Favorite Professor Dies

 His death is not an emotional event for me. He was the first professor I had at UAB and one of the last. I was most interested in the movements and literature he taught--Transcendentalism in America and Romanticism in England. So, we have lost him. I still have what he taught me that has enriched my life.

My favorite teacher who made literature come alive for me was my seventh-grade teacher and 10th grade English teacher.  

I rode to Publix with Tommy while he shopped for the items on our list--prunes, bananas, Gum Interdental brushes, 2 chunks cheddar bogo, Boston Butt $17. 23. We need slaw and salad.

Heart is beating wrong. I don't know what that means. 

Do you often think of favorite teachers and professors?

PureWick Female Catheter

 

They put this on me. Gross? I thought so too, until I used it for four days. Just lie there are pee. you pee and it is sucked up into a jar.

Feeling worse. Sent home with wrong instructions for meds. 

Do you know anyone who has used this?

lick below

PureWick™ Female External Catheters

at least six inches long, excluding tube

"You Almost Died" "I Saved Your Life"

 First things doctor said to me after surgery. 

Wednesday afternoon, I became ill, knew I was going to die and went to ER in ambulance. I was sweating profusely, gasping for breath, could barely stand. I went in ambulance alone. NO, it was Thursday.

Thursday, I was examined and had blood clots in my lungs, profuse amount. Thursday, had surgery and doctor made those two statements. I have lots of different meds, many instructions, precautions. Doctors were thorough, helped me lots. And, I get to live another day. Came home today, Saturday, in a Lyft. My first Lyft driver was from Senegal. Today's driver was from Israel. Nice guys. Tommy road in cab twice. Weather, roads, crazy driver caused me to request this. Finally, today I had him search my purse contents for a tip that was not a twenty.

Can you imagine all this? It is hard to write. I will do it little by little.

Day Two

 Slept in chair Tuesday night and got in bed near dawn and slept until 1 pm. I sleep well with oxycodone/percoset. I started out in bed, but new pains all over set it. Parts of my body hurt that never hit the porch. 

The thumb and three nails on my right hand were destroyed into the quick. They hurt, too. Only middle finger escaped unscathed. 

Tommy scrubbed two monster sweet potatoes and I trimmed and oiled them. He baked them forever in the oven. We had baked chicken. He opened a can of green beans. Dinner was filling, delicious, and did not hurt my stomach. 

We went to gather the ads, bought nothing. I tried not to hurt too much. We delivered the prescriptions beforehand, and they were ready before we came home. I took one percocet and slept well. I was afraid I would fall taking it. I was not dizzy at all. 

Lyft driver was from Senegal. We had an interesting conversation. NOT! He spoke French. He refused money, card, anything. Tommy gave him $10 for a tip. We had no idea the charge, so unsure about tip. He grinned and seemed happy. 

Arm hurts. Gotta go.

Fell

 It was a beautiful day, and I fell out of door and was hanging off the  porch, one hand on ground to keep from falling off onto my head! I kept screaming help and Tommy tried to get my hand to pull me onto the porch. I resisted his yanking on me because he could fall, He was confused as to what I wanted him to do. He never thinks of 911, and I have to tell him every time. Neighbor across street heard me and went to get grandson two doors down. Tommy said he drove off before she could run down there. So, she got neighbor and he shoved my up as he stood on ground. EMT then arrived.

I thought it was just bumps and scrapes and would not go to ER. Now, I will call them back as I am in excruciating pain and cannot move joints. Thank goodness dr appt for tomorrow is cancelled. 

After fall, we went to Pig, publix, bank, and to look at a car. Tommy is exhausted, I know. He has said he is too tired, so he goes in and buys one thing every day. Today, the list was still long, but he stayed in there an hour getting everything on the list. Ads go off today. My milk is 2 half gallons for $9, got 4 half gallons. 

Only left leg is unscathed! And my head.

If you say something that annoys me, I won't post it.

Hybrid or Not?

 No steps for over a week, I think.

I am a teeny bit better. I lost weight gained and am down still another pound. You know how you weigh something and 30 pounds? Then, you lose down to something and 29 pounds? That always seems like a great thing to me. Do you feel that way with weight loss? 

Tommy wants to get a hybrid SUV. I have read up on them but found nothing bad. How about your experience? Or rumors or about one belonging to someone else. 

My laptop is falling apart. Every laptop I have ever had has fallen apart, literally pieces falling off. I don't know what I do. These are Dell and HP. Do you ever have parts fall off or break off your laptop?

Tonight, we had baked chicken, chopped salad, and squash and onions. Cottage cheese and fresh blueberries are my snack and then cheese.

I need to take meds, hang up wet laundry.

