Ghost bike

I slept a lot better last night.  Mania really affects my sleep in a bad way, but the continued lithium doses are slowly eroding it.  Thank God. 

I slept about 10 hours and woke up.  I felt OK until I had some sugar free punch, then I got queasy.  Ron was taking me out to breakfast, so I was worried about that.  I took a lot of pepto and some ginger root.  

On the plus side, when I weighed this morning (before drinking anything) I was down another half pound so that's good.  I can afford to lose a good 60 pounds.  

I got took my shower, got dressed, talked Ron into bathing and clean clothes, put my pills together.  

I am debating an issue.  Ron pulled a prescription bottle out of his fanny pack, the other day, in public.  I told him to put it away, someone would steal it.  He said he needed to take something, so he did.  Then he put it away.  I asked him why he didn't put it in another container.  

"On COPS," he said, "They only get into trouble if they have pills in a baggie.  They don't get into trouble if they have the pills in a prescription bottle."  

That's valid.  However, I was getting ready to take 4 different prescriptions (since this was going to be the big meal, I wanted to do it all at once).  4 bottles is a lot.  So I was "bad" and put them in a zip top baggie.  

Our ride was a little late but not too bad.  The guy in the front seat had reclined his seat very far back, making it impossible for Ron to enter the vehicle.  I asked the man, politely, but with a little edge, if he could please move the seat.  He had it back at almost a 45 degree angle - ludicrous and impossible.  He made a big production out of accommodating and left it at the proper, 90 degree angle as Ron entered and stayed seated behind him.  

Ron got in without incident (remember Ron is only 150 pounds) and off we went.  We got to the restaurant.  There were 2 "homeless" people in the parking lot, but one of them had enough money to buy the cigarettes he chain-smoked for the next hour and a half.  Priorities, I guess.  

We went in and were served by a pregnant little person.  That's a hard job, food service, to begin with.  Especially if you are a little person.  Even more if you are pregnant.  I hope she will be OK.  She seemed pretty happy.  

I was delighted she got my order right, I had modified the standard sandwich and added BBQ sauce.  Ron got a chicken sandwich.  

The restaurant smelled the same.  Ron and I actually met at this chain.  I was in the cashier training program, and considered a big success as I was the first person hired on as a result.  Everyone else got sent back to the end of the line, to train at another business.  Since I am extroverted they put me on a register.  Ron was in the management training program, and hired through that.  He was on a register right next to me.  We started talking.  We started going out to the Mexican walk up place after work, sitting in the park, and talking.  He gave me his phone number.  You get the idea.  About 5 months later I ran off with him.  

So the restaurant holds a small place in my heart.  

I ate a little bit of hashbrowns but the grease and potatoes didn't sit very well.  I focused on eating my sandwich and that worked.  I took 2 more ginger roots and some pepto pills.  Yes, they have a pill.  Pretty awesome.  I think I will always carry them in my fanny pack.  

That settled OK.  I think it helped that I didn't get a diet soda, I got plain tea (unsweet) and added some pink stuff (saccharin).  It was pretty good.  Oh, changed the font when I did my cut and paste.  Sorry about that, but who knows how to spell saccharin?  I sure don't.  

It's Ok now.  I won't complain.  So I think the tea helped.  We had to wait about an hour, and then our driver went to the wrong place, it took him forever to find us.  

He wanted to talk politics.  I really didn't but he seemed so desperate.  And, sure enough, we agreed.  No wonder he wanted to talk.  

We went home and I took a nap.  Before I proceed, I should add I called my Dad last night.  My stepmother is out of town.  

Anyway, he was very happy and engaged, active in a lot of things, we talked cell phones and such.  It was good to see.  Whatever my gripes may be with "people" in the past, Dad is well loved and taken care of.  

I had a pretty good nap once I dropped off, but I woke up with a headache, which meant I had to take some Excedrin, which meant I upset my stomach again.  I am drinking some Gatorade

Ron is up.  The Astros lost today's game. 

And I managed to offend someone on Facebook.  First of all, I have to say, I really resent it when people fill up my news feed with things they are trying to sell.  If I want to buy something, I will go looking for it.  Don't just shove things in my face and expect me to buy them.  I understand Go fund mes, I have one, but I hate "yardsale" people who just shove all kinds of crap at you because you are "friends".  I live in Houston.  I couldn't buy it even if I wanted. 

So, anyway, she put up photos of a bike painted all white, even, it looked like, the wheels.  That is only one thing, a Ghost Bike.  From a roadside memorial.  I told her that, and mentioned it was probably stolen, she might want to take down the link.  Someone probably "found" it on the side of the road, took it home, cleaned it up, and put it up for sale.  But, at least in Houston, everyone knows one of those bikes has been stolen.  So someone would get in legal trouble for theft, and it wouldn't sell anyway. 

Then she got all upset, said it was her bike, etc.  I mentioned again the only all white bikes I have ever seen have been at these roadside memorials.  I've even "apologized".  But she's irate and making personal attacks now. 

Honestly, if she really wants to sell the bike, she needs to go to the hardware store, buy some painter's tape and a can of spray paint, and paint it any other color but white.  Then she should have an easy time selling it if it's a reasonable price. 

{rolleyes}  I will probably get unfriended out of this and down to 250 something "friends" most of whom don't even know the names of my cats. 

Still queasy after the gatorade.  Ugh. 

Not going to eat anything for a while.  

Foul weather cats

Some times I struggle with posting stuff that makes me look "bad".  Being a public figure (a very minor one) I feel I should have it all together.

I slept in until 8 or so.  That seems to be my new standard.  It used to be 7 or so.  I fed a very eager Biscuit and Baby Girl.  Torbie waits until they finish and then eats.  I think that's one reason she has lost some weight, they don't leave her much.

Let me hasten to add, Torbie can well afford to lose the weight.  She is still about 14 pounds and should be about 10-11.  I would never let her starve, and she wouldn't let me starve her.  Besides, Ron gives her more than enough treats, his "portion" for one treating incident is about 15 treats.  And he serves them multiple times a day.  All those treats add up.

So, I fed the cats.  I did not take a shower but it was my day off.  I probably won't, I feel tired today.

I am sure the one poster who is always going on about "clean" subjects will be upset, but it's my body and my day.

I took it pretty easy, got on the computer for a while. Ron got up, we talked, and even cuddled for a while.  He was very happy with that, sober, didn't complain about pain or neuropathy.  It is nice to touch him without him screaming.  I kid him sometimes, all someone has to do to torture him is rub his back firmly.  He would be on the floor writhing. 

I took a nap.  I was a little lonely, because none of the cats came to sleep with me.  I don't expect Baby Girl, but Torbie was on the Bible rack in the living room.  How many people do you know with a rack of Bibles in their front room?  :p  Well, you know one. 

Biscuit was sleeping on the computer room loveseat.  He still is.  I think he likes it because it smells like me, that's where I sit to do my God Time.  He is very comfortable. 

I made sad noises (quietly, so as not to disturb Ron) and no one came.  It was discouraging but I slept alone for the first time in a while.  They must be foul weather cats, they only love me when I'm down. 

I woke up with a pretty nasty headache and took some Excedrin.  I suspect my sunflower seeds had something to do with that, I ate a 2 ounce bag before taking my nap. 

I swear, the list of food I can't eat gets longer and longer.  Maybe I should just live on pepper bacon. 

Ron got up, he was moody.  He "ordered" some alcohol from the liquor store.  He had the guy put it on hold for the cab driver.  But they only had 4 instead of 6.  Now, if I were the drinker I would just say "No vodka, let me get some cheap whiskey" but he said only vodka, and just got the 4.  That means he will run out 1/3 sooner. 

Someone banged on the door, it was a kid selling candy.  I bought some peanut butter cups for Ron and got myself some Skittles.  I didn't eat them yet, though. 

Ron got the alcohol and paid the driver.  He always tips generously so the driver is always happy to come back.  Now he had a problem.  The alcohol was in the garage (he opened the door with his remote), and he can't get out there on his own. 

Well, he could probably get out if there was a fire and I was gone, but it would be very ugly and would probably result in harm to Ron.  He asked me to help. 

I kept thinking he would probably hurt himself if he tried to do it on his own, so I took him out there (this is where I look bad), and waited while he got the "one" bottle he promised he would get.  He got 2.  "Why not get all 4?" I asked sarcastically.  He looked as though he was considering it.  He reminded me I would just have to "help" him that much sooner if he only got one so I pushed him back in the house. 

There, I am done "looking bad".  Cue wrathful comments.  But I am an imperfect person trying to do my best.  I don't want him hurting himself, trying to get liquor in the house.  If he could walk or see I never would have done it. 

But I am accountable to God for everything I do and I am sure He understands my motivations.  When I got Ron in the house, I told him he had to call the hotel for the business conference, and make a reservation. 

He wasn't happy about it, but he did it.  It will not be cheap.  2 nights stay about equal a mortgage payment for us, but like he said, if we don't go they will take our business.  We will get some of it back. 

I was happy, that is one more thing off my list.  Still not happy about the price, it better be a NICE hotel, but he did order two beds.  He is not good at sleeping with me.  He moves around too much, makes noise, wakes me up when he gets in and out of the wheelchair, etc.  I need my sleep to be in prime condition, and, at the conference, I will be the public face of the company (as I am at work).  I will need to "play the game" and be social, friendly, professional - which all means getting a good night of sleep in my OWN bed. 

