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.

Reindeer Attack

Jan. 6 skipping steps tonight

Today, we got up early and prepared to see the podiatrist, both of us. Well, I staggered to the door. It was dark inside and locked. On the door was a sign informing the public of new hours--Tues--Friday. 

Since we planned to go to Publix with a list of bogo items and other things we need, we shopped instead.  My electric cart would not turn, causing me pain. I almost hit a dozen people. Finally, a customer told and employee I needed a new cart. 

There was only one thing I could not find. There were no more Pepsi at noon and the Pepsi man came this morning. Grrr. No one checked the back. My hands trembled the whole time, and I was in no mood to be right. 

When we came home, I took the two loaves of bread and three bananas and went up the ramp to save the soft things and unlock the door. My toe of left shoe caught where ramp meets porch and I slammed into the deer headfirst. 

The porch was freezing. I was screaming because my elbow was twisted under me. I could not get my elbow out. I thought I could twist around and sit up. It is a good thing I did not because I would have fallen off backward. I landed on the bread and dropped the bananas!

Two of the guys grabbed me by upper arms and to pick me up. I was screaming in pain, telling them they were hurting me because of torn rotator cuffs. Two other guys chimed in and said I had told them before. Of course, the new guys did not know. So, they stuffed the soft stretcher under me and got me to my feet. 

My poor deer barely survived my lunging into them. Tommy has been struggling in below freezing (31F) and (18F feels like) weather to make the deer stand. I told him to lay them on the porch. We can see how broken they are next Christmas. It is snowing on and off. 

I have a huge abrasion on head. The deer are a wire frame with soft mesh around them. So, there is no damage to my head except for the burn of the abrasion. 

When I fell, I knocked over a pot of dirt and broke it. So, I was sitting in that. When I sat down inside, my behind and leg were wet. Lovely mud.  Poor Tommy has been out in the cold for an hour. He just came in and said his hands are numb. They look swollen. 

The guys were telling me I had bedazzled my clothes. I suppose after rolling around in the deer glitter, I have dragged in enough to last until next Christmas. 

Tommy just looked at his day planner. He has the appointment correct in his day planner but told me the wrong date. Oh well! I am more annoyed at all the glitter in the house right now. Shockingly, I did not break any fingernails or bones. 

No chiding me! The mud on my behind and glitter all over me, squashed bread and bruised bananas are my only problem.

When Tommy finally came in, he immediately brought me a Hershey's Miniature. Good man. Just now, he told me I broke the plastic pot AND my watering can! I did more damage to everything else than me. 

I never slept on Sunday night, so that probably played a part in the tumble. I am going to bed now at 3:30 and eat dinner later after a nap. Tommy said he can get a bag of meatballs and leftover vegetables. I will eat tuna with lots of carrots and celery in it. We will survive! The dinner for tonight will be for Tuesday night.

I  did get an appointment, most important doctor for this week!!!

Thursday Lows and Highs

 Tommy saw an endocrinologist. She gave him new meds and protocols. She did not want to hear a damn thing I said about him not knowing what was going on. He has a patch thing and a little monitor. There is no way I can get a monitor or put monitoring on my phone. She only wanted to hear from Tommy. Tommy has no idea what to do after he is out of it. However, I did tell her a lot before she wanted Tommy to talk. He had nothing to say. He knows nothing, really. She said we had to work things out between us, as though this is just a clash of personalities. The nurse said she is not allowed to try to get him to do what I say. Incredulous! 

On the way home, the gadget went off twice. He did eat a cheese stick and then a meat stick when it went off a second time. This gives us one more remote-type thing to lose--about 2"x3". We search for the two tv remotes, two chair remotes with wire, two phones. It is maddening some days. 

She read the little 'remote' thing and in less than 30 minutes, his blood sugar had dropped 80 points and was heading downward. He seems to respect this little gadget. He ate twice, each time it dropped. 

He stopped to get a $1 burger that is now $2.50.

This morning when I was still in my nightgown, one of my rings came, just tossed on the porch. Tommy got it and I got up to take it. Well, I turned around and bent to pick up something that fell  on the floor. Then, down I tumbled, falling face first into a clean clothes basket. Remind me I cannt turn when I am leaning. Tommy called 911 emphasized I was not hurt, just could not get up...no ambulance needed. Three guys came in firetruck. They used something they called the 'sheet' and stuffed it under me from behind. It had handles. They picked it and me up and dumped me in my chair. They said they were going to leave it, keep it for next time, and it was expensive, so don't throw it away. The ring was two sizes smaller than Tommy ordered. And, I was so excited. I must remember to only be excited sitting down. I fall no more than I ever have, just cannot recover...lol. 

I have called where I got the ring three times, and it seems this will be an ordeal. The ring is supposed to fit my ring finger, not little finger. It does look cute. My knuckles are not swollen in the least, so there is nothing to hold a ring on my finger, especially the little finger. I have reflex sympathetic dystrophy, therefore my left hand has fingers larger than fingers on dominant right hand. I need ten different ring sizes. Only when I buy a ring is this a problem. My left wrist and arm are larger, too. 

We discussed how we needed more pb crackers. Munchies are the best in terms of ingredients, so we will get more and make sure we have them at all times since there is only one package left. It seems he will obey the monitor remote. The doctor handed me a needle with something I can give him if he is too far gone and emt/ambulance has not arrived. We will see if he will submit to me giving him something. He says I am trying to kill him. I could just let him lie in the floor or his chair if I wanted to kill him. I would not have to chance getting hit more than he hits me now when he is out of it.  So many questions. 