So Much Has Happened

 

Yet nothing has happened! I had a fever one day, and then nothing. My lips indicate some sort of feverish state. They have been raw, peeling, and pain from the peeling. This has been going on since the February 4, definitely since February 22. But, I was puzzled. Brain fog, inability to express myself coherently, whole body pain. There were many symptoms, nothing that made sense. 

Finally, on Wednesday, I could not walk. I was coming out of the bathroom when my body became so heavy. I wedged myself into the door of bathroom and called for Tommy to get me. Somehow, he helped me to my bed. Since then until today, I have used my walker with not attempt to walk independently. I always felt like I was falling over sideways one way or the other. I know it sounds bizarre.

Finally, as I had spasms (it appeared) in kidneys. Friday morning, I called doctor and have an antibiotic. It seems to be working with three out of twenty pills in me. Food has held little interest for me. I ate little, maybe one meal each day. One day, I heaved lots but tried not to throw up because the carpet would suffer. I carried around a small trash can for several days. 

I do know exactly what kidney spasms feel like since I spent week in hospital with problems with kidneys after first baby.

Tommy has cooked two different batches of thawed chicken. I had him freeze the cooked chicken so it would not spoil. He had to throw away two packages of the now-thawed chicken that I did not feel like going into the kitchen to cook. I think we had six packs of raw chicken thawing--bscb, thighs, tenders. I figure chicken is chicken. I just don't eat the thighs. But, they make the rest tasty. 

He misses parts of his cooking lessons. He skimmed off the potato peeling so he would not throw out edible potato. He left the green potato! So, I had to re-peel. It takes me promising him diarrhea and pain to make it soak in. 

I did manage to cook squash. I never ate much, but it was delicious. There is another head of cabbage, chopped salad, and other things I have sent him in to buy. For four days I did not step foot in the kitchen. We cannot drive two walkers into the kitchen. Well, they will both go in, but maneuverings is impossible to do safely.

As soon as I can, I will make an appointment with a urologist for a well-patient appointment! 

The weather was beautiful today. I suggested a trip to the park to sit in car and eat drumsticks. That ended badly hours later after milk in the drumsticks got its revenge on me.

We saw firemen and two firetrucks at the tennis court playing tennis, I thought. Tommy said it was pickleball. Interesting--ping pong paddles with whiffle balls? We surmised that the trucks were there in case the guys needed to answer a call. One guy drove away quickly with lights and sirens. These guys were not neglecting their jobs. 

This post won't be edited; deal with it by ignoring mistakes. 

I have not seen or read much about what Trump and Musk are doing. 

Kraft mac and cheese was calling me so bad! Tommy talked me down. His excuse--it's midnight. So? I keep a box and eat it about every six months. 

I gave worn myself plumb out. 

The gadget at the top of the page is for putting meds or lotions on extremities. Tommy has a horrible sort of wedge out of his foot. The doctor gave him a tube of something to put on it. He cannot reach his foot, especially the bottom of his foot. I am willing to help, but his foot will not go into my lap. He cannot get it up at all. Any position that he can assume for his foot, I cannot reach and hold the position to administer this cream. So, I searched and bought this applicator, 19 inches long. It is capable of being bent by hand and bent to another angle if need be. 

Monday

 Tommy's hair looks okay. I have not felt like fixing the few bobbles. 

When I was in the grocery store on the electric cart, a woman bent over my shoulder and spoke to me. "There is a mark on your back that has a little black spot in the middle. Maybe you can have someone look at it. It might be a tick." She repeated this, urging me to take care of it. I had been to the dermatologist and had some spots blasted off. She was so nice, concerned, and sincere that I just thanked her and assured her that I would have someone look at it. 

Tommy looked and said it was the remnants of the actinic keratosis. It was an unfounded concern, but I didn't want to discourage her from helping others or make her feel foolish. 

The only reason she could see anything on my back was because I wore the Rafaella blouse with a keyhole in the back. I was touched at her concern. 

Tommy cooked a lot of bscb tonight with potatoes. We went out and he came home without stopping for carrots and cabbage. Tomorrow. He did the whole job tonight. I certainly hope he did not fling or splash the raw chicken about. 

I have re-lost most of the weight I gained. So, one more pound and I will be at my lowest again. Tonight, I managed to drag and lift scales to kitchen since it won't work on carpet. I only had on my panties. I could feel them flapping. Tommy happened to come in. He said the elastic on the legs of my panties did not even touch my legs! And, I just ordered a dozen new panties, same size. I am sure the present size is stretched out. But, I have never had baggy panties, even in the back!

I tried for a long time to find a urologist. They are not taking patients or need an interview application. I don't understand. Today, I have had a hard time staying on my feet. Tommy gave me his walker to get to the bathroom today because I was afraid to try to walk. Maybe the ER is where I will go. 

