Whiplash!

I think I’m about to have whiplash. I’ve been worried about my BP being so high. Even with the doctor increasing my medication my BP kept going up, as high as 189/108. That’s too high and it was scaring me. So I got back in touch with the doctor and she added a diuretic hoping that would help. Well, it did, and it didn’t. 

 

It dropped it all right, or can we say it slammed it down! It dropped all day yesterday down at its lowest down to 88/61. I’ve been nauseous since I’ve been on the diuretic and all I want to do is sleep. Now is that the diuretic or because of the low BP? On a side note, since I’ve felt sick, I haven’t wanted to eat, and I’ve lost 4.2 lbs. in the past four days. I love losing the weight but that’s a little fast.

 

I’ll be talking to the doctor again sometime today. Hopefully we can get all this stuff to average out to where it should be and I can start feeling better soon!

A problem

I have a problem. When you think of all the problems in the world it’s not huge, but it’s really bothering me.

 

I enjoy writing and getting Cassie’s story out into the world. I’ve been working with my publisher since they took over my first publishing company in about 2016. They have always treated me well, made payments on time and answered any question I had promptly.

 

Suddenly all that has stopped. They have stopped communicating with me in any way – totally ignoring the last three emails I’ve sent them. They are no longer sending invoices stating what books I’ve sold each month as they used to do, and they have stopped paying me. I wasn’t paid in October, got a late payment last November and not a dime since. I’ve not heard one word from them since November. I’m not the only one this is happening to. The same thing is happening to many others and with them not answering emails I’m not sure what recourse we have. There is a rumor that they have gone back to paying quarterly, but not one word to me or to the other authors I’m in contact with. So, who knows.

 

I have another Cassie book, the next to the last one, nearly ready to go. But I can’t in good conscience send it to a company that refuses to communicate with me – or pay me. I don’t know what to do, their contract say they want the rights of first refusal of any books with Cassie and friends as characters. But would you say that by not answering emails, not communicating in any way and certainly not paying, it’s breaking the contract from their side?

 

I don’t know what to do or who to try to talk to. Getting my own lawyer is an option, but it would definitely not be cost effective. I’m not making a great deal of money right now, but it is my money and I want it. And I’m certainly not making enough to pay for a lawyer.

 

I’m so frustrated. Thanks for letting me vent – I’ll keep you posted.

Sad news

There is some sad news within our blogging family. Many of you will remember Baker and Hoss. Baker wrote the blog Our Sweeter Approach to Life.  This past week their oldest son passed away. The loss of a child it just about the worst thing I can imagine. I’ve emailed with Baker, she says they are holding it together but any and all prayers would be welcome. I told her I’d let blogland know. I’ll be sending prayers their way.

This and That

I’ve been a little slack posting lately. Let me catch you up on a few things. Let’s talk about the cpap. I’ve grown to tolerate it. Is it helping? I have no idea. Since I didn’t snore or wake up gasping for breath before I began using it, I can’t say I’ve seen any improvement but I’m going to hope that it’s helping. At least it's not blowing all over my face every night.

The Ozempic is helping. My blood sugar is the best it’s been in years and I’ve been able to cut down on my Metformin. Now the real bonus in all this is that I’ve lost fifteen and a half pounds. The doctor just increased my dose and she thinks the weight loss will continue. That’s something that would really help me.

This morning I’m beginning an exercise class – it’s silver sneakers, which is supposed to be for seniors. But I’m familiar with the young woman teaching it and she is brutal! Evidently, she believes ‘seniors’ have the strength and stamina of Olympic weightlifters. Here’s hoping I survive.

Sunday was a fun day. Mollie and I went to see the play Come from Away about passengers stranded in Newfoundlandafter 9/11. If you don’t know the about this, Google it. It’s a very interest story and a high energy play and I got to spend the day with Mollie! Can’t beat that.

  

Men and babies

I wanted to share a little event that happened on LJ’s birthday.

 

During the party the other night, LJ got the following message from one of his best friends, Sam.

 

Sam: Becky’s water broke. We’re on our way to the hospital. Happy Birthday.

 

LJ: This is all I ever wanted. OK, keep me posted. I love you. Oh, and does this mean you’re NOT coming to the party?

 

The next day…

 

LJ: You having a son on my birthday is the most iconic thing we’ve done as a duo. I’m so glad Becky was game to do her part.

 

Sam: You know she’s going to try to make this all about her.

 

Men have weird senses of humor.

