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!!
=====================
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=======================
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?  
=========================
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.
=========================
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.
==================
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."
==================

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!!!
===========================
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.
==================
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!!
==================
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.>
===================
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.  
=====================
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!!!
====================
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.
==================

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.

MIsh Mash of emotions..........

My little sister's 65th birthday--- 

I never thought I'd live long enough to see her this old!

====================

My best friend's 5th year sadiversary.

68 years we held each other up--

Bethie and I visited her in the hospital hospice

our last time--4 days before she died.

I never thought I'd outlive her.  She fought that evil demon ovarian cancer, for four years, with grace and positiveness, even through her husband's illness and death.  She put all of us in awe with her happy spirit.

Toward the end, she told her family, "Take care of Jude.  This is going to hit her hard."

and it did--------

I still miss her--more than anyone.

======================

Today, I am to eat light as I prepare for the dreaded COLONOSCOPY PREP day tomorrow.  I fear tomorrow evening/night more than I have feared anything in a very long time!!!

Be still my heart...................

5 months old

Questions and Answers

If any of you or if you know of anyone, who would like their genealogy done, please e-mail me with a mailing address and I will send you a brochure that explains pricing and all that will be included in the finished book.  I will even waive the usual $100.00 deposit I normally require.  We can even set up a payment plan so you don't have to pay for it all at once.  I need the work and something to occupy my brain.  

Most genealogists will send you pages that look like this and leave it for you to figure out:

My pedigree pages show each individual, then I add pages that show the other family members information and other pages that show the written story of the direct ancestors.  Plus any photos you want added or ones I find, plus--much more. Each book is about 100+ pages with a real nice front and back cover and printed on acid free, archival paper.  They also make nice gifts for family members.

============================

Someone, I think Deb, asked how far along I was with the cross stitched baby quilt.

What with the basketball tournament continuing until April and then baseball games starting--I should have it finished by the 1st of May.
======================
PT went very well today.  I have been asking, the last couple of weeks, if my therapist could do the traction machine on my neck.

Finally today, because I still have numbness in my arms and hands, she relented.  She got me adjusted in the head contraption and started it.  OMGosh!  It felt soooooooo good to have my neck stretched up, held for a few minutes, then released and repeat, and repeat, and repeat.  I could almost feel the vertebrae opening up and letting the nerves flow.

My therapist doesn't like to use the kind of "tools" I have had other therapists use with good results.  She prefers manipulations, with her hands which are extremely painful.

She said that we will do the traction each visit from now on.  YAY!!! Anytime I have had PT on my neck, traction is the only thing that gave me really good results!

She had an intern there who is 19 years old.  We had a great conservation about woman's lib, and politics and religion.  My therapist is almost 30, so her mother would be in her 50's.  I told her we needed her mother to join us next time to get a perspective on how it was when she was growing up.  Then we'd have an old woman, one my daughter's age, the therapist my grand daughter's age and the intern, a younger grand daughter.

We agreed on most of the religion and woman's lib stuff.  They are both Liberals, but calm, moderate Liberals, so we all agreed in most part on politics.    I sure got my money's worth today and stirred up my brain.  I loved it.

I would truly enjoy being in a conversation/discussion group---with people younger than me.  When I tried the Senior Citizen group, those people are way too old for me--as are my School chums luncheon group.

They don't want to explore philosophies, or anything interesting.  They mostly just complain about their husbands, and moan about their illnesses.

I do like interacting with younger's and I need the stimulation to keep my brain from dying out.  LOL
===================
This little Princess is 13 years old today.

 and nearly as tall as Gramma.  My New Jersey girl, Elise Ann.

<sigh>

A Truly Lovely Day

I woke up to a bit of haze that turned into nice, warm sunshine and 58 degrees.

I was even inspired to do a bit of vacuuming and dusting and straightening up.  Not in the mood to run up to Walmart, but I needed to take in two bags of pop bottles to return, the cats needed wet food and I needed one last batch of squirrel food and bird seed.

After I got underway, I kind of enjoyed myself.  The Walmart was pretty quiet and calm.  No little kids running around and screaming, just a lot of old people like me, strolling along and looking at everything.

After I left there, I stopped at the Tractor Supply store and got a couple of bags of peanuts, a larger bag of shelled corn, sunflowers seeds and a medium size bag of bird seed.  It was all pretty heavy, but I got it all unloaded, filled up the feeders and put away the groceries.