Haircut

 On Saturday evening Tommy asked me if I had Bandaids. Of course I do, but asked why he wanted one. Where the dermatologist burned off a huge skin tag, he had scratched the itchy scab. It was open, raw, and bleeding. I told him the toothpaste I was using would help him since he said it was still itching. He let me put some on the open sore of this huge skin tag. He immediately said it was no longer itching. Today, he had his t shirt off and I asked how it was. He said he had forgotten about it. He felt and was surprised the Crest was still there. He said he has never put Crest on his skin. 

Tonight, I cut his hair. He was a pain most of the time. I could barely stand to cut it, so tomorrow I will do a little bit more to fix it when my standing ability recovers. Halfway through, I had him go into the bathroom to look at it. He took a pick and combed it over. There was hair six inches long that would be three inches below his ear when the combover fell down or blew down. The man has plenty of hair and not a bald spot anywhere. 

Fortunately, he will forget to do the combover. He always does. The barber he went to before I started cutting his hair put a part half an inch above his ear. She was 35. Did she not notice he had plenty of hair and did not need a combover? Did she assume an old man needed a combover despite his abundant hair?

I need to call for a haircut well before Easter. She will be very busy after this week. 

Since the wind was down today, he went to car and found the woman salesperson's card at car dealership. It was in the car like I thought. Nothing blew away outside. I wonder about the roof. We stayed home today. I was antsy to go out but kept myself under control. 

It has been several hours since I cut his hair. He has combed it without a combover. See?

Tornado stories are horrifying. There has only been reported one death so far. That could be because the Weather forecasters dominated the television all day Saturday, people listened, and took shelter.

How did you fare in the tornado outbreak and the wind? 

Have you ever put Crest or other toothpaste on any skin irritation? 

Another Car Dealer

mar 15

steps 10,500

Before the car dealer yesterday, we stopped by another dealer. I could not get out of there fast enough. We drove around the lot and no one came out to us. Finally a guy not a salesman walked by and said he would go get someone and told us to park 'up there' pointing to the building.

We drove up to the building and waited. A man came out and walked right past us and stood on passenger side of the car facing away from us. Finally, I rolled down the window and spoke to him. He said he was looking for us. That seemed weird since he passed us and stood near us. 

He was handing me a card and called me "Baby." I said sternly, "Don't call me "Baby." "Oh, I am a Christian and I just luuuv everybody." I started yelling at him--Yeah, I know your kind, preaching or going to church and then going out and loving everyone you can! Go away!" We drove away to the young lady with whom we talked next at another dealership. 

I asked Tommy if my reaction was wrong. He said no that the guy should have kept his mouth shut. His response was all kinds of wrong.

We told the young woman we would come back today. She gave me a card and told me it was her personal cell. Now, I cannot find it. I suppose it is in the car. But, it is too windy to go out. It was too windy to go to the car dealer. I suppose she figured it out. 

Tommy finally woke at 4:30 pm. I thought maybe he had not slept all night, so I didn't turn on tv or disturb him. No, he had a sinus headache but refuses to do anything for it. These headaches usually last three days. 

Tommy must have a haircut before he leaves the house again! Mine needs color!

We are trying to watch TV. Weather has been on all stations. Everyone is looking at tornado possibilities. It looks grim. I suppose we will know in the morning what happened. 

Tommy may not feel like car shopping on Sunday. Car lots may not be open on Sunday. I still do not feel well at all. Yesterday, I could barely pedal. Today is a bit better. 

A bag of the opened Black Kow fell off another one. The black was escaping in the wind! My deer even though still on the porch were blown around on the porch. I was surprised they were still there.

Okay, we are clear of weather danger, but some of the state is still being watched.  

How has the weather been at your house? Wind? Tornadoes? Flooding? 

Car Shopping

 We had something to do today which was cancelled, maybe because of impending storms. I said to Tommy, "Why don't we go to the car place and look at cars?" After we finally figured out where I was talking about, we went there. 

As we were talking to saleswoman, she asked if we were interested in a hybrid I said no as Tommy said yes. I was shocked. So, we tried a hybrid. Well, I test it for ease of entry and if it hurts my back. 

There were brilliant blue like we wanted, new cars. Tommy was willing to buy that for me! I want a light car for safety reasons. I said wistfully that I wished they were pink. She said I could 'wrap' it. Like Saran Wrap? 

Is this wrapping sturdy? I never heard of it.

She said to come back tomorrow and they would get one like we wanted. I think we cannot buy a newer car since the seat backs have changed. 

This woman was doing a good job helping us. She was black, but when she went back inside for something, a very stern-looking black man came back out with her. He was looking very stern. He quickly came and leaned on the window on passenger side and said, "Now, what is it you are looking for? I looked him dead in the eye without a bit of friendliness in my demeanor and said, "We have already told her what we want. She knows, and she is doing a very good job helping us." He said he was just trying to help her. I said something to the effect that it did not appear she needed any help. Finally, he asked her what we wanted. He treated her so nasty. I told her I hated he talked down to her. She said the guys in there always treated her that way. 

