Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday, March 1

February gone already. Now here it is March...and still it's cold! Where in the world is spring?

We were up at 6:30 this morning, so I could get ready for water aerobics. I dreaded getting out in the cold to go, but this was the last day of aerobics until the week after next, because next week is spring break for the college.

The water was a bit cooler today, too, which didn't help. But the workout was nice. Fourteen of us showed up, including a neighbor of ours, whom we've known for years, not only because she's a neighbor, but also because she was our insurance agent before she retired.

Back home, I downed a few cups of coffee in an effort to thaw out. Mother and Sis were already here when I got back. While we relaxed, our cable guy called to let us know he was coming by to check our cable box. We've been having sound and picture (pixilating) problems.

The cable guy said the signal to the box was too strong, and after he adjusted it, it was fine. While he was fixing the box, he commented that he'd injured his hand while he was cutting a wire yesterday, but being the macho guy that he is (my term, not his), he treated the wound himself, and refused to see a doctor. He said he has even been known to stitch his own wounds. Gad!

The TV wasn't the only problem today. Mother and Sis had their own incident, when they used the washing machine and water backed up in the sinks, and the toilet overflowed, creating a mess to be cleaned up. Again, it was a good thing Sis was here to help deal with the problem.

Hubbie called a plumber right away this morning, and he arrived soon and cut the tree roots out of a pipe. This is a temporary fix, since apparently there is a break in the pipe that is allowing the roots to block it. The next step is to get the pipe fixed. I don't know when we'll schedule that.

It wasn't long after the plumber left that the propane truck arrived to fill the tank. Good thing he didn't arrive sooner, because the driveway would have been too loaded with vehicles for him to get that big old truck in.

The morning was wearing on, and I still hadn't gotten ready for the day. But just as I was about to go upstairs, daughter called. We didn't talk long, though. She just wanted to let me know that she'll be coming up tomorrow to spend the weekend with us. She's disappointed that Sis won't be here. She and two of the great-grandkids has stopped by Sis's workplace yesterday to visit her, but learned that she was up here. So she's going to miss her all the way around.

While I got ready for the day, Mother and Sis, finished the jigsaw puzzle they were working on. Back downstairs, I fixed a lunch of soup and sandwiches, and afterward, I found a new jigsaw puzzle for Mother and Sis to start on. Sis said she could only stay long enough to get the border done, because she needed to head home.

She left around 2 p.m., and then Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to shop for groceries. On the way back to the van, I actually caught a snowflake in my eye...one of about a dozen that were "flurrying."

Saw that flock of turkeys again on the way home...counted about 20 of them sharing a field with grazing cattle. I need to see if I can get a snapshot of them.

On the way home, too, we noticed that the fields are a riot of jonquils. So pretty. I'm anxious for the daffodills in our yard to bloom.

At home later, we had the remainder of the leftover spaghetti, with salad, and garlic French bread. Hubbie accompanied Mother home afterward, and then he and I watched TV, including a 2011 movie called "Touchback." A high school football player's career ends with a broken leg during a game. He becomes a farmer who runs into financial disaster. He tries to commit suicide, but in the process is taken back to the crucial football game night. Will he be able to change the course of his life?










Thursday, Feb. 28

Up around 7 a.m., but skipped my exercises, so I could get ready to take Mother to meet a doctor's appointment at 9 a.m. Sis went with us, which was good, because she helped me get the wheelchair in and out of the van.

Sis brought along her crochet project to occupy her in the waiting room while Mother and were in the exam room. Another woman in the waiting room, seated near us, had brought a knitting project, too.

We didn't have to wait long before we were called back. The first thing the nurse did was weigh Mother. It took both of us to help her onto the scale. She weighs 110 pounds now, which is much better than before, when she weighed under 100 pounds.

Her blood pressure was up, though, at 170/90, when the nurse checked. The doctor didn't like this, so she checked it again. This time, it was 156/80. But she'd still like it to be less. She asked that I check her pressure each morning and evening at home to see if the stress of being at the doctor's office is causing the high BP, or if she needs a change in medication.

