Well, the house wasn't as clean as I wanted but it wasn't as bad as it's been. Yesterday Jeff and I moved furniture in the living room and the TV room, switching chairs. I dusted and swept both rooms (a never ending chore)and he moved canning jars from the laundry room to the shelves in the hall closet. Two more of those heavy duty contractor bags were filled in the process. I will be glad when the stove is out for the summer...it creates unbelievable dust.
Jeff sister, Sherry, and my cousin, Ed, joined us for dinner today. I did a pretty good pork roast in the Ronco rotisserie. It does such a great job, don't know how I ever cooked meat without it! The rest of the meal included mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. For Easter I baked a traditional Italian Easter bread...braided with whole eggs set in the braid. I found out that I did not have any colored sprinkles so the bread did not get trimmed out, just painted with egg yolk. Still OK. And I made deviled eggs. Sherry stopped at Holland Farm and got some half-moon cookies (always good) and Ed brought a bottle of wine...white Zinfandel, my favorite but I couldn't have any. I'd say we had a rather good feast. The dogs (Max and Fanny) patiently waited under the table for meat scraps. Oh, and Jeff gave me a chocolate rabbit...which is sitting on the counter begging to be eaten! Hope everyone had as enjoyable day was we did.
Friday I saw my doctor...a follow-up to my visit 6 weeks ago. My blood pressure is great (118/72) but my back pain is worse. I have degenerative disc disease...like Mom...and my falls this winter haven't helped matters any. Got 'scripts for a pain pill and ointment...and my regular rat poison and beta blocker...a total of $91 after the insurance kicked in! And for a handicapped parking permit. The doctor also wants me to try PT for the back. PT worked beautiful for my ankle so I'm willing to try. As it is I can barely walk half a block...or stand and do half a sink of dishes...with out pain. I took a pill last night (that's why the wine was a no-no) and it helped the pain a lot. Made me sick, too, I felt like I had a hangover this morning! The nurse who does my finger pricks warned me to be sure to take the pill with food and I did, but I guess 2 crackers wasn't enough. I'll try a slice of bread tonight.
Got the Tanked hoodie almost finished. I'm down to the waist ribbing and then there's the fun job of working in all the ends. Got just about 10 days before the shop opens for the season to sew the buttons and zippers...and maybe get another couple of hats done.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
WANTED: PROJECT MANAGER
I'm great at starting projects but usually need a 'project manager' to finish anything.
I worked on my 'Tanked' hoodie this morning, working in a blue and yellow fish. I realized I had made a mistake and tried to correct it without ripping the whole thing out. No luck, that only made it worse. Then I tried ripping out only the fish...worse still! So I finally gave in, admitted defeat, and ripped out about 2" of my sweater. Worked the fish back in...after I adjusted the chart...and worked in most of the yarn I had ripped out. Still doesn't look perfect to me, but....
In-between ripping and knitting, I emptied the wheelbarrow in the garage and brought the wood into the house. There's still a pile of cut wood that has to be stacked somewhere but I think I'll throw as much as I can into the wheelbarrow to be stacked at a later time and bring what I can into the house.
My real task for today was to finish cleaning the closets Jeff and I emptied yesterday and move the last batch of what we had canned from the kitchen counters to old linen closet. Instead, I started emptying out the laundry room. Actually, clearing the counter in there and picking up piles from the floor. Got another of the giant heavy-duty garbage bags nearly full! After lunch I'll wipe down the shelves in the linen closet and move those jars. I really have to dust/clean the TV room before Friday so Jeff can help me move furniture, too.
I worked on my 'Tanked' hoodie this morning, working in a blue and yellow fish. I realized I had made a mistake and tried to correct it without ripping the whole thing out. No luck, that only made it worse. Then I tried ripping out only the fish...worse still! So I finally gave in, admitted defeat, and ripped out about 2" of my sweater. Worked the fish back in...after I adjusted the chart...and worked in most of the yarn I had ripped out. Still doesn't look perfect to me, but....
In-between ripping and knitting, I emptied the wheelbarrow in the garage and brought the wood into the house. There's still a pile of cut wood that has to be stacked somewhere but I think I'll throw as much as I can into the wheelbarrow to be stacked at a later time and bring what I can into the house.
