First a little background, Ron, even living in Houston, only saw his family a few times a year.
When he was injured, they did not think to call me or come get me. A friend of mine came and got me, brought me to the hospital. They were not happy to see me.
Forgive me if you're read this before, but I need to share the background.
The day of the accident his sister said, quite cheerfully "If he's had a stroke we'll just put him in a nursing home". I said that would be a problem and I would fight it. They said I wasn't his wife and didn't get to make decisions, they did.
That set the tone for the next several weeks. I confidentially told the staff what Ron's sister had told me about the nursing home, so they used words like CVA and ICH instead of stroke, which is what Ron had, in addition to his many other injuries.
I kept saying, give him to me, give me some training, and I will take care of him. This is one reason I am so reluctant to leave, because I did fight so hard on his behalf.
His sister went behind my back and told Ron's doctor I could not care for him because I had "a bad back" and the doctor laughed at her. It was their understanding, if we all just banded together and said we wouldn't take care of him, Ron would go to a nursing home.
I tried to stay out of all the [censored] stupid family politics. I was only interested in helping Ron. Even in ICU the staff noticed he did better when I was around, and gave me an all-access pass, any time, day or night, as long as I wanted to stay with him. I took advantage.
His siblings liked to go in, ignore Ron, and gossip with the nurses about me, and what a bitch I was.
So, we weren't getting along to begin with. But because someone was a macho male idiot and had refused to marry me, I had no legal say. That went to Ron's dad.
Ron's Dad was great, we were on the same side, wanted what was best for Ron.
Ron had his disability check turned off when he started the business, because he would be able to support himself. That meant he had no insurance.
They had a family meeting. They all decided Ron would go to his parents until his Medicare went through for a nursing home. I fought that bitterly and ended up walking out of the meeting before I embarrassed us both.
We were supposed to have a meeting so I could learn how to "transfer" Ron - get him in and out of bed, in and out of wheelchair, on and off commode chair. We'll say it was at 11 am. Ron's brother, Dad, and nephews were all supposed to come (being Big Strong Men) and learn what to do. I was considered to be second rate by the therapist because I almost dropped him once.
If I look bad in any of this, I look bad, at least I am honest. I was not good at transfers.
So his brother came early, and brought me a DR Pepper. I appreciated that. I worked on that while he said he wanted to run and errand and have me come along.
He took me to a welfare office and demanded I go in and apply to get Ron a "gold card" - basically Medicaid for my county. I explained I couldn't just walk in and get it, I would have to make an appointment.
He got very angry and said I had dropped the ball. The gold card was instrumental in their plot to force Ron into a nursing home. He locked all the doors and began driving. I couldn't get out.
He said he was taking me to Social Security to see that I had gotten Ron's disability check and Medicare into motion, because they needed that - it was instrumental - for the nursing home. I told him they wouldn't let us do that, you had to make an appointment. He basically accused me of f*cking up all the welfare paperwork and "ruining everything" by wanting to take care of Ron myself.
He scared me, he was not rational at all. I kept reminding him of the appointment to learn how to take care of Ron and he cursed at me. I did not have a cell phone at this time.
I prayed about it, and God reminded me of something. A secret Ron's brother had told him, which Ron had then told me. I reminded the man of the secret. Said Ron and I didn't have any secrets from each other, but I bet he had a secret from his wife. One I knew.
He asked me how I knew and I told him Ron told me. He started swearing and beating on the wheel. Asked me what I wanted. "Take me back to the hospital" I told him.
He took me back. He was Not Happy about it but protecting the secret was more important. He also knew, in the mood I was in, I would also tell his parents and sister.
I was about 5 minutes late for the appointment when he let me out. He then asked me, if Ron loved me so much, why he didn't marry me. When Ron heard that he was furious and called his brother, said, "If you can't treat Heather with the respect due my wife I don't want you in my life". I was very proud of him.
The physical therapist came in, looked around, and asked me "Where is the family? They were supposed to be here!"
"I'm here" I replied, and she gave me the lessons I needed.
Monday, December 31, 2018
I love that pan bread
I got to talking with Ron and mentioned how one reader had thought I went out on a date with Chuck.
Which led to a discussion of what would happen to him if I did leave. He would, I reminded him:
Lose his wife
Lose his business partner/employee
and
Lose his caregiver.
He thought I was a little heavy-handed and told me so. But it's been planted.
I told him, flat-out, I would appreciate a little more appreciation, considering all I DO for him. He said I shouldn't have to ask. That my virtue, basically, would inspire it in him.
No, he has had to be reminded repeatedly not to take me for granted. A lot of you have seen that over the years.
I left him drinking vodka and giving the cats treats. I imagine they would lose a lot of weight on my rations alone if he left the house for a couple of days.
Then he got to talking about his brother. His brother was supposed to take care of Ron when he was younger, and, in some regards, failed dismally. That all ended one day when his brother kidnapped me and treated me horribly, said some awful things, etc. Ron said "I don't want you in my life unless you can treat her with the respect due my wife." He bolted, never to be seen again.
So I am in no hurry to "take him out to a steak dinner". It would just ruin my digestion. Ron asked me to bring him his phone and I "forgot".
I will not bring it up again.
I ordered Indian food from Grub Hub. I am curious to see how it stacks up to what I normally eat. They had a $5 coupon for the first order so I got two appetizers and extra pan bread.
Oh, I love that pan bread.
Which led to a discussion of what would happen to him if I did leave. He would, I reminded him:
Lose his wife
Lose his business partner/employee
and
Lose his caregiver.
He thought I was a little heavy-handed and told me so. But it's been planted.
I told him, flat-out, I would appreciate a little more appreciation, considering all I DO for him. He said I shouldn't have to ask. That my virtue, basically, would inspire it in him.
No, he has had to be reminded repeatedly not to take me for granted. A lot of you have seen that over the years.
I left him drinking vodka and giving the cats treats. I imagine they would lose a lot of weight on my rations alone if he left the house for a couple of days.
Then he got to talking about his brother. His brother was supposed to take care of Ron when he was younger, and, in some regards, failed dismally. That all ended one day when his brother kidnapped me and treated me horribly, said some awful things, etc. Ron said "I don't want you in my life unless you can treat her with the respect due my wife." He bolted, never to be seen again.
So I am in no hurry to "take him out to a steak dinner". It would just ruin my digestion. Ron asked me to bring him his phone and I "forgot".
I will not bring it up again.
I ordered Indian food from Grub Hub. I am curious to see how it stacks up to what I normally eat. They had a $5 coupon for the first order so I got two appetizers and extra pan bread.
Oh, I love that pan bread.
I don't know what to think
I didn't sleep well and woke up with nightmares, had one in which I had eaten chocolate. Which meant I was now going to get a 7 day migraine. That's a pretty bad nightmare.
I got up and watched some TV, did some computer, fed the cats of course. Ron woke up and we talked.
I started with "You are scaring me" and led into the story of last night. He laughed and said I should have never asked him if he was drunk, if I had to ask I knew the answer. That everything said and done had come from the alcohol.
Which of course led to the thought: Why are you doing this to us, then? I then moved onto the mess in the house, the disgusting kitchen floor (I had not cleaned it), his clothes, his bed, etc. He cleaned the floor himself (an old rag wrapped around his foot served as mop, and did a passable job), stripped his bed, and took off his clothes. I put everything in the wash after checking it for "landmines".
He wanted to know where the box of bath wipes had come from: I told him I bought them at Walmart. Actually, I explained, since he had paid me back for them already he had bought them.
I took a shower while he talked to me from outside the room. He worked on emptying his urinals. He hasn't been this productive in a long while.
He had been drinking when the last occurred. We were talking about our plans for the week, and I told him I didn't care what days we worked, during the week.
"But I have to pay you" he said "Tomorrow". Oh boy.
He paid me last week, and my pay is enough that I'd think he'd remember doing it. I told him he had paid me already, and "This was the sort of thing that was scaring me".
He said he just forgot, and praised me for my honesty.
I don't know what to think.
I got up and watched some TV, did some computer, fed the cats of course. Ron woke up and we talked.
I started with "You are scaring me" and led into the story of last night. He laughed and said I should have never asked him if he was drunk, if I had to ask I knew the answer. That everything said and done had come from the alcohol.
Which of course led to the thought: Why are you doing this to us, then? I then moved onto the mess in the house, the disgusting kitchen floor (I had not cleaned it), his clothes, his bed, etc. He cleaned the floor himself (an old rag wrapped around his foot served as mop, and did a passable job), stripped his bed, and took off his clothes. I put everything in the wash after checking it for "landmines".
He wanted to know where the box of bath wipes had come from: I told him I bought them at Walmart. Actually, I explained, since he had paid me back for them already he had bought them.
I took a shower while he talked to me from outside the room. He worked on emptying his urinals. He hasn't been this productive in a long while.
He had been drinking when the last occurred. We were talking about our plans for the week, and I told him I didn't care what days we worked, during the week.
"But I have to pay you" he said "Tomorrow". Oh boy.
He paid me last week, and my pay is enough that I'd think he'd remember doing it. I told him he had paid me already, and "This was the sort of thing that was scaring me".
He said he just forgot, and praised me for my honesty.
I don't know what to think.
"You have a serious cognitive problem, then"
Last night Ron kept requesting help. He got "lost" in his bed and couldn't find his wheelchair, which was about an inch and a half off his left knee.
Once he got in the wheelchair he went to the bathroom, then he got "lost" going back to his room (15 feet away) and ended up at the furthest point away in the house, by the front door. He was screaming for me to come and save him.
I lost my temper. I told him he had to cut back on the drinking. "I'm not drunk!"
"You have a serious cognitive problem, then". He was very quiet after that.
Once he got in the wheelchair he went to the bathroom, then he got "lost" going back to his room (15 feet away) and ended up at the furthest point away in the house, by the front door. He was screaming for me to come and save him.
I lost my temper. I told him he had to cut back on the drinking. "I'm not drunk!"
"You have a serious cognitive problem, then". He was very quiet after that.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Well, that was embarrassing
Ron's jacket was due today. I looked out the front window and didn't see anything in the chair, where couriers normally leave packages. I went online to check Amazon. Maybe they got delayed, like they did with Torbie's house.
They said it was delivered. Yeah, right. I investigated and under "order details" they had a full color photo of my front porch, with a package lying on the doormat. Huh.
I went out and looked, sure enough, it was there. OK, now I'm embarrassed. I brought it inside and opened it, it looks fine of course.
I emptied out the pockets of my other hoodie so I could wash them together.
As a rule I do not use lip care products BUT recently in addition to dry skin and funny hair I am also dealing with some chapped lips. So I bought some nice balm today, all sorts of good fats and oils in a beeswax base. I didn't see any funny chemicals or almond oil (I am allergic) so I bought it. I took that out.
I can only imagine the havoc a tube of lip balm could wreak in the washer and dryer.
I'll wash it tomorrow along with all the other crap. My washer's going to need one of those cleaning tablets by the time I finish!
They said it was delivered. Yeah, right. I investigated and under "order details" they had a full color photo of my front porch, with a package lying on the doormat. Huh.
I went out and looked, sure enough, it was there. OK, now I'm embarrassed. I brought it inside and opened it, it looks fine of course.
I emptied out the pockets of my other hoodie so I could wash them together.
As a rule I do not use lip care products BUT recently in addition to dry skin and funny hair I am also dealing with some chapped lips. So I bought some nice balm today, all sorts of good fats and oils in a beeswax base. I didn't see any funny chemicals or almond oil (I am allergic) so I bought it. I took that out.
I can only imagine the havoc a tube of lip balm could wreak in the washer and dryer.
I'll wash it tomorrow along with all the other crap. My washer's going to need one of those cleaning tablets by the time I finish!
Frustrated
So I thought Ron would have learned his lesson about drinking to excess. Having just had an ugly blackout yesterday.
Tonight, after I got up from a failed nap, he went into the kitchen and began drinking. I don't keep track of what he is drinking because 1. It's a game and 2. It is his job to keep track of what he is doing. I don't play games. So, he was in the kitchen talking to me.
He got a little emotional over Baby Girl but he does that, sometimes. I was teasing him, telling him, when she dies, Chuck and I will take him to the county animal shelter for "another". He said OK and went back to petting Baby Girl.
I fed them dinner and she ate some, then "buried" it (she likes to cover her food). Ron went to bed. And I heard him shouting.
So I went back. He was so drunk he couldn't get into bed. I helped him make a position change and he said he was good. I barely got back to my chair before he shouted for me again. He was about to fall.
I managed to haul him up and get him into bed, swinging his legs up onto the mattress so he couldn't fall (if he does, it took some work). He thanked me profusely, I told him not to move, and I left. He is still in bed.
But, it's like he can't learn anything from his past behaviors. He has no portion control button. That part of his brain is just utterly fried. But take something like the Tylenol. He was able to take it properly, at regular intervals, not too close together. He never, to my knowledge, took too many. But when it comes to alcohol there is no limit.
The only limit is when he's passed out on the floor. It's sad and very frustrating.
I tell you this, I will not be wrecking my back for Ron. If it comes to hurting myself or leaving him on the floor, he's staying on the floor.
Tonight, after I got up from a failed nap, he went into the kitchen and began drinking. I don't keep track of what he is drinking because 1. It's a game and 2. It is his job to keep track of what he is doing. I don't play games. So, he was in the kitchen talking to me.
He got a little emotional over Baby Girl but he does that, sometimes. I was teasing him, telling him, when she dies, Chuck and I will take him to the county animal shelter for "another". He said OK and went back to petting Baby Girl.
I fed them dinner and she ate some, then "buried" it (she likes to cover her food). Ron went to bed. And I heard him shouting.
So I went back. He was so drunk he couldn't get into bed. I helped him make a position change and he said he was good. I barely got back to my chair before he shouted for me again. He was about to fall.
I managed to haul him up and get him into bed, swinging his legs up onto the mattress so he couldn't fall (if he does, it took some work). He thanked me profusely, I told him not to move, and I left. He is still in bed.
But, it's like he can't learn anything from his past behaviors. He has no portion control button. That part of his brain is just utterly fried. But take something like the Tylenol. He was able to take it properly, at regular intervals, not too close together. He never, to my knowledge, took too many. But when it comes to alcohol there is no limit.
The only limit is when he's passed out on the floor. It's sad and very frustrating.
I tell you this, I will not be wrecking my back for Ron. If it comes to hurting myself or leaving him on the floor, he's staying on the floor.
Chuck called
He said he would be happy to come get me and we arranged a pickup time.
He arrived a little early (he does, but I'm ready early, too) and I went out. "I have a question" I asked him, as I got into his SUV.
"What is it?" he replied. I could see him bracing himself a little.
"Can I buy [your dog] some treats? Will you let me do that?" He thought about it for a minute and said yes, he would.
We went to the store. Sometimes he waits, sometimes he comes around with me. Today he shopped with me. We talked about shampoo and I selected some handsoap, which I later discovered was leaking. They didn't have my conditioner.
By the way, the Suave apple I used this morning worked very well. My hair dried very nicely.
He even came down the "female products aisle" with me. I didn't mind. I threw my products in the basket and mused why the box on the Ultra tampons is always crushed.
I got everything on my list and then we went to the dog treat aisle. A very long aisle. It is interesting, cat treats maybe take up 8 feet of planogram (merchandise display shelving), dog stuff went at least 24 feet that I noticed.
We took our time selecting the right treat for the dog, who is a medium coon mix. I wanted to get a big box, but he said no. I wanted to get the meaty flavors assortment, he said no. He wanted the sausage roll treat, so that's what we got. I wish they'd had a bigger bag, though.
We got some labels for work (cheap, so I don't care if I pay for them) and we checked out. It was a very long line, and when I got the register the cashier seemed to lack a little common sense. Like, the cat food. Why not count all the cans and then ring it as [can x quanitity]? No, she rang one can after another. No wonder the line was so slow.
I gave Chuck the dog treats and he put them in with his personal. I also gave him some gas money and asked if he minded if I made a deposit. He said that was fine.
I talked to the pharmacy earlier and they told me all my pills, together, on insurance run about $100 for 3 months. Not bad. It is bad when I think I am paying hundreds of dollars a month more than that for the coverage, though.
So, I did some math. $50 for my doctor (he prefers cash patients and he is definitely worth it), $100 for my medication. I calculated how much I could put in my account and still leave money for discretionary spending during the pay period. They had a short line. No one had any money at the end of the month so no real banking business. Two of them were standing around and talking.
I was subtle. I took my deposit out, holding my deposit slip, and counted it in front of them. Suddenly they could help! [giggle] We are programmed to react to the sight of money.
We loaded the SUV and headed home. #7 is having some sort of soccer watch party today. They keep yelling "goal!" the way they do, Ron and I find that so annoying. I had my remote (it was raining) so he backed into the driveway and I opened the garage door. Then we put my stuff in the garage and he left.
Hopefully the dog is eating a treat right about now. I love pretty much all animals and it is fun to know I helped spoil the dog today. I'm not saying the dog's name because he may be a security question or password. I don't do that with mine, but you never know.