I told her she should get some fuzzy slippers instead of the heels she was wearing. She said she was required to wear heels, and bitterly said the guys could wear sneakers. I would hate to be in the workforce this day and age. Flat shoes are okay for teachers and researchers, thankfully. My neighbor had to wear a longline bra and a girdle and heels and hose to teach first grade! She taught 80 years ago.

We came home after picking up bread bogo at Publix. Shopping for cars is exhausting. 

We tried to pick up a prescription for me, but it was not ready for the third day. Finally, after returning and sitting in line for over 45 minutes, we got both. There were only two people/cars ahead of us. Eventually, there were 8 behind and 5 of them left. This was the cream for me to rub on my endometriosis. NOT Thankfully, there were directions on the tube. 

Chances are great we will have an outbreak of tornadoes. I will sleep here in my chair in the living room until I cannot sleep. I would hate to lose all my possessions again. The tree in the backyard will come down in the wind one day. It is so weak and large that it would come through my bedroom in the front of the house. Yikes. Lights are in place. We both have our chargers on our chairs. We won't be stuck in the reclining position...lol. 

Tommy went into the kitchen to get his dinner as I wanted none. After 30 minutes and little noise, I went there to see what was happening. He was making a pizza! I had  bought a package of three pizza crusts on sale. He said he could not make pizza because he had no pizza pan. I do think there are round pizza pans, but he was having none of it. I told him the crust would work on the big rectangular pan, and if it did not, just fold up two of the sides. 

Finally, today, I told him to remember the crusts, the pizza sauce, cheese, and the hamburger meat he had cooked. And that he could put anything on it that he wanted. So, he was making pizza. He got a huge salad and looked happy. I wonder why he pushes so about some simple things.

At this point, we are watching the weather for a possible tornado. The wind made it hard to walk up the ramp, but the wind is down now. 

Are you in danger of violent weather according to the television? 

Rubbing Cream on Endometriosis

March 13

5000 steps

There was no bad weather here today even though it was predicted. It was very sunny and warm--75F. I am not sure what we did today. 

But, we went to pharmacy to pick up a prescription for me and one for Tommy. Neither are in. I asked her what my med was and what it was for. She read from the computer and said a name I have never heard. I asked her how to use it. She said it was a cream to rub on endometrioses.  I knew that could not be. She read it again to confirm the fact to me. 

I asked for a printout of the drug and info. I had to have an id to show her. She had just given me a prescription under my name yet needed to see id just for info. We came back home and got my driver's license. The sheet of paper did not even have my name on it. There is no mention of endometriosis or rubbing the cream on endometriosis! Have you or anyone you know rubbed cream on endometriosis? I don't even have endometriosis.

The guy from the heating company came and performed a six-month preventive service. He was full of info for us. Now, we know a place to remediate mold. The attic is full of it. The ceiling in the closet is collapsing. Tommy says 'later.' So, I make all the appointments around here. I have other plans for the house. 

For dinner, I put a boiled egg and other things in a can of tuna and had salad. Tommy had ground beef in hotdog bun with coleslaw. I had lots of fruit. 

There are storms some places. Not here. How is the weather at your house? Stay safe.

Oncologist Wednesday

 Even though the appointment was at 1:45 in the afternoon, I could barely move, could barely get onto the table. This doctor replaces the gynecological oncologist that died. His father and grandfather died from same cancer and he leaves three boys. I know his wife is tied in knots about their health. I could not think of words, so sounded like I had dementia. 

We left there and went to BK close by. We were going to get small, plain burger. They are $2 or over. Since there is Duo deal, we could get two Whopper Jr.s. for $5. The person at the window said something about me going to the doctor. I suppose from seeing my id bracelet. Then said, how is your blood pressure?  Okay. How is your diabetes? Okay, I guess. She checked up on several medical things with me. I laughed and said, "Is this the hospital's annex?"

She said, "Well, you go to the doctor, then come eat all this fast food?" I defended myself as I laughed, "But, we did not buy fries, bought small burger, no mayo, just vegetables on mine. Diet Coke small?" I don't remember how it all ended, but we were not offended, and she did not give up chiding us as she was very friendy. 

Tommy keeps correcting me saying it was a man, not a woman. ???

We stopped by all the stores to get ads. I bought two of the Red Delicious apples I did not yesterday. Since then, I have been sitting in my chair, trying to rest or sleep or something. I only had a small bowl of cabbage for dinner. 

On the news tonight, we saw a bad backup of traffic from an accident where we had just gone through. I am always grateful not to be sitting in a traffic jam. We almost got hit again in an identical accident near the hospital, but on the driver side of the car. The insurance company would never believe Tommy was not at fault somehow. Tommy was going about five miles an hour when a car going at least 30 miles an hour came zooming into our lane. Thankfully, Tommy braked and swerved. 

