It's Friday

May 17, 2013

It's Friday people and I don't know about the weather where you live but it's pretty near perfect here in Gaithersburg.  The grass is green, the trees are fully leaved out and the zicadas haven't arrived yet.  These bugs - while they won't hurt you - make me nuts.  They are noisy and if you step on them they make a loud crunchy sound.  Once they begin to arrive, the paper will be filled with recipes for eating these buggy critters.  I'm sure they are just as tasty as peanut butter but I'll pass just the same.  There's a reason they live underground for 17 years at a time and I'm pretty sure they don't surface just so we humans can eat them.

Yesterday Jeff and I went to see a new doctor re: my mental health.  He was very direct, which is a good thing if you are dealing with me.  I told him that while I don't see myself as a liar per se, others would disagree.  Anyway, we talked about communication, or more precisely lack of communication especially on my part.  You would think that as much as I love to talk that communication would be easy for me - well the truth is, it's not.

Both of us liked the new doctor and will return to see him.  I need all the help I can get.  Don't kid yourself you can get in a hole that becomes so deep you can't even see a way out.  That would be me in a nutshell.

After dinner we took the zippy "z" out for a spin and enjoyed the fresh night air and then returned home to enjoy the air conditioning!

Next week for my Tuesday cooking "class" I am making a hamburger casserole that Mom used to make all the time.  I am also making a frozen yogurt pie.  The ladies should enjoy both dishes.  While I'm prepping and cooking I feel just like Martha Stewart - only difference is I wear white socks with black shoes (horrors).

I have managed to make a dent (small) in the overly large stack of battery business paperwork.  I'd love nothing more than to shove all this paper into the fireplace!  Since I doubt that most of the paperwork will ever become relevant again I'm just packing the papers up in boxes, seal them and shove them into the bowels of the basement.  

Don't forget the Preakness horse race this weekend.  For the Derby I made myself a mental bet that Orb would win - and he did. Of course he would have lost if real money (mine) was at stack and right now I can't afford to incur any other bills.

Time for me to tend to some chores with my cane by my side.  If I get tennis balls for my walker I could trade off between my two personal "vehicles" of transportation!

Enjoy Friday

P

Appliances

May 14, 2013

Appliances is the subject of today's aggravation.  Actually, it's not appliances per se but more the follow the leader attitude when one appliance is having a melt down.  Ever notice that when an appliance goes on the fritz it seems to generate a universal wave of destruction among it's peers.

This week, for instance, I put two (literally) things in the dryer and sat down on the sofa to watch one of my cheesy tv shows and an hour later finally realized that the dryer was still running.  Odd I thought.  Odd indeed.  Those two items and one of which was just a sheet was still wet, as in fresh from the washing machine wet.  Grrr.  I hate laundry piling up and I hate wet clothes that I can't do anything with even more.

Okay so that's one thing.  While I was in the hospital our behemoth commercial grade shredder gave up the ghost.  Shredders in our house have a very short life span because we shred everything and shred often (as in every day).  If you're keeping count that's number two.  Fixing the shredder isn't an option - once it fails to slice and dice it's out of here.  Jeff has already replaced the shredder with a bigger, faster machine.

Then there's the microwave.  Also during the last week or so the built-in microwave unit went on strike.  Since it's built in to the wall unit tossing out isn't really an option.  Emergency repairs will have to be performed in an effort to save it's life.  Luckily, at the same time as it was dying, so was the battery business.  We had bought a small but effective microwave for the drivers and it's now perched in my kitchen and doing a fine job of heating coffee and cooking bacon.

Now I wouldn't put my failing kitchen appliances in the same category as somebody's roof being blown off but when it's happening to you, it's a big deal.  I don't want to jinx the remainder of my appliances by suggesting a general work stoppage.   Our house is getting older, like it's owners, and while we're slowing down too, we haven't stopped entirely.

I feel like printing out a picture of a NEW dryer as an incentive to jumpstart the dryer's heart. The good news, if there is any, when Jeff pulls the dryer out, I might find some errant socks hidden among the dust bunnies!  Of course they will have been underneath so long that they are nearly an archological treasure and will need washing!

You see the cycle never ends.  Dirty clothes require washing and drying.  When one of the major appliances in the laundry room is broken, the circle that is known as laundry breaks down causing a backup in the clothes' hampers.  Reminds me of a traffic jam here in Washington.

P

Life is good!

May 13, 2013

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend.  And that all of you ladies received the recognition you deserve.  

I spent the majority of the day prepping and cooking dinner to take to Andy and Stacey's house and everything turned out quite well if I do say so myself.  Scott came over yesterday morning and I invited him to join us for dinner and - he accepted!  

The really big present for me was seeing Benjamin after 5 months.  He hadn't forgotten me and he has really shot up.  He may be 5 now but he hasn't gotten too big or too old to sit and cuddle with Mom-Mom.  

Jeff helped Scott and Andy with some "manly" things in the basement probably having to do with wires.  Benjamin and I sat on the sofa and it wasn't long before he went to sleep and I followed suit shortly after.  