I had a relative who was uncontrollable with her diabetes anger and resistance. Finally, she did not know what was going on because of her diabetes. He is probably dead now, too, so no one to ask. 

Did I tell you that the thrift store about a mile from here caught on fire. We thought they would get the stuff that burned and retrieve the rest. Well, at this point, walls are gone, roof remains and the steel supports. The stuff inside now moved outside is just piles of burned trash. We are surprised that so much was destroyed since they let it stand for several weeks without any apparent activity from our viewpoint. We are also surprised the roof remains. It is metal and looks burned. 

I am ready to cook dinner, but had a snack beforehand. I ate Daisy small curd cottage cheese with cooked blueberries over the cottage cheese. I was telling Tommy it had an abundance of protein. Of course, he hates cottage cheese. Daisy Cottage Cheese, has the fewest ingredients. I am grateful my mother taught me to eat cottage cheese with peaches.  Do you ever eat Daisy? 

Do you have any hints to getting a resistant person out of it from diabetes blood sugar drop to cooperate and drop the combativeness? Do you or have you ever had anyone like this? 

It Is a First

 Last night, I was so tired I went to bed at 10:30. Of course, you know that means nothing to my body. So, at 12:30 I awoke to go to the bathroom. I fell. This is the first time I have fallen, not tripped, mattress threw me out of bed, or something like that. Last time it was a tall screw that Tommy refused to let me screw down in threshold of front door! This time, I just fell over. Don't worry. I landed on a laundry basket of towels and sheet ready to be folded--nice, fluffy sheets out of the laundry and not folded. The fall was not even jarring.  But, this time I was lucky I did not hit the dresser. From now on, I stand a minute.

My big problem after 911 was called was that I still needed to pee. So I did! I stuffed a folded towel under me and then a pair of pants behind me. At least, there was nothing on the carpet. 

Thankfully, I did not hit my head on anything. From now on, I will get my balance like I usually do instead of just start walking. I usually stand and wait a second after I flip over and bounce off the bed. Yes, I am fast on this new extra-mattress. 

We had gone to Cullman yesterday to the lunch at a church. Not many people who came before covid were there. The guitarists and a woman on tambourine were there playing during the meal. There were hymnals to sing from. I had never heard the first four or five songs, so did not sing or try. 

The huge round tables were well-appointed. Pink and pale green table cloths were on the tables with a pretty bouquet of flowers and little decorations around the vases. 

My 93-year-old friend was there, too. Her husband fell going up a slippery ramp and the side of his face was very bruised. They were going to the beauty shop where she was getting a perm. After he fell, he insisted he was okay, so they went inside.  The people in the shop insisted 911 should be called. The EMTs checked him while she got her perm. 

Then, friends left and took him to ER just to be sure. After that, they picked up BBQ to take home for dinner. She drove after he fell and they left the beauty shop. 

When they arrived home, their son and daughter were waiting on them. They took the car with them so they cannot drive anymore. They children never tried the parents' cell phone. They never called the police to see if they had been involved in a wreck. They never called the ER. Just "could not find them." I was incensed for her.

The day I called her I found out this happened the day before, she was still furious. Plus, she had to cook dinner because they had nothing to eat. Usually, they go get one plate and share it or a relative brings dinner. Now, she was angry she could not go out to take care of herself and not have to cook. She said by the time she got dinner done and on the table, she was exhausted. 

Son did take her to this lunch, one he has always attended. Everyone there to whom she related her story agreed with her son and daughter. I felt for her. We can always take her if we are in Cullman. Even when we go there without a luncheon happening, we will call to see if we can take them anywhere. 

We had bbq pork, baked beans, and slaw at the lunch. And cake. However, I could not eat the slaw as there were diced cucumbers in it. I never eat baked beans, not a fan. I had to have a tiny burger to make it home.

By the way, I have no residual pain anywhere to remind me I fell. But, it was scary because it was first fall without mitigating circumstances. The other falls were like all falls in my life except for the fact I could not get up! I am a faller. 

Have you ever had falls that had nothing to do with age, weakness, or losing balance? I have had many!

A Fall

 About 9:30 on Monday night, Tommy came into the living room, was looking around and saying, "Where did you...where is it...what did you do with...on and on, over and over. I was wondering what he wanted, so I kept asking him and he said, 'nothing' or 'never mind' or just went back to the kitchen. Then, he would come back, wander around and not answer me. He was ill with me. Finally, after about 15 minutes of this, I heard the biggest crash ever in this house. I rushed into the kitchen. Remember, this chair is slow lifting and then I have to make an extreme effort to get out. So, rushing into the kitchen takes a long time. 

Tommy was lying on the floor with blood on hand and head. Briefly tried to talk with him, but he was barely conscious. He made no sense when he muttered. I called 911 immediately. Ambulance and firetruck came screaming. 

They treated Tommy where he lay. I asked the two women with him if one of them could turn off the eye where food was burning. His blood pressure was very high. His blood sugar was 32...32! They immediately put in an IV of sugar. Their words not mine. 

The guys asked if he had high blood pressure. Since the doctor prescribed high bp med before he had high bp, I never know how to answer, so I said he did take bp med. I showed it to them and gave them water and they served it to him. My bp was sky high at that point! 

He landed on his stomach but managed to turn to his back before anyone came. He could not tell me if he was hurt. I gasped at the blood on his hand. I came back and there was blood on the other hand and the outer corner of his eye. He was in the narrowest place in this house by far, right as he was still in kitchen and heading to door to living room. I could not get close. I could not step over him and keep my balance. Besides, I wondered if he would trip me thinking I was stepping on him. 