My real task for today was to finish cleaning the closets Jeff and I emptied yesterday and move the last batch of what we had canned from the kitchen counters to old linen closet. Instead, I started emptying out the laundry room. Actually, clearing the counter in there and picking up piles from the floor. Got another of the giant heavy-duty garbage bags nearly full! After lunch I'll wipe down the shelves in the linen closet and move those jars. I really have to dust/clean the TV room before Friday so Jeff can help me move furniture, too.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Oh, What a Week It's Been...and It's Only Wednesday!
Last week Jeff and I went up to his sister's house coz she was having trouble with her garage door opener. It kept tripping the circuit breaker. Jeff wanted to check things out but found that the circuit was dead! He told Sherry what she needed to buy (electric wire) and how much and to call when she got it. We went up on Sunday coz she needed help getting the right wattage or whatever wire. We went to Home Depot (expensive!) and Lowe's and she got wire and a snake to thread it thru the conduit. Jeff disconnected the wire at both ends and tried to pull it thru...no deal. So he went outside and dug up the conduit by the garage and found that it only went 2 ft before there was only wire..no conduit. He dug up the conduit by the house and found the same thing. Most of the wire was just buried in the ground...and not very deep, either. He pulled the wire out and discovered the problem: it had shorted out, burning about 8" of insulation and splitting the wire. Back to Lowe's we went and got some new conduit. Jeff started digging a ditch to bury it in but the day was over and after dinner we came home.
Monday morning I had an appointment to take my car in for a 'smoke test' since it had failed inspection the week before. I had to leave it at the mechanics and walk 4 blocks to Jeff's apartment. Now 4 blocks doesn't sound far but my lower back started sending SOS signals about halfway. By the time I got to Jeff's I was in such pain all I could do was cry. So I did. After the allotted time Jeff called the mechanic's and got the diagnosis: the car needed a new fuel filler neck. That made me cry even more. The mechanic didn't know how much it would cost...$150 to $300...coz he had to get it from a Subaru dealer. We arranged to have the work done on Wednesday...today. I walked very slowly back to the mechanics and got the car and Jeff and I went to Sherry's. He finished digging the ditch and we girls 'helped'...not a good thing as my back kept reminding me. After he glued the conduit together, we got the new wire threaded thru and when both ends were connected Sherry and I filled in the ditch as best we could. Everything was going well until Jeff wired in the outlet in the garage and the breaker tripped. He tested the outlet and found out that it was part of the problem so he took it out. Everything worked fine without it...the outside light turned on and the garage door opened. When she gets the new outlet we'll have to go up again so Jeff can install it.
In the meantime, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to take the car back to the mechanics. By luck I checked my calendar and realized I had never had the blood work my doctor ordered...and my next appointment with her is Friday! So I stopped at the health center on the way to the mechanics and had the blood drawn. (The tech was so good I honestly never felt anything and was surprised to see her changing vials. I was waiting for her to stick me!) Then, since it had been a 'fasting' test I stopped at Burger King and got a vanilla latte...to be my breakfast along with some of the sugar cookies I had brought with me. I also had my mom's quad cane to help me walk...not that it did much good. I stopped every half block or so and sipped my latte but the pain from my lower back was traveling up and down my right leg by the time I got to Jeff's. This time instead of sitting down and crying, I sat down and fell asleep in his favorite chair in the living room. After my nap, Jeff and I watched a video online about a novel way to garden with mulch. He wants to try doing it in a portion of the garden this year. Sounded good to me...but I was more interested in how much the filler neck was going to cost. Eventually it was time to call the mechanic for the 'bad' news...the bill came to $341 and that included labor and inspection! I was surprised...he had said the car might need time to 'reset' it's computer and I would have to bring it back again but when I got there the sticker was on the window!! (I would recommend Spisak Auto on W. Albany St in Herkimer to anyone!!) The walk back had been the longest of all but I made it. When I see the doctor on Friday I'm going to ask some questions (and get a 'scrip for a handicapped parking sticker.) There has got to be something that can be done for the pain.
