as my lung scan, so no worries about that.  Thank goodness.

It could be much worse.  While, I can't control prices of anything and I can't control the money coming in, which puts me in the red every month. 

 BUT==everything is going to be okay.  

I know it is!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know God will help me---somehow.  He always has!!!

Sunday-Funday

I drove down to Karen and Mark's yesterday morning, to ride down to the baptism with them.  All my grand kids were home for the event.  My grand girl from Oregon was to be the God Mother.

We went to Mass first, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.  They claim it as an historic church, but I noticed it's date was 1932, and, personally?  I don't call that historic.  Maybe it was historic for something else?

There we all sat--taking up one whole pew.  Karen, Me, Grand daughter Helene and baby Della, Mark, Maddie, Marcus and his GF Morgan, Steven and his GF Caroline.  The pew thinned out when they went up for communion--leaving Morgan, Caroline and me.

Back to Helene's for breakfast.  

Her hubs Mike was home preparing the meal.  Then Maddie's boyfriend arrived, Stefan Von Bulow.  German!!  YAY!! and Catholic.  He and Maddie were in the same home school group when they were tiny tots and somehow have found each other again, in their 20th year.  

I got a tiny bit of time with Della.  She cries every time I hold her face-to-face, so I hold her looking out, and we get along quite well.

Back to the church for the baptism.   

The Jewish grandma was there, as well as the Jewish grandpa and his wife.  Son-in-law Mark's parents were also there.  They had driven down from way up north, and his mother kept telling everyone and complaining about the long ride for a "thirty minute deal".  She is a piece of work and I would like to kindly tell her that 77 year old women don't look good in ink-black hair dye, but I keep those thoughts to myself.

We all went up, behind the altar, to the baptismal font.  I thought the priest did an excellent inter-denominational baptism.

He invoked Jewish scripture and blessed the Daddy.  Then blessed Della with oil on her forehead, eyes, ears and heart.  Blessed the Momma, invoked the responsibilities on the God Parents, Aunt Susanna and Uncle Marcus and then took Della over to the font and used the little spoon to pour water over her head.  Not a peep out of her, so I guess she liked it.  Then the Lord's Prayer, which in the Catholic church ends a few words short of the Protestant version and I forgot and mumbled three extra words before I remembered to stop.

I noticed that the baptismal area was a quite large marble enclosed pool with steps.  So after wards, I asked the priest if they do full immersions.  I supposed for adult conversions/baptisms?

He replied, "Yep.  We dunk 'em here.  Children and adults."
I said, "Ah.  Like the name of your church--John the Baptist.  He dunked 'em too."
"Yes he did.  He dunked a lot of them"
"One in particular, that was most important." I replied.
"Yes.  The very best!"
"Amen, Father.  Amen."  I said.

 Grandson Stephen and GF Caroline had to get back up to Michigan State to study for a big exam today.  The study of the liver.  Stephen was impressed when I mentioned, "Ah.  You're studying Hepatology now?"

Everyone else went back to Helene and Mike's place for a light supper, so I rode back to Karen and Mark's with Stephen and Caroline.  We had a great conversation on health care, sports, and medical specialities.  

I thanked them for the ride, hugged and kissed and jumped into my car and was home by 4:30--exhausted!!

It was a lovely day in that I got to see all of my older grand kids, meet their new love interests and observe the Darling Della.  

I'm Fine!!!

The worst part of that prep was 3:00am this morning when I had to drink the other bottle of the Suprep.  I mixed it with ice cold Crystal Light Lemonade--which I will never be able to drink again.  I held my breath, and breathed through my mouth for several minutes--followed by water.  But--I was "running clear" as they call it by 6:00 and did get a nap in before Pammie arrived.

We had to drive down the traffic laden expressway in a continual downpour, but found the place and the correct entrance before 9:00.  The worst part of the next phase was the needle in my hand, but I had to have it so I could get the Michael Jackson Special--the Milk of Dreams--Propofol!  I love that stuff!!!

I don't remember it, but the recovery room nurse said I was singing, Jesus Loves Me, while I was waking up.  Pammie was soon sitting right there beside.

The doc removed an internal hemorrhoid I got when Jennifer was born, I wanted the doc to put it in some formaldehyde so I could give it to Jen for her 46th birthday, but he said he had to send it in.   Then he stated, "Considering you have never had a colon-oscopy before, you are in great health for someone your age."  Why do they have to put those last three words on every report I get?  I guess he expected to find polyps?

So, I go back in five years.  As if that is ever going to happen.  LOL.  I'm glad I got it done though.  Along with the lung CT scan, now I know another hidden area in my body is healthy and happy.

We got there at 9:00, my procedure was at 10:00 and Pammie and I were on our way home at 11:09.