I heard squeaking from where he and four EMTs were standing as I sat in my chair. One guy came in here, and I asked him what was the squeaking. I feared it was Tommy. One of the women had laryngitis. Fifteen minutes later when Tommy was recovering, he asked what was squeaking. He said he was really troubled, thinking something was wrong with him still that he could not hear things right. 

So, once they got Tommy up, they sat him on his walker. Then, they helped him up and wanted him to push his walker to living room. They commented about his pb by chair and said he needed that in a pbj sandwich, asking him if he had bread. He started making a pb sandwich. He refuses to eat jelly on it. After the people left, I got him a warm real Coke. I told him it was warm and to drink it anyway. He did. 

I was exhausted from the drama and worry for Tommy. I finished the burger I had half cooked. I gave him that on a bun and heated a bowl with all the leftovers of potato, broccoli, and green beans. There was little of each.

The reason his blood sugar was dropping was that we wanted to watch Antique Road Show. I know he should manage his own health, but obviously, he won't. And, he just now told me F*** Off! 

I had to wake him at 2 am to take meds and his insulin because he did not even take meds! He is so exhausting. And rude. This is why I didn't do anything to help him when he was wandering around just before he fell. I knew abuse would follow. I would have done more if I actually thought he would fall. He tells me he knows what he is doing and does not need help! He is too big to manhandle as if he were three. 

It is 3 am, and I cannot sleep!

Do you have experience with someone with diabetes who will not listen? He will get the little dexcon thing to wear, but will not allow it on my phone because he "can do it himself" because he "knows what he is doing."

He had a boarder about 20 years ago who found him unconscious in the living room. She called an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital. He complained that all she needed to do was put food in his mouth. He did not know about the tubes of gel to squeeze in a person's mouth and said he did not need  to keep those around because food would work, too. Seee? If I do try to force anything on him, he will hurt me because he is strong. Remember?

Tuesday now. So, he lived through the night. I always worry about that. 

Between the two of us, we cooked three packages of sliced chicken and sliced turkey breast, potatoes, carrots, squash and onions. I did put garlic powder and onion powder on all. 

We ate late, too late. I had Tommy eat pb that he put on crackers. He did not argue as he usually does. I suppose his cut eye still hurts. The cut is right on his brow, right on the bone. I bled lots and then quit. He has a few other small bruises, but I forgot where. He was not hurt so it affected his walking. 

I have the name of a new Endocrinologist and will get an appointment for Tommy, too. 

Do you or have you dealt with a diabetic in trouble who does not know it?

I Hate This Purse!

 

Genuine Leather Cross Body Bag - Super Soft & Durable Crossbody Bags For Women & Men - Classic Bronze Hardware With Adjustable Strap (Red): Handbags: Amazon.com

I really dislike this purse I am carrying. See the three red tassels for zipper pulls? They were at least four inches long if not longer. So, I cut over half of each tassel. It improves the look a little. The vertical pocket will barely hold a flip phone and will not hold an Android. My glasses barely fit. I doubt cigarettes would fit. I had to mash the whole purse to get the snap shut. I suppose that is a good thing if you have put something into it. But, to just close it empty, I was annoyed. 

Look at the two pouches to the left, both with tassels. The larger pouch has a little pocket on the front. Well, the larger pouch has a zipper that shows the whole cloth part of the zipper. Not cool. The inside of the little pocket has lining that is already picked and has tiny holes in it. I wonder how long it will be until it just shreds. 

The two buckles at each side near the top zipper makes the purse too busy for me. The top zipper on the front has a matching one on the back. Those zippered pockets are over half the length of the purse, so it seems top heavy when I put things in them. 

The zipper in the top of the purse had a huge tassel, too. The zipper end of the zipper end is okay, but the other end is loose. I cannot close the zipper with one hand, so I have to hold each end of the zipper. It is such an annoyance! 

Inside the purse, there are two open pouch pockets on the front and another zipper on the back inside. There are too many pockets, pouches, zippers and tassels.

The color is the only thing I like about this purse. I hate wearing it and carrying it. I realize I saw a picture, but basically, I feel like I bought it sight unseen. Plus, I put too much into it because I can. It is about 9"x10"x2", way too large. Thankfully, I only paid about $29 for it, I think. I will not toss it or just keep it. Hopefully, I can sell it or donate it. 

The strap is too wide for my taste. The whole purse is made of soft, thin leather. The long strap was folded like long straps usually are folded. It has never lost the folds, so it looks cheap and not leather. 

Tommy left a cheesecake on the counter for over 24 hours, okay--31 hours. I only ate a piece late Wednesday night. I noticed it was not firm and not at all even cool. When I asked where he stored it, he said on the counter. Yet, he knows to put cream cheese in the refrigerator. I told him that information about the refrigerator was on the box. He came back and said it was on the bottom. I guess he was justifying his action. He is learning. No, I did not yell at him, quite the contrary. 

It is 24 hours later, and I did not suffer from eating cheesecake stored wrong. Dinner: chicken, green bean casserole for me. Tommy: chicken, potato, kidney beans, zucchini, potato and carrot. Everything was leftover, fine by us. 

My 92-year-old friend is much better, no longer coughing with much congestion. But, her husband fell last Friday, so he is having physical therapy at home. I still worry for them. 