And, for what we are paying, they should give us two beds.  This is not the last complaint you will read about what we will be paying. 

A mortgage payment! 

After he finished, I said "Now you can drink" and left him alone.  There is no way he could have made the reservation, drunk.  It is made so that is one thing off our back. 

He told me not to "bother" him and went off to his bedroom after he spent some time in the kitchen, drinking.  He only drinks in the kitchen because, in the past, when he has had the vodka bottle in the bedroom, he has gotten into it when drunk - not consciously, but in a fog of some sort.  Then he has horrible blackouts, hurts himself, keeps me up all night, etc.  So we can't do that.  The kitchen is the farthest area away from his bed, about 45-50 feet away (small house).  So, he has to get up, get in his wheelchair, ride himself to the kitchen, drink, and go back. 

Sometimes he lingers too long in the kitchen, has additional drinks, and gets into trouble.  The last time he fell out of his wheelchair I found him in the kitchen.  So, it's not a perfect system but he tries to keep the shrapnel to a minimum.  I don't, and won't, "let" him keep a bottle in the bedroom.  I haven't even told him about the bottle he left on the kitchen table.  It is half full, with one of his little portion cups on top.  I am not going to give it to him, that's for certain! 

I am not super hungry tonight so I will just make a big bowl of instant oatmeal and have that for dinner.  That should hold my pills. 

All my meals revolve around compatibility with my pills.  Timing of the meals goes to pill time.  That's just how it works and I am fine with that.  I'm just glad I have pills.  I had 32 years without them and I have NO desire to go back to that. 

I will probably go to bed early tonight.  I don't think Ron wants to go anywhere tomorrow so we will take it easy. 

Sometimes, I would love to take a nice hot bath with a little tea tree or lavender essential oil, but Ron hates both scents, and they fill the house.  So that's out.  He never leaves the house unless he is with me. 

It was surreal, the other day, Ron riding by himself on paratransit while I rode in another car, but it worked out.  Normally, when we leave the house we are ALWAYS together.  The only time we separate is at Walmart, when I leave him off to the side while I push my "buggy" around, collecting merchandise. 

I'm starting to get hungry so I'm going to dish up some oatmeal. 

Much better today

I had trouble sleeping last night because I was manic.  I slept in as late as I could, got up, showered, shaved my legs.  I noticed my left hand still shakes even though I haven't taken my lithium in almost a week.  It appears that might be permanent.

I am OK with that, I can still type, take care of Ron, work, etc.  I don't do crafts anymore but I probably could if I wanted (just slower).  I would have been dead back in 2006 - I will share something I don't thing I have, yet.

In 2006 I was extremely suicidal, mixed episodes, rapid cycling, hallucinating, about as bad as you can get with bipolar.  I started thinking about ways to kill myself.  I would lie in bed and think about stabbing myself.  I would ride in a car and think how I could jump off the overpass.

There is an overpass near my home where two freeways meet.  It is some miles from my home.  Anyway, the connectors go up in the air about 80 feet.  I thought I could walk up on one of those things, jump, and hit the freeway below.  If the fall didn't kill me the oncoming car would.  I was obesessed with this.

One problem: I am scared of heights!  I doubt I would have made it up!  Thank God He led me to get help and I finally got an accurate diagnosis.  And, even better, medication!

Of course, suicidal people are very selfish.  Think about how that poor oncoming car would have felt, hitting, and killing me.  Not to mention my dead meat might have killed him!  If a cinder block thrown off an overpass can kill a driver, imagine a 180 pound human!  I would have totaled their car at best - like I said, selfish, but all we think about is ending the pain.

But, like I said, I am much better today and not suicidal at all.  I just don't want to go back to that.

So, I got up and got ready.  Ron took a bath and changed his clothes.  Good.  His shirt was starting to snap at me, it was so ripe.

Our first driver just doesn't like us, I think.  Now, admittedly I am not in the land of super clear thinking right now, but she pulled up, late, and blasted the horn at 6 in the morning.  Good thing our neighbors get up early!

Then she immediately got on the radio and had 2 supervisors do call outs.  Which is basically someone asking you on the phone to hurry up and come out, are you riding today?  We got out in about 2 minutes (Ron is in a wheelchair, so it takes some time).  We got out there and she snarled at us.  She had her radio on maximum volume - it was extremely loud.

Like many head injury victims, and most blind people, Ron doesn't like a lot of noise.  He begged her to please turn it off, several times, but she said she "had" to do the wheelchair first.  How hard is it to come around the car and turn the knob?  She was just in a nasty mood all the way to the warehouse.

Whenever she picks us up, she is in a nasty mood.  I don't think she likes us.  I don't know what it is, I think a combination of "Happy couple and I have a lousy love life" and "I hate his God talk".  We are always polite to the drivers, usually give them candy and drinks, and say please and thank you.  We never yell at them when they are late (like today).

I would have called in a complaint on her but this is probably the only thing she can do that will get her this kind of money (paratransit drivers are well paid and only have to have a clean driving record and high school education).  I just let it go.  Not everyone likes us.

Ron had scheduled an interesting trip.  Our primary driver couldn't help, our secondary driver was sick.  So we called Chuck, who has a Mazda Tribute, a small to medium sized SUV.

Ron would ride paratransit to work, and Chuck would take me and our supplies to work and meet him.  It promised to be interesting.

I still had NO appetite.  But Gatorade was staying down, so I threw a couple of cold bottles from the deli area into my cart (paid for with personal money, not business) when I was shopping.  I got about 10 cases of drinks, no snacks.

I bought the inventory with my cash because Ron was out and we had to pay flood insurance today (took it out of savings :( ).  I bought our stuff and drank a bottle of Gatorade.

We went out and waited on the ride.  He was on time.  I have always wanted to go to Sam's Club and guy a lot of stuff, call a paratransit ride, and pretend I thought I was going to take it all on paratransit.  The driver's expression was priceless.  He said he "Didn't think he could make this work".  [snort]  Yeah, I bet.  10 cases of drinks, and a wheelchair, in the back of a minivan!  No way!

So I got Ron on his way, and Chuck showed up.  I loaded everything and we went to work.  Ron had gotten a straight trip so he was waiting for us.  I unloaded everything with Chuck's help and then paid him (we always pay our volunteer drivers).

I left Ron with the stuff and got my big cart, brought it all in, put it in the fridge.  I helped Ron for a while, loading drinks.  Then I did accounting stuff, took the money out of the machines, got the end of month readings for accountability (also so we can see how sales are for each machine).

Then I did "my" work.  One worker tried to corner me and talk politics.  I pretended to agree with him, but I am going to be firmer and tell people "I don't talk politics" because we will NEVER agree.  I know maybe 5 people in real life who agree with my far-right, second amendment (I have no problem with guns, just not for me), Bible thumping, evangelical outlook.  But Ron does, thank God.

Then someone else tried to tell me I was a pampered little brat who didn't have to work for what I had.  I almost responded, but, thank God, Ron was calling me loudly so I ran off to "help".  I have never been so happy to take him to the bathroom.

I got it all done (while I was doing my work, Ron counted the money in private).  We went to the bank, this time with a NICE driver.  His wheelchair ramp was broken so he had to fold the chair and put it in the backseat with Ron.  Ron's pretty gimpy but he can get in a regular chair/car on his own pretty well.  It's ugly but he does it.  So it worked, otherwise, if he had been "bound" to the chair he would have had to wait on another ride.  And we were pretty tired.    The driver said the vehicle had 300K miles on it.

We got to the bank, long lines.  Everyone got paid, it's the end of the month.  And it was a new teller.  The last time we had a new teller, we were shorted a hundred dollars in our count (they later caught it, corrected it, and fired the teller).

But a "good" teller (I rate them in my head) told us she was "really awesome, and would take good care of you" and she did exactly everything right.  She counted the 1 dollar bills and hundred packed them, told us the total, and then made the deposit.  I got my pay, and they money I spent on Chuck and the inventory back.  Ron got some money for inventory and personal, not as much as me.  Then he gave me some extra money for 'working when you were sick, on Monday".  He's a good man.

He would like to buy me presents but I honestly don't want much when I'm medicated.  I am very content with what I have.  Flowers would just get knocked over and ruined by the cats.  I can't eat chocolate.  So "cash money" makes a good gift.

I will put some of it in my personal emergency fund.  Yes, I have one.  If things really get bad (Ron dies, Ron goes off the cliff) I will have a "little" something.

We were done.  The bank took about an hour, with the lines and the transaction.  We transferred the money for the flood insurance.  We certainly have to have that.  To quote a Houstonian I know, we have had 3 bad floods in 5 years.  It would be stupid beyond belief to let our policy lapse.

Ron called the cab driver (the one who brings his liquor).  He was, happily, right across the street.  Two trucks were parked in the disabled area (maybe they were crippled, maybe they weren't), and an armored car was blocking the wheelchair ramp.  I was pretty upset.  They all saw Ron in his wheelchair needing to get to the cab and not one of them moved.

Jerks.  But Ron had me.  So I took him off the curb without a ramp (there's a trick to it, and Ron leans forward to help balance the chair and make it easier).  I got to the cab and got Ron loaded.