Once I got everything set up Ron paid me for the stuff I got him (bath wipes, motion sickness pills, etc.). I ate a snack and took some Oregano Oil, since I was out in public.
I plan to take a nap with Biscuit. Ron will have to plug in his headphones but he is pretty good about not disturbing me during a nap.
I will deal with the housework and laundry tomorrow. I don't want to deal with it today.
He arrived a little early (he does, but I'm ready early, too) and I went out. "I have a question" I asked him, as I got into his SUV.
"What is it?" he replied. I could see him bracing himself a little.
"Can I buy [your dog] some treats? Will you let me do that?" He thought about it for a minute and said yes, he would.
We went to the store. Sometimes he waits, sometimes he comes around with me. Today he shopped with me. We talked about shampoo and I selected some handsoap, which I later discovered was leaking. They didn't have my conditioner.
By the way, the Suave apple I used this morning worked very well. My hair dried very nicely.
He even came down the "female products aisle" with me. I didn't mind. I threw my products in the basket and mused why the box on the Ultra tampons is always crushed.
I got everything on my list and then we went to the dog treat aisle. A very long aisle. It is interesting, cat treats maybe take up 8 feet of planogram (merchandise display shelving), dog stuff went at least 24 feet that I noticed.
We took our time selecting the right treat for the dog, who is a medium coon mix. I wanted to get a big box, but he said no. I wanted to get the meaty flavors assortment, he said no. He wanted the sausage roll treat, so that's what we got. I wish they'd had a bigger bag, though.
We got some labels for work (cheap, so I don't care if I pay for them) and we checked out. It was a very long line, and when I got the register the cashier seemed to lack a little common sense. Like, the cat food. Why not count all the cans and then ring it as [can x quanitity]? No, she rang one can after another. No wonder the line was so slow.
I gave Chuck the dog treats and he put them in with his personal. I also gave him some gas money and asked if he minded if I made a deposit. He said that was fine.
I talked to the pharmacy earlier and they told me all my pills, together, on insurance run about $100 for 3 months. Not bad. It is bad when I think I am paying hundreds of dollars a month more than that for the coverage, though.
So, I did some math. $50 for my doctor (he prefers cash patients and he is definitely worth it), $100 for my medication. I calculated how much I could put in my account and still leave money for discretionary spending during the pay period. They had a short line. No one had any money at the end of the month so no real banking business. Two of them were standing around and talking.
I was subtle. I took my deposit out, holding my deposit slip, and counted it in front of them. Suddenly they could help! [giggle] We are programmed to react to the sight of money.
We loaded the SUV and headed home. #7 is having some sort of soccer watch party today. They keep yelling "goal!" the way they do, Ron and I find that so annoying. I had my remote (it was raining) so he backed into the driveway and I opened the garage door. Then we put my stuff in the garage and he left.
Hopefully the dog is eating a treat right about now. I love pretty much all animals and it is fun to know I helped spoil the dog today. I'm not saying the dog's name because he may be a security question or password. I don't do that with mine, but you never know.
Once I got everything set up Ron paid me for the stuff I got him (bath wipes, motion sickness pills, etc.). I ate a snack and took some Oregano Oil, since I was out in public.
I plan to take a nap with Biscuit. Ron will have to plug in his headphones but he is pretty good about not disturbing me during a nap.
I will deal with the housework and laundry tomorrow. I don't want to deal with it today.
Well, I took my shower
I also talked to Ron and confirmed that yes, he had a blackout. I don't know why he would ever think one is a good idea, or something to be sought.
I didn't fight with him, more resigned. I told him I did not want the Waffle House so he deleted the trip. He said he was "tired" anyway. I bet.
I took a shower. I have some gaps in my beauty education. Things like when to use conditioner, how long to leave it in, how long to rinse, stuff like that.
I decided to use my Green Apple (by Suave) shampoo and conditioner today. Each bottle cost a whopping 94 cents. Pretty cheap to make!
Just shows you the markup on the fancy stuff.
So I put my glasses up (about the only time I take off my glasses: shower time and bed time) and got in the shower. I really like my shower, it is roomy and good-looking, hand held shower (I bought it for Ron but he hates it). I washed my hair. It smelled good. Then I applied conditioner about halfway down (where the ponytail starts) down to the ends. I remembered, years ago, reading a conditioner bottle that said rinse out immediately for light treatment, for a more intensive treatment leave in for 3 minutes. I twisted it up and secured it to the crown of my head with my trusty hair clip. It keeps my hair out of the way when I'm washing my back or whatever.
I proceeded with the shower, got everything done. NOT shaving my legs until spring so that saves me time. I used my lemongrass soap, which harmonized nicely with the shampoo. I'm fruity today! :p
Towards the end of my shower, I undid my hair and rinsed it out, what I thought was "enough". I finished up and got out, dried off.
My freshly washed towel is nice and absorbent. I went in the bedroom and called Chuck. Voicemail. That is not good, probably means he is sick today. I will keep my phone around though, in case he does call back, but it does not look promising for me getting out today.
My aunt and I texted, she confirmed we are on for next week. Good. I always feel better when she gives me a ride because I know we will have very little drama (and that, from traffic).
My adoptive Mom basically sent out a big hint for cat pictures last night, when we talked, so I sent her one each of Biscuit and Torbie. They are pretty good about allowing photos. She loved them.
When my Dad dies (he hates cats) one of her first stops will probably be the animal shelter! I have no doubt of it.
I guess I will go watch some TV, I woke up with a nasty headache that is still lurking around and I have no desire to clean up the carnage in the kitchen.
I didn't fight with him, more resigned. I told him I did not want the Waffle House so he deleted the trip. He said he was "tired" anyway. I bet.
I took a shower. I have some gaps in my beauty education. Things like when to use conditioner, how long to leave it in, how long to rinse, stuff like that.
I decided to use my Green Apple (by Suave) shampoo and conditioner today. Each bottle cost a whopping 94 cents. Pretty cheap to make!
Just shows you the markup on the fancy stuff.
So I put my glasses up (about the only time I take off my glasses: shower time and bed time) and got in the shower. I really like my shower, it is roomy and good-looking, hand held shower (I bought it for Ron but he hates it). I washed my hair. It smelled good. Then I applied conditioner about halfway down (where the ponytail starts) down to the ends. I remembered, years ago, reading a conditioner bottle that said rinse out immediately for light treatment, for a more intensive treatment leave in for 3 minutes. I twisted it up and secured it to the crown of my head with my trusty hair clip. It keeps my hair out of the way when I'm washing my back or whatever.
I proceeded with the shower, got everything done. NOT shaving my legs until spring so that saves me time. I used my lemongrass soap, which harmonized nicely with the shampoo. I'm fruity today! :p
Towards the end of my shower, I undid my hair and rinsed it out, what I thought was "enough". I finished up and got out, dried off.
My freshly washed towel is nice and absorbent. I went in the bedroom and called Chuck. Voicemail. That is not good, probably means he is sick today. I will keep my phone around though, in case he does call back, but it does not look promising for me getting out today.
My aunt and I texted, she confirmed we are on for next week. Good. I always feel better when she gives me a ride because I know we will have very little drama (and that, from traffic).
My adoptive Mom basically sent out a big hint for cat pictures last night, when we talked, so I sent her one each of Biscuit and Torbie. They are pretty good about allowing photos. She loved them.
When my Dad dies (he hates cats) one of her first stops will probably be the animal shelter! I have no doubt of it.
I guess I will go watch some TV, I woke up with a nasty headache that is still lurking around and I have no desire to clean up the carnage in the kitchen.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
A trip to the Waffle House?!
I think I left you with Ron passed out on the floor, in a lake of V-8, snoring.
I left him like that and laid down. Of course he woke up and started shouting for me. What does he do on the days when I've left, and don't answer?
He wanted to know his location. This is an issue when you are a blind, problem, drinker. You don't know where you are in your own home. "In the kitchen" became "By the front door" as he scooted around. He wanted the wheelchair out of his way.
He had to pee, I brought him a urinal. Happily he got everything where it belonged. He fell asleep again. I went back to bed.
I had Torbie and Biscuit, and they were so sweet. Ron started shouting for me again. Now he wanted to know his location. Yes, we just did that, but welcome to the world of a drunk. Where the same question is asked again and again and again.
I won't bore you with all the details. Ron said he would sleep on the floor, by the front door. I went back to bed. He began shouting for me again. I went back. He said he wanted his wheelchair, so he could go to bed.
I brought the wheelchair and held it while he tried to get into it. It would have been funny if it weren't so sad. He couldn't do it while I was standing there, and I was there for a while. He did not have his cell phone, otherwise he might have tried to call the paramedics again.
I suggested he lay down and sleep (it off, but I didn't say that) for a while and try again "When you're not so drunk" which led to "I'm not drunk" and more attempts to get in the wheelchair. I finally told him I was going back to bed and I would appreciate it if he didn't bother me any more. I gave him the pillow again and went back to Torbie and Biscuit.
I heard more noise and a whole lot of cursing. Ron shouted that he had gotten into his wheelchair finally, no thanks to me. That must have been a sight. I got his pillow and put it in his bed. I watched him get himself into bed, ugly, but he did it. Then I went back to my bed and my cats.
I had a pretty good nap with them for about 2 hours. Biscuit likes to think he is a small kitten, and walk on me, lie on me, etc. He is a big beefy chunk of 20 pounds. I doubt Ron could pick him up. But he loves me (Biscuit). He doesn't mess with Torbie's house, respecting it as her property.
I slept pretty well but the headache comes and goes. I don't want to take headache pills with caffeine if I can avoid it, I have had enough disruption with being kept up all night and half the day.
I am also debating doing my clothes. I am pretty sure I will, I have 2 pairs of jeans, some underwear, socks, t-shirts. I think I'll do all that and then deal with Ron's mess tomorrow. I will make him do as much cleanup as possible, and he will require a bath, but I am on my own for the laundry.
But first I have to get the towels dried and put away. I hate it when I have an armload of wet clothes for the dryer and I forgot to put away what was already in the dryer.
I checked the paratransit computer. He didn't make a trip to Walmart tomorrow, but, instead gave me a trip to the Waffle House.
Looks like I will be calling someone tomorrow or Monday, for my Walmart trip.
I left him like that and laid down. Of course he woke up and started shouting for me. What does he do on the days when I've left, and don't answer?
He wanted to know his location. This is an issue when you are a blind, problem, drinker. You don't know where you are in your own home. "In the kitchen" became "By the front door" as he scooted around. He wanted the wheelchair out of his way.
He had to pee, I brought him a urinal. Happily he got everything where it belonged. He fell asleep again. I went back to bed.
I had Torbie and Biscuit, and they were so sweet. Ron started shouting for me again. Now he wanted to know his location. Yes, we just did that, but welcome to the world of a drunk. Where the same question is asked again and again and again.
I won't bore you with all the details. Ron said he would sleep on the floor, by the front door. I went back to bed. He began shouting for me again. I went back. He said he wanted his wheelchair, so he could go to bed.
I brought the wheelchair and held it while he tried to get into it. It would have been funny if it weren't so sad. He couldn't do it while I was standing there, and I was there for a while. He did not have his cell phone, otherwise he might have tried to call the paramedics again.
I suggested he lay down and sleep (it off, but I didn't say that) for a while and try again "When you're not so drunk" which led to "I'm not drunk" and more attempts to get in the wheelchair. I finally told him I was going back to bed and I would appreciate it if he didn't bother me any more. I gave him the pillow again and went back to Torbie and Biscuit.
I heard more noise and a whole lot of cursing. Ron shouted that he had gotten into his wheelchair finally, no thanks to me. That must have been a sight. I got his pillow and put it in his bed. I watched him get himself into bed, ugly, but he did it. Then I went back to my bed and my cats.
I had a pretty good nap with them for about 2 hours. Biscuit likes to think he is a small kitten, and walk on me, lie on me, etc. He is a big beefy chunk of 20 pounds. I doubt Ron could pick him up. But he loves me (Biscuit). He doesn't mess with Torbie's house, respecting it as her property.
I slept pretty well but the headache comes and goes. I don't want to take headache pills with caffeine if I can avoid it, I have had enough disruption with being kept up all night and half the day.
I am also debating doing my clothes. I am pretty sure I will, I have 2 pairs of jeans, some underwear, socks, t-shirts. I think I'll do all that and then deal with Ron's mess tomorrow. I will make him do as much cleanup as possible, and he will require a bath, but I am on my own for the laundry.
But first I have to get the towels dried and put away. I hate it when I have an armload of wet clothes for the dryer and I forgot to put away what was already in the dryer.
I checked the paratransit computer. He didn't make a trip to Walmart tomorrow, but, instead gave me a trip to the Waffle House.
Looks like I will be calling someone tomorrow or Monday, for my Walmart trip.
I don't blame his race
I have been thinking about this recently.
Ron is mixed race, including French, Black, Native, and Spanish. He really can't be racist because he is everything. Most people take that and say Ron is black. Well, that's a part of it.
When I think of him I generally view him as "mixed", unless we are doing evangelism in a ghetto neighborhood, then I see Ron as conveniently"black".
I think we can all agree Ron treats me terribly. But, when he does, I never blame his race. I never think "Oh, that terrible black man is abusing me". Nope. I don't think of race at all. I just think he is being a butthead, not his race, or one of the races, that comprise him.
So, that said, I finished the soak cycle on my towels and am running a "deep wash" cycle. When that finishes in about 25 minutes I will throw some vinegar in the washer and run a "rinse and spin" cycle. Vinegar gets the suds out of a towel, and helps it smell better.
Then, into the dryer, and I will attempt to get a nap.
Ron startled me shouting a while ago, said he wanted to get out of his wheelchair. I looked at him laying in the tomato juice on the floor and told him he was on the floor. He said he wasn't.
And people wonder why I hate alcohol? Why I never drink!? It really degrades people.
I asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted to get out of the wheelchair because he felt cramped. I realized the wheelchair did sort of have him "cornered" so I moved the wheelchair away from him. He moved a little on the floor and was happy.
It looks so grisly, him laying on the floor in the tomato juice. If I have to call the paramedics today I will have to explain, outside "He spilled tomato juice" before I let them in the house or they will go into "trauma mode". Which is a good thing, but not at this point and time.
Of course Ron on the floor in the kitchen means I have very little access to my food, but I have some energy bars in the front room. And how sad is it that I am already planning for "next time" and how I can move some food to another place so he won't hold it hostage again?
But, in all this, I don't see him as one race or another. If anything I see him as "mixed" or "Creole" (wikipedia calls it "Creoles of color").
Mainly, I see him as a drunk. Jesus died for him, but it is very hard not to despise him at times like this.
Ron is mixed race, including French, Black, Native, and Spanish. He really can't be racist because he is everything. Most people take that and say Ron is black. Well, that's a part of it.
When I think of him I generally view him as "mixed", unless we are doing evangelism in a ghetto neighborhood, then I see Ron as conveniently"black".
I think we can all agree Ron treats me terribly. But, when he does, I never blame his race. I never think "Oh, that terrible black man is abusing me". Nope. I don't think of race at all. I just think he is being a butthead, not his race, or one of the races, that comprise him.
So, that said, I finished the soak cycle on my towels and am running a "deep wash" cycle. When that finishes in about 25 minutes I will throw some vinegar in the washer and run a "rinse and spin" cycle. Vinegar gets the suds out of a towel, and helps it smell better.
Then, into the dryer, and I will attempt to get a nap.
Ron startled me shouting a while ago, said he wanted to get out of his wheelchair. I looked at him laying in the tomato juice on the floor and told him he was on the floor. He said he wasn't.
And people wonder why I hate alcohol? Why I never drink!? It really degrades people.
I asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted to get out of the wheelchair because he felt cramped. I realized the wheelchair did sort of have him "cornered" so I moved the wheelchair away from him. He moved a little on the floor and was happy.
It looks so grisly, him laying on the floor in the tomato juice. If I have to call the paramedics today I will have to explain, outside "He spilled tomato juice" before I let them in the house or they will go into "trauma mode". Which is a good thing, but not at this point and time.
Of course Ron on the floor in the kitchen means I have very little access to my food, but I have some energy bars in the front room. And how sad is it that I am already planning for "next time" and how I can move some food to another place so he won't hold it hostage again?
But, in all this, I don't see him as one race or another. If anything I see him as "mixed" or "Creole" (wikipedia calls it "Creoles of color").
Mainly, I see him as a drunk. Jesus died for him, but it is very hard not to despise him at times like this.
"I got it"
Ron had a bad night with pain, which meant I had a bad night being kept up.
It is a source of frustration for me, when I am in pain I am QUIET. Moaning and crying does not make it any better. I even speak in a quiet voice.
Ron, on the other hand, is just the opposite. He moans and cries out in a very loud voice, which he did, all night long. Every time I would drop off he would cry out again.
I told him not to pick up that bucket of change, but he did, and messed up his back again. It has been pretty good the last little bit.