I called a Master Gardener friend about the irrigation for flowers and food in pots. She at least gave me two names to add to my vocabulary when trying to say what I want. I know I do not want soaker hoses or overhead dripping onto plants. What I need has to do with tubes and emitters. 

The lunch at the church with meals and musicians starts back up. We will go, sit, pack up meals to take out. We still wear masks so no eating! 

Did you ever acquire a purse that was so annoying that you developed such a great dislike and unhappiness with its very existence in your life? 

Do you water with the setup that includes, tubes, emitters, time and outdoor faucet connection? Anything I need to know?

Tuesday Accomplishments and a Fall

 I awoke at 10:30 and suggested we go to Cullman. I needed my mail. We left here at 11:30 and got to town and bought a Chic-Fil-A sandwich, only chicken and bread. We had a diet drink with us and ate at a nice place that normally would be green. Well, we parked with a dead tree right in front of us, not tall enough to fall on us. 

We headed across the road to a salvage place and off-loaded drink cans, the whole back end of the Rogue, 6 kitchen garbage bags. Tommy got $8, almost enough to pay for the sandwiches. I got him started on this. He refused to do it when I moved here but finally got with the program. Hueytown does not have a recycling program. 

We went to one grocery store and found that the same item at The Pig was 6 cents less. Several months ago it was much cheaper. So, I did not buy it. 

We went to Publix where I looked for something, trying to figure out if Publix had eliminated it. No, they have not. I bought an apple to eat in the car and went to bathroom. 

Finally, we had an air compressor to use on tires, a tiny one. I wanted our money back. Tommy was sure they would not refund it because it had been so long and we had no receipt. Well, I got the money back. Tommy originally paid for it, but I played dumb and tried to keep it. He said he had not had money in his pocket for a long time and to give it to him. Well, I was laughing and trying to keep $5. I did give it to him. I intended to all along. So, he got money twice today. I actually need to give him $2 that is him from Publix yesterday. Change is always mine--my rule. 

We got a lot done by just driving from one place to the other. We did not linger after we ate is our want. 

We collected my mail and headed home, arriving here at 4:45. We have been recovering before making taco soup. Then, Tommy fell. He is okay, but we are both shaken. However, I hurt worse than he does s I was trying to help him up. I have to go cook, so will tell you about it tomorrow.

The day was wonderful, bright, and warm. However, when I came out of Publix, my jacket was unzipped but still hooked at the bottom. My coat filled with wind, and I thought I was going to blow away. 

Oh, last night, I had a short nap and awoke after the news went off. Then, I slept again. Woke up, slept again. So, between three sleeping episodes, I had a full nine hours of sleep. Weird. Then, I dreamed I was cooking a vat of kale, yellow squash and tomatoes and we were going to either can it or freeze it. I was certainly busy during that dream. It would have taken all day to run that through a canner. 

Was your day fruitful? 

Sunny? 

@#$% I FELL

 

Actually, I slumped all the way down and could not get up. 

Once again, I 'fell' coming in the front door. My shoe caught on the loose screw in the metal strip under the door, on the threshold. This is the same place I have fallen twice before, the same screw Tommy forbade me to remove by just pulling it out. I was going to put a bit of a toothpick in the hole with wood glue and replace the screw. Well, now I think he knows it is a problem.

Lest you think I came crashing down like I did the last time, let me dissuade you of that idea. I was holding the doorknob with my right hand and slumped to the right, leaning on the door as I started down. I grabbed the doorknob with my left hand. Then, I slowly sank to my knees which hurt my good knee. Then, I very slowly sort of slumped to my left side, the side of the shoulder with rotator cuff tear and another tear across chest muscle. 

The only problem was that I could not lay my head down and I could not straighten my left knee because of the way I was lying. Of course, Tommy cannot help me get up. And, I cannot put weight on either knee. Otherwise, I would just get up on hands and feet like a baby and straighten up. I can still manage that but not getting on my knees! 

One of the firemen had done this last year. When I told them I did not just fall, but the same loose and sticking up screw caught me again, he asked me if I had a screwdriver. He attempted to screw it in after putting a yard stick in the hole. He put in too much wood, I think. Anyway, he asked if he could just remove the screw. So, it is not in the way anymore. Tommy would not allow me to take it out. The strip is stable, so it is not a big deal. 

We had just come in from the grocery store. I went to the bathroom after they hauled me up, and we headed out again...lol. We may be in for a couple of days. Roads are closed, the interstate north of here. 

I went out for red storage tubs and found a 90% off sale. Of course, I had to shop that after there were no red tubs. I spent $1.66. for six items. 

Spring nightgowns are in the stores. I now have two and was trying them on for looks once home, not fit. Both have pockets!!! This is thrilling. 

Grocery store--red potatoes, broccoli, carrots, apples, milk, eggs. The French toast people were out en masse. I wanted to run screaming, but I cannot even walk. I did not want to yell at anyone, just shriek to get away, sort of a primal scream. 

Tommy 'plugs in a light bulb and puts it in the washing machine,' took spray cans we are returning to Lowe's, covered the outdoor faucet. We are prepared. We are set. We will have to go to a motel if we lose power as this is too cold to stay home and tough it out. The upside of losing power for a few days and going to a motel? He will finally be convinced we need a generator! 

He washed kitchen laundry this morning, so that is done. Everything else was clean. 

The light bulb idea works since his washing machine has never frozen. I was lucky that I had a basement below my washing machine, so no frozen pipes ever and they were not insulated at all. 

What preps do you make before a freeze? 

Do you or someone you know have a stumbling block that causes a fall or trip?