 

 

Thankfully, not my excitment

When I talk about my life not being very exciting, please note that I’m not complaining, merely observing. And after talking with my sister last week saying we’re a little dull sounds like bragging.

 

Sister lives in a community of mostly older people. Not assisted living, just mostly people over sixty. One of her oldest friends from college lives there and Sister is her emergency contact. This friend was rushed to the hospital late the other night, once there she told them to contact Sister who went over at once. Friend ended up having to have a colectomy (removing part of the intestines). She’ll have to wear a bag for three to six months. Sister has stayed with her much of the time.

 

Three days later another friend in the community needed Sister to take her to the ER. Gallstones had caused pancreatitis and she was scheduled for gallbladder surgery the next day.

 

While all that was going on Sister hears that another friend and her husband were stabbed by their crazy neighbor in front of their three kids. The husband’s lung collapsed, and the woman had some severe cuts to her neck. As Sister said, it was a long week.

 

So with all Sister and BIL are having to help handle I’m hoping to continue to sit here in my quiet little world and be thankful for a calm, maybe somewhat dull, existence. I want to keep it going for as long as I can.

Lets keep the excitement to a minimum

Greetings. I keep looking for things to blog about in my nice quiet existence and I’m not having much luck. All is well here, Nick is healing nicely and mostly behaving himself. My BP seems to be coming down some and the Cpap and I no longer hate one another. Instead of me wanting to hurl it from my nightstand each night we merely glare at one another. I guess that’s progress.

 

I cooked for Nick’s family this past Sunday. The five siblings take turns, and we get together about once a month. I cooked a Thanksgiving dinner – turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, cranberry sauce, corn, carrots, green beans, cooked apples, rolls and brownies. Mollie brought over two pies. I don’t think anyone left hungry. Nick made the carrots and the cooked apples, but I handled the rest. I still don’t like cooking, but when I have to I can usually manage.

 

Tonight (Tuesday) we’re having pancakes at church for Shrove Tuesday and Nick and I are helping cook there too. Our minister had challenged those of us in her congregation to read the Bible this year and had a pacing guide for us. I’ve always wanted to do this and this year I did. I just finished the Old Testament and I’m thrilled to be finally starting on the New Testament. To be honest reading the Old Testament has brought up many more questions than it answered, but I’m proud of myself for keeping up.

 

I got to talk with LJ the other night. The cat is doing great, BTW. I’m having a hard time realizing that my baby boy is having a birthday this Thursday. I’m really stunned to realize that my little boy, my baby is turning thirty-five. When I realized this, I turned to Nick to declare, “But I feel like I’m just ready to turn thirty-five!” Nick looked at me and nodded before adding, “Well maybe forty.” LJ’s friends are giving a big party for him at his favorite bar Friday night and he says Nick and I will be more than welcomed to come if we’re in town. It’s my favorite kind of invitation – I’m welcomed, but no one expect me to actually show up.

 

I’ll keep looking for blogging material folks, so stay tuned for the next post of my wildly exciting life!

Doctors, doctors everywhere

Evidently the reason I retired was to have enough time to go to all my doctor appointments. Once again, I feel good and healthy, all these appointments are routine, but there sure are a lot of them. I went to the dermatologist last week. No problems, she said nothing even looked suspicious. Good for me.

Nick will have his post-surgery recheck next Wed. He seems to be doing great. He says the area of the hernia is still a little sore. He’s not picking up anything heavy – that I know of, and I really think he’s being careful. And I’m so glad the surgery’s over with.

 

I went for my regular checkup last week too. My doctor was pleased with everything except my blood pressure. She increased my medication, and all was a little better for a while but now it’s shooting back up and I have no idea why. Saturday at noon it was 180/100 – ridiculous! If it’s still up so high today I’m calling the doctor back.

 

Last Friday I went back to see the sleep doctor – wearing the damn Cpap with it blowing air around is a little like dealing with Chinese water torture. I went in and told them all the problems. I put on the mask and showed them the problem. They made some major adjustment, tightening the mask and that night it worked! It was the first night I was able to wear it all night, more than four hours, since I started wearing it. I hope this works now and I can get the benefits they keep promising from using this thing – more energy, weight loss, lower blood pressure – I could use all these things.