Now, at work, I had gotten hungry.  I ate a bag of chips (one ounce) and then had a turkey sandwich about an hour later.  This was hours after that, I was hungry again, and I wanted a bacon cheeseburger.  I was BACK.

So we had the cab driver take us through the Jack in the Box drive through.  They have a teriyaki bowl Ron wanted to try (I don't think he will like it).  I got a sourdough Jack, the only thing I get at Jack in the Box.  I also got a small curly fries because I was hungry and really hadn't eaten anything solid in a week.

I was hungry, praise God.  I knew my stomach would come back if I gave it time.

Ron and I ate the fries on the way home.  The Sourdough Jacks (at least the ones in Houston) are drippy and I didn't want to mess up my clothes, or the cab.  Ron felt the same.

I ate my whole bag of fries on the way home.  My stomach kind of paused at the grease, but we did fine.  Ron, on the other hand, almost vomited when the driver stopped at an intersection   The driver did not notice, thank God, or that would probably be the end of riding with him.  But Ron recovered admirably and didn't "leak".

We got home.  Ron said he was hot and laid down in front of a fan, had me put his food in the fridge.  I got naked, ate my burger, dripped everywhere, cleaned up, took my pills, and took a nap.

Ron had eaten some old takeout last night.  I think it got him.  And, to my defense, I had plenty of wholesome food in the freezer for him.  He was just cheap and didn't want to throw it out.  He should be fine, he hasn't vomited or gone to the bathroom.  I think he just has a "touch" of it.

I'm just so glad I am better.  I am never eating chocolate again.  It's just not worth the migraine.

It would be really awesome if that 5-pound loss decided to "stick".

Edit: Ron is feeling better and says he has no nausea. 

I hate being so fragile

Ugh.  I'm getting chatty.  Feeling that relentless drive that comes with a mania. 

I will channel this at work tomorrow and get a LOT done, but I wouldn't choose it.  I just want to eat and take my pills like I always do.  I really figured I would be fine by now. 

I don't think I was that violently ill but it's all a blur of pain.  Glad that is over but wishing I could just EAT already and take my pills! 

So many people violently resist taking medication and I am begging God for an opportunity to take it!  It's crazy. 

It's going to be an interesting visit with Doc in a couple of weeks.  I will, most likely, still be manic.  He told me once that lithium clears the body in a couple of days so my level is probably zero right now.  It takes, I think, about a month to get back to normal. 

So what am I doing?  Well, I had a good talk with Ron when he woke up.  He even stopped drinking for a while.  I looked up some stuff on the internet for him.  I posted all over the internet. 

I had one solitary spoonful of cooked barley.  I found the pepto, praise God, and took some.  I figure it can only help.  The bottle was almost empty but I found a full bottle under the bathroom sink. 

Ron ate all the chips.  I had been able to hold a few down yesterday (the Lays Stax), but he got drunk this morning and ate them all.  He felt terrible about it when I asked him for a few, but, like I told him, it's not like I asked him to save them for me.  They were "his" chips. 

Did your family have the whole "my food, your food", thing?  Mine did.  "My" food was generally not very appetizing choices.  I won't go into a lot of details.  I got the same food as everyone else at dinnertime but the choices I had for breakfast/lunch were pretty regrettable.  No wonder I was so skinny. 

So I still see things I buy for Ron as "his" food and stuff I buy for myself as "mine".  I will share, if he asks, but he generally has the same stuff I do. 

I have to go to bed in about an hour.  I am still pretty wired.  I just hope I can sleep.  This hasn't been a good week for sleep, which, of course, feeds the mania.  It's a perfect storm: no medication, no sleep. 

Ugh.  I will get through this.  I hate being so fragile.  I hate that a tiny brownie can knock me on my butt for a week, that a few days without medication turns me into someone I don't like.  It's miserable.  But at least I am not in constant, chronic, pain like Ron.  I wouldn't want that.  I like being able to see, as well.  And my body works pretty well, just not when I eat anything chocolate. 

I understand why my stomach is so irritated: after I got over the migraine, I got a couple of bad headaches, one each day, and had to take generic Excedrin - which is very irritating to a stomach lining.  I'll be lucky if I get out of this without an ulcer. 

Hopefully the pepto will help.  You can bet I am going to get some ginger my next Day Out.  It has been helpful for me in the past - I used to get a lot of nausea taking my lithium.  I would take a ginger root capsule (which I can get at Walmart the next time I go), with every dose.  It helped. 

Then I realized I needed a lot of fat/protein with each dose and I did better, stopped doing it.  I may still check my pill box (who would have thought I'd have to have a pill box like this in my 40's), and see if I have some ginger capsules. 

Ron and I were talking about some of his brain functions that have changed since his accident.  One, he wouldn't mind sharing, is names.  He has a hard time finding the names for things at times.  I will have him give me hints and then I guess it, and he goes YES. 

I told him he should watch the old Steve Martin movie "The Man with Two Brains" if he got a chance.  I think he would enjoy some of the scenes and it is pretty heavy dialogue so he will be able to follow it without me.  He said he has "seen" it in his movie listing. 

Our cable company has a talking feature, where the box will talk to you.  He loves that.  It is nice for me that he is independent.  I already do a lot.  One less is no problem for me. 

Ugh.  I need to eat!  I need to get some sleep! 

On a positive note, I wonder how much weight I will lose before this is over. 

Oh, and I'll leave you with a song I really like (should be fine for most musical tastes) https://youtu.be/TfiYWaeAcRw

I took a shower

I don't feel so gamey now.  It wasn't as hard as I'd feared and didn't take much longer than my regular shower.  My hair had to be washed twice. 

Ate a spoonful of soup about an hour ago.  My stomach wasn't too sure about that so I left it alone, didn't even drink anything.  I got a hunger pang a minute ago and had another spoonful.  I plan to take it nice and slow. 

All my previous illnesses have proven that my appetite will return. 

I did find some small round bruises on my arm, not sure what that's about. 

Caregiver shaming

I slept pretty well last night and woke up reasonably ready to go.  When I got up, I found Ron in the kitchen, drinking.  [sigh]  At least he ate something after he had his vodka. 

Still no appetite on my end so I'm not eating.  I keep hearing fasting is "good", well, we will see. 

He has done a pretty good job of taking care of himself, the last couple days.  He admitted he needs a bath, and his shirt is filthy (just wearing a shirt and underwear), but he's well.   So are the cats. 

I am a member of a couple of online message boards.  On one, I saw some caregiver shaming and was on the end of it myself. 

I had made a joke about my toilet offending people.  Some saw it as funny but one said "But you're a caregiver!"  as if that meant I was obligated to be a spotless housekeeper as well.  Not quite. 

But you see that a lot when you're a caregiver, backseat "drivers" who want to tell you what a terrible job you're doing.  How can you let him drink?  He will kill himself!  (as if I didn't know)  You let him eat sausage out of a can, for breakfast?  How could you?   For others, it may be "you let him do that?", "He dressed himself?"  "You should really take her to the hairdresser!"  "What happened to your nails, they used to be so pretty?" 

Some of that is expected.  Some people show love that way.  I see that in some of my readers, they worry, they share their concerns.  I don't necessarily see that as caregiver shaming.  They are truly worried about us.  I know some of them want to spank me for choosing to stay, and I'm OK with that. 

But one guy I saw, his mother lived alone and he got terrible flack for it.  Maybe she wants to live alone.  Maybe she likes to be naked when she's at home.  Maybe she has 30 cats.  It's her life, she can live alone if she wants. 

Ron makes bad decisions on a regular basis, and it is hard not to let it reflect on me.  He is an alcoholic.  He eats poorly (I don't think a can of sausages, for breakfast, really counts as "nutrition").  What's worse, whenever he's in the hospital he talks about how they bring him meals in bed, as if I don't cook for him and serve him meals (which he doesn't eat, and he loves my cooking).  He just sees food as an obstacle to vodka absorption, so he avoids it until after he has drunk.  And it is virtually impossible to tailor meal prep to his drinking schedule, which changes every day.  He gets up at the last minute, so sometimes he leaves the house with a less-than-perfect shirt.  It's awkward for me, and embarrassing.

I wish I could do "more", but I am disabled.  I do my best, and, last I saw, I'm the only one in Ron's corner.  I remember after Ron's accident.  He had been given a medication that made him a "gorker" for lack of a better phrase.  He had made some good progress since waking up from the coma but he just turned into this - thing.  It was awful.  He didn't talk, he was "obtunded", he was unresponsive, he was scary.  But I was committed, I was going to take care of him. 

I had a lot of pressure at the time, his family had just dumped him because Ron said "If you can't treat Heather with the respect due my wife I don't want you around."  I was so proud of him.  That was one of the best moments of our marriage. 

But it cost us, they had promised all sorts of things, hospital beds, home care, etc.  Now I was going to have to do it all alone.  I would have to sleep on the floor (Ron did, prior to the accident, due to his back - he just had a mattress on the floor).  Ron would get the "good bed" and I would just have to make everything work. 

He used to do something very sweet back then.  He would put his left arm around me, and then he would pull his "dead" right arm around me, too.  I found it tremendously romantic. 