I got a lot of liquid stuff to drink, some orange Popsicles, and orange jello, chicken broth, some Gatorade and lots of water--in preparation for my two day preparation for the colonoscopy next week.

Then Karen called and wanted to know if I wanted to go out for supper!  We haven't done that in quite a long time so I was excited.  We went to an authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant.  She had General Taos (?) chicken and I had my usual beef and Chinese veggies.  Of course we had the obligatory hot Oolong tea, white rice, soup and egg roll.  We both brought more home than we ate.

We had a wonderful catch-up conservation.  Of course, we talked a lot about her grandbaby, Della.  Della will be baptized April 2.  The other grandma may not come as, come to find out, she is a bit miffed about the whole thing.  Luckily, her son, the husband/Daddy doesn't mind at all.  He doesn't care if the baby is raised Jewish or Catholic.  

Now we all went to the Jewish naming and blessing event the other grandma had and although none of us understood the Hebrew words or the whole ceremony, we found it very interesting and lots of fun.  I like the Jewish grandma and I hope the she comes.  I told Karen, she could sit with me because I won't be going through all the "rigmarole" of kneeling and crossing and getting Holy water sprinkled on me.

Personally, I think it is wonderful that Della will enjoy all the traditions of the Jewish faith and also all the traditions of the Christian faith.  She will learn all the prophecies of the Old Testament and see them come to fruition in the New Testament.
and probably disappoint both grandmas when she grows up, discards both religions and becomes a Methodist.  HAH!

I felt so good today, both emotionally and physically.  I can tell I am standing straighter from the PT and walked all over Walmart, tall and with a firm stride.

I felt alive!!!!!!!!

Whew!

Friday afternoon--late, I got a phone call from my doctor's office.  I did not pick it up and let it go to voice mail.  I was going to wait until Sunday, go into my Patient Portal and read the results myself.

So all day Saturday I reasoned, they wouldn't have called me so late on a Friday if they had bad news and wanted me to come right in.  Then I reasoned that perhaps they had called to set up an early morning appointment on Monday.  Then I just quit reasoning and cross stitched and watched the basketball tournament.

Up early Sunday morning and clicked into my Patient Portal--still the report was not visible.  So I reasoned that they weren't going to allow me to access the report until my doctor cleared it and since I hadn't answered his call on Friday..............................must be something bad showing on that CT scan.

Then, I just quit reasoning, said a prayer of 'whatever will be, will be" and cross stitched and watched the basketball tournament.  I am real good at denial.  If I don't know about it, it doesn't exist.

Then around 2:00, I got real brave.  My anxiety was gone and so I dialed into my voice mail.  

"Hello Miss Judy, this is Michelle from Doc Vassallo's office.  I just wanted to call and let you know your CT scan is normal.  There are no lesions, inflammation or COPD in your lungs.  One teeny nodule, in the lower right lobe, which is nothing and most people have...kind of like a small scar from a bout of the flu or a bad cold you once had. I know when you and I talked, you were expecting something to show up, but.........you're still as healthy as a horse. (laugh).  Have a great weekend, my friend.  Oh, it says here, you can have another one in six months, if you want to.  Byeeeeee."
======================
Now to prepare my mind for my first colonoscopy on the 30th.  I will think about that next Monday.  This week I have two sessions of PT and nothing else--so far.

Happy Spring!!

Friday--again!

How did I miss Wednesday and Thursday posting?

I went to have my CT lung scan.  It took less time than a mammogram!  Then off to get my hair cut.
It was the Idea of March so I was thinking and missing my Mother a lot.  She has been gone 47 years and I still miss her!

Then I checked my Patient Portal to see the results of the scan and it said, "Pending until March 19th."  Now that freaked me out!  With blood work, I can get the results in 2 hours.  With the x-ray, I got the results the next day.  I am wondering why this is taking so long.  Is there something bad on there and they are going to let my doc know first?

Thursday, I kept expecting to get a phone call from my doc all morning and I vowed I would not answer it!  I want to know the results first.  If it's bad, I can prepare myself.  When I had my chest x-ray last summer, he called and said, "I want you to come in and talk about your x-ray."  I was a nervous wreck for two days.  When I got into his office he asked, "Why do you get these?  They won't show anything important.  You need to get a CT scan."  Nothing had shown up on the x-ray.