Thanksgiving Gone, Christmas Music Here

 

I thought I started a new post. That must have been in my head! I had something to write about, but it has left my brain. Maybe if I ramble along, it will come back. I snoozed in my chair during the news. 

 All the Thanksgiving food is gone except for part of the turkey breast. I still have the thawed turkey in a pot in the refrigerator, so it will be baked tomorrow. Thankfully, Tommy is willing to take the meat off after I rip off the breast. I made such a little bit of gravy that I may make more gravy. However, coleslaw and green beans will be eaten instead of Stove Top and green bean casserole. 

My goal was to get Thanksgiving/Fall put away the day of Iron Bowl, Saturday, but I wanted Tommy to help. I did it myself. It is all gone and in two orange Rubbermaid type boxes. Now, to tackle the red boxes. 

I just cannot bend to dust. Sunday he used the Libman duster. It needs to be longer. When I pointed out he missed a table top, he said it was stuff stuck on. I think it was the residue that gas heat leaves along with dust. This is the dustiest place ever. So, I took a wet cloth and finally got it off. 

Saturday night, I told him what to do to six-foot long bookcase that is less than three feet tall. Useless piece of furniture! Sunday, before I got up, he had cleared one end off but did not dust it...??? There is junk on the end nearest him. 

Monday night late, after dark he covered up the plants outdoor with two sheets. I took the Libman duster out to shake and whack on the ramp railing. When he came in he said it scared him. I suppose I should have said something first. But, the duster is ready for him to dust the top of the bookcase which I cannot reach because of his junk in the floor! 

I noticed when I put out Halloween decorations on the bookcase near the door, a little short bookcase, too, but not long, he started suddenly to sort and clean off the bookcase. So, I may put out Christmas on his two bookcases and let him clean around them. 

The uti lingers. I have had an earache for a year or so, better some time than others. Okay, it has been two years. Now, it is almost unbearable! Plus, my back and kidney still ache. The fall did not help me at all. It might have contributed to the earache becoming so unbearable. I did land on the left side and barely hit my head. 

Today, I found out that my primary care doctor got a wheelchair. Yay!

Tonight, we had chicken/rice/broccoli from before Thanksgiving. We added green beans. I should have had some slaw, too. This weekend I put the package of chicken breasts in the crockpot on high and they were done so I could freeze them. These were the ones for which we paid $1.99/lb. When I have baked chicken, I can take it with me in the car so I don't get hungry and eat fast food. I had Tommy tear me off a piece, I sliced cheese and he put in one of the brown and serve rolls. That beats a cheeseburger for my health and is cheaper, too, although he never minds the cost. 

The next time the temp gets up to 70F, and it will, the lemon tree will spend the day outdoors. I am going to buy a grow light for the two citrus trees. Maybe I will just leave it inside and hurry to get a gro-light

Right after Halloween, Tommy found Christmas music on 96.5 FM here in Birmingham. So, I have been enjoying that on the run up to Halloween. The holidays will be gone too soon, it appears. 

I broke down and bought store-packaged pecans and they are good, not all dried out. I bought South Georgia Pecans at Publix for right at $10/lb. That is actually cheap. The ones at the flea market were almost that much for a sandwich bag full. These are great for a healthy snack.  Now, I will make a pecan pie and make the pecans unhealthy. I have not made or eaten pecan pie in over five years, maybe more. I won't gobble it down and will severely restrict other carbs! As of today, I am going to more actively try to lose weight! They may have been bogo. Maybe not. I cannot find the receipt right now.

Are you on a weight-loss journey?

Have you found a station to listen to Christmas music?

Have you decorated yet for Christmas? Or, maybe started?

Coconuts, The Fall, Car Rental Fiasco

 Mama always used a coconut, fresh in the shell, for all cooking at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I did, too, until I discovered canned coconut. However, I only find it sweetened these days. So, on Wednesday I was going to buy one at The Pig. No, it was about the size of a softball. Today, Thursday, I looked in Publix where they were about the same size. 

In The Pig, Tommy shook them as did I. We found most had no liquid inside. At Publix, same thing. The best coconut had a crack. Nope. So, I bought one. It was small, too. I hope the meat is delicious. Tommy has never had fresh coconut, straight from the coconut.

Okay, the tale of car rental and my fall. 

Tommy's car was shaking like there was something happening with fuel delivery. At one point, I could not ride in the car unless I leaned forward so my back would not touch the seat back. You can imagine how uncomfortable that was. After that, I declared it had to be repaired and we needed to rent a car. 

Tommy called and rented on over the phone. We were told we could get a Rogue or something comparable. Not so! A Rav4 was what we got. I hit my head and just about knocked myself out...twice. We drove it to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. 

That was rough, so we got another car. The next one was an Expedition. It was so high that a step/runningboard came out for easy entry. We brought it home, came in the house to use the bathroom and head out again. 

I went to the car first and struggled to even step up to the helper step. As I was trying to hold on and twist body into the car, my hand slipped. Tommy said he heard me scream and turned to see me flying through the air. I was crying after I landed. He said, "DAMN!" And, he was frantic to call 911 as I lay there crying loudly. Finally, I gave him my phone to use. 

He told 911 I was hurt. So, the huge firetruck came with sirens and horns blaring. Three firemen came to me with equipment. 

My greatest fear and my concern when I spoke to them was....

FIRE ANTS

The yard is filled with fire ants, as is the whole city of Hueytown. They got me sat up. I had landed on my left side. I begged them to get the fireants off me. They assured me that there were no fire ants on me. How could they know??? 