At the doctor Tommy left my purse in the car and let it go with the valet. It had $500 cash in it which I cannot find now. Hopefully, I had taken it out of my purse. We will look for it tonight or tomorrow.

After the cabbage for dinner, I am having half an apple, pecans, and three prunes. I never have more than three prunes. 

Have you ever lost a large amount of money? Did you find it?

Edit: I found the money still in my purse plus another $80.

Tuesday Groceries, Doctor, and Stuff

 Today was a beautiful, sunny day. However, at some point two mosquitoes found their way into the car. They did not start flying around for about two hours. We swatted until we were almost swatting each other. These are black or dark gray mosquitoes that are impossible to kill. It seems like they are invincible. 

We both went to the podiatrist. She really hurt me getting the ingrown toenail out. The top part is not too bad, but lower in the nail is horrendous. She really made Tommy bleed from his toe but had styptic powder to stop it. I know about styptic stick, but not the powder. She gave us each a brief foot rub. Nice!

I went into Publix and bought 3 half-gallons of my milk, two 11-oz blueberries for $8, yellow squash $2.99, Large Publix eggs $6.39 for a dozen. Total $36. I forgot to get beautiful Red Delicious Apples. I will get those tomorrow.

I needed to go to SS office, but I read on internet that it was closed. I know it is easy to get into without even one step. Rats! I know a lot of those employees, and now they have lost their jobs, and life is made more difficult for people. 

Once again, Tommy lost his key fob. He could find it nowhere in the car. I asked a guy in Publix to help him. He went out and opened the passenger back seat door and immediately saw it behind the driver's seat. How it got in the little door pocket in the back seat door is a mystery. I think he put it in his lap, and it slid off his leg and into the back seat. He always puts things in his lap and moves around. Then, one of us has to find things. Most of the time I have to reach over between his feet and struggle to reach whatever he drops. Maybe he will learn after two times. 

I took a nap at 7 and woke at 8 tonight. I awoke with a fever. The doctor tomorrow can tell me something or send me to proper doctor. 

Dinner was leftover baked chicken, tiny piece of potato and 6" of carrot and a small bowl of cooked cabbage. I really could not eat much more. Tommy is chopping and cooking two packages of ground round.  He ate during my nap. 

Today, when we were out, we took things to eat. I had applesauce and wheat thins. I think he had a cheese or pb sandwich. We bought nothing. Tommy said we could not get stuff in freezer, so we gave away frozen turkey breast to young mother who was going to let her grandmother bake it. 

The tulips Tommy planted from purchase are not coming up. I may dig one up to see if he planted them upside down! I know they will come up eventually.

French fries in commercials make me drool for fries, but we have not had fries in months! Do you want fries when you see them on commercials? 

With a fever, I don't feel like pedaling. So, more tomorrow, maybe.

Two trips to the doctor in two days will be brutal. 

Smoky Day

 Mar 10

steps 12,000

On Sunday, we went to Walgreen's to get a prescription for each of us. His was not ready and mine was $175. Not paying that. 

When I went with Tommy to Walgreen's, I just wore my jacket and my nightgown, short but to my knees. I wrapped my throw around my waist and went to the car. When we came home, I got out of the car, clutching my blanket and went up the ramp, as I turned to go toward the house, I felt a breeze behind me and clutched my behind since the gown was almost to my waist! I was so embarrassed! I got inside as quickly as I could. Next time, I will pull on a skirt. 

Sunday night, I wanted scrambled eggs for dinner. I scrambled 8 eggs, ate 1/3 of the eggs, and put two-thirds into a bowl for Monday and Tuesday lunch. 

During the freeze a couple of weeks ago with the terrific winds, damage occurred to our bags of Black Kow. It had been stacked on the edge of the porch behind huge flowerpots. I think half the fertilizer uncovered by the wind blew away. When it gets warmer, Tommy will dip it all into a five-gallon bucket. I told him to put some in tulips and other flowers.  

I bought the bags of fertilizer and some potting soil about four years ago in anticipation of planting again in my raised gardens. Of course, I was unable to work that. We have dipping the bags of fertilizer to look forward to doing. I hate to sell my raised gardens because I hold out hope I can plant tomatoes again. 

Today, I felt awful, so went for a nap. At 2pm with no nap and little rest, we went to Cullman to get my mail. I did go into Publix and bought one thing, not one I went in to get. I did snatch a 12-inch skillet, something I have said I was going to buy five years ago. The skillet will replace the 10-inch skillet that has started to peel. Really, I did not slow down the cart! Eggs at this Publix were over $7/doz. That price worries me.