I took off outta here at noon to drive the 45 minutes north to have lunch with my Old School Gal Pals.  There were 8 of us today.  Missing Bethie who now has a Chamber Commerce meeting the third Thursday of every month.  So I campaigned for her that we change lunch days.  I thought the third Wednesday instead, but one of the gals baby sits her great grand kids on Wednesdays and another one goes to a quilting group every Wednesday.  So, we just moved the lunch day up to the 2nd Thursday of every month.  All those in favor, say Aye.  Those opposed? (None). The Ayes have it.

Then out to The Farm to visit with little sister.  We had a really nice conversation and I dropped off her birthday prezzie.  Home by 6:00 with daylight to spare.
============================

The few Irish ancestors I have came from Northern Ireland and were "Orangemen".

We never celebrated St. Patrick's Day, but the guy does deserve some credit.  He rid that land of snakes, so he's a good guy in my opinion.  
===========
Today both University of Michigan and Michigan State University played basketball games in the NCAA March Mania tournament.  One at noon and one at 9:20 tonight.

You know what I'll be doing during that time.  You do know?  Then, pretty soon it will all be over and I can concentrate on Major League baseball.  I do love to watch baseball.  It is a nice slow game and a lot of cross stitching can be done without having to look up a lot.  (insert smiley face).

Hanging tough on a Tuesday..............

The warmest February on record in the Mitten State.  Then March arrived.

Single digit temps at night.  In the 20's during the day and.....snow.  Oh not as much as that N'orEaster heading to the right coast.  We were on the north edge of it and only got 2" up here, Detroit (south of here) got more--about 5".  We are expecting a little bit more, but no big deal.

I actually drove out into the snow for my PT yesterday afternoon.  The visibility was poor, but the big road in front of our park was fine.  They salt it heavily, so it is always clear.  That's why every few years, I have to have an all new undercarriage put on my car--from all the salt caused rust.

The appliance repair guy got her 4 minutes after I got home at 4:00.  He not only lit the pilot light, but put in a new thermo-couple...just in case, so the gas would keep flowing like it is supposed to.  The guy that came last year, about this time, did the same thing.  That should keep me for another year, unless we have another gale force, 60mph, wind gusts.
================
I saw Dar's friend come and pick her up again Monday morning.  They were back in 90 minutes.  I felt kind of bad that Dar still can't get around, but then, 15 minutes later, she and her Daddy hopped in her car and took off.  Back in an hour, and as I was leaving for PT, she was in her car driving out ahead of me.  I wondered why her friend picked her up this morning, as Dar and Daddy were in and out half a dozen times over the weekend.

==================
Today's agenda--get my hair cut and eyebrows trimmed!!!!  This is imperative!  

Monday Moaning

The beginning of the dreaded Daylight Saving Time AND a full moon?

The full moon I can handle.  I love it and will do my monthly ritual of going out on the porch and howling at it.  The DST will affect my Circadian Clock for at least three weeks.  It always has and I suspect, it always will.

My neighbor/friend Pearl, isn't affected by it at all.  She doesn't even notice the time change.  Dar gets bat s*** crazy from the time change.  Even more so than normal.  HAH!  I just feel a bit discombobulated for half a month.  The sun now comes into the rooms at a different angle than what the clock says.

I thought maybe, I'd try something different.  Saturday at noon, I went through the house and set my clocks ahead an hour.  Then, when the cuckoo clock cuckooed 11 times, I went to bed.  When the alarm went off at 8:00, I got up.  I concentrated on what the cuckoo clock "said" and tried to ignore the sun angles.  It did seem to help.

==============

Five days with no hot water.  Dar was out too and her brother came to light the pilot light on her water heater.  She e-mailed me later to say, "I'm sorry.  I forgot all about your pilot light.  I should have had him come over and light yours."

Yes, that would have been nice, but since it is always all about her............

I have an appliance service plan through my electric company.  The service man was to arrive this morning between 7-11:00.  I got up at 7:00 to empty the closet, get dressed and get ready for the call that he was on his way.

It is now 10:30 and I just got the call.  "Because of the snow (1") he will arrive between noon and Two."