One guy sat by me or on his knees and gently cleaned all the leaves and dirt out of my hair and sort of pushed my hair the direction it need to be. The other two guys were brushing stuff off my legs. I kept asking about fireants, never mind I had hit my head and the rest of my body. 

As they sat me up, one guy had his arm around me, holding me around the shoulders to lift me. I was softly yelling because he was holding me in a place that hurts from the torn rotator cuff. I told him why he was hurting me after I could talk. 

They took the wicker lawn chair and told me they would put it behind me and to sit when I felt it behind my knees. Walking backwards is something that is difficult for me to do. All three held me while I walked backwards. 

They wanted to feel my knees. Well, no. They hurt but I knew it was not bad. I actually had my knees bent when I landed. Both hurt when I fell. But, since I had bent them more in the effort to sit up, I knew they were not injured enough to be touched and make me hurt more. Since they could get me onto my feet, I suppose they knew the knees were not injured more. 

I was very dizzy and off my feet for a few minutes after they got me upright, feet on the ground. We were going back to turn in the Expedition when I fell. I asked them if they would let me go to the bathroom and help me get into the car. They said they would. One fireman walked me to the door since they were being cautious with my condition. 

In the bathroom I was 'squeee oh oh" because it hurt to pee because of the uti that I was sure I had. The one fireman was coming down the hall because he heard me. Tommy did not! 

So, a couple of the guys were right behind me when I was trying to get into the car. I felt sure I would not fall again with them there. The closest guy was going to put his hands around my waist/just above, like a person would help a baby. Well, I knew that would not work without hurting me. So, I told him to push my bottom. He just froze. I said I was asking him to hold my bottom to get me in. So, he did. 

I was in the car trying to get straightened out and told him I was not into him and he was not into me, but that move was necessary. He said he would not forget my asking him to hold my behind. It was the first time for him. I weigh almost 300 lbs, so he needed to grab a solid place.  I thanked them profusely.

After I fell, I told Tommy it was going back! Now! So, back to rental place. We tried another car and neither of us could get in. Tommy never can get into his car without hurting his knees because with osteoporosis his knees don't bend. 

We went to rental place and told them we wanted another car. The employee was understanding. We did accept the last car they had, one just turned into the office. However, it hurt my back. 

Monday--piccked up Rav4, went to doctor.

Tuesday--returned Rav4 at noon, got Expedition, fell, returned at 4 pm, looked at Rogue, drove Equinox away. That is three cars we drove and tried to get into one.

Wednesday--shopped

Thursday--returned Equinox, picked up repaired Rogue he owns.

His Rogue cost $1581.00 for replaced mass air flow sensor repair and valve cover gasket was replaced. I told him I was so relieved to pick up his raggedy, old car. And, that I like my raggedy old man...lol. Later, he said that even though I was hurt, I was still funny.

He had to return the car to rental company and then retrieve his car to come home. I did not feel I could drive safely. So, he was going to take a lyft home. Garage paid for that.

Tuesday night, I hurt all over. Wednesday, my left kidney hurt, still does. My left arm is still in pain up near shoulder. My left ear is more congested. My right hand hurts from hitting the ground. Both knees hurt. Tommy said I flew far and from a height. Tommy said I looked like the person falling in VERTIGO. 

I still know I have fallen. I have no trouble getting into Tommy's car. Now, I do. The fall made my back problem worse!

Oh, the cars were nightmares. I whacked my head, could not get knees bent enough to have no pain. Who knows how to work the ac and heat and adjust seats? I wish they would take the huge cargo area and give passenger and driver more room. The back seat in one car was more roomy than the front seat! 

His car is in the driveway, and I want to go hug it. 

We ate what was in the refrigerator, and we are happy. Now, I need to go start the dishwasher and come back to watch a movie.

I will talk about the doctor appointment at cardiologist tomorrow.

So, that was my car rental saga and the fall from the step/running board of the car. I still hurt. I will call doctor about the kidney I fell on tomorrow. I have never fallen from a height since I fell down the concrete side steps in 1993 during a blizzard. As a matter of fact, those are the only two times I have fallen from a height ever. I have mostly done my falling with feet on terra firma. 

The fall was not on account of my sandals. They are firmly on my feet, aided by swollen feet.

Oh, forgot about the uti. Wednesday, I called my primary doctor. Nurse said he would not prescribe without a specimen, which I knew. I asked if Tommy could pick up the specimen jar, and take it back to her when I had supplied them with a specimen. She said it was okay. So, Tommy brought me a specimen jar and a top hat in a plastic bag with drawstring. Doctor prescribed me an antibiotic I have never hear of before. The best part is it did not make me sick, dizzy, make muscles or joints hurt. I tolerate it well and felt better immediately. Of course, I will finish it. The drugstore only had half the amount prescribed, so I will get the rest tomorrow. 

EDIT: In the fall I broke my nail on left index finger into the quick. My middle finger on the right hand was broken so that there was a point on the nail. Plus, when I fell, I hit the lawn chair and left a nasty looking scrape/gash which broke the skin. However, it is all better and not infected now.

Do you find newer cars are difficult to get into and to find the right buttons for use? Do you ever whack your head? We will get another car for both of us. We have a list of cars we will not even get into. 

Have you bought a coconut that was tiny and not large this year?

 

Rucking for Your Health

 I am recovering from my worst fall ever. And, I have a uti. So, read about rucking tonight.

I will have to try Rucking.