It reminded me of the old poem.  "A Wing Grew".  http://www.mooreschools.com/cms/lib/OK01000367/Centricity/Domain/1344/A%20Man.pdf

So, one day he refused his medication.  I cried all over his shoulder as he pulled his dead arm around me, and he whispered into my hair, it's going to be OK.  I told him, I'm disabled, I can't do it all for you, I'll try, but I won't be able, and I don't have all the stuff you need, you should be in rehab, everyone says, but that's out because you have no insurance...

He squeezed me and told me that I loved him, that is what he needed.  He didn't need all the stuff, or a perfect caregiver, he just needed someone to love him.  I remind myself of that when I get down about not being able to do "everything" for him. 

I hang onto that.  I may not be perfect, but I love him.  That's what he wants. 

Just one saltine

4 days without my meds.  Still queasy, I can barely hold down some broth.

I'm getting manic.  It isn't too bad - yet, but I need to whack it.   That means eating, and medication, but I am still queasy.

I can't take the chance of vomiting again, for one, it can retrigger a migraine.  It's happened before.  I need to be able to work, the next couple days. 

I need to eat, but I can't rush this.  I took a calculated risk, taking the Excedrin earlier, but I couldn't chance another migraine.  So my irritated stomach needs some more time to recover. 

I keep thinking, try just one saltine, but I don't dare.  I am iffy enough with the beef broth.  I don't even want to drink anything, I don't dare eat anything. 

I will just have to wait, which is OK.  I'm not hungry - that's how I know it will be safe to eat - I'll get hungry.  That has worked for me for 44 years.  It's the food-pushers, like Ron used to be, who cause problems.  They tell me to eat before I'm ready and I get sick again. 

And I can't have that. 

Playing favorites

I shouldn't have had the Diet Root beer.  It provoked a small headache which I quickly whacked with some generic Excedrin.  I have to wonder if I could have avoided the migraine if I had taken some Excedrin on Sunday.  Instead, I took one Tylenol and one Aspirin.  I wanted to take a nap and I knew the caffeine would keep me up.  Bad result. 

The root beer has been implicated in headaches before but my overwhelming thirst (I imagine I am still a little dehydrated) said drink something, and they were cold in the fridge. 

I took a nap after I drank it.  Biscuit joined me.  He is also on my foot right now.  He is a very devoted cat.  He is a real gift, and to think someone just threw him away, and someone else saw him as a pest to be kicked in the head.  People don't value the right things.  He is worth every (considerable) penny I have spent on him. 

Torbie also joined me for a little bit.  Now, it is time to talk about a subject I have been considering for a blog: playing favorites. 

I am sure, if you were in a family with more than one child, your parent played favorites.  I know I do and I "only" have cats.  Biscuit and Torbie are the sweetest and most affectionate, therefore I favor them more.  It is wrong, I know, but very hard to stop. 

But Baby Girl does love me in her own way.  The other night, I had just been vomiting and was miserable.  I got an ice bottle (good concept) out of the freezer to lay on my head.  I walked past her, laying on her box, and she meowed, and showed me her tummy for petting. 

That used to be a thing with us, back when we let the cats run loose, she would run up to me when I came home and show me her tummy, for rubs.  She will not let Ron touch her stomach, even though he is her favorite.  She will growl and hiss at him if he touches it, but she is happy, if she shows it to me, to let me pet and rub it. 

So I rubbed her tummy, as she wiggled back and forth, and purred at me.  Then I left her and went back to bed with the other 2.  Don't feel too bad for her, she spends a lot of time curled up with Ron, even when he hasn't had a bath.  She is devoted to him and that warms my heart.  I would love her even if she didn't let me pet her, just for that. 

So I do my best not to play favorites.  But it's hard, and gives me an appreciation for some things I experienced as a child.   It's not easy to love all your "children" equally. 

Either that, or my experiences have warped me.  Your choice. 

Still kind of thirsty but not up for any drinks right now.  Still a little queasy from the Excedrin, but I could not afford another migraine or even a headache.  I need to get better, get eating (when hungry) and start taking my pills again.  I am a little manic, but not depressed, not hallucinating, etc. and I want to keep it that way. 

When I feel a little craving I will "hit" my bone broth again - it is pretty good.  Once I finish it off I might try a spoonful of soup if I'm hungry.  I stock plenty of beef & barley soup for times like this. 

Just like I bought the Gatorade powder, which has proven to be a good investment.  I drank a alot of it over the last couple days, didn't get worse, didn't need an IV which would have added to our already considerable medical bills.  And it stores easy, just add a scoop to some tap water. 

And yes, I drink tap water.  I went to a water treatment plant when I was a Girl Scout and it was enough to convince me that my tap water was safe (stop laughing!).  My family never did bottled water in any way, well, my sister and grandmother did, but nuclear family did not.  So I grew up drinking out of the tap. 

I have lived some places where the water tasted bad but our current water is pretty good, I have no complaints.  We have a filter for Ron (he gives the cats filtered water), but I don't use it.  I just drink it out of the tap whenever I get thirsty. 

Considering, on a good day (not today) I drink up to 2 gallons a day that is a good thing.  That would be a lot of filters, or water bottles.  I will drink bottled water at work, because we have it as inventory, because the water at work is so bad it is only fit for dishwashing. 

Ugh.  Queasy and thirsty at the same time.  Not a good duo.  I am going to take it very slow on reintroducting food to my life. 

I am down a few pounds, which would be nice if it stuck, like last time, but not holding my breath. 

I have certainly learned my lesson about chocolate. 

Slushy washcloth

Last night was pretty rough.  At one point, I got desperate.  

I was lying in bed, a horrible drilling pain in my right temple.  It was awful.  I was desperate to end it.  I got up, wet a washcloth, and put it in the freezer.  

I manage to drowse off for a while, woke up, still in agony.  I got the washcloth out of the freezer - it was stiff with ice, and put it on my head.  It was good, but it got really great when it thawed a little more and got slushy, that was perfect.  

My sister always said heat was the only way to go.  I would never try that.  Ugh.  Just the thought of something warm on my head during a migraine is enough to make me reach for my bucket.  

So, that helped.  I had Biscuit in there, too.  He was cute, plump, and rumbly.  Boy, my spellling is terrible today.  

My hair is a nest, when I get some energy I will take a shower.  

I woke up about 7 this morning, I didn't have any pain, but I am very queasy and groggy.  All I've had for the last couple days are gatorade, water, and more water.  I am sipping on a little diet root beer right now to see how that goes.  I have it and it's cold, that's got to count for something.  So far, so good.  

I didn't feel up for a trip to Walmart so Ron cancelled it.  I just feel overwhelmingly tired.  It's called the post ictal stage.  It also happens with epilepsy.  Anyway, for me I am very groggy and tired, today I'm queasy too, although normally it doesn't last that long.  

When I have a bad migraine it is 2 days of vomiting and headache and 2 additional days of headache, then back to normal.  But I have lost a good 5 pounds so I will not eat until I get my appetite back.  I have found, over the years, it's just better not to eat until I have an appetite.   I have bone broth to start, when I get an appetite.  Once I finish that off (I bought the organic quarts at Walmart) I have canned vegetables and some beef and barley soup.  But I don't want to think about food right now.  

I've been feeding the cats but I haven't changed the litter box.  From what I see, it doesn't look too bad (I have 4 boxes), so I think it can wait a couple of hours until I feel better.  

I'm just tired.  

Another hell day

Good news first.  I have had a lot of quality time lying in bed with the cats (Torbie and Biscuit). 

But my head is still raging.  I am miserable.  I am not hungry at all.  I'm not even really thirsty. 

I woke up around 8 this morning.  Ron woke up pretty soon after, started moaning and groaning, went to the kitchen, got some alcohol.  Still moaning and groaning for hours afterward. 

I was trying to rest.  I was very frustrated, when I am in deep pain I don't moan and groan, I get quiet and retreat inward.  But Ron was making a big production like "See how much worse I am, than you".  Just about when I was fantasizing about going in there and yelling at him - even though it would hurt my head, I heard the pill bottle rattle and he finally shut up.  Why he didn't take the pills instead of the alcohol, to start, I don't know.  At least he stopped moaning after he did. 

I got a little sleep with the cats.  I woke up a couple times to drink some water and use the bathroom.  I'm still urinating OK so I'm alright with hydration.  I would had to have to go to the hospital and get an IV. 

I am trying to stay up for a little bit and get more fluids down.  I'm tired even though I spent the last day in bed.  My head throbs. 

The good news, is, this is day 3.  Normal migraines only last 3 days.  My last chocolate migraine lasted 4 days.  So, only one more day tops. 

Hopefully I have learned my lesson about chocolate. 

I feel terrible

I woke up with a crushing migraine.  I was pretty nauseous, but not actively vomiting.  OK, I thought, I can work.  Ron was just awful this morning. 

I think it is a narcissist thing.  I'm not revolving around him and his needs, when I'm sick.  I am unreliable, "broken", etc.  He gets really upset and lashes out.  That's not excusing him - that's understanding.  It is awful to scream at someone who is having a migraine, when they are begging you to please tone it down.  He will answer for that, one day. 

I finally went outside and waited on our ride, standing up on the porch.  When the ride came I went back into the house and got Ron.  The ride, by the way, was almost an hour late.  As a rule, I give all drivers a small New Testament in a bag of candy.  Sometimes I am tempted not to but then God reminds me, even if they are a bad driver they are a soul He loves.  So I do it anyway. 