I don't know what I would do if I couldn't vent to you - if I said this in public I would look like such a bitch but I have got to get this out or my head will pop!
Anyway, his back had been OK but not after picking up that bucket of change. I told him I would do it, he said "No, I got it" and picked it up. No, Ron, you do not "got it".
So, totally sleep deprived due to all the loud screaming, moaning, etc. Ron said he slept fine so he must have been crying out in his sleep.
At one point I drifted off, I had Biscuit and Torbie in my bed. I woke up, having a nightmare a crocodile was on my chest and about to eat me. I woke up and found Biscuit, sitting on my chest. Funny how my mind turned him into a crocodile. He weighs about as much as one!
Ron woke up around 8 and went to the kitchen to drink, after asking me to put the magnets on him. The ones I did last night came off, and he put the magnets on his computer. I was horrified, but it appears to be working. I did his back, with extra tape (I need more tape) and two on his foot, which he said was hurting (the nerve pain makes it feel like his foot hurts, but it is really coming from his back, a couple doctors have said).
He went to the kitchen and began drinking. I did not pay him any attention. He was in there for about 45 minutes, so God knows how much he drank. I did hear a crash and saw V-8 all over the floor (which he will be cleaning up), and Ron passed out in the wheelchair. He stayed passed out long enough for me to take a shower, then he woke up babbling nonsense. I told him I was "busy" and he said "OK" and left me alone.
At least he is agreeable.
I won't go into details, but necessary to wash a load of towels today. My primary towel, the one I use to dry off every day, had some hard water stains on it, anyway. The trick was just balancing the washer.
I have towels from various sources. Stroud's linens. They have been bankrupt for a while now, the towel from them is still in great shape. They had a terrible return policy, they let you bring ANYTHING back, no matter how abused, for up to a year as long as you kept the receipt. It was impossible for them to make a profit, doing that, because everyone treated them as "Strouds-rent-a-sheet". But they had some very nice, plush, towels.
They went bankrupt and I moved to Houston. In Houston we had Anna's linens for our linen source, your average low to middle income person would buy linens there. I bought a bath sheet in light blue which I use every day, well constructed, no snags or problems. But now Anna's is bankrupt and long gone, as well.
I have what I consider to be "plenty" of towels but I have bought some at a thrift store, and some at Walmart. I have a thrift store towel on Baby Girl's cardboard box. She likes to lie up there. So does Biscuit! Since I have had puking cats since 2003, I put towels on every chair.
Ron is snoring now. Good, maybe I will get some peace.
I woke up with yet another headache, and tried to fight it off. I ate and took my pills, drank some Vitamin C dissolved in lemonade so I get better iron out of my supplements. I got online for a while. Headache was OK, but got worse. So I took some Excedrin right before I took my shower today.
Aaaand Ron just fell on the floor. I'm going to leave him there until he sobers up, he didn't hit hard. He turns to jello when he's drunk, like one of those dui drivers who walks away without a scratch.
I took my shower, really enjoying my shea butter soap with lemongrass. My face is finally happy, clean and not dry. The skin on my hands is not "ashy". That's one thing I never understood, other cultures compulsively applying hand cream. I remember one client got in, grabbed my arm, and yelled "LOTION". I told her I didn't have any and she left me alone. Now I get it.
It must be particularly hard in the food service and health care professions, because you are always washing your hands. Really no point in applying lotion at those jobs, until you clock out!
My load of towels is on soak right now. When they finish I will run a load on regular cycle. I would have gone to Walmart today (Ron paid me early), but it's a Saturday. It has been my experience cab drivers don't like Walmart on the weekend. And, of course, impossible to get things like cat litter on the bus.
Ron was all obsessed with the fact that it's "supposed" to rain the next couple days, and wouldn't make a trip for me. So I will have to go Monday.
Which means I am stuck at home with a passed out cripple on the floor, probably in a puddle of the V-8 he spilled earlier. Which also means I will be doing a load of clothes later because no clothing can escape that unscathed.
On the plus side, his hoodie shipped Thursday so odds are pretty good we will get it today.
It is a source of frustration for me, when I am in pain I am QUIET. Moaning and crying does not make it any better. I even speak in a quiet voice.
Ron, on the other hand, is just the opposite. He moans and cries out in a very loud voice, which he did, all night long. Every time I would drop off he would cry out again.
I told him not to pick up that bucket of change, but he did, and messed up his back again. It has been pretty good the last little bit.
I don't know what I would do if I couldn't vent to you - if I said this in public I would look like such a bitch but I have got to get this out or my head will pop!
Anyway, his back had been OK but not after picking up that bucket of change. I told him I would do it, he said "No, I got it" and picked it up. No, Ron, you do not "got it".
So, totally sleep deprived due to all the loud screaming, moaning, etc. Ron said he slept fine so he must have been crying out in his sleep.
At one point I drifted off, I had Biscuit and Torbie in my bed. I woke up, having a nightmare a crocodile was on my chest and about to eat me. I woke up and found Biscuit, sitting on my chest. Funny how my mind turned him into a crocodile. He weighs about as much as one!
Ron woke up around 8 and went to the kitchen to drink, after asking me to put the magnets on him. The ones I did last night came off, and he put the magnets on his computer. I was horrified, but it appears to be working. I did his back, with extra tape (I need more tape) and two on his foot, which he said was hurting (the nerve pain makes it feel like his foot hurts, but it is really coming from his back, a couple doctors have said).
He went to the kitchen and began drinking. I did not pay him any attention. He was in there for about 45 minutes, so God knows how much he drank. I did hear a crash and saw V-8 all over the floor (which he will be cleaning up), and Ron passed out in the wheelchair. He stayed passed out long enough for me to take a shower, then he woke up babbling nonsense. I told him I was "busy" and he said "OK" and left me alone.
At least he is agreeable.
I won't go into details, but necessary to wash a load of towels today. My primary towel, the one I use to dry off every day, had some hard water stains on it, anyway. The trick was just balancing the washer.
I have towels from various sources. Stroud's linens. They have been bankrupt for a while now, the towel from them is still in great shape. They had a terrible return policy, they let you bring ANYTHING back, no matter how abused, for up to a year as long as you kept the receipt. It was impossible for them to make a profit, doing that, because everyone treated them as "Strouds-rent-a-sheet". But they had some very nice, plush, towels.
They went bankrupt and I moved to Houston. In Houston we had Anna's linens for our linen source, your average low to middle income person would buy linens there. I bought a bath sheet in light blue which I use every day, well constructed, no snags or problems. But now Anna's is bankrupt and long gone, as well.
I have what I consider to be "plenty" of towels but I have bought some at a thrift store, and some at Walmart. I have a thrift store towel on Baby Girl's cardboard box. She likes to lie up there. So does Biscuit! Since I have had puking cats since 2003, I put towels on every chair.
Ron is snoring now. Good, maybe I will get some peace.
I woke up with yet another headache, and tried to fight it off. I ate and took my pills, drank some Vitamin C dissolved in lemonade so I get better iron out of my supplements. I got online for a while. Headache was OK, but got worse. So I took some Excedrin right before I took my shower today.
Aaaand Ron just fell on the floor. I'm going to leave him there until he sobers up, he didn't hit hard. He turns to jello when he's drunk, like one of those dui drivers who walks away without a scratch.
I took my shower, really enjoying my shea butter soap with lemongrass. My face is finally happy, clean and not dry. The skin on my hands is not "ashy". That's one thing I never understood, other cultures compulsively applying hand cream. I remember one client got in, grabbed my arm, and yelled "LOTION". I told her I didn't have any and she left me alone. Now I get it.
It must be particularly hard in the food service and health care professions, because you are always washing your hands. Really no point in applying lotion at those jobs, until you clock out!
My load of towels is on soak right now. When they finish I will run a load on regular cycle. I would have gone to Walmart today (Ron paid me early), but it's a Saturday. It has been my experience cab drivers don't like Walmart on the weekend. And, of course, impossible to get things like cat litter on the bus.
Ron was all obsessed with the fact that it's "supposed" to rain the next couple days, and wouldn't make a trip for me. So I will have to go Monday.
Which means I am stuck at home with a passed out cripple on the floor, probably in a puddle of the V-8 he spilled earlier. Which also means I will be doing a load of clothes later because no clothing can escape that unscathed.
On the plus side, his hoodie shipped Thursday so odds are pretty good we will get it today.
Friday, December 28, 2018
An animal of mine will not suffer
I was on Facebook and reading my newsfeed. I saw an ad for pet insurance. From what I understand, mine are too old to qualify, Biscuit might but he is so fat they would probably reject him. He's like a 500 pound man.
Anyway, they had one "uplifting" story of this poor cat that got in an accident, many, major, injuries and a long recovery. Then pet insurance "reimbursed" the owner for the expenses.
What about the poor cat? Maybe it didn't want to survive the injuries. Just because an animal can take a lot of pain doesn't mean it should have to do so. I know Torbie has some arthritis, and I worry about her a lot. I have tried getting her Glucosamine but she won't take it.
I worry she may be hurting, but she gets around OK once she does her "Warmup". If you have ever had an elderly cat you know what I'm talking about. She jumps on and off the bed. She runs (slowly) for treats. She can dart into the garage or out the front door pretty quick if she's feeling naughty!
But there will come a time when she is sick and in pain. And I am not going to do everything for her. I am going to do what seems fair, and humane. If that doesn't work and the prognosis is grim I am going to make the final decision.
I have done it before, it wasn't easy but I knew I had done the right thing. An animal of mine will not suffer.
Anyway, they had one "uplifting" story of this poor cat that got in an accident, many, major, injuries and a long recovery. Then pet insurance "reimbursed" the owner for the expenses.
What about the poor cat? Maybe it didn't want to survive the injuries. Just because an animal can take a lot of pain doesn't mean it should have to do so. I know Torbie has some arthritis, and I worry about her a lot. I have tried getting her Glucosamine but she won't take it.
I worry she may be hurting, but she gets around OK once she does her "Warmup". If you have ever had an elderly cat you know what I'm talking about. She jumps on and off the bed. She runs (slowly) for treats. She can dart into the garage or out the front door pretty quick if she's feeling naughty!
But there will come a time when she is sick and in pain. And I am not going to do everything for her. I am going to do what seems fair, and humane. If that doesn't work and the prognosis is grim I am going to make the final decision.
I have done it before, it wasn't easy but I knew I had done the right thing. An animal of mine will not suffer.
A bad headache today
I slept pretty good last night. When I got up this morning to change my female product, I realized I had started my cycle.
I had wondered about that, I have had a steady low flow since my last cycle. Would it stop and then start? Or suddenly more? Turns out it was the latter.
I got the heavy duty stuff and took my shower. Ron and I had a bad caregiver moment during my shower but we overcame without attacking each other. It is tempting, at times, to blame Ron for things he cannot control and that wouldn't be fair to him.
I had a bad headache all day which never really improved. As I age, I am getting the traditional menstrual headache and I find it tiresome: the first day, I'm going to have a nasty headache.
We got dressed and went to the warehouse. Our driver was early but we didn't mind. Ron asked me to buy a case of bottled Coke (which turned out to be a really good idea, and I told him so at work), and I bought some sandwiches for the machines. I also got for "personal" muffins and a soda for us.
We paid and were waiting, our next driver came early! Not bad. We headed out.
She was scheduled to pick up someone near work and then take us to work. We were early and the old lady took FOREVER coming out. She also reeked of cigarettes when she did come out, so apparently the "important business" that delayed her involved knocking back a couple of smokes.
The smell of cigarette smoke is so heavy and pervasive, I don't think smokers realize how offensive non smokers find it. Not to mention the health danger to themselves and others. At least they jacked up the taxes on the cigarettes so the smoker is essentially paying for their own health care.
We went to work. They have changed the whole ingress thing at work, they now have a barricade down the main aisle so the vehicle cannot unload us without blocking the other vehicles. So we had to go way up into the parking area and then unload. I left Ron sitting between two cars in the handicapped area and got a cart.
I saw Mike, he was in a good mood. I like him a lot, he always has a really good attitude. Even when things are rough he doesn't whine and moan. I need to tell him this.
I got the cart and got Ron in the building. We went to work: but not much to do! We ended up leaving early and calling a cab, it was so dead.
We had a good cab ride with a driver who is also a conservative, nice to have like minds and no one trying to bludgeon you into their point of view. We got home and unloaded.
Since my previous batch of sandwiches did not sell, I brought the new ones home and stuffed them into the freezer. I did some research into iron.
I am bleeding pretty much every day, and not just during my traditional cycle. That causes iron loss. What do I do to make it up? I did some research.
I also dug around in my pill box (prescriptions and supplements all having a happy party) and found a bottle of Ferrous Sulfate, the "green" iron pills. I recalled reading they were the "good" pill. I took one with a muffin and added some extra vitamin C to my drink. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption. That is 65 mg right there. I won't reiterate all my math, but if I take a green iron every day during my period, and my 27 mg Swanson multivitamin with Iron every day until my next cycle. I should be fine. I have to keep myself in prime condition.
I also need to see a doctor when I get a chance. But nothing so extreme I am worried. Just get examined and maybe an ultrasound to check for fibroids. Boy, those ultrasounds are personal, I have had two of them in my life, they didn't hurt but they were odd.
My head was still pretty bad so I decided to take a nap. I used my aromatherapy roll on - mint and rosemary, and laid down.
I think all medicine has a place. I take all my prescriptions, I take supplements as needed, I use aromatherapy if I feel it will help. The last sure won't hurt.
When I turned on my noisemaker, Torbie came running, only to run off to Ron when he started treating Baby Girl. She did come back, though.
I had a somewhat restless nap due to the pain. #6 sent all their kids out in the yard to play right outside my bedroom, they were screaming and banging, carrying on. It wasn't helping my head. I got up.
Took more Excedrin - I sure hope I sleep tonight, that is 3 doses. I watched some TV and got online.
I did want to talk about one last thing before I go. Twice recently I have encountered a "religious" person who said they did not "need" mental illness medication.
I cannot tell you how dangerous that thinking is. Both of them, were in my view, delusional. Both of them felt they were having special messages from God, "visions" etc. That is not a sign of holiness, that is a sign of profound mental illness. God, in my experience, tends to work much more subtly.
One talked about the "huge charge of energy" she had when she "threw away her medication". Yes, because you are bipolar and got manic.. It is so frustrating to me as a person of faith, with mental illness. There is nothing wrong with taking your medication and being a person of faith. That pleases God, that's why He made it possible for you to get the medication.
It does not make you "special or holy" to have "visions" or "special thoughts from God". Those are, in fact, signs that something is profoundly wrong in your mind that needs correcting. God still talks to me on my medication, in fact, the primary thing He reminds me to take it! [grin] But I am not having "visions" or "feeling special caresses from Jesus". [sigh]
So frustrating and sad. And it makes people with mental illness, and people of faith, look bad - they can't even control themselves long enough to take what they need.
That does NOT please God.
I had wondered about that, I have had a steady low flow since my last cycle. Would it stop and then start? Or suddenly more? Turns out it was the latter.
I got the heavy duty stuff and took my shower. Ron and I had a bad caregiver moment during my shower but we overcame without attacking each other. It is tempting, at times, to blame Ron for things he cannot control and that wouldn't be fair to him.
I had a bad headache all day which never really improved. As I age, I am getting the traditional menstrual headache and I find it tiresome: the first day, I'm going to have a nasty headache.
We got dressed and went to the warehouse. Our driver was early but we didn't mind. Ron asked me to buy a case of bottled Coke (which turned out to be a really good idea, and I told him so at work), and I bought some sandwiches for the machines. I also got for "personal" muffins and a soda for us.
We paid and were waiting, our next driver came early! Not bad. We headed out.
She was scheduled to pick up someone near work and then take us to work. We were early and the old lady took FOREVER coming out. She also reeked of cigarettes when she did come out, so apparently the "important business" that delayed her involved knocking back a couple of smokes.
The smell of cigarette smoke is so heavy and pervasive, I don't think smokers realize how offensive non smokers find it. Not to mention the health danger to themselves and others. At least they jacked up the taxes on the cigarettes so the smoker is essentially paying for their own health care.
We went to work. They have changed the whole ingress thing at work, they now have a barricade down the main aisle so the vehicle cannot unload us without blocking the other vehicles. So we had to go way up into the parking area and then unload. I left Ron sitting between two cars in the handicapped area and got a cart.
I saw Mike, he was in a good mood. I like him a lot, he always has a really good attitude. Even when things are rough he doesn't whine and moan. I need to tell him this.
I got the cart and got Ron in the building. We went to work: but not much to do! We ended up leaving early and calling a cab, it was so dead.
We had a good cab ride with a driver who is also a conservative, nice to have like minds and no one trying to bludgeon you into their point of view. We got home and unloaded.
Since my previous batch of sandwiches did not sell, I brought the new ones home and stuffed them into the freezer. I did some research into iron.
I am bleeding pretty much every day, and not just during my traditional cycle. That causes iron loss. What do I do to make it up? I did some research.