Just now, Tommy told me that is not a place peeling. It is where the spatula is stuck to the surface from my melting it and ruining the spatula, melting it all over. It has two scratches elsewhere, so it goes in the trash anyway. I used cast iron to cook until my wrist cannot hold cast iron anymore. Pots and pans are stainless steel. This one skillet will be my only non-stick cookware.

As Birmingham came into view, It looked like there had been an awful fire. The city was covered in a haze. There was a controlled burn in Bankhead Forest. Tomorrow, it will be gone. 

I cannot wait to eat my last third of my scrambled eggs tomorrow. They are so scrumptious.

Tomorrow and Wednesday I have doctor appointments. Fun! 

Friday will be at least 80F! That makes me happy.

How much are eggs where you live?

Do you ever go out with your skirt up?

Burning Dangers

Mar 9  9,999 steps

 Last night, I had the thermostat set where the ac would come on eventually instead of on heat where it would definitely come on soon. Thankfully, I did not wake sweating. Tommy just now said he did not get cold. The ac may have not come on. 

We were watching a movie that did not go off until 4 am considering the time change. However, I got 9 hours sleep! 

When I turned on the TV Sunday, Dog the Bounty Hunter was on. I decided today was the day to watch it. I will not ever watch it again. I was tired of the tramp stamp way down low on the girl who chewed gum hard and fast with her mouth open. I think Dog tries to convert people from drugs and to religion. The whole show left a bad taste in my mouth. I am not sure which of his five or six wives were on this episode, the huge-busted blonde. I think I would prefer Ice Road Truckers. No, wait, neither one. 

Friday, the nurse wheeled me up to our appointment while Tommy gave the car to the valet. He wanted to know where his key fob was. I used mine to get into the car. So, he did not actually need his until the valet needed it. He searched the car and the nurse took mine to him. I had to remove the house key and my cell phone, 

We came all the way home with only my key fob. I opened the house with the house key. He came inside searching for his fob. I reminded him that it would have to be in the car since we could open the car doors without it. Sooo, he went back and searched the car twice, first in the back seat, then under the front seat with a flashlight. It was under the front seat of the car! UGH So, we could settle down. 

I think we had 200 wildfires this last weekend. I saw this article below, and it was very informative. It reminded of when a neighbor where we moved 50 years ago, burned toxic wood. Everything inside was painted green. Green paint from the 50s contained lead paint. She came over to the pile of wood from inside our house that the carpenters piled at the curb. She told me later she was able to burn it for weeks. She ran a home nursery that no one monitored! 

burning dangers

Today, it was coolish and soggy, about48 degrees, and drizzly, sprinkles, not much falling at one time. 

How was your Sunday?

Forrest Gump Again

 Saturday night here.

March 8. My Mother would have been 103 today.

EDIT

Steps 9,999 I relented and could do no more.

Going to the doctor wiped me out. We went there, got a small burger and came home after a visit to bank and The Pig. I went in neither place after we left the doctor.

At dinner Friday, I could not eat, so told Tommy to fix me nothing. I went to bed at 10 after complaining I would get hot. He countered he would be cold. He set the ac so low it would never come on. It did not and I had to get out of the bed at 2;30 am because I was hot and sweaty. I sat in here about an hour and went to sleep sitting up. I awoke at 9:30. I still had not recovered from Friday. 

Some guy opened the storm door, gave two shave-and-a-haircut knocks about 3 pm. Tommy was asleep and I was under my laptop. So, I loudly asked who it was twice. 'from verizon' I loudly asked what he wanted....something about asking us some questions about our internet. I told him we did not want anything from Verizon and not to come back. Do you remember someone came last year with the shave-and-a-haircut knock. I think he was the guy who put his foot in the door. So, I need to call Verizon. WEIRD! Tommy always opens the door to unknown persons!

It is now Saturday night. I had dinner--chopped chicken on a bun with bbq sauce and slaw on the sandwich. Tommy, too. 

I did nothing today. I might pedal some. Well, I did 'do' something. Forrest Gump played again. We watched it again and hung onto every word. I did catch something I have never realized before. (Bubba asked Gump if he had ever been on a shrimp boat. Gump replied that no, but he had been on a big boat. Bubba laughed and explained a shrimp boat.) It was so much fun, even this time. Tom Hanks was very good at showing his feelings through his eyes. Maybe it will play again this week. lol

Tommy will want the ac on tonight so I won't get so hot. Thank goodness. I will pedal some, watch news and go to bed if I can stay up until after the news goes off.

Allergy season is here. We both are having sinus problems.  

How about you? Are your allergies affected? 

Is there any movie you would like to watch again two days later? 

Thursday

 I managed to get my hair washed tonight with Tommy's help. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. 

The only thing we did today was to gather the 3 ads. Tommy shopped--toilet paper, potatoes, bananas, milk for him, milk for me, Sweet Baby Ray's Vidalia BBQ Sauce. That bbq sauce is so good I could eat it with a spoon. Only the potatoes were reduced. This will be a low spend week, it appears. 