Otherwise, she is in pretty good shape, if more frail. After the exam, we went to the lab for a blood draw. This was a challenge, since her veins are so small. I asked if dehydration can cause this, and I was told it could. Mother drinks very little water, no matter how much I encourage her.

Once a vial of blood had been drawn, Mother was asked to give a urine sample, which was another challenge. Even though she hadn't been to the bathroom since 4 a.m., it took forever for her to produce a sample. Dehydration was the problem here, too, I imagine.

Funny: while we were in the exam room, the doctor asked if it was cold outside. We told her it was, and we hoped we wouldn't get snow this week. The doctor would like some snow, so she can play in it. She had to be at the clinic during the past two snow events, and didn't have the opportunity to enjoy them. She pretend-pouted as she commented that her husband and two children were able to get out and sled and build snowmen, etc., while she was stuck at work.

She also said that her three dogs loved the snow. I asked what kind she has, and she said two of them are labs, both of which just appeared at their house. When one arrived, it was near starvation, but now it is healthy. The third one is a terrier mix female that soon had four puppies. They gave away the pups and kept the mother dog (after having her spayed, of course).

Later, their neighbor laughingly told them that the terrier is a "felon dog," since it belonged to a couple of guys who are now in prison for robbery. The dog accompanied them on their sprees (perhaps acting as lookout?).

We were back home around 10:30, and I immediately fixed Mother scrambled eggs, which she had with slices of Sis's homemade bread. She was pretty hungry, since she'd had nothing to eat this morning before going to the clinc.

After breakfast, Mother, Sis, and I made a two pots of potato soup. Hubbie had peeled and sliced potatoes while we were gone. Mother diced veggies, and shredded cheese, for the soup, and then Sis and I each manned a pan and completed the process.

Sis and Mother worked on a jigsaw puzzle after that, until lunchtime. Of course, Mother wasn't hungry at noon, but the rest of us had sandwiches and chips.

We all relaxed with our own activities for the afternoon, and then had the soup with crackers and pimento cheese for supper. After supper, we played several games of Skipbo. Hubbie won three games, and Sis won two. Zilch for Mother and me.



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wednesday, Feb. 27

Up at 6:30, but didn't go to the pool for water aerobics, because I wanted to accompany Hubbie a town about two hours east to do what we could for Hubbie's son, who lost him home to a fire yesterday evening. I was scheduled for a haircut today, too, but as soon as I could I called to re-schedule for tomorrow afternoon.

I packed a lunch for ourselves and family in the other town, but since we needed more bread and chicken salad, we stopped by the grocery store and a cafe' before we headed out of town. We also stopped at a gas station to fill up.

It was around 10 a.m. by the time we got on the road. It was an uneventful trip, and we arrived at Hubbie's sister's house in the other town just before noon. Son's house, as well as his Mother's house (where is staying for now), are on the same block as Sis's, so Hubbie immediately went to visit him and assess the damage to the burned house.

When we were told about the fire last evening, we understood that it had burned to the ground. But it did not. The walls and roof remain intact, but the inside was burned beyond repair. Appliances and furniture that did not burn are both smoke and water damaged. Nothing can be salvaged.

Naturally, Son is completely devastated. He is a disabled man, who depended on computer repair to supplement his income, but he lost all his tools and equipment for the job. Two computers belonging to other folks were also lost.

I wondered if he would have appetite enough to join us for lunch, but he did. Hubbie's daughter arrived as we were eating, but she didn't join us, since she'd already had lunch. She had taken the day off work to help Son shop for some clothes, and meet with a representative of the Red Cross to see what assistance can be provided. Hubbie had provided Son with packages of new underwear and socks, as well as a few shirts, but he needs much more.

After lunch, Son and Daughter went shopping, and Hubbie and I went to the burned house to snap a few pictures of the damage. I'm not sure why we need these photos, but we've got them if anyone wants them. We headed back home after that.

While we were gone, Mother and Sis made a big pot of Dragon Soup, which we served later with Sis's homemade bread. It was such a comforting meal on this winter-cold night.

Spent a couple of hours after that playing Skipbo. Sis won two games, and Hubbie and I each won one. None for Mother tonight, unfortunately.