Sherry's miniature Schnauzer, Max, and our Fanny had a blast for 2 afternoons. Both dogs were well covered with mud and totally exhausted!
Jeff came home with me today and we cleaned out 2 closets. He's going to paint them and then we'll do the other 2. By then we'll have more than enough 'stuff' to take up to the dump in Utica.
I've been carrying a blue hoodie OTN with me. I'm ready to start working in some fish down the front and maybe one on the back. I'll put some seaweed on the bottom...maybe some sand, too, oh, how about making the ribbing dark like a base? I'm thinking of calling the design 'Tanked' and will post a photo asap.
Monday morning I had an appointment to take my car in for a 'smoke test' since it had failed inspection the week before. I had to leave it at the mechanics and walk 4 blocks to Jeff's apartment. Now 4 blocks doesn't sound far but my lower back started sending SOS signals about halfway. By the time I got to Jeff's I was in such pain all I could do was cry. So I did. After the allotted time Jeff called the mechanic's and got the diagnosis: the car needed a new fuel filler neck. That made me cry even more. The mechanic didn't know how much it would cost...$150 to $300...coz he had to get it from a Subaru dealer. We arranged to have the work done on Wednesday...today. I walked very slowly back to the mechanics and got the car and Jeff and I went to Sherry's. He finished digging the ditch and we girls 'helped'...not a good thing as my back kept reminding me. After he glued the conduit together, we got the new wire threaded thru and when both ends were connected Sherry and I filled in the ditch as best we could. Everything was going well until Jeff wired in the outlet in the garage and the breaker tripped. He tested the outlet and found out that it was part of the problem so he took it out. Everything worked fine without it...the outside light turned on and the garage door opened. When she gets the new outlet we'll have to go up again so Jeff can install it.
In the meantime, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to take the car back to the mechanics. By luck I checked my calendar and realized I had never had the blood work my doctor ordered...and my next appointment with her is Friday! So I stopped at the health center on the way to the mechanics and had the blood drawn. (The tech was so good I honestly never felt anything and was surprised to see her changing vials. I was waiting for her to stick me!) Then, since it had been a 'fasting' test I stopped at Burger King and got a vanilla latte...to be my breakfast along with some of the sugar cookies I had brought with me. I also had my mom's quad cane to help me walk...not that it did much good. I stopped every half block or so and sipped my latte but the pain from my lower back was traveling up and down my right leg by the time I got to Jeff's. This time instead of sitting down and crying, I sat down and fell asleep in his favorite chair in the living room. After my nap, Jeff and I watched a video online about a novel way to garden with mulch. He wants to try doing it in a portion of the garden this year. Sounded good to me...but I was more interested in how much the filler neck was going to cost. Eventually it was time to call the mechanic for the 'bad' news...the bill came to $341 and that included labor and inspection! I was surprised...he had said the car might need time to 'reset' it's computer and I would have to bring it back again but when I got there the sticker was on the window!! (I would recommend Spisak Auto on W. Albany St in Herkimer to anyone!!) The walk back had been the longest of all but I made it. When I see the doctor on Friday I'm going to ask some questions (and get a 'scrip for a handicapped parking sticker.) There has got to be something that can be done for the pain.
Sherry's miniature Schnauzer, Max, and our Fanny had a blast for 2 afternoons. Both dogs were well covered with mud and totally exhausted!
Jeff came home with me today and we cleaned out 2 closets. He's going to paint them and then we'll do the other 2. By then we'll have more than enough 'stuff' to take up to the dump in Utica.
I've been carrying a blue hoodie OTN with me. I'm ready to start working in some fish down the front and maybe one on the back. I'll put some seaweed on the bottom...maybe some sand, too, oh, how about making the ribbing dark like a base? I'm thinking of calling the design 'Tanked' and will post a photo asap.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Another Snowy Day
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| Looks like the wilderness, doesn't it |
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| Pretty...if it wasn't the 3rd day of Spring! |
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Screwed Up Again
Had my INR factor checked again today and it was 4.32... a little high...meaning my blood was thin. (Should be happy something about me is thin!?!) Had to go to the lab and have a vial drawn after the finger prick showed the high reading. This time the lab guy had a little trouble finding a vein to use (something else about me that tends to be thin) but it didn't hurt too much and he got the blood. Now I have to wait and see if the doctor will order a change in meds. April, my nurse, said I might have to take a smaller dose. Will have to go back to her next week and have another INR done. After the vampire experience I had to have a mammography. All I can say about that is if it was a sensitive part of the male anatomy a tech wouldn't be sticking it in a vise-like machine and squeezing....