We got stuck in traffic.  Ron was talking, loudly, to the driver, it was killing my head.  I asked him to stop and he told me off.  That's about when I did my last post. 

We had a very short time at work.  I told Ron I could not help him due to that and I had to do snacks.  He wasn't happy about that and did the whole martyr, I will do it myself then, thing.  I was just telling him I couldn't help him first. 

It is more important to fill multiple empty coils in a snack machine, favorites they can only get from us - than to "top off" a few sodas in each vending machine.  Someone complained to me one of the machines wasn't giving change, I had Ron fix that one.  He showed me the trick, which is difficult, but I could replicate it if I had to do it. 

Ron put some stuff in the bottled vendor, too, but in my opinion it didn't need much.  We managed to finish before the pickup. 

Ron's attitude had gotten somewhat better but he didn't have what I'd call empathy or understanding for what I was going through.  I got my bucket (I have an emergency bucket for migraines, in case one hits at work and I am worried about the ride home), and we left. 

Our driver showed up almost immediately, thank God.  I took off my sunglasses (they go over my regular glasses) and climbed aboard.  He had dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, and a beard.  I was happy to see him, happier still to hear it was a straight trip. 

I didn't need to use my bucket.  I left it in the garage, to go back to work, when we got home.  I pushed Ron in the house "I need a drink".  Of course you do. 

I went to bed and left him to it.  I had a frozen bottle of water I had gotten out of the freezer last night, as it thawed, I drank the ice water.  It was very refreshing.  I was able to hold down sips even though I was still queasy.  I worked on that all day and drank a quart, total, without getting sick (over the course of about 12 hours). 

I made some gatorade and put it in the freezer, later. 

I went to bed and slept fitfully.  The house behind us had the yard guys out, they were pretty loud, I was happy when they stopped.  I had strange dreams when I did dream and I woke up around 2. 

I got up, made some gatorade in my bottle, and put it in the freezer.  I have powder.  I am still pretty queasy but I know it will pass eventually. 

At Biscuit's dinner time last night, I couldn't stand the thought of opening a can of fishy cat food, so I just did some dry.  He was really happy.  He is lying on my foot now waiting for his next meal.  But he is huge, so he doesn't need it for a couple of hours yet. 

I watched a little TV but not liking all the food commercials.  It's supposed to rain today but it's sunny out. 

And I know what is behind all of this, on my birthday, at the warehouse, they had samples of little chocolate brownies.  And I ate one.  I would bet money that's what got me.  I just hope I don't have a 4 day migraine like I did last time I ate chocolate. 

Ron said he wanted to take me to Walmart tomorrow.  I asked him why.  He offhandedly mentioned he would get some vodka on the way home.  I told him I didn't want to be a part of that.  He got upset and said it would cost him more money to send the guy on his own.  I told him, no, it won't, you pay him the same every time.  Why do I have to be there?  [I know the answer, it shows tacit approval]  He couldn't answer that.  Then I went to bed. 

Ron NEVER wants to take me to Walmart unless he is getting something out of it. 

Oh, I feel like crap. 

So much for sympathy

I still have a crushing migraine and he wants to fight about his drinking.  Ride is very late, don't see how I will get anything done.

Migraine, day 2

The headache hit about noon.  I started vomiting a couple hours later.  Spent a horrible night up in misery.  I did have a couple of cats in the bed, though.  I tried sipping a little water, vomited.  I took a phenergan.  It gave me a dry mouth, and I did not vomit for a couple of hours, but when it wore off I got sick again. 

Most times I made it to my bucket, but one time I had to use the bathroom sink - happily I was just vomiting water.  Back to bed. 

Ron was mostly quiet, until I found him drinking 3 shots in a row.  He swore to me he would only do 2 at a time because "Anything more makes me stupid".  I asked him to stop, he shouted his butt hurt.  I told him to take a pill, that's what they're for, and he cursed me out.  Then he asked me when I would do his magnets. 

At one point I got out of bed and got one of my frozen bottles of water.  I put that on my head, it helped a little.  As it thawed, I sipped at it. 

I got up, thinking our pickup was 6 AM.  It was not, it's almost 7.  I could have slept another hour.  I could have used it.  Now our ride is late to get to work. 

Ron will probably want to be #1 priority, even though I didn't have time to do snacks on Saturday.  So I will have to remind him people only complain about empty snack machines.  And we can always come back tomorrow to finish "his" work. 

Migraine

Nasty migraine today.  Hopefully it will be gone by tomorrow. 

Sept 22

I got up at 6 (I slept in) and took my shower, fed the cats, got Ron going.  We went to the warehouse.  They had little cookies at the kiosk, I got him one, and then, later, another. 

I did my shopping.  I had 2 lists.  I got the work stuff, and the Now & Laters for personal (Halloween candy handout, they will go in a baggie with other candy, a scripture booklet, and a full sized Snickers bar).  I have plenty of candy for my personal evangelism. 

We paid and went to work with Jack.  Next week, it's a new guy.  We will see how he works out. 

The skies were heavily overcast, a deep gray to black.  I thought for sure we would be unloading the truck in the rain, but it dissipated.  That's the kind of thing I thank God for, because I feel He made a personal intervention. 

We got the truck unloaded.  We had a small accident getting some of the drinks in the building, but we cleaned it up and nothing leaked, all are in resale condition.  I had to put a lot of drinks into the fridge, which I did. 

I had taped up Ron with his magnets at the warehouse, and he really tested them today at work.  He did a lot of lifting, wouldn't let me help him, etc.  I kept thinking Doc would have a fit if he saw what Ron was doing. 

We stocked and got it all done, left.  Our ride to go home was late.  I did manage to get a short nap, though. 

I got up and took some Excedrin, had a headache lurking.  I bagged up some candy and put it in the back of Ron's wheelchair. 

Overall, Ron was very nice to me today. 

We waited on our ride to go to Denny's.  I wanted to go because they have a free meal on your birthday.  Our driver was late and stopped in front of the house.  I got Ron into the garage and opened the door, and the ride was gone.  It was raining.  I walked out to the street - I knew he had to be for us.  I saw him halfway down the block.  I walked through the rain to talk to him and tell him he was at the wrong house.  He saw me coming and pulled away, then stopped.  I kept walking.  He did it again.  And I realized he was playing games and wanted me to "chase" him. 

I went back to the house and told Ron to call dispatch, the driver was playing games.  We have had, in thousands of rides, maybe 5 that have gotten the address wrong, didn't look at the computer or whatever.  Some go on the wrong street, right address.  But very seldom do they come on our street and go to the wrong address.  And he was blocking their driveway, honking, etc. in front of the wrong house.  Very rude. 

He came back pretty quick when he saw Ron had a phone to his ear, and loaded us.  I gave him some candy anyway.  Not because he deserved it, but he clearly needed Jesus in his life and maybe this was the way he'd get it. 

He took us to the restaurant, listened to directions.  We got there. 

I showed the waitress my ID card and told her it was my birthday.  She said OK.  They were out of Diet Coke.  Ron was disgusted.  He drank a water, instead.  I noticed he drank more water than he would have if he had been drinking diet soda. 

He had a short stack of 9-grain pancakes.  I had my own 9-grain pancakes, ham, sausage, and bacon.  I had unsweetened iced tea, it was very good. 

It was pretty quiet.  I have noticed that toddlers/babies tend to get very loud right before the food comes out, when they're hungry.  Once they have some food they are generally fine. 

I ate my food, couldn't finish my pancakes, didn't bring them home.  Like I told Ron, "Let whatever lives in the dumpster finish them off".  Maybe even a possum! 

Our total came to $7.  Pretty good deal. 

We had a good ride home except for the driver interrogating Ron about why he was back in the wheelchair.  I always find that very painful to be reminded how much he's deteriorated.  It's like someone telling you how terrible/old you look.  Although it was a straight trip home. 

I called my parents, they sang to me, we talked.  They are happy to hear the magnets are helping.  Even Ron says the magnets are helping, he just doesn't like me taking the tape off.  I fed the cats and put my dirty clothes in the wash.  Well, in the pile to be washed. 

And that was it!  Thank you for the good wishes.  Tomorrow's my anniversary.  Hopefully we will not spend it in the emergency room, like we did a couple of years ago. 

A small vent

Just a little post first and then I will do another with the meat of my day. 

Coming home tonight, we got a driver we apparently haven't seen in a while.  He made a huge production out of Ron being in a wheelchair and kept asking "What happened?"  Ron told him.  I told him.  He didn't seem to get it "What happened?  You didn't used to be in a wheelchair!  I can't believe it!"  I finally said "He got worse" because the guy had some language difficulties.  English was not his first language.  He got that, he stopped, and looked at me.  "Most clients get worse, right?  So did Ron."  That seemed to end it. 

But, I mean, think about it.  You are a driver on a service for (supposed to be) profoundly disabled people.  Why is it such a shock they get worse?  People get more infirm as they age.  Not to mention, new problems develop. 

This isn't the first time it's happened.  Whenever Ron has a setback and goes back in the wheelchair (happened a couple of times in the last 15 years), the drivers always make such a big deal out of it.  "OMG!  What happened?!"  I have stuck to simply saying "He got worse".  If I am feeling particularly peeved, I will say the sex was so good it put him back in the wheelchair.  That's always a good reaction. 