"I have an appointment at 2:30 and won't be back home until 4:00.  It's just a pilot light that needs lighting--it will only take a few minutes."

"Okay.  I'll put him down for before 2:30 or after 4:00."

<sigh>  It would have been nice to get a shower in and wash my hair before PT.  Guess I will warm up some water and wash down the important parts.  The hair will just have to be wild.

The electric had 900,000 customers without power since Wednesday--mostly in Detroit.  So I guess I am at the bottom of the list for my insignificant issue.  Maybe I should switch over to the appliance service plan my gas company offers?

===============

Other than that and a dishwasher filled to the brim with dirty dishes, a laundry basket filled to overflowing with dirty clothes and a cat that is on a diet and keeps meowing for food--everything is fine.

I guess I'll see how the rest of the day pans out before I get too anxious.

Missing these two a lot......................

Daughter Karen Helene and her grandbaby, Della Helene

Ticked Off

Friday started out just fine.  The sun was shining.  The wind had settled down.  It was cold, but it was a shiny day.

I had to go to Walmart and pick up a prescription.  On the way there, driving on the 2-lane, plus left turn lane, plus 2-lane road--50 mph speed limit, some guy in a big pick-up drove out of a driveway right in front of me.  I had to slam on the brakes, or I would have T-Boned him.  He glanced at me as he headed the opposite way.  I sooooooooo wanted to flip him off!  
=========================

Got to Walmart parking lot and there was a nice spot, near the door, with a car backing out.  I put on my blinker light to let everyone know I was going to pull into that nearly vacant space.  The car left, I was about to make my move and a guy, in a pick-up, came around the corner and into that space.  He got out and glanced my way.  I sooooooo wanted to flip him off!
=========================

I got home and decided to take a shower before the basketball games started.  The water ran for longer than usual before getting hot.  I had no hot water.  Apparently the gales of wind we had on Wednesday blew out the hot water heater pilot light.  I had done laundry on Thursday and hadn't even noticed because I wash in cold water.  ARGGH!!!

So, I called the electric company, with which I have my appliance service repair plan.  They can get a guy out here on Monday. 
======================
Okay--everything will be fine.  I had some lunch and took my anti-anxiety pill and settled in to watch the basketball tournament.

At 3:00, right in the middle of my Michigan State game against Minnesota, a team we have beaten twice this year, my phone rang.  It was Dar.

"Hi.  They sent me home.  My sister-in-law Mary drove me home, but I need a favor from you."

"What's that?"

"I have prescriptions I need to get filled.  I have to take my dizzy pill at five."

 "Did you drop the prescriptions off on your way home and you want me to go pick them up?"

"No.  I have them here.  You have to take them up to Walmart and sit and wait for them to be filled."

"Well, I can do it in an hour, but right now I am watching the basketball tournament and Michigan State is playing.  Why didn't you have your sister-in-law drop them off on your way home.  You came right by Walmart."

"I know.  I just didn't feel like stopping. I wanted to just get home."

so because it is all about you, you want me to now hop to and do your running.

"Like I said, I can do it in an hour.  You don't need them until 5:00, I'll be over at 4:00 to pick them up."

"Oh.  That's cutting it kind of close.  Why don't you take them up now and then go back and pick them up when they're ready?"

"Because I want to watch this game and my gas tank is almost empty so I didn't want to drive anymore until Monday and fill it up when I go to PT."

"I'll call Sheila and see if she can do it."

"Okay, let me know."

A few minutes later, I saw Sheila pull into Dar's driveway and then out again and leave.  She was gone for well over an hour.  Dar never called me back.
============================
Michigan State lost.
============================
I wanted popcorn and milk for supper.  When I opened the refrigerator, I remembered.  I had used the last of the milk that morning for my Cherrios.

I soooooo wanted to flip off the entire world

This and That

The schedule for yesterday was, cross stitching and watching the Big Ten basketball tournament.  4 games, so it was an all day affair.  My eyes were crossed by 10:00 last night.  Did you hear that the plane the University of Michigan basketball team, cheer leaders and Pep band members were on, had an accident?  On take-off, because of the high winds, their plane couldn't take off and slid off the end of the runway.  No one was hurt--thankfully.  