Today I must get a handle on the ever growing pile of paper that doesn't seem to decrease. If anything the stacks seem to get bigger. The task is overwhelming (to me) and it is making me reluctant (or perhaps I'm just lazy) to make much progress.  I think the best way, at the moment, to handle the paper is to box up all the battery company paperwork and shove it in the back of the basement and in a few years shred everything! Not the best method of filing but it will help me keep my sanity by getting it out of sight, for the moment.

It's a beautiful morning and the air is a bit crisp which really beats air that has a "bit" of humidity (and we know there is no such thing as a little humidity around here).

Have a great day. 

P

Happy Mother's Day

May 11, 2013

I know that most of you Moms will be reading this blog later today after lounging in bed with a breakfast tray - complete with a rose!  Or perhaps you will be doing "brunch" with the family and enjoying a glass of bubbly.  Option three isn't as glamorous but works for me - I popped a frozen waffle in the toaster and washed it down with day old coffee.  Truth is I should have made a fresh pot but was just too lazy and besides it's "my" day for whatever that's worth.

We are taking dinner/lunch down to Andy's house today.  Scott is already left and will join us which is a nice bonus for Jeff and I.  I have made spaghetti, garlic bread, coleslaw, a jello salad and a white cake filled with strawberry jello and topped with vanilla pudding.  Light and yummy.

Truth is I'm looking forward to having both boys around today and as an extra bonus I'll finally get to see Benjamin.  I will probably nap on the way to Andy's house because I'm feeling a bit tired but it's a good tired.  I even put one little piece of cake in a separate dish just for Ben - so we can have a tea party.

This is short because we need to leave.  Happy Mother's Day to all my friends and family.

P

It is good to be home! working back towards "normal"

May 10, 2013

For those of you keeping track it’s Friday and your resident blogger is up and at ‘em early this morning.  By my clock it’s 5:00 in the morning – give or take fifteen minutes.  I developed a farmer’s habit in the hospital of going to bed really early and getting up while it is dark outside.  My theory is simple: IF you get up with the chickens then you are ENTITLED to have a nap after lunch.  Our farming grandparents were smart.  Get your work done and then rest.

Since coming home on Monday yesterday was my most  outstanding day. After getting myself dressed and eating breakfast (raisin toast anyone I had many options to choose from as to how to spend my day.  Contrary to popular belief while I do love a good long sit between chores, I do try and actually get something done between my many coffee breaks!  Problem is my chores at the moment are tedious and depressing.  There is nearly 5 months of filing to deal with and somehow and I am not enthused about tending to something so dreary.  Course it has to happen and the pile of paper isn’t getting any smaller. I know you’re not supposed to put off until tomorrow (or next year) what needs doing but delaying is so compelling.

Yesterday we went down to the warehouse and met Stacey and her Dad.  We then went to the police station to pick up the paperwork for release of one of our recovered vans from a towing company.  So $500 later we are back in possession of a stripped van with a lot of body damage.  The van will not get us much money when we open up the warehouse for our “fire” sale! 

Between Stacey, Jeff and Stacey’s dad we managed to jockey vehicles around until the vans were safely parked back inside the warehouse.  Of course this large amount of maneuvering took quite a long time.  By the time we got home and had a bite to eat it was time for my nighttime pills and bed. 

This morning I went outside and played in the hose and attempted to pick up all the helicopters that fall at this time of the year from our oak tree.  One thing that I’ve noticed since being home is that my attention span is really short and while I may wander around the house I’m pretty sure I’m not ADD.

 I cooked some steak this week and it came out closely resembling the tread on the bottom of my shoe.  Today Jeff chopped up the meat – I added eggs, celery, mayo and relish and lunch is ready whenever we are.  There has been some suggestion that we go after lunch out to the new estate (Andy’s house) and take them out to dinner.  Tomorrow I’m cooking and baking in anticipation of lunch with them on Sunday.

That's it for today - more tomorrow

May 11, 2013

Happy almost Mother's Day.  Sorry Dads you will have to wait for your celebration next month.  Perhaps you'll get breakfast in bed - NOT.  That breakfast in bed stuff looks so wonderful in the movies but in reality I don't think it's that much fun.  The coffee will spill, crumbs in the bed and forget about eating frosty flakes while reclining like Cleopatra.  

Yesterday was more paperwork and I am now truly sick of paper.  Problem is that 5 months is a very long time to not file and the task is now overwhelming.  I have stacks literally all over the floor.  I leave them there due to a lack of interest on my part.  Easier to shove everything in a box, tape it shut and shove it down the stairs into the bowels of the basement.  And never to be heard of again.

Picked up my car which was getting an oil change and a x-mile checkup and discovered that we need not one but four new tires.  Pricey but necessary.

We drove out to Andy and Stacey's house last night and the house is lovely.  We ate dinner out with them and then came back and attempted to be of help in emptying some boxes.  Came home at midnight and fell into bed exhausted.