We drove next door so I could see if the huge elm has broken branches, either fallen or hanging in the tree. Tommy had walked out to the little dogwood. He said it broke off at the ground. It was a dying tree, anyway. He tried to move it. But, it was too heavy for him to drag even an inch, much less to road. 

For dinner I had baked chicken breast, baked potatoes and carrots. Tommy had chicken breast, potatoes, carrots, and greens. 

I still have not pedaled. My arms and hands are trembling all the time. My back is bone on bone, so not sure if the trembling problem is from my back problems. 

It was warm when we left the house, but I soon needed the jacket I carried with me. It was still windy, so that made it too cool for me. 

Oh my! Forrest Gump just came on and the Elvis episode is on. Such fun. Gotta go.

Wednesday--Bed for Me

No steps today or yesterday. Bed or napping in my chair was the order of the day. I did go to the door to inspect the fallen tree. I looked out the kitchen window and determined the Elm was standing except for many little limbs. Someone needs to go to back yard and inspect the roof. The neighbor across the street has many roof shingles flapping along the edge of the roof. The same thing happened to his rental a few months ago in the same place, so I wonder if the owner even repaired the flapping shingles. 

I am eating the rest of the chicken alfredo dish for dinner. The broccoli and pimientos made it look like a dish appropriate for Christmas.  Tommy ate a hamburger with the rest of the chopped hamburger and slaw. He gave us both such large helpings that it will take another hour to eat my helping. 

Read no further unless you can read the following as information, not an attack.

 Bid Paddles

"The use of the bid paddle in ancient Rome can be traced back to the Roman Republic, which lasted from 509 BC to 27 BC. It was used as a means of voting, with each voter holding a small wooden tablet to indicate their vote. The tablet was marked with the name of the candidate they supported. This method of voting was known as tabellae, and it was used for both public and private elections."

There are pages of information in this article. Yet, nowhere is a paddle equated with racism. No auction house is excoriated for the use of paddles as racist. Other governments use the paddles for recognition and to vote. Only recent Republican attacks mention racism when talking about Democrats with paddles protesting in Congress. 

I am still on the verge of a heart attack or stroke from his speech with all the attitude and cruelty. No, being sick is not affected by this state of chaos. I did not even turn on my cell phone today. We did put away the Santa and two deer on a table. Progress!

Windy!

Today, about 1 pm, there were blue skies and fluffy clouds. About 3 pm, the skies were dull and cloudy. Then, the fierce wind started. We had a chore and Tommy went to Publix to get Pepsi b2g2. The came to $5 for a pack of 12 drinks. I had forgotten slaw bogo, so $2.50. I forgot what else, maybe nothing. 

I sat in the car while he went in. The wind rose, and I was afraid the wind might blow him over. As he came out and was loading the car, I saw two people I see all the time in Publix. One woman was late 70's. I suspect the younger woman, maybe 50s, has intellectual disability. The mother drives, but the daughter helps with getting things from shelves. 

The older woman wanted an electric cart. I could tell. She cannot walk well, and I always see her in an electric cart. Plus, the daughter was pointing and shaking her head. 

As we got to the other end of the parking lot, we saw a cart. So, I hopped on it and rode it all the way back to the store, explained I knew she needed it, that I understood. Then, she refused to take it. When I told her we were through shopping and I got it specially for her, she still worried Tommy was not there. Actually, he was, just lurking where I could not see him, I don't know why he would wait so far away. I was off the cart and trying to get him to come to me. 

I also told her if she called the store and asked them to bring a cart, they would. I explained that the manager saw me struggling to walk and told me to call next time. So, she was surprised and happy to hear that. 

It is not often I can help someone, but today I could. Instead of giving up something/chocolate for Lent, Anne in the Kitchen will be doing a kindness for 40 people. I think that is a good idea because giving up chocolate for 40 days would be too hard. This way, I can do forty good things for others. It really makes no difference because I have never observed Lent. My church does not do that.

No steps for yesterday or today. I am going to AFC or somewhere to see what could be wrong. 

Tommy and I were inside and the wind was fierce. I heard a strange noise. Tommy, much later, looked out the door and exclaimed that the tree fell down. The dogwood tree fell down, wrested from the ground by the wind. It was dying anyway, and it looked awful. So, it needs to be dragged to the road, about 12 feet away. This fall, we will get someone to plant another tree. I hope the maple in the backyard does not succumb to the wind. It so, it will hit the house, but it is failing too. I imagine it is hollow inside. 

I have not pedaled at all last night or today. Legs need therapy. 

Hopefully, my deer don't blow away! Is it windy at your house? 

TOMMY'S HOUSE IS CREAKING FROM THE WIND. SCARY!