 

And now to the most important doctor visit of all.  LJ and Collin’s cat has glaucoma in one eye. The doctor explained that the pressure would be very uncomfortable, and he felt that the eye should come out. But here’s the deal – the cat is sixteen years old and has other health problems and the surgery would be around $4,000. Now remember LJ lost his job this past summer and was out of work for a while before taking a job for lower pay. Collin broke his leg during that time (when they had no insurance) and he didn’t work for six months. To say money is a little tight would be an understatement.

 

One might ask if paying $4,000 for surgery on a sixteen-year-old cat a wise investment. One might, but I sure as heck didn’t. It was totally up to them and I don’t know what I would have advised anyway. Obviously, it’s not practical from a purely monetary standpoint, but this is their cat and they love it.

The eye was removed this past Friday. It was scheduled the week before, but the vet forgot to tell the boys not to give him some of his medicines before surgery, so they postponed it a week. The doctor said it was his fault and that he would cut $650 off the bill. I don’t understand that, but it makes me happy. I also sent a little to be applied to bill, after all it is my grandcat.

 

I guess my life is now a lovely swirl of doctor visits – at least all my doctors are nice and I do like them. But that doesn’t mean I have to see them all the time. I’d prefer a more casual, see you next year, relationship. Now if I can just get my BP down maybe I can relax a little. 

 

This will be a tough job

I have a strong husband who likes to get things done himself. He does not like to depend on others, even me. I haven’t been able to keep him off the roof, but I have been able to get him to agree to only go up there when I’m home. That way I’m here to listen for a thud in case he falls. Still scary but it’s better than him falling when there is no one here to call for help.

 

At work he’s up on extremely high ladders changing ballast in the lights and working on exhaust fans. He has to lift buckets of parts that weigh over fifty pounds. Some of the boxes he packages weigh fifty to sixty pounds. And he handles a wide array of other jobs.

 

A couple of days ago Nick had surgery, for the first time in his life. He had a hernia repaired.  The doctor said it was more extensive than he had thought, but it’s all taken care of now. 

The doctor also said he couldn’t lift anything over fifteen pounds for six weeks. Nick is a smart man and I know he’ll listen to the doctor… for a while. But I worry what he might try to lift around week five or six.

So far at home he won’t let me get him a drink or bring or get his medicine for him. He’s up and out of his chair to get it himself before I can move. He’s always been this way. I’m worried about sending him to work and I have no doubt he be going back next Monday. One good thing is that his boss really likes him, and I know he’ll be watching him too and lift things for him as needed. At least for right now. But again, by week five, will these men stick with this? I may have to go with him that week.

It's none of my business, but...

I have thoughts, suggestions… advice maybe, rolling around in my head. And we all know that my advice is worth exactly what you’re paying for it.

There is a group of people that I’m worried about. Some are my family members, some are friends who live close to me and some are my blogging friends that I’ve never met in person. But all these people have something in common and it concerns me – none of my business, but I’m still concerned.

 

When covid struck we all retreated into our homes and rightly so. The stuff was deadly and we had no good way to fight it. Gradually, ever so gradually, we got some help. The vaccine was developed as well as various treatments. Infusions, antiviral and a few other things. Slowly with the protection of the vaccines and boosters, we began coming out and mingling with others again.

But some have chosen not to. Several of my family and friends – both near and far, have decided not to come out and possible expose themselves. And I’m not telling them to! Covid is still out there and everyone has to do what makes them comfortable. But here’s the thing ...

 

Covid is never going away. Not in our lifetimes.

 

I feel a kinship to those who only want to stay home – I’ve felt that way most of my life. But I worry about those who choose to never leaving the house, never going out to eat, never again visiting with friends or family, never going to the movies or shopping or on vacation. Life is short. Most of these wonderful folks I worry about are, like me, not spring chickens. I just don’t what them to feel that they have to spend the rest of their life shut up in their homes.

 

So, here’s where the suggestions, advice come in. If you feel comfortable giving it a try. Grab your honey and go back to your favorite restaurant between two and four in the afternoon when there are very few people there. Pick the store you liked to shop at the most and arrive there as it opens on a Monday or Tuesday morning. Or do what I did, go to a movie matinee on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday – you may need to check this out if you live in a big city but when I went with my friend to see Avatar: The Way of Water at 4:15 on a Wednesday afternoon there were a total of three of us in the whole theater. 

You can wear your mask and even gloves if it makes you feel more comfortable. Think of it like exercise, it may be something you need to do for your overall well-being. And if – God forbid – you run into covid out there, I pray your experience will be no worse than mine was. Just feeling like I had a lousy cold for about four days and then it was done.