They were not allowed to unload the plane, everything had to stay in place while the NTSB investigated.  They got no sleep, and arrived in D.C. (where the tourney is taking place) in the morning, and on the floor to play at noon, in their practice jerseys.  They went on to beat Illinois anyway and played like demons!!  Their coach was crying he was so proud of those kids.  I was too, even though I detest the U of M.

My Spartans won too.
=======================
Today's schedule?  Another 4 games, beginning at noon and ending around 10:00 tonight.  You would be surprised how far I am on my cross stitched baby quilt.

I do have to run up to the Walmart to get a prescription for my Celexa--anti-depression pills.  Can't go without taking them.

You all don't want to see me without them!!!
====================
Wednesday, on my way to PT, I saw Dar's friend Sheila, helping her to the car.  Sheila had Dar's arm around her neck and Dar could hardly walk.  

Dar has been in hospital since then.  She is having balance problems.  First thing I thought of was a stroke.  I called her yesterday and she said they had run a lot of tests on her and they thought perhaps she had a blood clot at the base of her skull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She is on blood thinner Coumadin.  How can she have a blood clot?  

Then she said it might be Vertigo, but she isn't dizzy or nauseous, it's just when she stands, she tends to fall toward one side.

Then she said they gave her a little pill called Ativan to help her.

Ativan is an anti-anxiety pill.  Hm-mm.

She wanted me to go over and check on her Dad.  It was 8:30, dark, windy and cold out there, but I went over.  He is doing fine by himself.  

He is such a gentleman.  95 years old and yet he got up to answer the door, we chatted and when I got up to leave, he got out of his chair, walked me to the door, opened it up for me and thanked me for checking in on him.  

I called Dar back.  She thinks she is coming home today.
==============
900,000 people with no power in south-east Michigan.  The worse outage in history.  The power company "thinks" they will have power restored by Sunday night.   The temperatures have dropped and it is mighty cold.

Thank goodness, I live in a place where all power, phone, gas lines are buried.  I've been here almost 14 years and the only power outage we have had, is when a truck  ran into a transformer pole and snapped it off.  We had power restored in 3 hours.

My sister and BIL have a whole house generator, so they are fine.  My son Mark and Pam, who live out by sister, had power restored yesterday morning.  Karen has a generator that will run their furnace and water pump, so they are pretending they are "camping".  LOL

.....and here I sit.  Warm and toasty and watching basketball games all the live long day!

P. T.

The tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff.

The dark stars are the bad spots.  They are also where she puts her thumbs and presses until they come out my pectorals in front.

4 yelps yesterday, so I did not reward myself with a treat.

Logical thinking--I am all for that.......

Let's be logical and reasonable here, okay?

The wooden monster has hung way up there for 14 years next Wednesday, March 15th.  Why would it suddenly decide now was a good time to fall?  Or does that mean the odds are turning in favor of it dropping?  Of course, you know what they say about March 15th?  

Beware the Ides of March!

I will be taking the Monster down when I get this room painted--hopefully the first part of May.  Unless of course, I am in the midst of chemo from the bad colonoscopy from the bad stool sample test.  
I just know that dang test was a false positive!

I suppose I could hang it over my couch? Under the Ocean painting?

I need more clutter on that wall!

Over the fireplace/TV stand?

BTW--I have given up on the curtain  musical chairs.  The kitchen ones will stay where they are and one set of these in the den will go on the bedroom window.  I think.

Physical therapy yesterday.  I was doing pretty well until she rammed her thumb into the muscle by my rotator cuff.  I dang near fainted and let out a "Yelp".  Couldn't help it.  She caught me by surprise.  One nice extra--I get there 15 minutes early so I can do my exercises to warm up my muscles before she attacks them.  I ride the stationary bike for 10 minutes, even though that is not part of my therapy.  I can tell already--my legs are getting stronger!!!

So today--I gotta make the 3 mile jaunt up to the Walmart.  I have prescriptions to pick up.  Cat food--AGAIN and stop at the bank.  

I FINALLY--got that gift card fiasco straightened out.  They closed the card and sent me a $50.00 check instead.  It has only taken 2.5 months and a dozen phone calls. Good thing I got it.  I will need it for the prescriptions and cat food and gas for my car.

ARRGH!  Prices keep going up.  My health insurance doubled and my car insurance went up $20.00 a month.  

Oh well--get into happy thoughts.  Put a smile on my face and off I go...............................