Mother and Sis went to Mother's house around 8:30, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team as they played to a loss. I should say that we tried to watch the game...I'd recorded it on DVR, but I think our DVR is messed up, because the sound and picture were distorted most of the way through the game, which was very annoying. This happened while we were trying to watch recordings last night, too. Looks like we'll be contacting our cable company tomorrow.






Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tuesday, Feb. 25

Up at 7:30 this morning, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house while I was getting ready for the day, and then he ran errands. Back downstairs, I gathered ingredients for pimento cheese, which Mother made.

Just before 11 a.m., I met a dental appointment. Because the patient before me arrived fifteen minutes late for his appointment, I had to wait for a while before my hygienist could see me. She apologized, saying that patients are usually turned away if they arrive that late, unless they have a good excuse, which he didn't. But since he'd traveled quite a long way to get there, they gave him a free pass today.

The hygienist was a little under the weather with a bladder infection today. Also, the sulphur drug prescribed to her was making her feel bad. I can't take sulphur drugs, because they make me sick. I suggested she call her doctor to see if another antibiotic could be prescribed. What good does it do to feel even worse after taking a medication that's supposed to cure an illness that's making you feel bad?

Seems my dentist wasn't up to par today, either. He's suffering from a sinus problem, and was scheduled to see his doctor today. I'm glad that it wasn't necessary for him to exam my mouth today.

My teeth seem to be unchanged from my last appointment, and since the cleaning procedure went quickly, I was out of there and back home by noon. The only thing is, I was in such a hurry to leave the clinic that I forgot to pay my bill! Oh, well, they know where I live.

After lunch, Mother went to her jigsaw puzzle, and I worked on a few scrapbook pages featuring photos of the December Christmas blizzard, and the recent ice storm.

Then I worked this week's word search puzzle contest from yesterday's local newspaper, read today's edition of the paper, and finally got around to reading the Sunday paper.

Sis arrived later this afternoon to spend a few days, and we all visited until suppertime. Supper tonight was leftovers...spaghetti and sauce, baked beans, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese with salad tomatoes, and garlic bread.

Soon after supper, Hubbie received a disturbing phone call...his son's home was burning to the ground. His son lives in a town about two hours east of us. We don't know yet what the monetary extent of the loss is, or what we can do to help. Everyone's in shock right now.

Son said it was an electrical fire. He was vacuuming when he noticed smoke and fire at the outlet. He ran outside to call the fire department, and then move the vehicles. But because the house was very old, and it took the volunteer firefighters fifteen minutes to arrive, the house was fully engulfed by the time they got there.

Son was unable to save anything. But I pointed out to Hubbie that it was a miracle that the fire didn't start while Son and Grandson were in bed asleep. If it had to happen, it happened at a good time.

Soon after we heard this bad news, Mother and Sis decided to go to Mother's house. Hubbie and I opted to distract ourselves watching TV.



Monday, February 25, 2013

Monday, Feb. 25

Up at 6:30 to get ready for water aerobics. Beautiful morning, but windy-chilly for the walk to the gym. The water in the pool was a bit cooler this morning, but still nice. A dozen of us showed up, but not the regular leader, who is still recuperating.

The talk this morning was about an awful tragedy of a high school teen who committed suicide yesterday. As I understand it, he'd gone to a party, where he'd indulged in alcohol. On his way home, he was involved in a one-vehicle accident that included taking out fence posts on the property of one of the water aerobics members. Because he was intoxicated, there were drugs in his car, and he'd had previous run-ins with the law, he fled the scene on foot before the police could arrive.

For a while the police were unable to find him, and when his parents were informed, they joined in the search.
In the meantime, the teen went to his parents' house, grabbed a loaded rifle from a truck, and shot himself. The parents stated they had no clue he was suicidal, though they knew he was upset over a recent emotional break-up with his girlfriend.

The tragedy was front page news in our local newspaper tonight, though details related to us at the pool were not included in the story, of course.

The incident naturally led aerobics members to discussions of teen suicide, and the pros and cons of gun control. But we abandoned discussions when it was time for aerobics to begin. Got a good workout with the water noodles, as usual.

Back home, while I warmed up with coffee, Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house. I found another jigsaw puzzle, which she worked on while I got ready for the day, and Hubbie ran errands.