Urspo talked about this. Not sure when or where. 

Free Dinner and Wednesday/Thursday Drama

I will start off with another free meal--Thursday dinner. The choices were chicken tortilla soup and beef/vegetable soup. Of course, I chose chicken and accidentally ate a few green chilies. The salad was great, just greens, tomatoes, cheese, and dressing. Plus, I had lemon pie and unsweetened tea. My gastro-intestinal system did not forgive me for the green chilies.

forgot to add--there were other items to put in the salad that I did not choose, like cucumbers, onions, croutons, and other things I don't eat. There were also crackers, cornbread, and some sort of rolls.

There was a flyer at each place listing some of the Thanksgiving dinners in town, including the ones that are on a different day because of Thanksgiving Day. I need to put that in my day book, keeping the flyer there and noting it on appropriate days.  These are not just the ones for poor people. I don't know where they are, but won't go.

This has been the most beautiful day. It's fall at its best. We will have rain on Saturday, but in the meantime, this has been glorious weather.

On Tuesday, exbf remarked about all the trees still being green. We saw two trees as we drove in some of the areas and neighborhoods full of trees. We saw one tree turning yellow and another started to lose its green. This has been the greenest Fall I can remember.

Trees in my yard--three oaks, cherry, and wild cherry, and a hickory, plus all the smaller trees are still green and have only lost a few leaves. It looks like summer out the picture window and as I look around the neighborhood. By Thanksgiving most of the leaves should have fallen. But, for now....

Your turn
Are the leaves late in turning this year? Late in falling? Are you having a glorious fall with sunshine and clear skies?

Drama below that you may skip.

This will be the condensed version of the drama. Wednesday, J came over and asked if she could talk. We did. Her bf had taken her phone from her again.

She had confessed to him that another guy whom she thinks is a saint found out where she worked and ate there with another woman. She went to his table and talked to him. So, for the last month she has wanted this man who was nice to her. She said it made her feel better to get it off her chest, her failure--the fact she saw him in that setting.

So her bf was screaming at her, calling her names, poking her hard in her chest, making her stagger backwards. He took her phone. He punished her for telling him how she was not over this guy with whom she had already cheated.

I told her that confessing infidelities only made the confessor feel better, and the person betrayed hurt. She said it was the right thing to do...and started talking Bible gibberish.

She said her daddy had gotten her a phone. I was so angry I volunteered to go get it, 70 miles from here if someone paid me for gas eventually. Forty or more times on the way and again that many coming back, she would sway around, frazzle her hair and say, "Oh, Linda, I am freaking out!" I just told her sharply to stop it, which she did. I don't think saying, "I am freaking out" means a person is freaking out. I was being played.

Then she got all weirdly religious. Every time I said a word found in the Bible, she would repeat the word along with a phrase in the Bible, and say, "See, (whatever) is in the Bible. I finally yelled at her and told her to shut up with the religion stuff unless it had something to do with anything. She said, "But, it is in the Bible!" I could barely form a sentence without her interrupting.

She said she knew how to get to daddy's house. NO, she did not. She used my phone to call him and he said to me over and over, "Just get on Bessemer highway and get on Academy drive." Even when I told him that meant nothing to me, he just kept repeating it. So, I hung up. She had no idea either.

You have to understand, I am afraid of the woods and getting lost. This was someplace called Adger, woods! She kept saying things, all untrue, about where we were. I was furious to hear her say over and over that she knew how to get there, just go here or there. That, alternating with her other crazy stuff was making me so angry, frustrated, and afraid.

Finally, I quit listening to her and made all right turns, four times! Accidentally, I arrived on the correct road. Then, she kept saying to look for a certain church because he lived across the road from that. we arrived and she started bellowing for her Daddy. I refused to allow her out of the car. These people are all drug addicts, supposedly recovered, alcoholics and had all been in prison. I figured she would act out and not leave. I was not afraid for my life. Oh, forgot to say, I found her walking on the streets in our neighborhood right after she took three Benadryl.

I held her coat and would not allow her out of the car. Her daddy hugged her and screamed she was hyperventilating. No, she was not. Her brother came to my side of the car and gave me the phone. I asked for directions out of there, and he had no idea. He told me to call his girlfriend and ask her. She left her house and went to her friend's house to go to another friend's house to get her to give me directions. That person started reading quickly as though from Google maps directions--go 2.3 miles SE to blank road, turn N and go ....you get the idea.

I told her I could not remember all that, and I was driving. She said she had sent me a text with it all on it. I had a flip phone! I hung up because I was driving on dark, unfamiliar roads with barely a center line and drop-offs that were deep, no shoulders in some places.

Then, people started calling and demanding to know where she was, what was going on, and garbage talk. So, I turned off my phone.

I finally saw a police car and the woman gave me the correct directions--one more turn. It was not the convoluted directions of the person on phone.

Once I got back on 59 headed toward Birmingham, I am okay. But, listening to J I managed to miss the exit to home up 65. I crossed the interstate, exited at 22nd street and wondered how to get back on 65 N. So, I headed South to University drive, and followed it to interstate and all was smooth from there on.

We went to bathroom in WM since were both in pain. I refused to let her out of my sight, so I had her go to family bathroom while I waited outside. Then, I made her stay in there while I went. We headed to my house and she came in. She didn't "know what to do, where to go." I told her she could lie down in my floor and sleep or I would drive her home. She said this at least 100 times in two hours.