Baby Girl gets presents

I slept late today, to 8:30 this morning.  Woke up with a headache, took something.  I got up, took my shower, did my God time.  I ate and took ALL my pills.  I took a nap and woke up with yet another headache.  I took something. 

I got ready, helping Ron.  I helped him get dressed and applied his magnets.  We were ready by the time Chuck showed up to take us out to dinner. 

We went to a steakhouse. 

You may remember, years ago, I went to this same steakhouse, I took my pills with dinner, and got really sick.  I barely made it home to my bucket.  Biscuit and Gravy found it fascinating watching me get sick in my bucket.  So I haven't been really keen on steak, since. 

That's why I took my pills so early, so I wouldn't have to worry about that again.  I ordered a medium steak, Ron got well done, and Chuck got rare.  We enjoyed our meal even though they sat us next to the bratty toddler, screaming and banging her hands on the table.  After that family left, they seated another family with a baby right next to us. 

I wish restaurants offered family, and non-family seating.  I don't want to hear someone else's toddler screaming because it got hungry.  It ruins my meal.  They also kept trying to seat people behind Ron's wheelchair, and I had to move him.  Other than that, it was a good meal. 

After dinner, I went to the pet store.  I was looking for more cardboard scratchers.  Baby Girl loves those things.  She has gone through a couple.  They are made out of cardboard, in a brick shape.  There is an open hole on each "short" end and the rest is cardboard.  I put some weight plates inside because they were tipping them over.  Now Baby Girl loves to jump on top and haul away at it.  She will eventually erode holes into each side, then we turn it over, and she works another hole into it.  Pretty soon it is finished, totally wiped out.  Then I'd buy a new one. 

BUT the store stopped selling them.  This was another store in the same chain.  I went in and I found a couple on clearance for $20 each.  When I got to the register they were $11 each.  I should have got 3, but I got 2.  It takes Baby Girl a while to work through a box. 

We came home, got stuck in traffic but not too bad. 

I put Ron's food away and he went to bed - he's slept a lot today, although he said some nice things when I got up this morning.  I think he wanted to watch the Astros game, although I haven't hears is usual commentary as he watches. 

I need to take off his magnets before I go to bed.  I will probably also bag up some candy before I go to bed, as well, just so I don't have to do it in the morning. 

We have to work tomorrow but it shouldn't be too bad.  Then I will open up my present from Mom and Dad and see what I got. 

Funny that I bought Baby Girl presents on the day I chose to celebrate my birthday. 

I almost forgot, I cut myself again, on my left leg, shaving.  I was trying to use my left (shaking) hand to do it and it wouldn't work, my hand jerked and I was bleeding all over the shower.  I hope I don't get a scar. 

I will have to either stop shaving on days when I take a headache pill, or only use my right hand to shave.  I get the tremors from the lithium but they are aggravated by caffeine. 

Up at 2. AM.

Yesterday I got up, took my shower, did my God Time, took a short nap.  I got up and we went to Walmart, got Ron's medication. 

He didn't want to wear his magnets because it was only a short trip.  I bought some candy for evangelism (some Halloween, some regular - let me tell you, this is THE time of year to get evangelism candy) and we left. 

I went to bed late, and slept horribly.  Torbie came to sleep with me, which was awesome, but the rest of the night was pretty awful.  I just couldn't sleep.  Then I worried about money.  We have a lot of bills and not enough to pay them.  I knocked a pillow off the bed and found it was more comfortable, so I left it on the floor. 

Alarm went off at 2.  That's AM.  I reset it for 2:45.  I took a short shower and helped Ron get ready.  I didn't have time to do his magnets so I put them in his tote bag, along with some tape.  Our ride was early, made a lot of noise with her radio, backing up and forward (all vehicles have a backup beep which is very loud), etc., basically waking up and ensuring all my neighbors will hate me if they didn't already.  We rode for over an hour.  She was OK but I'm not eager to get her again. 

Side note: #6 bought a new truck.  The contracting business must be pretty good, he just bought a brand new minivan for his wife last year and now this. 

We finally got to work and unloaded.  We had picked up "the other guy" - there are a couple of workers who have followed our example and gotten paratransit for themselves.  This guy is pretty obnoxious, always telling us how to run our business, making rude joked about how Ron can "really walk" if he "wanted", etc.  I don't like him but I will talk to him to be polite. 

Anyway, he whined and complained because I didn't let the driver through the gate.  The way I see it, if he wants to get through the gate, he could give her his badge.  Why should I be the one to do it?  Plus, I am obstreperous.  If someone is nasty, and wants me to do something, I'm not likely to do it.  I took Ron the long way just to prove a point - I'm not here to make your life easier.  Don't crap on me for 20 minutes telling me how to run my business, and disparaging my husband. 

He went off and did his thing.  I got the carts out and set Ron up with his magnets.  I couldn't get some of them separated, but I got enough to do a decent job of taping.  The tape tore easily, that was my other concern. 

Ron overdid it today, but at the end of the day rated his pain a "2", so I think the magnets really helped. 

I helped Ron stock, did my stocking, and received a soda delivery and put it away - all 40 cases, by myself.  Then I finished my other work and we left. 

I made sure we did things like do an inventory, etc.  I put all the carts up, some literally on top of the stacked soda.  That's a challenge, but I did it. 

God has given me a good body to do what I need.  Although I was sweating and breathing hard when I was putting up that soda! 

We left and came home.  I took a nap, slept pretty good, but woke up with a headache.  I had to take something for it. 

Ron woke up and we went to the Waffle House.  They are good and I love their cheesy eggs.  Ron and I were bad, and each got a pecan waffle.  I was very happy he had his own so I didn't have to share. 

He finished about 1/3 of his food and got out his ziplock bag.  He put all the food, mashed together, in the baggie.  It looked disgusting.  I double bagged it and put it in his tote. 

It was raining off and on.  Ron called a cab.  The cab came right as it began pouring.  The male driver stayed in the cab as I loaded Ron, and the wheelchair, in the back.  I wasn't very happy about that. 

He took us home.  Ron was confused about his money and kept asking me to identify bills, recounting them, etc.  I did that. 

I was silently wishing him to leave a modest tip for the driver.  Normally, he is pretty lavish tipping a cab driver, especially our favorites, but I didn't want him to give the guy a lot of money for sitting on his ass while I got soaked.  AND he kept turning up the A/C, freezing me.  I wasn't happy. 

We got home.  It was dry at the house.  We opened the garage door and Ron paid the guy, giving him a standard tip but not an overly generous one.  The guy was happy, but didn't realize he would have gotten a lot more money if he had helped me.  We also did not ask for his phone number, which we normally do. 

We went inside.  I fed Biscuit and took Ron's magnets off.  I will do him up again tomorrow. 

I am so tired spellchecker has gotten me several times already, I'm going to bed. 

No post today

I have to go to bed early tonight, so I will do a long post tomorrow. 

Get a job!

I had trouble sleeping last night.  At one point I woke up to use the bathroom and Ron was on the toilet.  I had to wait for him to finish and get back to bed. 

Might I say how glad I am he can use the toilet on his own? 

I went back to bed.  I had set an alarm for 7:30 but I woke up a little before 6.  Biscuit was around, so I went ahead and fed him, went back to bed, and turned off my alarm.  I actually slept pretty well the next couple of hours. 

I got up around 10, took a shower, did my God Time.  Listened to Ron scream at the doctor's staff, on the phone, about the mistake made when filing his prescription.  What a thankless job they have.  It took a while but it is supposedly fixed by now.  I wasn't pleased with Ron but there was no reasoning with him. 

Then we got some dinner, which was pretty uneventful.  I ordered the chicken strips and put the leftovers into Ron's takeout box.  He enjoys eating them cold; I don't.  So he can have them. 

After we paid and left, a very aggressive panhandler came up to me.  I told him I "couldn't" help him but he wouldn't take a hint, he kept pestering me.  Ron finally shouted at him "I'M BLIND AND IN A WHEELCHAIR AND I WORK!  GET A JOB!"  The man finally left me alone. 

Had he kept bothering me, I would have called the police.  The last thing a diner at a restaurant wants is some "bum" hassling them for drug money.  And, guaranteed, the money would have gone up his nose or into his arm.  He was very aggressive.  I haven't seen that since Ron worked in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.  A lot of people think SF is glowing Golden Gates, Nob Hill, and Chinatown, but it is overwhelmingly a horde of demanding, aggressive, panhandlers.  At least that was my experience.  All the bus routes ran through the "bad" part of town so I spent a lot of time deflecting beggars, while waiting on my ride. 

I didn't miss them one bit.  I hope this is not a harbinger of future nights out with Ron.  Because Ron will curse them out and tell them to get a job, which is liable to get him beaten and robbed. 

Our ride arrived.  It was the same guy who dropped us off. 

Now, a while back I read that voter's information had been exposed on the internet, their views, phone numbers, addresses, likely affiliation, etc.  I didn't believe it but one political candidate has been pestering me and Ron. 

I just let unknown calls go to voicemail so they aren't talking to me.  Tonight, on the way home, they called Ron's phone and asked to speak to me.  He asked if they were with that candidate.  They said yes.  I said, tell them I'm voting for the other guy.  Ron relayed it and hung up. 