It was nearly noon by the time I was dressed, so I heated Ramen noodle soup for Mother, homemade soup and blueberry muffins for me, and leftover baked beans and sweet potatoes for Hubbie (who returned just as lunch was ready).

Afterward, I reviewed Level 4 materials for my ESL student. I met her at the usual 2:30 hour, and we spent the two hours reading from a Level 3 correlated reader. There are only two more stories left to read next week, and then we can begin Level 4 instruction.

A couple of stories reminded the student of her youth in Venezuela. One story was about a father and son building and flying kites. The student said that for kite competitions in Venezuela, a razor blade is attached to the tail of kites, with which fliers attempt to cut the strings of competitors' kites.

Another story was about what is required to become a police officer. One of those things is skill at using a gun, of course. The student's father was a hunter, and so the student grew up with guns. She was allowed only to clean the guns, but not shoot them.

One day, she accompanied her father to a gun range, where a line of men was practicing. She begged her father to let her try shooting at the target. She amused all the men when she hit the bull's eye the first time she tried. They laughed it off, though, as beginner's luck. But when she hit the bull's eye repeatedly after that, they were astounded. Apparently, she has natural ability to sight a target.

Back home, Hubbie had heated leftover spaghetti and sauce for our supper, which I served with cottage cheese topped with grape tomatoes, and French bread.

A thunderstorm cropped up right after supper, and since the rain had not begun yet, Mother decided she should go home, and Hubbie accompanied her.

Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including a PBS Masterpiece Theater 2011 spy thriller called, "Page Eight."








Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sunday, Feb. 24

Up at 7:30, but skipped my exercises after breakfast, as usual, on Sunday. Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 9:30, and we put together a pot of spaghetti sauce to simmer. Mother chopped onions, bell peppers, and banana peppers for it.

In the meantime, Hubbie went to a grocery store to pick up another Sunday newspaper, since the one delivered was soaking wet from being thrown into water in the ditch. He also picked up a loaf of French bread, which I split down the center so Mother could spread it with garlic butter.

After she'd finished in the kitchen, she clipped coupons for Granddaughter, while Hubbie put color in my hair in anticipation of a haircut appointment this week. By the time I'd gotten ready for the day, it was after 11 a.m., so I cooked spaghetti, made salad, and popped the garlic bread into the oven.

Mother opted to go home after lunch, because she didn't want to attend a college production of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" this afternoon. I vascillated in deciding if I wanted to go or not, but finally decided I should, since the college drama professor will be retiring at the end of the year, and this is his final production. I've worked with this professor in the past, doing photography for him. We also served together on the community theater board.

Rather than being produced as a traditional Shakespeare play, it was set in New York City in 1968. The character, Olivia, is pursued by two men. Rejecting both men’s advances, Olivia instead falls in love with Viola, who is disguised as the male Cesario.

The play is a comedy, and I enjoyed the humor of it, but Hubbie had difficulty understanding the actors. And what he did understand, he couldn't appreciate, since it was in the language of Sharkespeare.

The play had a minimal set, which consisted of both the floor and risers being painted in the fashion of large and brightly-colored flowers and butterfly designs reminiscent of the 1960s. The costumes were circa-1960s, too. I'm more than a little old-fashioned, and I prefer traditional Shakespeare settings and costumes, but this version was tolerable.

After the play, we went to the WDCS for a few things, and to a grocery store to take advantage of coupons we received in the mail recently...some were for free things, like a dozen eggs, and a package of frozen veggies, while others were cents-off.

We were back home around 5 p.m., and spent the rest of the evening watching TV, including a DVD movie from the library...the 2005 film, "Smile." A privileged teenage girl gets the opportunity to volunteer to go to China with a Doctor's Gift Program, which provides reconstructive facial surgery to children. She becomes friends with a Chinese girl, who shares a birthday with her. The Chinese girl has refused to consider surgery, preferring instead to hide behind a veil, but the American teen gives her hope for a new life, and the American girl learns to think of someone other than herself. Very good movie.

We followed that with another movie from the library..."The Story of Ruth," a 1960 film based on the biblical friendship of Ruth and Naomi.