Today is cooking and baking day.  I am making orange sicle cookies for Benjamin's tea party that he is having with me.  Prepping for spaghetti to serve tomorrow and a cake that calls for liquid jello to be poured on the top of the cake while it's still warm.  Top with cool whip and you've got a great dessert.  And you can almost kid yourself that it's not calorie laden!

Chores today includes a trip to the credit union and the grocery store to get the required food(s) for tomorrow. Gonna try and get a nap in there sometime today.  I've been doing very well about moving around.  My reverse steps causes me a great deal of trouble.  I get dizzy not to be confused with ditzy which is a completely different problem and one I am likely to suffer from every now and again!

This is short today - MomMom has got some serious baking/cooking to do today.  To all my lady friends and relatives - Happy Mother's Day.

P

I AM BACK!

May 9, 2013

Be excited - I'm back (yup truly it's me).  Back from the world of am and pm pills, constant blood pressure checks, nurses checking on you during the night to make sure you're asleep!  And if you were - well too bad - you're awake now!  Oh and let's not forget the hideous overhead light that bothers nobody except those poor souls who are asleep or want to be asleep!  Such is the business of running a hospital. Kind of reminds me of that old saying "damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead"!  So you can substitute torpedoes with the word patients and you get the idea.

Hospital food - gruesome is the kindest word I can come up with.  We had chicken 3 times a week and it was awful every time it was dished up.  The other two days we ate fish.  Correction - some folks ate fish and chicken.  As for me I stuck with mashed potatoes and ice cream. Not healthy but with enough butter on potatoes could get them down.  Ice cream needs no additional endorsement - it's kind of like jello - and tastes better!

Good news is that by my own restricted diet which went against all medical guidelines I managed to lose around 30 pounds.  Can you say new wardrobe?  If I keep this up I will be bikini (NOT) ready by summer.

In addition to morning meds, eggs that aren't real and taste like it, patients are subjected to something called mini mentals each day.  You are given 3 words to remember and while trying to grasp those three words the doctor has moved on probably in an attempt to see how much I can actually remember, which generally wasn't much.

Then to finish up making you feel completely incompetent you get to recite the date, where you are, what city and what floor we're on.  Piece of cake you say?  Not so easy when there isn't a calendar around which makes cheating impossible.  I would always get the year right but seldom anything else consistently. In a pill induced mental fog, at least in the beginning, I couldn't even remember what month it was so you can forget all about knowing the date.

I was on the geriatric floor so in the big scheme of things I was a "young-en"and in true Bassett fashion took care of the elderly ladies.  I helped them with their trays and ended up adopting several grandmas which was very rewarding.

Jeff "sprung" me on Monday afternoon and the transition initially was difficult for me. I was agitated and nervous.  I would sit in my favorite reading chair for a few minutes and then would bounce up and go do something else.  Yesterday was better.  I went to my neighbor's house and sat with her and her mother-in-law.  We ladies had a chat and I enjoyed myself so will probably go to the coffee klatch again next week.

Every day gets a bit better.  I have had my hair cut (thank goodness) and as soon as I get my chinny chin hairs waxed I'll be back good as new.  I am now less agitated but still very restless and am having trouble completing a task.  Mind you the tasks (all paperwork) are boring and who wouldn't want to get up and wander around!

Today Jeff is taking me to the battery warehouse to meet with Stacey who is taking one of our vans home to help with the move that will occur this weekend.  Jeff and I will for sure be going to the new house on Sunday and I'm bringing dinner. I think I'm going to make spaghetti.  Stacey doesn't eat beef so I will set some spaghetti aside before I add the meat.  For dessert I'm going to make a gelatin poke cake which is light and super duper easy.  Oh and cole slaw because it goes so well with spaghetti.

I have a orange dreamsicle cookie mix that will make awesome cookies for Benjamin. The scheduled tea party that Benjamin wants to have has been postponed until I can get around to making party cakes!

I'm loving the ease of showing in my bathroom with the large shower and having my favorite scents at the ready.  Let's hear it for Chloe dusting powder which I have used religiously for more years than I can remember.  My routine is such that after I "do my toilet", I dress including socks and shoes.  I now am sporting all of my jewelry except for my initial necklace which is the next (and as it turns out last) piece of my jewelry.  Correction - last piece of real jewelry that I own.

Because it's nearly August (I know you're laughing), I am typing today's missive while enjoying Christmas songs.  Jeff and I own about 50 Christmas CD's and they never get boring.  I have my favorites (Elvis anyone?)  By the way Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee is playing now.  Great song. 

Today's necessary chore is put away the laundry.  And then just in case I am really bored, there is PLENTY of battery business paperwork to process and file. Since the business is shut down the accuracy of the filing is not hyper critical.  I have a big box where I can stuff all this random and ultimately not going to be necessary paperwork.

Well, this is enough for now, please check back regularly for the next installment.

It's good to be back

Thanks to Jeff for being such a faithful guest blogger.  He still has a lot on his plate but blogging is one thing I can take off of his plate!

Enjoy.

-P-