The driver got mildly upset.  He felt I should vote for the pest.  The pest does not hold my political views.  The other guy does.  I'm going to vote my conscience.  I didn't get into all that and the driver eventually changed the subject. 

We had a straight trip home.  Ron had an allergy attack at the restaurant and had to take a Benadryl, so he was very sleepy by the time we got home.  I got him into bed with his talking book so he has something to read when he gets up. 

We don't have much planned tomorrow; Ron needs to go to the pharmacy to pick up his pills so we will do that.  We also have to go to bed early, Dr Pepper changed our delivery date to Thursdays instead of Fridays.  That isn't a problem for us, but it was for the other vendor.  They asked for, and apparently got, Mondays, although they were still waiting for it when we left on Monday. 

So, get the pills, go to bed early. 

Friday I go out to dinner to celebrate my birthday/anniversary.  That will be fun.  I have the whole day and I won't have to do any caregiving.  I may get my hair trimmed in the morning. 

Saturday I have to work.  That's OK, I'd rather get all the work over with one day than spread it out over days. 

Biscuit is lying by my foot.  It is, apparently, dinner time.  He wants his 3 ounce can of "salmon".  I'd better go dish it up for him. 

Magnets. Who'd'a thunk?

Long day today.  I got up around 5.  Started getting ready.  Someone started banging on my door and ringing my doorbell like a bill collector, or a stalking ex.  Not that I've ever had a stalking ex, that I know of. 

I opened it, in my bathrobe.  It was the driver.  Over an hour early.  I told him that and shut the door.  I continued getting ready, got Ron ready, and we left. 

We took a couple bottles of water for him to drink in case doc wanted to do a urine test.  We went to work, it was a pretty standard day.  I stocked, I helped Ron stock.  We got it all done. 

Ron finished early and went out and waited in the hall.  He likes it because it is quiet and not overstimulating like the main body of the cafeteria, and it is out of the way. 

Once I finished, we put Ron in his travel wheelchair and locked up his work chair.  Whenever Ron gets into a chair, including his wheelchair, he grunts in pain.  It is very uncomfortable for him to sit down.  His back pain radiates down to his butt and makes travel/sitting hell. 

We got picked up and went to the Social Security office.  We were there for a good 10 minutes trying to find the client, doing "callouts" and the driver actually got off the vehicle and wandered around, calling the client's name.  No luck.  They finally let us go, and off we went. 

We got to the doctor's office with plenty of time to spare.  Ron had to fill out another depression survey.  I filled it out for him.  The other patients were laughing at his responses.  "No, Gawd, people really think?  Oh, come on!"  Eventually they took us in the exam room. 

I offered to show Ron the rubber spine, knee, or shoulder.  He wasn't interested.  He drank some more water (he had a bottle on the way).  Doc came in, did an exam.  Doc increased Ron's medication dose and said he wanted to try something. 

"What?" Ron asked. 
"I think it will help" Doc replied. 
He had Ron "stand" - as much as he can, and got some supplies, taped something to Ron's back.  Had Ron sit down again.  He had Ron sit for a few minutes.  "How do you feel?" 

Ron moved back and forth in his wheelchair.  "A little better".  Doc had Ron get out of his chair and sit in a regular chair, then go back.  "Normally he yelps when he does that" I said. 

Whatever doc had done, seemed to be working.  He had Ron sit for another couple minutes while he showed me the magnets and told me how to apply them.  Ron said it felt like he had a back support behind him, and he liked it.  He kept rolling his back, back and forth.  He said it felt like a massage.  Doc was happy and we left. 

We had a little bit of a wait on our ride, but it was a driver we like.  By this point, Ron had been sitting up in his wheelchair for several hours.  Normally he isn't good for that long.  The magnets really seemed to be helping. 

We went home, I took a nap.  Ron stayed up for a while.  When I woke up he was listening to the Astros game.  He has gotten more into baseball recently, I find that encouraging. 

We got ready and went to Walmart.  They said his prescription would be ready by 3.  It was after that.  I also needed to get some more tape for the magnets.  The only first aid tape I have is of dubious age.  I wanted some fresh for Ron. 

We went to the store.  I got everything on my list, up to the pharmacy (I make my list by the store layout, first things first, middle of the store next, etc.).  I waited in line and went to the counter.  There was a problem. 

I had to go to the other window and talk to them.  The doctor's office had not listed the diagnosis with the prescription.  Again.  They couldn't fill it until Doc told them what was wrong with Ron.  Again.

I mean, let's look at that for a minute.  What isn't wrong with him?  But they had to have it or no pills.  I called Ron and told him the bad news.  He was pretty pissed. 

I continued my shopping.  Ron said he wanted a small can of cashews, etc.  I got that.  I got the cat litter, I needed another 40 pounds.  It made the cart heavy and hard to steer. 

The store was a cacophony of screaming children, crying babies, strident voices talking on cell phones, etc.  It was pretty overwhelming but that's why I take my pills.  So I can handle things like this. 

Ron called the cab before I checked out.  Big mistake.  I got stuck behind two women buying a lot of processed foods.  The second woman also had a bunch of baby girl clothes, but no diapers, so I figured they were a gift. 

The cashier was pretty speedy until she got to the baby clothes, then she slowly scanned them, examined them, fingered the fabrics, double-checked the prices, etc.  I had to figure she had a baby girl at home, but it was aggravating to have her "shop" when I was in a hurry.  Ron kept calling my cell phone every couple minutes, telling me to hurry.  I know the cashier hear me telling him I was going as fast as I could, I would be out ASAP, etc.., more than once. 

I store all my reusable bags in a reusable insulated tote.  So they can just open the tote, reach in, and take out the bags.  She picked up the tote and moved it off to the side, then started scanning things and putting them into plastic bags.  I told her no, I wanted them in my bags, and took them out.  She shoved one off to the side "I can't use that".  It was identical to the other bag she was using.  Ron kept blowing up my cell phone, getting progressively angrier.  It made life difficult for me, trapped between the lackadaisical cashier and my irate husband. 

Of course the cab arrived before I was done.  I finally finished and paid her.  I could tell she didn't have a lot of cash handling experience by the way she held and handled the money, she even had trouble giving my change.  FINALLY done. 

I ran out and found Ron, and the cab driver.  I explained about the baby clothes.  Ron said, on his own, he would not call the cab until I had checked out.  I told him that was a good idea (I had already had it, but if Ron thinks he owns it so much the better). 

We went home. 

I put everything away and ate my dinner.  It was pretty late.  I took off Ron's magnets.  Doc said not to let him sleep in them.  They don't work on their own, but they are a good supplement to Ron's other modalities. 

Doc also wants Ron to get that MRI so they can see what all is going on.  They know, from the x-ray report, Ron has serious arthritis.  But what else?  God only knows, I think I'm afraid to find out. 

We have tomorrow off.  Ron set it up so I get an extra day off this week, for my birthday. 

What a day. 

I just hope I can get Ron taped up OK with the magnets tomorrow. 

Driver this morning

Came an hour early, banging on the door like a bill collector.  I wasn't dressed.  In my bathrobe.

Awkward.  Then he was *so* worried about blocking part of #6s driveway, until I told him how rude the man has been about blocking OUR driveway.

Sunday

Ron's asleep. 

I slept pretty late this morning, much to Biscuit's dismay.  I think, on my day off, I will have to set my alarm for 7 or so, get up, feed him, go back to bed.  That would be the fair thing.  And he's purring on my foot now, I think he likes it. 

I got up at 10:30!  I got online for a while and then decided to cook up my sausage.  I had some links, I like to cut them into "coins" (Ron's phrase) and fry them in my big cast iron skillet.  I have gone through a couple of skillets, but this one has a nice patina.  I never use soap on it, just a metal scrubber (without soap). 

Ron was supposed to cut up the sausage, but he was sleeping.  Considering he is still asleep at almost 5 PM, I think I made the right call to go ahead and do it myself.  I got the knife and a plate.  I had 6 links in the package.  I could comfortably cut up 4, so I put two in the freezer. 

I sliced them, then cooked them in the skillet in two batches.  I washed everything and cleaned the skillet (wiped out with paper towels, rinsed, and scoured with the metal scrubber, then dried with paper towels).  I washed the other dishes and let the links cool. 

Then I ate them with my fingers, more than my fair share.  I had meant to save half for Ron but I was greedy.  I ate and took my pills.  I'm still full. 

I did save some for Ron, and put it in the freezer when I saw all his leftovers.  I took my pills, watched some TV, then decided to take a shower. 

By then it was 1.  I took a shower.  I really didn't want to shave my legs but I know I will really not want to shave them at 4-5 AM tomorrow morning.  I made myself do it and did a decent job. 

I finished up, it was almost 2.  I used to like NCIS: LA until I realized that one of the characters is muslim, and, for a show that deals with terrorists and all, was very friendly to the religion.  I am not.  I won't go into all the reasons now but if you ask, I will do a why I don't like islam blog sometime.  I pray for the people every day, and evangelize them when I can, but the institution is ghastly. 

Anyway, I got sick of them yelling the ackbar phrase - even the "sympathetic" character, so I turned it off and took a nap.  I was full of sausage (pork!) and feeling rather bloated.  So I laid on my left side with my wet hair spread over the pillow and took a nap. 