I also dug around in my pill box (prescriptions and supplements all having a happy party) and found a bottle of Ferrous Sulfate, the "green" iron pills. I recalled reading they were the "good" pill. I took one with a muffin and added some extra vitamin C to my drink. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption. That is 65 mg right there. I won't reiterate all my math, but if I take a green iron every day during my period, and my 27 mg Swanson multivitamin with Iron every day until my next cycle. I should be fine. I have to keep myself in prime condition.
I also need to see a doctor when I get a chance. But nothing so extreme I am worried. Just get examined and maybe an ultrasound to check for fibroids. Boy, those ultrasounds are personal, I have had two of them in my life, they didn't hurt but they were odd.
My head was still pretty bad so I decided to take a nap. I used my aromatherapy roll on - mint and rosemary, and laid down.
I think all medicine has a place. I take all my prescriptions, I take supplements as needed, I use aromatherapy if I feel it will help. The last sure won't hurt.
When I turned on my noisemaker, Torbie came running, only to run off to Ron when he started treating Baby Girl. She did come back, though.
I had a somewhat restless nap due to the pain. #6 sent all their kids out in the yard to play right outside my bedroom, they were screaming and banging, carrying on. It wasn't helping my head. I got up.
Took more Excedrin - I sure hope I sleep tonight, that is 3 doses. I watched some TV and got online.
I did want to talk about one last thing before I go. Twice recently I have encountered a "religious" person who said they did not "need" mental illness medication.
I cannot tell you how dangerous that thinking is. Both of them, were in my view, delusional. Both of them felt they were having special messages from God, "visions" etc. That is not a sign of holiness, that is a sign of profound mental illness. God, in my experience, tends to work much more subtly.
One talked about the "huge charge of energy" she had when she "threw away her medication". Yes, because you are bipolar and got manic.. It is so frustrating to me as a person of faith, with mental illness. There is nothing wrong with taking your medication and being a person of faith. That pleases God, that's why He made it possible for you to get the medication.
It does not make you "special or holy" to have "visions" or "special thoughts from God". Those are, in fact, signs that something is profoundly wrong in your mind that needs correcting. God still talks to me on my medication, in fact, the primary thing He reminds me to take it! [grin] But I am not having "visions" or "feeling special caresses from Jesus". [sigh]
So frustrating and sad. And it makes people with mental illness, and people of faith, look bad - they can't even control themselves long enough to take what they need.
That does NOT please God.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
I can't make this stuff up
Ron is cursing God out. I am sitting in front of my computer, which is playing "(They will know we are Christians) By Our Love" by For King and Country.
The juxtaposition is just surreal.
Oh, and Ron says he's going to have "a quiet blackout" tonight. There is NO such thing. There is vomiting, and fluids on the floor, and falling, and bleeding, and ambulances... but there is not a quiet blackout.
The juxtaposition is just surreal.
Oh, and Ron says he's going to have "a quiet blackout" tonight. There is NO such thing. There is vomiting, and fluids on the floor, and falling, and bleeding, and ambulances... but there is not a quiet blackout.
Dinner in
I took a nap, had a pretty good one, but woke up with a headache again. It may be linked to estrogen, I'm thinking. I need to calendar my headaches like I do my cycle.
Still on the cycle... almost a whole month now. Not heavy but I had better change things on time. Sorry, TMI. Glad I am taking my iron.
I got up, took some Excedrin (well, my generic version), and, in a rare moment, found myself with an empty bed. No cats at all.
I quickly moved Torbie's house and stripped the bed. The mattress pad was surprisingly dirty, and when I took it off the waterproof liner was ripped, so I threw it out. At least I found the damage before putting wear and tear on my washer. I put the sheets in the washer, making sure to balance. I put them in with some stain fighter and a detergent pak, then ran a soak cycle. That takes about an hour.
When the soak water had drained, I put 2 more detergent paks (I am really bad about not washing my sheets) in there and set it to run bedding, heavy duty, two rinses. When I took them out just now they smelled very fresh, and I use unscented detergent.
I do need more detergent, not right now, but next time I go I had better get some.
I have replacement sheets for the bed, but I have had a certain furry problem. For one, Torbie was outraged I stripped the bed and moved her house! Glad to see she likes it so much. I put the house back on the bare mattress, you can see it in the photo, but she won't go in it now, she's sulking.
I started to "install" the heated mattress pad, but Biscuit got aboard and wouldn't let me finish. So I am left with bare mattress and half a pad. Eventually they'll get up again and I will finish. The replacement sheets aren't as fancy as the ones in the dryer, but they are comfortable and should be fine in the winter. I like 100% cotton in the summer because we keep the thermostat at 80.
I see Sam's club has sheets and they look good, I need to check out the reviews but I will probably get a set when I need new bedding. I am already there for work, it would be easy to ring a "personal" first and then do the business.
Speaking of, our backup driver can't help us tomorrow so we will have to wait on restocking. Hopefully it doesn't get too bad. I do know I seem to have plenty of chips.
Ron talked to me about tomorrow and we are just going to work and home. He didn't want to go anywhere and I am not inclined to take him out. His behavior has been pretty bad at times, lately. You have seen that.
I did get an idea, and checked out Grub Hub. They had a lot of restaurants nearby. The two I found most interesting were a sub shop (not Subway!) and a fusion restaurant Indian/Pakistani/Middle Eastern. The latter looked very interesting, and the prices were reasonable. But I really wanted a sub so I ordered one.
Ron did not want any food, he said he had already eaten. I think this might be a good compromise, I get something fun to eat and Ron stays home. We will see how dinner goes tonight.
According to the text I got, I should be getting it in a few minutes. I will wait and eat my food before posting, then tell you how it went.
I just got the text that it will be here in 20 minutes.
OK, I'm done. Eating, that is.
A nice lady delivered it and liked the tip. If someone is bringing food to my door, they get a cash tip. Yes, the app has a built in tip but not much.
It was nice and heavy. I took it out, nice big sub. Smelled like rosemary and oregano. Lots of meat. good eating. They made it as requested, add-on bacon, no onions, lettuce and tomato. Very good.
Halfway through, I took my pills. Then I ate the rest of the sandwich. That would be the big test, you know.
Anyone can just eat something and like it. In my world it has to taste good AND settle with my medication, which is pretty harsh. I am fine over an hour later.
So, that's an option.
The cats are still in my bed, being obstreperous. I may have to forcibly evict them before I go to bed tonight.
But it worked out, and that's good.
Still on the cycle... almost a whole month now. Not heavy but I had better change things on time. Sorry, TMI. Glad I am taking my iron.
I got up, took some Excedrin (well, my generic version), and, in a rare moment, found myself with an empty bed. No cats at all.
I quickly moved Torbie's house and stripped the bed. The mattress pad was surprisingly dirty, and when I took it off the waterproof liner was ripped, so I threw it out. At least I found the damage before putting wear and tear on my washer. I put the sheets in the washer, making sure to balance. I put them in with some stain fighter and a detergent pak, then ran a soak cycle. That takes about an hour.
When the soak water had drained, I put 2 more detergent paks (I am really bad about not washing my sheets) in there and set it to run bedding, heavy duty, two rinses. When I took them out just now they smelled very fresh, and I use unscented detergent.
I do need more detergent, not right now, but next time I go I had better get some.
I have replacement sheets for the bed, but I have had a certain furry problem. For one, Torbie was outraged I stripped the bed and moved her house! Glad to see she likes it so much. I put the house back on the bare mattress, you can see it in the photo, but she won't go in it now, she's sulking.
I started to "install" the heated mattress pad, but Biscuit got aboard and wouldn't let me finish. So I am left with bare mattress and half a pad. Eventually they'll get up again and I will finish. The replacement sheets aren't as fancy as the ones in the dryer, but they are comfortable and should be fine in the winter. I like 100% cotton in the summer because we keep the thermostat at 80.
I see Sam's club has sheets and they look good, I need to check out the reviews but I will probably get a set when I need new bedding. I am already there for work, it would be easy to ring a "personal" first and then do the business.
Speaking of, our backup driver can't help us tomorrow so we will have to wait on restocking. Hopefully it doesn't get too bad. I do know I seem to have plenty of chips.
Ron talked to me about tomorrow and we are just going to work and home. He didn't want to go anywhere and I am not inclined to take him out. His behavior has been pretty bad at times, lately. You have seen that.
I did get an idea, and checked out Grub Hub. They had a lot of restaurants nearby. The two I found most interesting were a sub shop (not Subway!) and a fusion restaurant Indian/Pakistani/Middle Eastern. The latter looked very interesting, and the prices were reasonable. But I really wanted a sub so I ordered one.
Ron did not want any food, he said he had already eaten. I think this might be a good compromise, I get something fun to eat and Ron stays home. We will see how dinner goes tonight.
According to the text I got, I should be getting it in a few minutes. I will wait and eat my food before posting, then tell you how it went.
I just got the text that it will be here in 20 minutes.
OK, I'm done. Eating, that is.
A nice lady delivered it and liked the tip. If someone is bringing food to my door, they get a cash tip. Yes, the app has a built in tip but not much.
It was nice and heavy. I took it out, nice big sub. Smelled like rosemary and oregano. Lots of meat. good eating. They made it as requested, add-on bacon, no onions, lettuce and tomato. Very good.
Halfway through, I took my pills. Then I ate the rest of the sandwich. That would be the big test, you know.
Anyone can just eat something and like it. In my world it has to taste good AND settle with my medication, which is pretty harsh. I am fine over an hour later.
So, that's an option.
The cats are still in my bed, being obstreperous. I may have to forcibly evict them before I go to bed tonight.
But it worked out, and that's good.
It may seem funny...
I was watching a commercial on TV, a woman was teaching her daughter how to play piano. It struck a cord with me for a couple of reasons.
One, my mother was a talented concert pianist. Second, towards the end she had very bad arthritis in her hands, and the commercial was for arthritis medication.
It got me thinking, so many in my family, on my mother's side, have all these artistic talents. Draw, sing, play instruments, etc. I write, which isn't bad, but I've never been able to play a song for Ron.
You have to admit, it would be cool if I could whip out my instrument, sing and play 'I hate myself for loving you" by Joan Jett - OK, now I need a link.
https://youtu.be/KjrWw0h1qeo When Ron is being a jerk - it would be great!
But, alas, I inherited my Dad's singing "ability". My mother was mentally ill and a musician, so I think Dad & company were never able to shake the concern that if they got me into music it might "break" me. So, no music lessons.
My stepsister had very brief violin lessons, and she was so bad my Dad made her stop. My stepbrother had saxophone lessons. I was given a keyboard for Christmas one year when I was about 16-17, but no lessons. Someone sabotaged it, I believe my stepbrother, and it was inoperable after that. I did enjoy playing my radio! :p
I was in choir for a while but everyone was always correcting me, it made me very self conscious. I never enjoyed singing after that - I always felt like people were appraising and judging me.
Art? Not really. I did OK with craft type things. Every Christmas I remember how much I enjoyed a little loom set I was given one Christmas. I had so much fun making things with that. More than the makeup set, dress up clothes, dolls, etc.
I did learn to crochet when I was 8, did the hell out of that. I learned to knit in 2006, when I was 32. One reason I did the blog title. I was so manic when I set up the blog I look at the title sometimes and go "Why?" But there it is. I made a lot of hats, scarves, blankets, and some fingerless gloves.
But an artist? No, I don't see myself as one. Maybe a crafter when I am actually working on something. A gardener, when I have a garden. Soapmaking, people LOVED my soaps. I had some GOOD vegetable gardens. I remember one time I went outside and all my marigolds were gone. I couldn't figure it out. I got up on the plant beds and saw the marigold greens, but the flower had gone. Frosty, the white cat, walked up on one poor marigold that still had a flower and ate it clean off! I shot him with my water hose, and he never did it again. Bad kitty! He also liked to heap mulch up over plants, smothering them.
He wasn't a very good helper! :p
I do write. Hopefully I do a good job, some people have told me I do. I take care with it and proof before I publish. Rarely I still miss a typo or bad grammar mistake.
So, not an artist or musician, like my mother. She went to college. So did I. My sister never talked about her graduating so I assume she dropped out like I did.
I have a long history, on both sides, of college graduates, I have a (see if I can spell this without Google) mathematician - ha! Got it! Accountant, librarian, engineer and that's just the ones I know. I majored in accounting but got a D in Managerial Accounting. To that point, I had been getting a 3.2 GPA. Admittedly, I have brain damage. I also had unmanaged, undiagnosed, bipolar disorder. Considering all that I think I did alright.
But when I got to Houston I did not enroll in community college. I was too busy earning a living and helping the business!
Where am I going? I'm not sure. It may seem odd, but I do compare myself to my mother at times, she was an artist. Compare myself to other family members, they were all college graduates and accredited in their fields. I have a GED.
Ouch.
But I know I "shouldn't" compare.
Sometimes I still do.
One, my mother was a talented concert pianist. Second, towards the end she had very bad arthritis in her hands, and the commercial was for arthritis medication.
It got me thinking, so many in my family, on my mother's side, have all these artistic talents. Draw, sing, play instruments, etc. I write, which isn't bad, but I've never been able to play a song for Ron.
You have to admit, it would be cool if I could whip out my instrument, sing and play 'I hate myself for loving you" by Joan Jett - OK, now I need a link.
https://youtu.be/KjrWw0h1qeo When Ron is being a jerk - it would be great!
But, alas, I inherited my Dad's singing "ability". My mother was mentally ill and a musician, so I think Dad & company were never able to shake the concern that if they got me into music it might "break" me. So, no music lessons.
My stepsister had very brief violin lessons, and she was so bad my Dad made her stop. My stepbrother had saxophone lessons. I was given a keyboard for Christmas one year when I was about 16-17, but no lessons. Someone sabotaged it, I believe my stepbrother, and it was inoperable after that. I did enjoy playing my radio! :p
I was in choir for a while but everyone was always correcting me, it made me very self conscious. I never enjoyed singing after that - I always felt like people were appraising and judging me.
Art? Not really. I did OK with craft type things. Every Christmas I remember how much I enjoyed a little loom set I was given one Christmas. I had so much fun making things with that. More than the makeup set, dress up clothes, dolls, etc.
I did learn to crochet when I was 8, did the hell out of that. I learned to knit in 2006, when I was 32. One reason I did the blog title. I was so manic when I set up the blog I look at the title sometimes and go "Why?" But there it is. I made a lot of hats, scarves, blankets, and some fingerless gloves.
But an artist? No, I don't see myself as one. Maybe a crafter when I am actually working on something. A gardener, when I have a garden. Soapmaking, people LOVED my soaps. I had some GOOD vegetable gardens. I remember one time I went outside and all my marigolds were gone. I couldn't figure it out. I got up on the plant beds and saw the marigold greens, but the flower had gone. Frosty, the white cat, walked up on one poor marigold that still had a flower and ate it clean off! I shot him with my water hose, and he never did it again. Bad kitty! He also liked to heap mulch up over plants, smothering them.
He wasn't a very good helper! :p
I do write. Hopefully I do a good job, some people have told me I do. I take care with it and proof before I publish. Rarely I still miss a typo or bad grammar mistake.
So, not an artist or musician, like my mother. She went to college. So did I. My sister never talked about her graduating so I assume she dropped out like I did.
I have a long history, on both sides, of college graduates, I have a (see if I can spell this without Google) mathematician - ha! Got it! Accountant, librarian, engineer and that's just the ones I know. I majored in accounting but got a D in Managerial Accounting. To that point, I had been getting a 3.2 GPA. Admittedly, I have brain damage. I also had unmanaged, undiagnosed, bipolar disorder. Considering all that I think I did alright.
But when I got to Houston I did not enroll in community college. I was too busy earning a living and helping the business!
Where am I going? I'm not sure. It may seem odd, but I do compare myself to my mother at times, she was an artist. Compare myself to other family members, they were all college graduates and accredited in their fields. I have a GED.
Ouch.
But I know I "shouldn't" compare.
Sometimes I still do.
Still not calling it a hoodie
I went to sleep pretty easily last night, I think the allergy pill helped. And, as accustomed, Torbie got on me purring and being cute. I went to sleep. It was windy, then, later, it started raining, off and on rain and wind.
The wind was pretty gusty. I woke up at 4 AM when the power went off. Well, crap. Ron wanted to talk and I bit his head off, I wanted to sleep.
Still tempted to make enough noise to wake #6. Maybe they are so accustomed to sleep deprivation from all their kids they don't think twice about sleep depriving the neighbors. If they think of us at all, which I doubt.
But I could just see me going over there and banging on the door 'till someone answered. "Hey, did you know the power's out?" [sticking my tongue out]
I really need some emoticons. Or emojis, whatever they call them these days.
I lay in bed, trying desperately to sleep. I couldn't. I got up after about 20 minutes and told Ron I was up. Then we talked. I fed the cats.