I was sure Fanny would have snacked on the comforter while I was out but she didn't! I praised and petted her, calling her a 'good dog' and giving her an extra treat. I swear she smiled at me. As a reward for this morning's torture in the name of medicine on the way home I treated myself to a vanilla latte at Burger King...not bad for a $1....and made myself Kraft's Macaroni & Cheese for lunch (which I shared with Fanny the good dog). Now I think I'll go build a fire in the stove and get comfortable...maybe even knit.
I was sure Fanny would have snacked on the comforter while I was out but she didn't! I praised and petted her, calling her a 'good dog' and giving her an extra treat. I swear she smiled at me. As a reward for this morning's torture in the name of medicine on the way home I treated myself to a vanilla latte at Burger King...not bad for a $1....and made myself Kraft's Macaroni & Cheese for lunch (which I shared with Fanny the good dog). Now I think I'll go build a fire in the stove and get comfortable...maybe even knit.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Up-Date
Mom was moved to the permanent side of Valley Health after lunch yesterday and was not a happy camper. The social worker had told her she'd be moving but Mom said they did not give her enough time to get ready to move (she didn't have to do anything) and made her feel like a poor relation/in the poor house. She said they made her wish she were dead(said that a couple of times). Some of this venom was directed to me, I think, because yesterday we had that winter storm and I stayed home and was not there when she was moved. We had talked about her being moved when a bed became available but she didn't understand it would be at such short notice. The social worker and I tried to explain to her that if she did not move when the bed became available someone else would have taken it. Didn't help. She was sure the new staff did not want to take her to supper or bring her back to her new room. We tried to explain that because there were more residents in the permanent section it took longer to get everyone into/out of the dining room. She wasn't buying it. 'We just didn't understand'. Oh, well. I hope she accepts things and makes the most of it but she is a 'Josephine'....not noted for accepting things that were not her idea. She refused a phone hook-up and a chance to go shopping...Shopper's Service is scheduled for Thursday and she use to like their merchandise when I worked at the Homestead. I try to visit every 3 or 4 days and I hope things will be better when I go back over the weekend.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Enough is Enough!
Another snowstorm...snow episode...snow-ed in...snow day...what ever! Today is the last the official day of winter and we got 4-6" of snow. The schools around here are closed, the garbage truck got bogged down in the driveway and I got $650 worth of #2 heating oil...or 170 gals. But Enough is Enough!! Weren't we suppose to have an early spring this year? Call this an early spring?? That little fink, the groundhog, lied. Can't trust anybody anymore.
Spent today knitting hats and playing tug-of-war with the dog. Got 2 sport caps done and another started. Then it will be baseball hats. Maybe I'll even do some flower caps, too. Jeff says I don't play with Fanny enough...that's why she's eating the comforter on my bed...so I rolled up an old thin towel and tied it into a big knot. I think she enjoyed it...tired her out for awhile anyway and she left the comforter alone...until after supper when she pulled another clump of polyfil out of it. Ahgg!
My mom got moved to a permanent room this afternoon. Not sure how that went but I'll find out tomorrow...or whenever I can get out thru the snow. Think we could get 4 more inches tonight???
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| A baseball hat and the sports caps |
Spent today knitting hats and playing tug-of-war with the dog. Got 2 sport caps done and another started. Then it will be baseball hats. Maybe I'll even do some flower caps, too. Jeff says I don't play with Fanny enough...that's why she's eating the comforter on my bed...so I rolled up an old thin towel and tied it into a big knot. I think she enjoyed it...tired her out for awhile anyway and she left the comforter alone...until after supper when she pulled another clump of polyfil out of it. Ahgg!
My mom got moved to a permanent room this afternoon. Not sure how that went but I'll find out tomorrow...or whenever I can get out thru the snow. Think we could get 4 more inches tonight???
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