 

These are just my thoughts. Just something I hope you think about and then make the best decision for you. But there is a nice old world out there, full of some wonderful people and lovely experiences. I’d hate for you to miss all this forever.

This is what I wanted, but...

Those of you who have read here for years know that I began this blog way back in 2006. At that time Mollie was thirteen. 

My beautiful daughter is now thirty. She is happy, employed, has her own house, two beautiful goldens and a cat. What’s she’s never had is a boyfriend. Mollie’s never dated. Until now.

She called me the other night as she drove home from a neighboring town. The conversation began, “Just went and got some supper. I was on a date, but that’s neither here nor there. I was just wondering if Daddy was coming by in the morning to help me mount my new ring camera.”

And now you know everything that I do about Mollie’s date.

Yes, yes I know she’s grown and intitled to her privacy, but really – couldn’t I at least get a name, age, general appearance, hell, is it a man or a woman? I really wouldn’t care, but I do feel it’s a man. 

She so obviously didn’t want to talk about it that I asked no questions (to her) but Nick got to hear several. Now my thoughts are moving from I really wish she would date some to: Who is this guy? What does he do for a living? Where did she meet him? Is he good enough for her? 

     What are his intentions? Why was she driving home from town, didn’t he pick her up? How does he feel about dogs? Is this getting serious? How does he feel about kids? What’s wrong with him that she wants us to know nothing about him? What’s wrong with us that she doesn’t want to introduce him to us? Was this a one-time thing or have they been seeing one another for a while.

Hang on just a minute and I’ll come up with a dozen or so more questions. I’m being ridiculous, I know that. But when you know nothing, your mind speculates.

I'm sure I'll learn more eventually. And I'll probably let you know.

 

Not the most exciting life

I’m happy to say Nick and I survived Covid quite nicely. It wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t horrible either. Nick says it didn’t seem like that bad a cold to him. I did lose my sense of smell for a short time and truly that’s a weird feeling. Sticking your nose in a jar of Vick’s and you smell nothing is just strange.

 

I finally got to see someone at the sleep clinic, and I went into my intense dislike of the cpap machine. Mostly I was complaining about the high pressure. There was always wind blowing around my eyes, chin, onto my hands, onto Nick – everywhere. 

They wanted to try a new type of mask. I think it’s working. I like this mask so much better and the windstorm has definitely calmed down. I’m still not in love with the machine, but it’s so much better. I have to say the mask and the head gear is not the sexiest thing I’ve even worn, but it’s supposed to be helping.

There isn’t much going on here these days. Nick and I went to see A Man Called Otto, which I really liked. And I’m going to see Avatar: The Way of Water with a friend on Wednesday. But basically, I’m just shut down for winter. I’m still trying to get to the gym, but it’s really hard to make myself leave the house. I’m a couch potato at heart. But I’ll keep trying.

No hablo Español

It’s been quite a week. We visited my sister and family the Wednesday after Christmas. The next day Nick went to work and the following evening his boss called to tell him that he and his wife had Covid. Not good, because Nick seemed to be coming down with a cold. I got him to take a test Saturday, but it was negative.

We skipped church Sunday, not wanting to expose folks to his cold and by Sunday evening/Monday morning I realized he’d shared his cold with me. Yuck, but whatever. I had an appointment with the sleep doctor Wednesday morning and since I was still feeling bad I thought I’d go ahead and take a Covid test before I went. That’s when I found out that when Nick took his test, he had gotten out the English instruction and thrown them away when he was done. All I had was the Spanish instructions. I don’t read Spanish.

 

I stared at the instruction a while, muttered some English curse words and pondered. The good news is that it had pictures – a great help. Between the pictures and using Translator on my computer for a few key words I began the test. I’ve taken Covid test before and I know what the results are supposed to look like, but as I checked the results, I realized that in spite of the pictures I’d managed to screw it up. It’s supposed to have one line – the control line. But this one had two. What had I done wrong? 

Evidently, I’m a little slow these days. I probably stared at if for over a minute before I realized it was giving me a positive result. After trying to avoid this plague for nearly three year it finally got me. That afternoon I had Nick test again and this time he was positive too. Thank God we’ve had every vaccine and booster that’s available. There has been much sneezing, coughing, stuffiness, some headaches. But it’s like we’ve both had bad colds, it never felt deadly like so many had to deal with in the beginning. In fact, Nick kept going to work – with his boss and his wife home sick themselves, he was the only one there and my Nick would much rather be working than sitting home, even when he’s sick.