I turned on my battery operated lantern and realized it wasn't giving much light, so I changed the batteries. I have a place for my batteries. It was pretty easy to change it out with the aid of the flashlight I asked for last year. I actually use it a fair amount.
I got the light situated and, between the flashlight and the lantern, was pretty well set. I ate a protein bar and took my pills.
I even made up some lemonade with vitamin C powder so I'd get better iron absorption from my multi vitamin (iron). I still have the cycle-that-will-not-die so I don't want to get anemic.
Annnd, the power's back. I turned off my lantern and flashlight. We still have thunder and rain but the worst of the wind is gone.
I got my computer going. I had left the hoodie page open on my browser. I went and talked to Ron. "Did you want the heavyweight or standard weight?" Turns out only a 1 ounce difference but I didn't know that. Standard weight, Ron said.
I got him a black, in a large. We'll see how he likes it. I made sure to get the large, full zip. I think he will like it a lot better than the sweatshirts he wears.
It cost a little more than Walmart, but I have Prime and they say I will have it Sunday (probably Saturday, I'm guessing). I am not far from one distribution center. I just double checked, black, large, full zip. OK, I think I'm good.
I guess I can add "Stylist" to my job description for Ron. I think our customers and drivers will feel more comfortable with Ron in a hoodie, anyway.
I have the day off, it is pouring, and we knew that days ago - it would rain, so no planned trips today. I plan to take my shower, watch some TV, take a nap, etc.
Not sure what I'll do for dinner. Last night I had some really awful mac and cheese in a can. It was ghastly. I still have some spaghettios, chili, beef stew, so I have things to eat. It's just which appeals, and will work with my medication.
I have been involved in an online discussion about mental illness and medication. One guy accused me of being "drugged". Not quite!
In another thread he said he was worried about his personal safety in his neighborhood. Knowing what he said to me, and has said to others, I told him to "stop ticking people off" - the curse word filter doesn't like the word "pissing", but that's what I meant, "Stop pissing people off".
And I thought the guy who wasn't taking his meds, and raving about demons, was bad.
The wind was pretty gusty. I woke up at 4 AM when the power went off. Well, crap. Ron wanted to talk and I bit his head off, I wanted to sleep.
Still tempted to make enough noise to wake #6. Maybe they are so accustomed to sleep deprivation from all their kids they don't think twice about sleep depriving the neighbors. If they think of us at all, which I doubt.
But I could just see me going over there and banging on the door 'till someone answered. "Hey, did you know the power's out?" [sticking my tongue out]
I really need some emoticons. Or emojis, whatever they call them these days.
I lay in bed, trying desperately to sleep. I couldn't. I got up after about 20 minutes and told Ron I was up. Then we talked. I fed the cats.
I turned on my battery operated lantern and realized it wasn't giving much light, so I changed the batteries. I have a place for my batteries. It was pretty easy to change it out with the aid of the flashlight I asked for last year. I actually use it a fair amount.
I got the light situated and, between the flashlight and the lantern, was pretty well set. I ate a protein bar and took my pills.
I even made up some lemonade with vitamin C powder so I'd get better iron absorption from my multi vitamin (iron). I still have the cycle-that-will-not-die so I don't want to get anemic.
Annnd, the power's back. I turned off my lantern and flashlight. We still have thunder and rain but the worst of the wind is gone.
I got my computer going. I had left the hoodie page open on my browser. I went and talked to Ron. "Did you want the heavyweight or standard weight?" Turns out only a 1 ounce difference but I didn't know that. Standard weight, Ron said.
I got him a black, in a large. We'll see how he likes it. I made sure to get the large, full zip. I think he will like it a lot better than the sweatshirts he wears.
It cost a little more than Walmart, but I have Prime and they say I will have it Sunday (probably Saturday, I'm guessing). I am not far from one distribution center. I just double checked, black, large, full zip. OK, I think I'm good.
I guess I can add "Stylist" to my job description for Ron. I think our customers and drivers will feel more comfortable with Ron in a hoodie, anyway.
I have the day off, it is pouring, and we knew that days ago - it would rain, so no planned trips today. I plan to take my shower, watch some TV, take a nap, etc.
Not sure what I'll do for dinner. Last night I had some really awful mac and cheese in a can. It was ghastly. I still have some spaghettios, chili, beef stew, so I have things to eat. It's just which appeals, and will work with my medication.
I have been involved in an online discussion about mental illness and medication. One guy accused me of being "drugged". Not quite!
In another thread he said he was worried about his personal safety in his neighborhood. Knowing what he said to me, and has said to others, I told him to "stop ticking people off" - the curse word filter doesn't like the word "pissing", but that's what I meant, "Stop pissing people off".
And I thought the guy who wasn't taking his meds, and raving about demons, was bad.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
For breakfast, with my antidepressant
I had trouble falling asleep last night. For one, I had a big fat Torbie on me, purring. If I stop petting her she puts her paw on my face, with claws extended. It's a good motivator! I kept petting her but I got SO congested.
Sadly, I am allergic to cats. I had to get up (once she got bored and went into her house) and took a mucus pill. Once it kicked in I was able to sleep. I took a low dose Claratin today as well.
I slept pretty well. I think they are still recovering, next door, from the party. I woke up and got ready to go, took my shower, used my new soap (read review) and enjoyed it. I looked out the front window (one thing I love about my house, all the windows), and saw #6 had their garbage out at the curb.
In addition to the trash can and recycle, they had several garbage bags, trash from the party, I guess. I realized I had better get dressed and get my trash out quick, because the new company comes early.
I barely made it out there at 7:30, before they came. They made a lot of noise, as they do, and I was secretly thrilled they were probably waking #6 up. You will note I never did anything to wake them up, even though I was up at 9 AM, six hours after their party ended. I could have made some noise with the trash cans, weed-whacked the catio, or fired off some firecrackers, but I did not because it would make Jesus sad. And I don't want that.
Anyway I got Ron ready. He has trouble getting a sweatshirt on over his head, and pulling it down in the back. That's what I do when I "help him dress" - pull the sweatshirt/t-shirt down in the back. He's got the rest of it down pretty well.
And he used to do loads of laundry.
We left to go to Walmart. It was a new driver. She was early and kept blasting the horn (so sorry, #6 - I won't make the noise but I won't feel bad if someone else does!). We got out. She did not know how to secure the wheelchair, took about 5 minutes trying to do it. Even then, once she got the vehicle in motion it flipped over and kept banging around. I was glad Ron was not in it.
I helped Ron into the cab (put his hand on the handgrip and got out of his way), he got in. She had a bunch of crap in the front seat. Some drivers do that when they don't want a front seat passenger "Oh, I have stuff - I can't transport an actual passenger even though that is what the seat is for" - I hate that. It is so passive aggressive. If you don't want someone sitting next to you then "cab driver" is not the job for you. I was petty enough to stand there, waiting, while she moved everything.
I gave her directions to the Walmart, and she still managed to screw it up. How hard is "Turn right at the wooden fence?" Too hard, apparently.
I don't see her lasting very long, and I am shocked her trainer approved her. At the end of a week of training, the trainer gets to decide if the trainee gets hired.
We went into the store and I left Ron up front, and went shopping. I did some personal shopping (mainly cat food) and bought eight 6-packs of soda for Ron. I checked out and paid, went to Ron.
I was sitting at one end of a long bench, it was two benches pushed together and probably 12 feet long. Ron was sitting to my right, in his wheelchair. He said some woman stepped on his feet (I left him WELL out of the way) so he moved and put his feet under the bench. A woman came out, almost ran over MY feet, and sat down just inches away, well in my personal space.
She was white, had freshly cut/permed/dyed hair that probably cost well over $250. She was wearing nice shoes and had a leather purse. She had a fresh manicure.
She watched me for a while. I ignored her. There are a lot of freaks at Walmart and clearly this woman had no concept of "personal space" or "boundaries". She asked to borrow my phone, which was in it's holster and not obvious under my jacket.
I told her I didn't loan out my phone.
She asked me why.
Because someone stole it, I told her. You may remember when that happened if you are a very long term reader, I loaned it to a guy at the bus stop and I had a hell of a time getting it back.
She wouldn't steal it, she told me.
"That's what the guy said, before he stole it".
She needed to use the phone - whining. Note she has not said why she doesn't have a phone and it is not an emergency.
I told her again, I don't loan out my phone. Then I got up and took Ron outside.
The whole time she was bothering me Ron was on his phone. She didn't ask Ron for his phone, just me.
There are a lot of reasons I didn't give her my phone. The main one being if she had all that money for hair, nails, makeup, purse, she had money for a phone. Second, that has my private information on it. Nothing financial or email, but still private. It is my phone, I paid for it. Plus I am not stupid enough to hand over all my "personal" to a complete stranger who says they won't steal it.
We waited outside. She did not come out and bother us any more. If she really needed to make a call she could have gone to customer service, or asked a man for his phone. She was not bad looking or heavy, a guy probably would have loaned his phone out.
Our ride came. She had another passenger in the vehicle and, for a minute I thought Ron would have to ride in the back. But no, just one other person. I went in the front (again!) and Ron went in the back behind the driver.
I teased the other client a little and said "Don't worry, he hasn't bitten anyone in weeks, and he's had all his shots!" She grinned. I liked her. She had a terrible cough, though, and was going to one of those county medical clinics. I hope it was just a smoker's cough and not something contagious.
We got all the crap put up and off we went to work. We got to work and unloaded, I left Ron out front with the stuff and got my cart. I got everything (and Ron) into the building and we got to work.
I won't bore you with the details: put new drinks in fridge, canned soda, bottled soda, snacks. I was pretty busy!
I got 90% of it done by the time we left. Things are still pretty busy at work so that was important.
We left about 20 minutes early and went outside, to find our ride already there! Nice! We loaded up and went home.
I put my stuff (mainly cat food), including my Diet Mountain Dew, away. I need to tell you about the Dew. I encountered the Pepsi vendor at Walmart when I was looking for Sprite. He asked me how I was doing, as I scanned the shelves. "Great!" I told him "You brought my Diet Mountain Dew, it's a good day!" He chuckled at me and smiled, said he was happy to help. That was fun. Since I was already getting eight 6-packs, I just got one of the Dew, but one will hold me for nearly a week. I have one for breakfast, with my antidepressant. Anyway, I put it next to my chair, the cat food on the kitchen table, which has become the cat food table.
I took a nap. When I lay down to rest, I do a couple of things. I get undressed. I turn on my noisemaker. I take off my glasses and put them in a box on my bedside table. And I lay down.
I hadn't seen Torbie when I got home, but once I laid down she erupted out of my closet and got on me, purring, wanting more petting. Torbie is the cat of a thousand pets. There is no such thing as too much petting, for Torbie. She has an endless appetite. So I pet her until she went in her house, next to my head.
I'm so glad I got her that thing.
I had a pretty good nap, but woke up with a headache. I had gotten out of that cycle for a while but it is apparently back - lay down for a nap, get up with a headache. Makes me hate laying down.
I got up and took something. I just opened a fresh bottle of generic headache formula from Walmart, the green and white bottle. They do a good job, overall.
I got on the computer for a while. I watched a little TV. I talked to Ron.
And, when the time was right, I opened up one of my new cans of cat food, Duck and Sweet Potato. They liked the gelatin/broth pretty well, both Biscuit and Baby Girl were licking away, but not so crazy about the meat portion. Which is why I keep track of their favorites on my cell phone.
I think everyone has some sort of list app on their phone. I keep the favored cat foods on mine. This would rate OK but don't buy again. Well, they got a new flavor. It was a good try.
I did get almost a whole case of Tuna Primavera by Fancy Feast, which is a five star as far as my 3 are concerned. That, Supreme Supper by Friskies, and - that's pretty much it for 5 star cat foods they will eat to nothing, every time. Plus they have the Blue Wilderness Grain Free dry Salmon for breakfast every day. Biscuit likes that so much he will grab the scoop in his claws, and gobble. If I try to move the scoop he digs in and spills the food.
I also put away the garbage cans, but I didn't check the mail. I think we have a new carrier, she seems sweet and nice, and I am getting all my mail, no one else's, so I'm happy.
And there goes the dryer. Time to go hang some clothes. OK, done with that. Tomorrow I need to do a load of pants/jeans.
Speaking of clothes, I want Ron in easier to wear clothes. So today I mentioned he could get his sweatshirt as an easy-to-wear jacket. He wouldn't have to pull it down, he could just put his arms in the sleeves and zip it up the front, if he wanted. It's easily machine washable. He was very interested and said he would like one of those jackets.
You will notice I did not call it "a hoodie" at any point or time. No, it is a sweatshirt jacket. And I'm sticking to that. It even, I told him, had two pockets on the front!
Dale Carnagie said something once about creating enthusiasm for a product. I think I did a pretty good job of that. Now I just need to find one in a dark neutral for him. Here's to hoping I find something that works.
It works better for Ron to wear a large t-shirt, it is looser and is easier to don. I have been phasing in large t-shirts as the mediums wear out. Ron has - well, he used to be a big guy, around 240 at his high, but he has been a normal weighted guy since his accident. Large size gives him enough room without swallowing him. Throw a large zip front hoodie over that and he will look fine. He will certainly fit in at work, and everywhere we go.
I have one from Walmart I like a lot, it is a little oversized which I like. It is black and has a good zipper, sewn in well, good sleeve length, good overall construction. I forgot how much it cost but it was reasonable. I want that, in a "man" for Ron.
Off I go to watch a little TV before bed.
Sadly, I am allergic to cats. I had to get up (once she got bored and went into her house) and took a mucus pill. Once it kicked in I was able to sleep. I took a low dose Claratin today as well.
I slept pretty well. I think they are still recovering, next door, from the party. I woke up and got ready to go, took my shower, used my new soap (read review) and enjoyed it. I looked out the front window (one thing I love about my house, all the windows), and saw #6 had their garbage out at the curb.
In addition to the trash can and recycle, they had several garbage bags, trash from the party, I guess. I realized I had better get dressed and get my trash out quick, because the new company comes early.
I barely made it out there at 7:30, before they came. They made a lot of noise, as they do, and I was secretly thrilled they were probably waking #6 up. You will note I never did anything to wake them up, even though I was up at 9 AM, six hours after their party ended. I could have made some noise with the trash cans, weed-whacked the catio, or fired off some firecrackers, but I did not because it would make Jesus sad. And I don't want that.
Anyway I got Ron ready. He has trouble getting a sweatshirt on over his head, and pulling it down in the back. That's what I do when I "help him dress" - pull the sweatshirt/t-shirt down in the back. He's got the rest of it down pretty well.
And he used to do loads of laundry.
We left to go to Walmart. It was a new driver. She was early and kept blasting the horn (so sorry, #6 - I won't make the noise but I won't feel bad if someone else does!). We got out. She did not know how to secure the wheelchair, took about 5 minutes trying to do it. Even then, once she got the vehicle in motion it flipped over and kept banging around. I was glad Ron was not in it.
I helped Ron into the cab (put his hand on the handgrip and got out of his way), he got in. She had a bunch of crap in the front seat. Some drivers do that when they don't want a front seat passenger "Oh, I have stuff - I can't transport an actual passenger even though that is what the seat is for" - I hate that. It is so passive aggressive. If you don't want someone sitting next to you then "cab driver" is not the job for you. I was petty enough to stand there, waiting, while she moved everything.
I gave her directions to the Walmart, and she still managed to screw it up. How hard is "Turn right at the wooden fence?" Too hard, apparently.
I don't see her lasting very long, and I am shocked her trainer approved her. At the end of a week of training, the trainer gets to decide if the trainee gets hired.
We went into the store and I left Ron up front, and went shopping. I did some personal shopping (mainly cat food) and bought eight 6-packs of soda for Ron. I checked out and paid, went to Ron.
I was sitting at one end of a long bench, it was two benches pushed together and probably 12 feet long. Ron was sitting to my right, in his wheelchair. He said some woman stepped on his feet (I left him WELL out of the way) so he moved and put his feet under the bench. A woman came out, almost ran over MY feet, and sat down just inches away, well in my personal space.
She was white, had freshly cut/permed/dyed hair that probably cost well over $250. She was wearing nice shoes and had a leather purse. She had a fresh manicure.
She watched me for a while. I ignored her. There are a lot of freaks at Walmart and clearly this woman had no concept of "personal space" or "boundaries". She asked to borrow my phone, which was in it's holster and not obvious under my jacket.
I told her I didn't loan out my phone.
She asked me why.
Because someone stole it, I told her. You may remember when that happened if you are a very long term reader, I loaned it to a guy at the bus stop and I had a hell of a time getting it back.
She wouldn't steal it, she told me.
"That's what the guy said, before he stole it".
She needed to use the phone - whining. Note she has not said why she doesn't have a phone and it is not an emergency.
I told her again, I don't loan out my phone. Then I got up and took Ron outside.
The whole time she was bothering me Ron was on his phone. She didn't ask Ron for his phone, just me.