Experimenting

 Tonight, I am watching Ice Road Truckers or something like that. I never knew truckers drove over a frozen lake with ice only three feet deep. Talk of the ice cracking and a truck falling in make me nervous for them. 

There is another show I want to see, Dog, the Bounty Hunter, both only once. 

Tommy boiled four eggs for me. Two will probably go into tuna salad. I bought celery, so I will have some in the tuna salad. 

When I first married, I made tuna salad with lots of ingredients. We both had two sandwiches from one bowl of tuna salad. They were not skimpy sandwiches, either. 

Ice Road Truckers is off. It is just okay. I will never watch that again. 

I am really ill. I think I know what is wrong, with two or three backup things going wrong. So, no pedaling. I can barely move right now. I never, ever go to bed without brushing my teeth. Sunday night, I just staggered off to bed with no thought of my teeth. UGH, cannot do that again. 

Today was a pretty, warm day. 

Dinner: we both had the meal we cooked last night--baked chicken, potato, carrots and slaw. This was a meal that came out of the oven after we had eaten. Delicious. I had very little. Later, I had a small bowl of strawberries and blueberries.

Have you ever seen Ice Road Truckers or Dog, the Bounty Hunter? Do you like them?

Sunday

My elderly (93 yrs) friend could not talk when I called. But. she did say that she was going to the doctor and her father who lives with her now, would take her to the doctor. Of course, her father is not still alive and husband who she lives with does not drive. So, lots of changes with her.

Tommy was washing the dishes after 1:30 am. He will not leave dishes. The kitchen is cluttered but has clean counters, stove, and sink. I hate not to be more help. 

My sleep was a little off last night, but I did get up to watch Meet the Press this morning. I was not going to miss it. I only took a one-hour nap today, so that won't affect my sleep tonight. 

The sun is streaming through the glass door. It is great until a certain point until it blinds me! My legs liked the heat and sun. 

Right now, Tommy is peeling carrots and potatoes. I will put bscb and boneless, skinless thighs into a cooking bag with the potatoes and carrots, maybe some broccoli. At any rate, we can eat protein for about ten days. The vegetables won't last that long as we have few potatoes and carrots. I should have bought more this last week. 

Ten new wildfires are in Alabama today! At least we will have rain midweek. 

I talked with Tommy's cousin who is not coming to Birmingham anymore. We did go out to eat once in a while at Bright Star, but he has not come in two years. His wife ventured out and fell into a blackberry bush. So, he and I talked falling about. She is clumsy, he said. But, neither of us have ever broken a bone. Well, unless you count the little toe I broke when I hit a chair. 

We both had chicken with bbq sauce on a bun. We both had about two helpings of slaw. It was delicious! I had blueberries and strawberries.

I missed the first episode of Grosse Point Garden Society. It was replayed Saturday night. Tonight, the second episode is coming on tonight. Are you watching this? 

"The Americas" is on, narrated by Tom Hanks. Are you watching this series? This is the fourth episode of ten episodes.

Do you have friends or relatives whose cognition is failing? 

I am on a roll

Mar 1

19,998 steps 

 Last night, I slept from midnight to a little after 7 am. I am proud of me. Sleeping most of the day is not the way I want to live. Hopefully, this will continue.

Since even now I am still in a state of shock at the state of world affairs, I am surprised I slept at all. But, I think the trauma knocked me out. 

At the Pig, there were girls selling GS Cookies, so we bought two boxes, Trefoils for Tommy and Thin Mints for me. This won't be pretty. 

At The Pig, we bought two cases of Dasani, celery, sweet potatoes, slaw mix.

I decided to have sardines for lunch. I had Beach Cliff. They smelled funny, not like sardines when I opened them. Tommy said they stunk. Well, I ate them, hating every bite. When I finished, the taste stayed with me. I carefully picked up the greasy can to read ingredients. They are sprats. ??? I looked up sprats. It turns out they are supposed to taste 'meaty' and not 'fishy." In other words, they do not taste like sardines. I drank water, ate a few chocolate chips, and brushed my teeth well. I still tasted like sprats. Tommy laughed and said not to wear a mask that I wanted to wear again because it might stink forever. I was glad to wear a mask because others could probably smell my breath. Have you ever eaten sprats? Oh, the can says 'Sardines.' No, they are not. Do you like sardines?

This was a beautiful day as yesterday. Yesterday, the day was a brilliant blue with not a cloud or chemtrail in the sky. Today, there were clouds and a breeze. The breeze was warm, but I knew my allergies would suffer. Of course, next week will be mostly rainy. 

I have never gotten the taste of the sprats out of my mouth. I belch about every fifteen minutes, nasty smelling and tasting belches. I have no idea if it the sprats or soybean oil. I ate them about1 pm and it is almost 10 pm now.

Have you bought or will you buy GS cookies?