 

I talked to the doctor’s office to see if either of us should be on PAXLOVID. She said no, just to treat myself with over-the-counter meds and to stay hydrated. Okay… but I’m over sixty-five, diabetic, over-weight, have high blood pressure and have sleep apnea. If I’m not a candidate, who is? 

After five days of feeling pretty bad I’m feeling better. I took a sleeping pill last night and that really helped. I still have cold symptoms, but I can tell it’s on the way out and that’s a good thing. Keep washing your hands, test if you get a ‘cold’ (hopefully your instructions will be in a language you can read), and stay away from people if you’re positive. I’m really looking forward to feeling good again!

Hidden Talent

I’ve never thought of myself as a crafty person, but years and years ago I did do some cross-stitching. I made this for my dad about forty years ago. 

 

About twenty-five years ago I made this for my mother-in-law and it hung in their home until we sold it last year.

But I haven’t done any cross-stitching since then until this Christmas when Mollie asked that I make something for her. She had picked a few patterns that she liked, and I chose this one.

I’ve never seen Mollie so much as pick up a needle – no sewing, no needle point, no cross-stitching and no embroidery – nothing. So I was surprise when she sent me these pictures of some gift she had made for some co-workers. I thought she’d done very well. No pattern or anything, she just jumped in and did a great job.

Then last night she really shocked me when she sent me this. This is her house and it’s extremely accurate. She drew the house with her apple pencil on her iPad and then traced it onto her cloth and went for it. I am beyond impressed.

I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Great holiday and an update

Sorry I haven’t been here in a while. We had a great Christmas. We had four lovely family gatherings with various families. Mollie, Nick and I Skype with LJ and Collin on Christmas day and Santa was very good to us all. 

I hope the holidays have been good to all of you so far. We’re not big celebrators when it comes to New Years. Nick suggested we go the same place we went last year because he really enjoyed it. Evidently, we’re hitting the living room again! But I’m perfectly fine with that.

A little medical update. I’m very pleased with the Ozempic! My blood sugar has really come down and I’ve lost thirteen pounds since Nov. 1^st. I believe it would have been even more than that if there hadn’t been sooooo many extra treats around. The medication keeps me feeling full so there has been a lot less snacking than I normally would

have been doing. I’m still losing, but it’s slowed down. That could be all the Christmas temptations, but I’m planning on really hitting it soon. I’d been going to the gym about four days a week, but not this last week or so. The horrible cold weather slowed me down. Even here in the south it got down to six degrees – trust me, we aren’t used to that!

And now about the CPAP. I finally got mine and I’ve started using in. We are not friends. At least not yet. It blows too hard! I have to go through an act of congress to get them to turn it down. And the thing tells on me if I don’t use it long enough each night. It’s hooked up to the internet and you have to wear it at least four hours a night to be ‘in compliance’ with the insurance company who mostly paying for the thing. 

I’ve used it since the nineteenth and I guess it’s getting better, but like I said we’re not friends. It blows so hard that there is air leaking out all around the tubing. I can’t curl up against Nick or I’d blow him out of the bed. Well, I guess it’s not that bad, but it would be like turning a fan on him. I might like that in the summertime, but Nick doesn’t sleep with a fan. I go to the sleep doc on the 4^th of January and we're gonna be turning it down!

People tell me I have to use the CPAP for a month before I’ll really begin seeing the benefits. I’ll working with it and see what happens. But I’m feeling pretty darn good these days so while I’m fussing a little, I definitely feel things are going in the right direction.

Very cool birthday gift

I had a great week. I celebrated my birthday and Saturday there was a big family Christmas party.  I’m still learning not to overeat and it’s a hard season to learn that. Normally there aren’t a lot of appetizers around, but at these parties there are shrimp, sausage balls, cheese balls, vegetable trays (I seem to have no problem avoiding these), fruit trays and of course all this comes before the meal and tons of deserts. But I’m learning to adjust.

I wanted to show you a gift that Mollie made for me. I was absolutely delighted. My little girl is craftier than I realized.

 

She printed off the cover of each of my books in this size, cut little foam pieces to size and glued on the covers. All the books I’ve written are now in the beautiful ornament. Mollie assured me more can be added whenever I’m ready. She also made one for my sister with all her books in it that she’ll give her when we all get together just after Christmas.

And in case I don't get back before all the holidays...