There are a lot of reasons I didn't give her my phone. The main one being if she had all that money for hair, nails, makeup, purse, she had money for a phone. Second, that has my private information on it. Nothing financial or email, but still private. It is my phone, I paid for it. Plus I am not stupid enough to hand over all my "personal" to a complete stranger who says they won't steal it.
We waited outside. She did not come out and bother us any more. If she really needed to make a call she could have gone to customer service, or asked a man for his phone. She was not bad looking or heavy, a guy probably would have loaned his phone out.
Our ride came. She had another passenger in the vehicle and, for a minute I thought Ron would have to ride in the back. But no, just one other person. I went in the front (again!) and Ron went in the back behind the driver.
I teased the other client a little and said "Don't worry, he hasn't bitten anyone in weeks, and he's had all his shots!" She grinned. I liked her. She had a terrible cough, though, and was going to one of those county medical clinics. I hope it was just a smoker's cough and not something contagious.
We got all the crap put up and off we went to work. We got to work and unloaded, I left Ron out front with the stuff and got my cart. I got everything (and Ron) into the building and we got to work.
I won't bore you with the details: put new drinks in fridge, canned soda, bottled soda, snacks. I was pretty busy!
I got 90% of it done by the time we left. Things are still pretty busy at work so that was important.
We left about 20 minutes early and went outside, to find our ride already there! Nice! We loaded up and went home.
I put my stuff (mainly cat food), including my Diet Mountain Dew, away. I need to tell you about the Dew. I encountered the Pepsi vendor at Walmart when I was looking for Sprite. He asked me how I was doing, as I scanned the shelves. "Great!" I told him "You brought my Diet Mountain Dew, it's a good day!" He chuckled at me and smiled, said he was happy to help. That was fun. Since I was already getting eight 6-packs, I just got one of the Dew, but one will hold me for nearly a week. I have one for breakfast, with my antidepressant. Anyway, I put it next to my chair, the cat food on the kitchen table, which has become the cat food table.
I took a nap. When I lay down to rest, I do a couple of things. I get undressed. I turn on my noisemaker. I take off my glasses and put them in a box on my bedside table. And I lay down.
I hadn't seen Torbie when I got home, but once I laid down she erupted out of my closet and got on me, purring, wanting more petting. Torbie is the cat of a thousand pets. There is no such thing as too much petting, for Torbie. She has an endless appetite. So I pet her until she went in her house, next to my head.
I'm so glad I got her that thing.
I had a pretty good nap, but woke up with a headache. I had gotten out of that cycle for a while but it is apparently back - lay down for a nap, get up with a headache. Makes me hate laying down.
I got up and took something. I just opened a fresh bottle of generic headache formula from Walmart, the green and white bottle. They do a good job, overall.
I got on the computer for a while. I watched a little TV. I talked to Ron.
And, when the time was right, I opened up one of my new cans of cat food, Duck and Sweet Potato. They liked the gelatin/broth pretty well, both Biscuit and Baby Girl were licking away, but not so crazy about the meat portion. Which is why I keep track of their favorites on my cell phone.
I think everyone has some sort of list app on their phone. I keep the favored cat foods on mine. This would rate OK but don't buy again. Well, they got a new flavor. It was a good try.
I did get almost a whole case of Tuna Primavera by Fancy Feast, which is a five star as far as my 3 are concerned. That, Supreme Supper by Friskies, and - that's pretty much it for 5 star cat foods they will eat to nothing, every time. Plus they have the Blue Wilderness Grain Free dry Salmon for breakfast every day. Biscuit likes that so much he will grab the scoop in his claws, and gobble. If I try to move the scoop he digs in and spills the food.
I also put away the garbage cans, but I didn't check the mail. I think we have a new carrier, she seems sweet and nice, and I am getting all my mail, no one else's, so I'm happy.
And there goes the dryer. Time to go hang some clothes. OK, done with that. Tomorrow I need to do a load of pants/jeans.
Speaking of clothes, I want Ron in easier to wear clothes. So today I mentioned he could get his sweatshirt as an easy-to-wear jacket. He wouldn't have to pull it down, he could just put his arms in the sleeves and zip it up the front, if he wanted. It's easily machine washable. He was very interested and said he would like one of those jackets.
You will notice I did not call it "a hoodie" at any point or time. No, it is a sweatshirt jacket. And I'm sticking to that. It even, I told him, had two pockets on the front!
Dale Carnagie said something once about creating enthusiasm for a product. I think I did a pretty good job of that. Now I just need to find one in a dark neutral for him. Here's to hoping I find something that works.
It works better for Ron to wear a large t-shirt, it is looser and is easier to don. I have been phasing in large t-shirts as the mediums wear out. Ron has - well, he used to be a big guy, around 240 at his high, but he has been a normal weighted guy since his accident. Large size gives him enough room without swallowing him. Throw a large zip front hoodie over that and he will look fine. He will certainly fit in at work, and everywhere we go.
I have one from Walmart I like a lot, it is a little oversized which I like. It is black and has a good zipper, sewn in well, good sleeve length, good overall construction. I forgot how much it cost but it was reasonable. I want that, in a "man" for Ron.
Off I go to watch a little TV before bed.
Review
I bought myself some soap online (from Swanson) in addition to the soap I was gifted.
Today I unwrapped a bar of "Nubian Heritage Lemongrass and Tea Tree" soap. Good lemon fragrance, will be great for bug repellent in mosquito season. Nicely moisturizing. Got me clean.
I washed my face with it and my face got clean, and did not get dry/itchy/tight. I would get it again.
Link;
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/nubian-heritage-lemongrass-tea-tree-bar-soap-5-oz-bar-s
Today I unwrapped a bar of "Nubian Heritage Lemongrass and Tea Tree" soap. Good lemon fragrance, will be great for bug repellent in mosquito season. Nicely moisturizing. Got me clean.
I washed my face with it and my face got clean, and did not get dry/itchy/tight. I would get it again.
Link;
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/nubian-heritage-lemongrass-tea-tree-bar-soap-5-oz-bar-s
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
"She saves so much wear and tear on her car now"
I was talking to someone at work. Car people don't get my transportation, and I was attempting to explain.
I don't know why I try, they don't want to hear it and they don't want to understand.
I mentioned paratransit to one person at work and she went "Oh! Them! My friend loves them, she uses them all the time!" OK, so far. She continued "She has a car but she doesn't like to pay for all that gas, and repairs, so she uses paratransit instead."
That's not how it's supposed to work. It's supposed to be for people who can't drive, can't ride the bus, to get around. Not a convenient "extra" transport for people who don't want to use their personal cars.
In my opinion, if you can drive - drive. Everyone does. Having a disability does not automatically qualify you for nearly-free transport all over town. If you can drive - do so.
Not having a car isn't an excuse, because it's been my experience that a motivated poor person will find something to drive.
Someone like Ron cannot drive. He is blind, and has a head injury. Those prevent him from driving. His other qualifying disabilities just add to that. Someone with seizures would be another example. Intellectual limitation. A quadraplegic. But "Arthritis in one hip and has a car at home?" no.
Sometimes we pick up people who have literally 3-4 working cars in their driveway. Either they belong to the client, or someone in the family, who is most likely living there for free and can certainly "pay rent" by driving them around. One lady was always talking about "her little green truck" and used to get so angry when her neighbors would park by the wheelchair ramp. She did not require a wheelchair, she walked fine. She didn't even need a cane. We saw her a lot for a while. She would talk all the time about driving her truck and how, every time she moved it, one of the neighbors would park in front of the wheelchair ramp (which she did not require) before she got back.
Just a gripe of mine that has been bugging me for a long time. There is not enough money to pay to drive everyone all over Houston. I don't worry about them cutting Ron's service because he is so disabled, but I think a lot of the "drivers" are in for a rude shock one day.
I don't know why I try, they don't want to hear it and they don't want to understand.
I mentioned paratransit to one person at work and she went "Oh! Them! My friend loves them, she uses them all the time!" OK, so far. She continued "She has a car but she doesn't like to pay for all that gas, and repairs, so she uses paratransit instead."
That's not how it's supposed to work. It's supposed to be for people who can't drive, can't ride the bus, to get around. Not a convenient "extra" transport for people who don't want to use their personal cars.
In my opinion, if you can drive - drive. Everyone does. Having a disability does not automatically qualify you for nearly-free transport all over town. If you can drive - do so.
Not having a car isn't an excuse, because it's been my experience that a motivated poor person will find something to drive.
Someone like Ron cannot drive. He is blind, and has a head injury. Those prevent him from driving. His other qualifying disabilities just add to that. Someone with seizures would be another example. Intellectual limitation. A quadraplegic. But "Arthritis in one hip and has a car at home?" no.
Sometimes we pick up people who have literally 3-4 working cars in their driveway. Either they belong to the client, or someone in the family, who is most likely living there for free and can certainly "pay rent" by driving them around. One lady was always talking about "her little green truck" and used to get so angry when her neighbors would park by the wheelchair ramp. She did not require a wheelchair, she walked fine. She didn't even need a cane. We saw her a lot for a while. She would talk all the time about driving her truck and how, every time she moved it, one of the neighbors would park in front of the wheelchair ramp (which she did not require) before she got back.
Just a gripe of mine that has been bugging me for a long time. There is not enough money to pay to drive everyone all over Houston. I don't worry about them cutting Ron's service because he is so disabled, but I think a lot of the "drivers" are in for a rude shock one day.
Help me unwrap my gift.
I would open it with Ron, but Ron gets positively bitter opening Christmas presents. He didn't used to, I think it goes to his family.
Anyway, I have an Amazon box from my adoptive Mom. I already opened my gift from my aunt, some caregiver books and a bonus.
I sent Mom a wishlist so we will see what I got:
Ron was actually in a mood to open presents with me.
I got a cashmere scarf in a turquoise plaid (will match my teal coat) from my adoptive Mom, hereafter known as "Mom".
I also got some lavender soap I had requested from Mom.
The cats got a play and squeak bird, and some treats.
Ron got some sweet and salty cashews in individual serving bags.
That was it. That was plenty. I had bought myself some fancy soap in addition to what I got so I have plenty of really nice choices now. I will have to figure out a way to store them. I have very little storage in the bathroom, just one of those "over the tank" shelves above the toilet.
But that's a fun problem.
Off I go to take a shower (using up my old soap before I get into the new). Sent a few text messages back and forth with Mom, she says they like their presents.
I got her some fancy soap, and Dad a 1000 piece puzzle of Yosemite. He loves puzzles and he really enjoyed Yosemite the time he went hiking there. He looked very happy in his photo.
The scarf, by the way, fits nicely into one pocket of my coat. So I won't have to worry about getting them separated, or losing it.
Anyway, I have an Amazon box from my adoptive Mom. I already opened my gift from my aunt, some caregiver books and a bonus.
I sent Mom a wishlist so we will see what I got:
Ron was actually in a mood to open presents with me.
I got a cashmere scarf in a turquoise plaid (will match my teal coat) from my adoptive Mom, hereafter known as "Mom".
I also got some lavender soap I had requested from Mom.
The cats got a play and squeak bird, and some treats.
Ron got some sweet and salty cashews in individual serving bags.
That was it. That was plenty. I had bought myself some fancy soap in addition to what I got so I have plenty of really nice choices now. I will have to figure out a way to store them. I have very little storage in the bathroom, just one of those "over the tank" shelves above the toilet.
But that's a fun problem.
Off I go to take a shower (using up my old soap before I get into the new). Sent a few text messages back and forth with Mom, she says they like their presents.
I got her some fancy soap, and Dad a 1000 piece puzzle of Yosemite. He loves puzzles and he really enjoyed Yosemite the time he went hiking there. He looked very happy in his photo.
The scarf, by the way, fits nicely into one pocket of my coat. So I won't have to worry about getting them separated, or losing it.
About the party
I got home last night. Ron was slumped in his wheelchair in the kitchen, snoring. You know the saying about letting sleeping dogs lie? I didn't touch him or even say hello.
I went to bed. They were active next door but not too terrible. In fact, I remember thinking, "If they did this every year I could live with it". They were outside talking at normal volume and some kids were running around. Not much different from my aunt's house. Although everyone related to my aunt is much better behaved.
I went to bed, drowsed a little. I heard Ron moving around but he wasn't yelling or falling. We got to midnight. Things were actually tolerable.
Then one of them got on a PA system and started shouting into the microphone at the top of his lungs. They have a small yard, maybe 1500 square feet of free space, which they had apparently set up with chairs right outside my bedroom. He started calling names, people were going "OOH" and "AAH' so I assumed they were passing out gifts. That went on for quite a while.
The guy apparently thought he was a comedian, he kept going on and on into the microphone. Maybe he was manic. About this time Ron got himself to bed. Good. I didn't have to worry about him falling (much, he has fallen out of bed a few times).
Hours more of shouted commentary into the microphone, people drinking (you can tell when someone has been drinking, by the way they react to certain things), etc. I reminded myself the kids were not kicking things into the side of my house.
They started chanting a phrase, in spanish, again and again and again. They must have said it at least 50 times. It was not anything to do with Christmas or God, I know those words, it sounded political maybe. It was awful.
I thought it couldn't get worse, until... they began singing. They sang the first few bars of a couple of Christmas carols, in English, but they didn't know the words so they stopped pretty quick. They sang the first chorus of a few Christmas carols in Spanish. They were very bad at it. Then they went back to the political (?) chanting again. They did that for a good 20 minutes. What is this, a rally or a Christmas party?
They eventually wrapped it up and got relatively quiet. I fell asleep. When I woke up, they were gone.
Ron woke me up at 4:30, fighting with the toilet. He was delighted I was home, but quickly hid it. He hadn't processed any of the party and thought they had been quiet all night. He was quiet and went back to bed.
I slept fitfully and got up around 9:30. I'm going to open my presents, next.
I went to bed. They were active next door but not too terrible. In fact, I remember thinking, "If they did this every year I could live with it". They were outside talking at normal volume and some kids were running around. Not much different from my aunt's house. Although everyone related to my aunt is much better behaved.
I went to bed, drowsed a little. I heard Ron moving around but he wasn't yelling or falling. We got to midnight. Things were actually tolerable.
Then one of them got on a PA system and started shouting into the microphone at the top of his lungs. They have a small yard, maybe 1500 square feet of free space, which they had apparently set up with chairs right outside my bedroom. He started calling names, people were going "OOH" and "AAH' so I assumed they were passing out gifts. That went on for quite a while.
The guy apparently thought he was a comedian, he kept going on and on into the microphone. Maybe he was manic. About this time Ron got himself to bed. Good. I didn't have to worry about him falling (much, he has fallen out of bed a few times).
Hours more of shouted commentary into the microphone, people drinking (you can tell when someone has been drinking, by the way they react to certain things), etc. I reminded myself the kids were not kicking things into the side of my house.
They started chanting a phrase, in spanish, again and again and again. They must have said it at least 50 times. It was not anything to do with Christmas or God, I know those words, it sounded political maybe. It was awful.
I thought it couldn't get worse, until... they began singing. They sang the first few bars of a couple of Christmas carols, in English, but they didn't know the words so they stopped pretty quick. They sang the first chorus of a few Christmas carols in Spanish. They were very bad at it. Then they went back to the political (?) chanting again. They did that for a good 20 minutes. What is this, a rally or a Christmas party?
They eventually wrapped it up and got relatively quiet. I fell asleep. When I woke up, they were gone.
Ron woke me up at 4:30, fighting with the toilet. He was delighted I was home, but quickly hid it. He hadn't processed any of the party and thought they had been quiet all night. He was quiet and went back to bed.
I slept fitfully and got up around 9:30. I'm going to open my presents, next.
Monday, December 24, 2018
I'm OK tonight
I got up after sleeping in as late as I could, ate, took my pills, took my shower, etc. I watched some TV and got on my computer.
Then I tried to take a nap "While it was quiet" and you can guess how that ended - not very quiet for long! I did manage to eke out a little sleep.
Ron was in his usual dismal mood, drinking vodka, lying in bed with Baby Girl.
I turned on my phone and my aunt sent me a text, inviting me to dinner tonight. I asked Ron if he would like to go. He said NO. He said they didn't want me and were just being polite. He went on in the "They don't want you" theme for a while.
I called her and accepted. She was delighted. Ron was furious. He got worse. More verbal abuse and telling me they didn't want me around, I was desperate for affection, etc. Implied I was weak, intrusive, and demanding.
Just UGLY.
He sent my aunt a text but she didn't let it faze her, whatever he said. She just repeated her invitation.
I was happy when they showed up. Ron was in his underwear and adamant he didn't want to see anyone. I didn't know what he might say (he had been drinking) so I just told them he wasn't feeling social.
We went to their house and I saw 3 of my 4 cousins (offspring of my aunt and uncle), and their kids. I had a good time, it was nice not to be on guard, nice to see healthy love relationships modeled. I was glad I hadn't brought Ron.
My aunt gave me a gift, two books on caregiving. Good, I need them.
We had very good Mexican food for dinner. It was nice to pray out loud without Ron shouting about "Torture Man" - see why I'm glad I left him at home?