She stood up and said she felt like she was going to faint. I nonchalantly said don't knock anything over when she fell. She tried to collapse, but it was a controlled fall. I just lay here and turned off the light. However, I stayed turned on right side so I could see her. In about five minutes, I saw her stand up and lean to look at me. Except for those five minutes, craziness came from her mouth from about 6 pm on Wednesday until 4:30 am on Thursday.

At 8 or so, she said she was going home. She came back about 2 pm today, showered and looking nice. Her bf not only took her phone, he left with her purse, three bags of her clothing. So, I suggested we go get it. She was all against that because it was wrong to open the door to his unlocked car and get her things. I insisted.

When we got there, she headed straight to the area he works. I screamed at her to come back. She kept turning back saying she needed to tell him, needed to see him. She said she could not just get her things without telling him. I am yelling at her to get the stuff and come on. She got in the car and said it did not feel right to do what she is doing.

Finally, I let her out at her house. I went somewhere and came back past the house where they live. She had met him at the car and was making the motions of explaining and switching around in an "I'm helpless" sort of way. He yelled at me when I passed by. When I got home, his phone was calling me. I am not sure if it were him or her. But, I ignored it.

This was a trip full of her "religious" type rants, looking up and saying she wanted to be up there, talking to Jesus, asking me questions, telling me the "truth" because it is in the Bible and I just said the word. And what does it all mean. Threatening to take the whole bottle of Benadryl so she could sleep forever, saying if she had a gun she would blow her brains out, saying she wanted to walk in front of a car.

I took her threats of suicide semi-seriously. People who threaten and people who try to commit suicide sometimes succeed. I told my friend who is allowing them to live there about this, but he seemed cold to her problems and cannot wait until the last day of the month when they will be gone. They still have no place to go. She said she was depending on her bf to find a place.

She knows there is no room here, or she would be wanting to stay with me. No way, even if I had room. She would allow him in the door and I would have to hurt him. Then, I would call police to him.

Oh, I suggested Victim's Services quite a few times and she would beg me not to take her there, like I could make her go. They would not even open the door for her since the police would have to bring her. I am privy to the location, but signed a confidentiality agreement.

I offered to take her to hospital where they can keep her for a day, I think.

She cannot leave him because she "loves everybody just like the Bible says to do." She says she cannot judge him. She wants to love everybody and think no one is doing wrong. I told her that "by their fruits you shall know them." So, she just has to look at his abusive actions. She does not believe in talking behind a person's back. But, she has told me tales about many people.

She would go off on another crazy rant.

However, she has lied about things around here and how they went down. My friend with whom she lives believes me as he has same problems.

Bible gibberish--she just says a Bible verse, or sees a name in Bible on sign and excitedly points to it, repeating the name and saying it is in the Bible. Hears me say "word" and interrupts me excitedly saying " 'Word' is in the Bible." Somewhere, she saw the name "David" on a billboard and got excited because "it is in the Bible." Oh, adding this--when I say she says a Bible verse, she just says something like "John 3:16." She thinks quoting book name, chapter number, and verse numbers is testifying.

Okay, gotta stop. I am still exhausted mentally and physically from last night that extended into this morning and resumed this afternoon. Whew!

Your turn
Are the leaves late in turning this year? Late in falling? Are you having a glorious fall with sunshine and clear skies?

FALL FAIR, FALL FARE

County Fair
Next Sunday I can start entering items in our County Fair! Frugal ways pay off in ribbons and cash. Thrifty skills that I learned as life skills when I was an ambitious child are showcased at county fairs. Last year, my first year ever to enter a fair, I won 5 ribbons! What’s more, I had never won a ribbon for cooking/canning or woodwork. However, I have won many ribbons over the years for my sewing skills.

This year, I plan to enter a bird house that is huge and has no top. It is meant to be used to house a plant. Last year, I entered a real bird house. The house was made entirely of wood taken from my 108-year-old home. Learning to use a table saw paid off, and I lost no fingers!

So far, I have canned NO tomatoes, but I might can one jar just for the fair. People do that, I hear. There are mulberries in the freezer that might be canned juice…hmmm. I will can at least one jar of fig jam.

This year, I will also enter sewing items. I just need to look at the fair list and find things I have made this past year.

Report forthcoming in the next few weeks!

Check out your county fair office to see what you can enter. I call the county agent to find the Fair Office number.

In the meantime, will you share your stories of your county fair? What did you enter?

More Fall Fare

I know it sounds strange, but September seems the perfect time to make biscotti. For years I thought it had to be tooth-breaking hard to be deserving of the term “biscotti.” Not so! I read that it can be cooked just once and sliced, or it can be cooked for just a few seconds the second time.

I don’t drink coffee, so dunking is not even an option. I use these for snacks, often when not at home, so dunking is not a possibility. Besides, I am trying not to cause dental failures by chewing on bricks that are just short of concrete hard.

Therefore, my biscotti is just extremely dry, not rock hard. If I give it away to coffee drinkers, I bake a batch that is rock hard. Okay, the biscotti I prefer and make is not THAT dry.

Now, for the good news—I have made and tested a recipe of my own biscotti. There may be about six variations/flavors that I have tested to perfection so far. I will share these for the rest of September. The goal was to cut calories and fat. Even though we all need a bit of fat in our diet and even in snack foods that we use to tide us over the afternoon, I just assume that most of us are not lacking in fats and oils in our diets.

There is only one remaining task—find the recipe and test it. I saw the recipe about a month ago and left it on the counter in anticipation of September.

Until the end of the year I will post recipes every week or two.

Do you have favorite Fall recipes?