We did a Bible study and some singing afterward. My aunt got a photo of me reading the Bible that shows my double chin perfectly! I need to get all that sucked out!
Eventually my cousins left to take their kids to bed. I hung out with my aunt, uncle, and a family dog for a while. She's a big old lab, very sweet. Ron would have loved her. But I'm still glad he stayed home.
Then my aunt took me home. Traffic was very light. I did agree with Ron on one thing he said today, I wanted my family home before all the drunks hit the road. Hopefully we did that.
I came home to #6 lit up like a runway, cars out front, gate wide open, cars and kids everywhere, but they haven't been too bad since I got home.
I guess they got the worst of the energy out before I got home.
I found Ron passed out in his wheelchair, in the kitchen, snoring. God only knows how much he drank. He is not screaming at me, bleeding, or messing up my floor so I will call it good.
#6 has been pretty quiet for these types of events. I have hope I will actually get to sleep before midnight.
I truly believe Ron was hostile because he remembers his family used to be very welcoming and inclusive. Then they basically killed him after the accident, and acted as if he had died, didn't want Ron around anymore, especially during Christmas.
Ron had a lot of happy Christmas memories with his family, so this is a blow. Instead of addressing the hurt directly, he gets angry when my family does include me. They'd be happy to include Ron, too, but he won't see it. It's like he's saying if he can't have his family of origin he doesn't want anyone. He says all the things he thinks about his own family - they don't love you, they don't want you, if they invite you they are just being polite and you are expected to refuse, etc.
My family doesn't work like that. Either we mean it or we don't say it. We're very clear in that regard.
But he had the kind of night he thought he wanted. I had the night I wanted. #6 is having the night they wanted. Everyone else in the neighborhood is unhappy, though.
But I'm OK tonight.
Edit to add: Baby Girl brought me a live grasshopper.
Then I tried to take a nap "While it was quiet" and you can guess how that ended - not very quiet for long! I did manage to eke out a little sleep.
Ron was in his usual dismal mood, drinking vodka, lying in bed with Baby Girl.
I turned on my phone and my aunt sent me a text, inviting me to dinner tonight. I asked Ron if he would like to go. He said NO. He said they didn't want me and were just being polite. He went on in the "They don't want you" theme for a while.
I called her and accepted. She was delighted. Ron was furious. He got worse. More verbal abuse and telling me they didn't want me around, I was desperate for affection, etc. Implied I was weak, intrusive, and demanding.
Just UGLY.
He sent my aunt a text but she didn't let it faze her, whatever he said. She just repeated her invitation.
I was happy when they showed up. Ron was in his underwear and adamant he didn't want to see anyone. I didn't know what he might say (he had been drinking) so I just told them he wasn't feeling social.
We went to their house and I saw 3 of my 4 cousins (offspring of my aunt and uncle), and their kids. I had a good time, it was nice not to be on guard, nice to see healthy love relationships modeled. I was glad I hadn't brought Ron.
My aunt gave me a gift, two books on caregiving. Good, I need them.
We had very good Mexican food for dinner. It was nice to pray out loud without Ron shouting about "Torture Man" - see why I'm glad I left him at home?
We did a Bible study and some singing afterward. My aunt got a photo of me reading the Bible that shows my double chin perfectly! I need to get all that sucked out!
Eventually my cousins left to take their kids to bed. I hung out with my aunt, uncle, and a family dog for a while. She's a big old lab, very sweet. Ron would have loved her. But I'm still glad he stayed home.
Then my aunt took me home. Traffic was very light. I did agree with Ron on one thing he said today, I wanted my family home before all the drunks hit the road. Hopefully we did that.
I came home to #6 lit up like a runway, cars out front, gate wide open, cars and kids everywhere, but they haven't been too bad since I got home.
I guess they got the worst of the energy out before I got home.
I found Ron passed out in his wheelchair, in the kitchen, snoring. God only knows how much he drank. He is not screaming at me, bleeding, or messing up my floor so I will call it good.
#6 has been pretty quiet for these types of events. I have hope I will actually get to sleep before midnight.
I truly believe Ron was hostile because he remembers his family used to be very welcoming and inclusive. Then they basically killed him after the accident, and acted as if he had died, didn't want Ron around anymore, especially during Christmas.
Ron had a lot of happy Christmas memories with his family, so this is a blow. Instead of addressing the hurt directly, he gets angry when my family does include me. They'd be happy to include Ron, too, but he won't see it. It's like he's saying if he can't have his family of origin he doesn't want anyone. He says all the things he thinks about his own family - they don't love you, they don't want you, if they invite you they are just being polite and you are expected to refuse, etc.
My family doesn't work like that. Either we mean it or we don't say it. We're very clear in that regard.
But he had the kind of night he thought he wanted. I had the night I wanted. #6 is having the night they wanted. Everyone else in the neighborhood is unhappy, though.
But I'm OK tonight.
Edit to add: Baby Girl brought me a live grasshopper.
Stopped that
#6 was about to blow all his leaves in my yard. I went out and stood in the driveway and he suddenly changed course.
This is the kind of petty bullshit that cost him my respect.
Expensive
My aunt invited me over, I accepted.
Ron has embarked on his usual personal attack on me, saying they don't want me around, etc. Abusers do that to split people from their support. If I have someone to go to, I might be more prone to leave him.
Very tedious. He was fine up until I told him about it. But he wants to make it as expensive as possible for me to go.
She asked if I wanted to stay the night. I almost said yes (but I would miss Torbie and Biscuit!).
They are gearing up next door for the party.
Edit, still making personal attacks, telling me I am "weak" and basically in desperate need of approval, because I want to spend time with people who care about me.
I got annoyed enough to say something along the lines of at least my family wanted me around. His family would never give us rides to holiday events, even though we "were invited". My aunt at least sends someone to pick me up. They are happy to see me, there are no head games, no people passing out in the side yard or vomiting on the carpet (his family gatherings).
But he is sending some sort of vitriolic text right now, to my aunt. She is a big girl and can handle it but it is embarrassing.
Which is a word he kept using about me.
Ron has embarked on his usual personal attack on me, saying they don't want me around, etc. Abusers do that to split people from their support. If I have someone to go to, I might be more prone to leave him.
Very tedious. He was fine up until I told him about it. But he wants to make it as expensive as possible for me to go.
She asked if I wanted to stay the night. I almost said yes (but I would miss Torbie and Biscuit!).
They are gearing up next door for the party.
Edit, still making personal attacks, telling me I am "weak" and basically in desperate need of approval, because I want to spend time with people who care about me.
I got annoyed enough to say something along the lines of at least my family wanted me around. His family would never give us rides to holiday events, even though we "were invited". My aunt at least sends someone to pick me up. They are happy to see me, there are no head games, no people passing out in the side yard or vomiting on the carpet (his family gatherings).
But he is sending some sort of vitriolic text right now, to my aunt. She is a big girl and can handle it but it is embarrassing.
Which is a word he kept using about me.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
There's a hairy brown thing in my sink!
Posting this for now, copied from a message board:
Done with that.
I slept well last night, and got up around 9 AM. I got on the computer for a while and took a shower. I talked to Ron ("we" were fine today) and thought about going to the pet store to buy some cat food.
I have plenty of cat food, but they seem a little tired of the dry food. I was thinking maybe get another flavor, like Duck. Ron says chicken.
Then I thought about riding there on the bus (Ron did not offer to pay for a cab), crossing a very busy street, lots of walking isn't a problem but is tiring, I decided not to do it.
The final point for me was the fact that tomorrow WILL be very loud next door, probably all day, absolutely half the night minimum. As a rule, they "like" to to go 3 AM on Christmas morning, ruining it for the "We like to get up early on Christmas" people like myself.
Even more frustrating, my body is wired to get up no later than 9 AM so odds are good I will not be able to sleep past 9 anyway. I will just have to be sleep deprived on what should be one of the happiest days.
I did open my present to myself, I made an order with Swanson, and got some fancy soap. I also ordered some Wild Yam Root. I told you about that, it is used for food in some countries so is totally safe.
I took a dose last night, and a dose this morning. The first thing I noticed was that I was not as thirsty as I am, normally. That has been very nice for me. We will see what it does with my ongoing issue.
I ate and took my pills (took everything as directed, today), and decided to take a nap while it was quiet.
I laid down in bed with Torbie, who is very cuddly and demands a lot of petting, then she goes into her "house" on my bed. And they started up next door, kids screaming, etc. I understand they are excited about the holiday but it's like the parents have given up controlling the kids. I bitterly wished they would at least scream and run around in the playroom their father built for them (half the size of my house, off the back of his house, in the backyard), rather than right outside my bedroom wall.
I did manage to sleep a little and woke up with a headache. I decided to get up (#2 was playing loud, horrible, music) and take something for my head. I did that.
I talked to Ron some more and decided to clean the litter boxes. I had to get dressed, first, that took a while to get up the energy and motivation. I decided to do the worst box in the living room, dump that out, and then scoop the other box. If I had the energy (I am battling a depression) I would do the other two boxes but at least some of them would be fresh.
I do feel the worst about the litter box standard, and the cats are very good about using what they are given.
I got a large garbage bag and loaded it with some trash. Then I grimly approached the litter box. I don't dump the whole box very often so I couldn't figure out an angle of attack. Well, the angle I took didn't work out very well for me, I dumped used litter all over my shirt.
Well, crap. Well, more "pissy used litter". But - ugh! I didn't get much on the floor, it hit my shirt, bounced, and went in the bag. I got that dumped out, got the stubborn clumps that wouldn't release, and put the empty box in the bathtub. I poured about half a cup of bleach in there and filled it partway with warm water. Enough to cover the "litter line".
About this time, Baby Girl decided to sleep in one of her favorite spots, the bathroom sink. Every time I passed the sink I would start, seeing this huge, hairy, brown thing in the sink! I'm not accustomed to that!
Prior to that she spent all day curled up with Ron, it was adorable and I'd have gotten photos, but he was in his underwear.
So I had the one box soaking. I went after the other box with my long-handled metal scoop. I got it clear but the level was low, so I added another bag of litter. Then I took out all the trash, silently begging the heavy-duty garbage bag "Don't rip". It held and I got it in the can. I put the recycles in their can.
My homeowner's association sent me a letter saying they don't want to see garbage cans in the driveway. Every household has garbage cans, I don't see the problem, but this is the second letter. Annoying.
I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight and stock up on my sleep. I hope I am wrong about tomorrow night and they go somewhere else for a party. That would be great. That has happened a few times in the past, maybe this year?
A girl can dream.
Some people just become emotionally unhinged and violently aggressive over the absolute slightest inconvenience because they've learned that if they intimidate people over the small things, no one will even think about ever displeasing them on anything that actually matters. These people are usually the entitled, 'respectable' members of societySound familiar?
Done with that.
I slept well last night, and got up around 9 AM. I got on the computer for a while and took a shower. I talked to Ron ("we" were fine today) and thought about going to the pet store to buy some cat food.
I have plenty of cat food, but they seem a little tired of the dry food. I was thinking maybe get another flavor, like Duck. Ron says chicken.
Then I thought about riding there on the bus (Ron did not offer to pay for a cab), crossing a very busy street, lots of walking isn't a problem but is tiring, I decided not to do it.
The final point for me was the fact that tomorrow WILL be very loud next door, probably all day, absolutely half the night minimum. As a rule, they "like" to to go 3 AM on Christmas morning, ruining it for the "We like to get up early on Christmas" people like myself.
Even more frustrating, my body is wired to get up no later than 9 AM so odds are good I will not be able to sleep past 9 anyway. I will just have to be sleep deprived on what should be one of the happiest days.
I did open my present to myself, I made an order with Swanson, and got some fancy soap. I also ordered some Wild Yam Root. I told you about that, it is used for food in some countries so is totally safe.
I took a dose last night, and a dose this morning. The first thing I noticed was that I was not as thirsty as I am, normally. That has been very nice for me. We will see what it does with my ongoing issue.
I ate and took my pills (took everything as directed, today), and decided to take a nap while it was quiet.
I laid down in bed with Torbie, who is very cuddly and demands a lot of petting, then she goes into her "house" on my bed. And they started up next door, kids screaming, etc. I understand they are excited about the holiday but it's like the parents have given up controlling the kids. I bitterly wished they would at least scream and run around in the playroom their father built for them (half the size of my house, off the back of his house, in the backyard), rather than right outside my bedroom wall.
I did manage to sleep a little and woke up with a headache. I decided to get up (#2 was playing loud, horrible, music) and take something for my head. I did that.
I talked to Ron some more and decided to clean the litter boxes. I had to get dressed, first, that took a while to get up the energy and motivation. I decided to do the worst box in the living room, dump that out, and then scoop the other box. If I had the energy (I am battling a depression) I would do the other two boxes but at least some of them would be fresh.
I do feel the worst about the litter box standard, and the cats are very good about using what they are given.
I got a large garbage bag and loaded it with some trash. Then I grimly approached the litter box. I don't dump the whole box very often so I couldn't figure out an angle of attack. Well, the angle I took didn't work out very well for me, I dumped used litter all over my shirt.
Well, crap. Well, more "pissy used litter". But - ugh! I didn't get much on the floor, it hit my shirt, bounced, and went in the bag. I got that dumped out, got the stubborn clumps that wouldn't release, and put the empty box in the bathtub. I poured about half a cup of bleach in there and filled it partway with warm water. Enough to cover the "litter line".
About this time, Baby Girl decided to sleep in one of her favorite spots, the bathroom sink. Every time I passed the sink I would start, seeing this huge, hairy, brown thing in the sink! I'm not accustomed to that!
Prior to that she spent all day curled up with Ron, it was adorable and I'd have gotten photos, but he was in his underwear.
So I had the one box soaking. I went after the other box with my long-handled metal scoop. I got it clear but the level was low, so I added another bag of litter. Then I took out all the trash, silently begging the heavy-duty garbage bag "Don't rip". It held and I got it in the can. I put the recycles in their can.
My homeowner's association sent me a letter saying they don't want to see garbage cans in the driveway. Every household has garbage cans, I don't see the problem, but this is the second letter. Annoying.
I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight and stock up on my sleep. I hope I am wrong about tomorrow night and they go somewhere else for a party. That would be great. That has happened a few times in the past, maybe this year?
A girl can dream.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
A silent night after all
Well, it looks like I was wrong about the party. I am certain they are still having the one on Monday night, but not tonight. Today was apparently "little kids run loose in the yard while older kids decorate the house". That's, like, the first time I have EVER seen those kids do chores.
I slept last night but not great. I got up and fed the cats, took my shower, etc. Got dressed and made sure Ron looked OK.
We went to the warehouse. We would later have the same driver, again, for a later trip.
I bought the supplies, still no Sprite, and Jack took us to work. We got everything in the building.
I will admit more of my day was devoted to putting things away/helping Ron. But we did it.
We went outside to go home and the ride was late, but someone we knew. I had to ride in the back seat (not my favorite) but it was otherwise uneventful.
We got home and I put Ron in the house. The kids from next door (#6) were running around and screaming, it was unusual. I tried to lay down for a nap but it was impossible with the racket. I still stayed resting until my alarm went off.
The little kids were running around like someone gave them an IV full of sugar, while the two older boys were working on something. As it turns out, Christmas lights.
Our ride (same driver as before) came early, and the little kids were running dangerously close to the idling cab, through my driveway, all over the front of my property.
I don't see why it is so hard for them to understand: my yard is not your playground. I gave the father permission, years ago, for "my kid to get his ball" unquote. Not for large packs of children to make my yard their playground. As it is, I am sorry I gave any permission. I revoked it when I realized we had a problem, back in 2011, but kids who weren't even born then still continue to treat my property as a public commons.
Two things I was taught as a child: stay on your own property, don't trespass. Second lesson: don't play in the street.
The first was taught to me as a rule of respecting one's neighbors. Don't go on their property. I was actually spanked once for breaking this rule.
Second rule was always about my protection, don't play in the street, or you might get hit, badly injured, and possibly killed.
The adults in #6 have truly failed to teach these two lessons. So the kids were in danger, according to the driver, who felt very upset and concerned about the children just running wild in a driveway not their own, playing near a running vehicle. She had a few words for me when we came out. I told her I have talked to the parents, but they don't give a crap.
We went to Chilis. Ron's choice. The parking lot was packed, and the restaurant was very busy, but room for more customers. Ron was mopey and negative. Said he wasn't even hungry, he was just accommodating your stomach. I hate it when he goes on like that. He sets up a trip and then when I go along he acts like I demanded it. I did not. He's the one who told me.
Besides, neither of us wanted to be home with those feral children.
I read Ron some selections, he wanted the fries topped with chili. Messy but "small". I got a chili burger. It took a while for the food to come out.
In the meantime, I had two women behind me. One of them was sitting close to my back, but not directly behind me. She complained about her (alcohol) drink and sent it back. Constant complaints the whole time I sat there.
In the meantime, the restaurant is busy and music's playing. It's mainly 70's and 80's music. Some R&B comes on the speakers. Ron complains about it, says no one has ever heard of the song or the artist, he only likes top 40, and then makes a racial comment.
The women behind me happened to fall in that category. I half expected one of them to get up and confront him, but they did not. Instead, the woman behind me waits a minute or two, then gives my hair a sharp yank. It felt like she reached up and grabbed my entire ponytail, giving it a sharp tug. It was pretty painful, but I didn't react because I figured she was trying to provoke a confrontation. She had already proven to be a chronic complainer, not happy with anything in the restaurant, even thought they both ate ALL their food and ordered a dessert. But not before demanding to see the manager and telling him what a terrible time she had. No one mentioned Ron's comments, so, I hope no one heard it, but I heard everything they said so it's unlikely. At any rate she didn't complain about Ron's comment.
I did move my hair and place it inside my hoodie, so she couldn't "get" it again. She kept moving around but my hair was now "safe". I will need to start putting it inside my shirt when I sit down at a restaurant, so people can't "accidentally" yank on it.
We ate and paid. Ron did not get any food on his clothes, but I did. I thought that was funny.
There were a couple of the usual hungry toddlers having massive tantrums. Not cute at all. 10 minutes with one of them and I want to get sterilized. It got to be a little much so I took him outside.
We waited for a while. It was starting to get cool but not too bad. Ron wondered aloud where the sun had gone, I told him it had set. He wasn't happy about that. But our ride came eventually and he was a very nice guy.
We got home and I got Ron in the house, then checked the mail (some cards). I saw the Christmas lights on next door and just the two vehicles in the driveway. I waited an hour before I actually said "They're not having a party" but it seems pretty clear I get a silent night after all.
Then I fed the cats again and called my parents. I may go to the pet store tomorrow, I will see how I feel in the morning.
That's it for now. Have a good weekend.
I slept last night but not great. I got up and fed the cats, took my shower, etc. Got dressed and made sure Ron looked OK.
We went to the warehouse. We would later have the same driver, again, for a later trip.
I bought the supplies, still no Sprite, and Jack took us to work. We got everything in the building.
I will admit more of my day was devoted to putting things away/helping Ron. But we did it.
We went outside to go home and the ride was late, but someone we knew. I had to ride in the back seat (not my favorite) but it was otherwise uneventful.
We got home and I put Ron in the house. The kids from next door (#6) were running around and screaming, it was unusual. I tried to lay down for a nap but it was impossible with the racket. I still stayed resting until my alarm went off.
The little kids were running around like someone gave them an IV full of sugar, while the two older boys were working on something. As it turns out, Christmas lights.
Our ride (same driver as before) came early, and the little kids were running dangerously close to the idling cab, through my driveway, all over the front of my property.
I don't see why it is so hard for them to understand: my yard is not your playground. I gave the father permission, years ago, for "my kid to get his ball" unquote. Not for large packs of children to make my yard their playground. As it is, I am sorry I gave any permission. I revoked it when I realized we had a problem, back in 2011, but kids who weren't even born then still continue to treat my property as a public commons.
Two things I was taught as a child: stay on your own property, don't trespass. Second lesson: don't play in the street.
The first was taught to me as a rule of respecting one's neighbors. Don't go on their property. I was actually spanked once for breaking this rule.
Second rule was always about my protection, don't play in the street, or you might get hit, badly injured, and possibly killed.
The adults in #6 have truly failed to teach these two lessons. So the kids were in danger, according to the driver, who felt very upset and concerned about the children just running wild in a driveway not their own, playing near a running vehicle. She had a few words for me when we came out. I told her I have talked to the parents, but they don't give a crap.
We went to Chilis. Ron's choice. The parking lot was packed, and the restaurant was very busy, but room for more customers. Ron was mopey and negative. Said he wasn't even hungry, he was just accommodating your stomach. I hate it when he goes on like that. He sets up a trip and then when I go along he acts like I demanded it. I did not. He's the one who told me.
Besides, neither of us wanted to be home with those feral children.
I read Ron some selections, he wanted the fries topped with chili. Messy but "small". I got a chili burger. It took a while for the food to come out.
In the meantime, I had two women behind me. One of them was sitting close to my back, but not directly behind me. She complained about her (alcohol) drink and sent it back. Constant complaints the whole time I sat there.
In the meantime, the restaurant is busy and music's playing. It's mainly 70's and 80's music. Some R&B comes on the speakers. Ron complains about it, says no one has ever heard of the song or the artist, he only likes top 40, and then makes a racial comment.
The women behind me happened to fall in that category. I half expected one of them to get up and confront him, but they did not. Instead, the woman behind me waits a minute or two, then gives my hair a sharp yank. It felt like she reached up and grabbed my entire ponytail, giving it a sharp tug. It was pretty painful, but I didn't react because I figured she was trying to provoke a confrontation. She had already proven to be a chronic complainer, not happy with anything in the restaurant, even thought they both ate ALL their food and ordered a dessert. But not before demanding to see the manager and telling him what a terrible time she had. No one mentioned Ron's comments, so, I hope no one heard it, but I heard everything they said so it's unlikely. At any rate she didn't complain about Ron's comment.
I did move my hair and place it inside my hoodie, so she couldn't "get" it again. She kept moving around but my hair was now "safe". I will need to start putting it inside my shirt when I sit down at a restaurant, so people can't "accidentally" yank on it.
We ate and paid. Ron did not get any food on his clothes, but I did. I thought that was funny.
There were a couple of the usual hungry toddlers having massive tantrums. Not cute at all. 10 minutes with one of them and I want to get sterilized. It got to be a little much so I took him outside.
We waited for a while. It was starting to get cool but not too bad. Ron wondered aloud where the sun had gone, I told him it had set. He wasn't happy about that. But our ride came eventually and he was a very nice guy.
We got home and I got Ron in the house, then checked the mail (some cards). I saw the Christmas lights on next door and just the two vehicles in the driveway. I waited an hour before I actually said "They're not having a party" but it seems pretty clear I get a silent night after all.
Then I fed the cats again and called my parents. I may go to the pet store tomorrow, I will see how I feel in the morning.
That's it for now. Have a good weekend.
Looks like #6
Looks like they are having a party. I hope I'm wrong but the kids have been running wild all day.
Paratransit complained the little kids were running wild in my driveway, behind her idling cab. Do they want their kids run over?
But I have talked to them, they never discipline the kids, seem to think it is "cute".
Friday, December 21, 2018
Friday before Christmas
I didn't sleep well again with my tooth. I really need to get it checked out. It is a back lower molar, on the left. I'll get it done, hopefully next week. If "feels" like "just' a filling, I hope so.
I have tried the topical gel and it just tastes bad, doesn't seem to help. I'm going to try Advil tonight.
I got up, took my shower, got Ron ready, fed the cats (not in that order). We went to work.
I felt bad for the driver, it was apparent she was having a tough day but she went above and beyond for us. We got to work, Ron was impressed the machines needed stocking, even after my work. He did some stocking, while I took cash out of the vending machines. We weren't there for long, just long enough to do some stocking, "pull" the cash, and do an inventory for tomorrow.
I gave Mike his cat treats. I know his gang (3-4 cats) will enjoy them. Henry told me about his new kitten's antics and how he was bothering his elderly female cat. I suggested he get a second kitten so they could play together. It worked great with Biscuit and Gravy - they'd run all over the house, after each other, seldom bothering the older cats. If I ever get a kitten again I'd get a pair so they could keep each other entertained.
But I have to admit I am strongly partial to older cats, and they have terrible adoption rates. Look at poor Torbie, almost put down because she was "too old" for most adopters' taste. Which is stupid, because she's one of the best cats.
So we finished at work. On the way out, someone yelled at us about stocking the machines. Felt it wasn't being done "enough". The machines have been stuffed at least all week, and if things get low it's only for a day or so. Some people will have fits, for instance, if the Dr Pepper bottles inventory gets below about a dozen bottles. They don't want to buy it right now, they just want to know there is a lot when they choose to buy it. I think it was one of those cases. Either that, or one of those cases where they want to shout at someone, in the building, but "can't" yell at their coworkers or supervisors. But look, here comes the vendor! [sigh] It happens. One of the only bad things about my job.
That, and the guy who suddenly had a refund when he saw me taking a "large" wad of $1 bills out of a vending machine. Oh, look, she has plenty to spare, I want some of that. [sigh, rolleyes] He didn't have a refund before.
We went to the bank. We had not had time to count the money so we did it at the bank. I felt safe, they have an armed guard and anyone can see it is only $1 bills. We counted the money, should be enough to buy inventory and pay for my dental work.
I forgot to mention, while at work I mailed my health insurance payment, and went to pay the dental discount program fee. However, we were out of "Ron" checks. We only had "Heather" checks and business checks. Yes, we have separate accounts, me alone, him alone, the business. The business can't pay for our teeth (we can't deduct it), and I only had enough to cover the health insurance plus a little extra (not the entire fee). So, it didn't happen today. That was my fault, if you want to point fingers. I should have made a note when I wrote the last check.
But we did our business and called Arturo, but it went to voicemail. Without asking, Ron called Alex. Alex was the one driver who came over one night when Ron was very drunk and extremely verbally abusive to me, in front of Alex, then Ron let his cat out - poor thing was huddled on the porch, soaking wet, the next day (she hasn't tried to get out, since). So I was a little uncomfortable and embarrassed. Not Alex' fault, but Ron's.
At any rate Alex was close, and came quickly. We got Ron in the cab, the wheelchair put up, me in the cab, then off to a drive through for lunch. We got lunch (Baconator for me, the new chicken and bacon thing for Ron - Ron paid), and went home.
I ate my food and took my pills. I did up my pills last night and have 2 weeks' now. That's always a nice feeling. I will be glad when I get my Wild Yam pills.
I have had some irregularities in my cycle the last several years. I think I took some Wild Yam back when I was having hot flashes, and it worked very well.
As I've said, I have some irregularities right now so I figure it will either help, or it won't. Everything I have read says "hormone imbalance" so I will try to treat it herbally. The "herb" is actually used for food in some countries so is totally safe. And I took it before without any trouble.
I still plan to get an exam, but I am in my mid 40's, odds are very strong it is menopause. I am taking a pretty heavy duty iron supplement so I won't get anemic, not that it is a big issue right now.
I am curious to see what happens when my next cycle rolls around.
I laid down and actually slept pretty well for a while. I slept in as late as I could, but woke up with a headache, so I got up and took something. I got on the computer for a while, checked the email, etc. I remembered to ask Ron for the checks, and hunted through his closet. Closet wasn't too bad. Some accounting stuff, a box of really old crackers, some things I was pretty sure he wanted, and a nice, new pair of shoes. Interesting. I couldn't find the checks, so I told Ron.
It was dark by now, anyway, and he doesn't have a light in his room. He went in there and rummaged around, found the deposit slips first (when we do a change deposit, they want a deposit slip), then the checks. His system works for him, that's apparent.
The house is a mess but we can generally find the important things when needed.
I put the checks in the bag for work tomorrow. I talked to Ron about the dentist (he was in a pretty good mood today) and we will call on Monday, find out about their discount plan, because we only ever use the one dentist anyway, pay that and get me in as soon as they can.
But I don't want them to rush. I would rather wait another day than have them trying to squish me in before lunch. They did that with Ron once and I felt so bad for them. Ron had some drinks and went back to bed, in a good mood.
Biscuit begged for dinner and I fed him. He is now lying next to my chair, sleeping on his back, looking adorable. He is fat, though.
I need to take him to that doctor from "My 600 pound life" and get him a cat-band! I would do it if I felt it were safe for him, and would last. I found a book for Ron in the mailbox, along with several insurance offers.
We need to sit down and mail all his hospital bills. We still have some left.
If I go to bed now, I will get 9 hours of sleep. I'm sure going to try for it!
I have tried the topical gel and it just tastes bad, doesn't seem to help. I'm going to try Advil tonight.
I got up, took my shower, got Ron ready, fed the cats (not in that order). We went to work.
I felt bad for the driver, it was apparent she was having a tough day but she went above and beyond for us. We got to work, Ron was impressed the machines needed stocking, even after my work. He did some stocking, while I took cash out of the vending machines. We weren't there for long, just long enough to do some stocking, "pull" the cash, and do an inventory for tomorrow.
I gave Mike his cat treats. I know his gang (3-4 cats) will enjoy them. Henry told me about his new kitten's antics and how he was bothering his elderly female cat. I suggested he get a second kitten so they could play together. It worked great with Biscuit and Gravy - they'd run all over the house, after each other, seldom bothering the older cats. If I ever get a kitten again I'd get a pair so they could keep each other entertained.
But I have to admit I am strongly partial to older cats, and they have terrible adoption rates. Look at poor Torbie, almost put down because she was "too old" for most adopters' taste. Which is stupid, because she's one of the best cats.
So we finished at work. On the way out, someone yelled at us about stocking the machines. Felt it wasn't being done "enough". The machines have been stuffed at least all week, and if things get low it's only for a day or so. Some people will have fits, for instance, if the Dr Pepper bottles inventory gets below about a dozen bottles. They don't want to buy it right now, they just want to know there is a lot when they choose to buy it. I think it was one of those cases. Either that, or one of those cases where they want to shout at someone, in the building, but "can't" yell at their coworkers or supervisors. But look, here comes the vendor! [sigh] It happens. One of the only bad things about my job.
That, and the guy who suddenly had a refund when he saw me taking a "large" wad of $1 bills out of a vending machine. Oh, look, she has plenty to spare, I want some of that. [sigh, rolleyes] He didn't have a refund before.
We went to the bank. We had not had time to count the money so we did it at the bank. I felt safe, they have an armed guard and anyone can see it is only $1 bills. We counted the money, should be enough to buy inventory and pay for my dental work.
I forgot to mention, while at work I mailed my health insurance payment, and went to pay the dental discount program fee. However, we were out of "Ron" checks. We only had "Heather" checks and business checks. Yes, we have separate accounts, me alone, him alone, the business. The business can't pay for our teeth (we can't deduct it), and I only had enough to cover the health insurance plus a little extra (not the entire fee). So, it didn't happen today. That was my fault, if you want to point fingers. I should have made a note when I wrote the last check.
But we did our business and called Arturo, but it went to voicemail. Without asking, Ron called Alex. Alex was the one driver who came over one night when Ron was very drunk and extremely verbally abusive to me, in front of Alex, then Ron let his cat out - poor thing was huddled on the porch, soaking wet, the next day (she hasn't tried to get out, since). So I was a little uncomfortable and embarrassed. Not Alex' fault, but Ron's.
At any rate Alex was close, and came quickly. We got Ron in the cab, the wheelchair put up, me in the cab, then off to a drive through for lunch. We got lunch (Baconator for me, the new chicken and bacon thing for Ron - Ron paid), and went home.
I ate my food and took my pills. I did up my pills last night and have 2 weeks' now. That's always a nice feeling. I will be glad when I get my Wild Yam pills.
I have had some irregularities in my cycle the last several years. I think I took some Wild Yam back when I was having hot flashes, and it worked very well.
As I've said, I have some irregularities right now so I figure it will either help, or it won't. Everything I have read says "hormone imbalance" so I will try to treat it herbally. The "herb" is actually used for food in some countries so is totally safe. And I took it before without any trouble.
I still plan to get an exam, but I am in my mid 40's, odds are very strong it is menopause. I am taking a pretty heavy duty iron supplement so I won't get anemic, not that it is a big issue right now.
I am curious to see what happens when my next cycle rolls around.
I laid down and actually slept pretty well for a while. I slept in as late as I could, but woke up with a headache, so I got up and took something. I got on the computer for a while, checked the email, etc. I remembered to ask Ron for the checks, and hunted through his closet. Closet wasn't too bad. Some accounting stuff, a box of really old crackers, some things I was pretty sure he wanted, and a nice, new pair of shoes. Interesting. I couldn't find the checks, so I told Ron.
It was dark by now, anyway, and he doesn't have a light in his room. He went in there and rummaged around, found the deposit slips first (when we do a change deposit, they want a deposit slip), then the checks. His system works for him, that's apparent.
The house is a mess but we can generally find the important things when needed.
I put the checks in the bag for work tomorrow. I talked to Ron about the dentist (he was in a pretty good mood today) and we will call on Monday, find out about their discount plan, because we only ever use the one dentist anyway, pay that and get me in as soon as they can.
But I don't want them to rush. I would rather wait another day than have them trying to squish me in before lunch. They did that with Ron once and I felt so bad for them. Ron had some drinks and went back to bed, in a good mood.
Biscuit begged for dinner and I fed him. He is now lying next to my chair, sleeping on his back, looking adorable. He is fat, though.
I need to take him to that doctor from "My 600 pound life" and get him a cat-band! I would do it if I felt it were safe for him, and would last. I found a book for Ron in the mailbox, along with several insurance offers.
We need to sit down and mail all his hospital bills. We still have some left.
If I go to bed now, I will get 9 hours of sleep. I'm sure going to try for it!
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