I woke up with a headache, like I did this morning, but it wasn't as bad as they've been.  I took something and got online.  Biscuit laid down by my feet, purring.  He is such a loving boy. 

Torbie is in love with the cat condo I moved to the front room, by the window.  She is on it constantly.  Baby Girl was drooping around the house today but overall OK.  I think she is bummed that Ron is out.  I just saw her.  She looks like her normal self. 

Ron has been flat on his side in bed for hours, with his hand pressed against the wall.  I am a little worried about him but I don't want to check on him and wake him up.  I'll be glad when he does wake up.  I worry about him when he's like this. 

I said I would do it, and I will.  Next up on the agenda is cleaning up that kitchen counter and taking out the garbage. 

While I do laundry, although a couple of shirts (both of us) had stains on them so bad I decided to run the soak cycle first before I run the "proper" cycle.  To be delicate, I have been having some issues of late, and I think I will stop using the enzyme cleaner on loads of laundry that contain underwear.  I am sure it will help and may be the solution.  Otherwise, I use free & clear laundry detergent so that's not the issue. 

Biscuit just readjusted on my foot.  He is so cute. 

Tomorrow looks to be interesting.  I need to ply Ron with water all morning before he sees the pain doc, in case they need a urine sample.  Ron does not drink a proper amount of water under normal circumstances.  It's very frustrating, but, amazingly, all his kidney tests come back OK.  I drink about 2 gallons a day.  I think even the cats drink more than Ron. 

And, at some point, I need to clean the litter boxes.  It is pretty warm in the house so I will probably adjust the A/C down around 80 or so.  Ron likes it closer to 85 but that's just a little warm for me.  I even put my hair up and I'm still hot. 

Since I will be out for a while with no food places, I will need to figure out a filling breakfast that won't make me too full.  Worst case we can bring a couple of the sandwiches we sell, to the doctor's office.  I'll figure something out. 

Off I go to clean up the kitchen. 

"I didn't - your mother!"

I got up early, took my shower, helped Ron.  We went to the warehouse and bought a lot of stuff.  Jack picked us up, took us to work.  He told us he can't help us in 2 weeks. 

In the meantime, a guy had called Ron about being a backup driver.  We eventually met with him and he seems viable. 

We got to work, unloaded, did our work.  Met the new guy out front and Ron did a trial run getting into the truck.  The truck's no good if Ron can't get in it. 

We finished up and on the way home.  But we had another pickup, and then we were dropping her off, then going home. 

She was on the way home.  So he pulled into her apartment complex and honked, knocked on the door.  No answer.  Now the vehicles are equipped with a loud "backup beep".  So, if he backs up, you can hear it clearly from a ways off.  She started to come out of the building.  He backed up and turned so she could get in, easily, on the free side of the vehicle.  She RAN over the to the vehicle, screaming at the top of her lungs.  Got in cursing him out.  She could see, hear, walk, run.  She was carrying a heavy bag.  She was not mentally slow. 

She even got angry with him for helping her into the vehicle, and asking for her ticket, which is required to ride (if you don't have a pass like Ron does).  She cursed him out.  Ron said something like "You must be having a bad day" and she told him not to speak. 

Ron, being Ron, didn't take that very well and talked animatedly with me until we got to her drop off, which was the opposite direction from our home.  "I told you not to talk" she told him at one point, but she mainly fumed, and tried to call in a complaint on the driver, who she felt was "leaving her before her 5 minutes were up".  When we got there and she opened her door Ron told her "God Bless you" - sincerely.  She was completely full of hate and just a toxic person, and, again, got to say it, no apparent disability.  She could see, had all her limbs, could hear, and certainly ran when she thought he was leaving her.  She was not out of breath after running, either. 

She got out and slammed the door behind her.  We all breathed a collective sigh of relief.  I had Ron get the driver's number so we could call in a compliment, because I just know she's going to try to get the driver fired. 

We went home.  I took a nap.  Last night Ron made a mistake in scheduling dinner.  He set up a ride to one restaurant, and a ride home from another.  So he cancelled the ride home and we decided to take a cab. 

Our pickup to go to the restaurant was almost an hour late.  The driver asked about the possum.  I am sure all the drivers are still talking about that critter. 

We got to the restaurant and service was really slow.  They were out of Diet Coke.  I drank plain iced tea with pink stuff in it, Ron had a real Coke.  It took them forever to cook our food, but, when it came out, it was correct. 

I put most of Ron's food into the plastic zip top bag he'd brought for that purpose.  He ate what was left, even though he said he wasn't hungry.  He said he had not eaten all day. 

No wonder he's anemic, eating like that.  I guess it's true what they say about older people, their hunger mechanism begins to fail. 

We decided not to go out any more on the weekend.  The trips are bad, we get stressed, the restaurant is busy. 

Oh, great Ron quote.  The other day we were eating dinner and a misbehaving toddler kept doing those annoying, high pitched, screams.  Ron shouted "Shut up!  I didn't *&^k your mother!" and the kid did.  Surprisingly, no one came over to beat Ron up, either. 

I couldn't believe it.  Ron kept pretending to say it again tonight, when the kids in the restaurant acted up. 

People just don't teach their kids to behave in public.  If I had acted like some of those kids do I would have been spanked, taken out to the car, and done without dinner.  It's just not fun to eat with screaming brats running wild, whining, and grabbing at the wheelchair (has happened more than once).  One kid actually got on tiptoes and was rummaging through the bag I keep on the back of the wheelchair.  His father got a look at my face when I caught him, came running over, full of apologies. 

Of course if you spank your kid it's child abuse (maybe not in Texas, but most states).  They teach kids parents aren't "allowed" to physically discipline them so they turn into monsters who do whatever they want. 

It's just not fun to eat with that running around.  And I have to take Ron to more casual restaurants where it is acceptable for him to eat with his fingers and act like a general barbarian. 

I ate my food.  We called the cab.  He lied and said he was 15 minutes away, when he was really almost an hour away.  Ron was Not Happy.  We came home. 

Ron told me (I asked for his help) he will help cut up sausage for me tomorrow.  We like to cut it into little "coins" and then cook it in the skillet.  It's delicious. 

I also need to do laundry tomorrow, and then I need to do the dishes from cooking the sausage.  And I haven't forgotten how I was going to clean the counter if the storm didn't get us. 

It will be a busy day. 

Going out to dinner

But our ride is late.  Paratransit. 

Will tell you all about the client from hell today.

Badge stuck in hair

I got my badge stuck in my hair today.

I got up early, took my shower.  Happy to see I did not have to shave my legs.  I got out, dressed, got Ron ready.

We left the house.  Today was "crammed like sardines into the minivan" day.  We were stuffed on the way to Sam's club.  Ideally, I ride in the front, which is the best seat.  Ron says he prefers the back but it is far less comfortable.  I think he does it for me.

I'd rather attribute something good to him that he doesn't mean, than the reverse.  So he played hero and rode in the back with the very agitated "AR" (stands for "Assistance Required", means they are slow).  We got there, I got my supplies for work.  Ron wanted to get 3 cases into our empty fridge before tomorrow.

We did that.  I thought about getting some Halloween candy supplies, I got my Scripture Booklets, but it was forecast to rain and I didn't want to mess with that.  I can get some supplies tomorrow.

We had to wait forever on our ride.  I got hungry and wanted a bunless hot dog.  I walked over to the deli area and ordered one.  She looked like she was having a tough day, so I decided to tease her.  When she handed me the dog, it looked like a male part.  So I did something lewd to it.  (Something I could do in public, but not appropriate).  She started laughing really hard and said she needed that.  Then I went and ate my hot dog.

Ron teased me about it when I told him.

We left and our ride was already there.  There was a woman dressed in civilian clothes in the front seat, accessing the computer.  I was about to say something when I realized she was a trainee.  They are supposed to wear a uniform, like the driver.

Yet another long ride, this time I was crammed in the back with Ron and some strange man, riding around.  We finally approached work.

When I wash my hair, I never dry it.  I let it air dry, it looks better with the natural waves and curls.  On a good day, my "natural" hair looks like I styled it.  I like to leave it down after I wash it, until it is dry, and then put it up in a pony tail.  If I put it up first, it stays wet all day and is uncomfortable.  So, I had my hair down.  I had my lanyard with my keys, and my lanyard with my ID badge, around my neck, under my hair.

Remember I was stuffed in the back of a minivan with hardly any room to breathe, or move.  I had to give the driver my badge, so she could access the covered area and unload us by the front door.  But I couldn't get the badge out for all the hair.  It was stuck.  My hair was stuck down around my shoulders and it wasn't working to pull it up and over.  I had to fight with it for a while, elbowing Ron a few times in the process, but I got it out just before we arrived at work (I pulled a few hairs in the process).  I guess I will be putting my hair up in a ponytail, before we leave, on work days.

We got in, I unloaded everything.  The driver and the trainee stood around watching me do it.  Generally I get some help from the driver, but not today.  That was OK.  But the trainee is in for a rude shock when the average client expects them to take out all the groceries and then take them up 3 flights of stairs.

I left Ron outside with the stuff, and went inside.  I saw the other vendor had bought me my sunflower seeds.  They are 2 ounce bags, already shelled.  I paid her back and took the box out to Ron, with my cart.

I took one of my half-full carts.  It was the first likely one at hand.  It had merchandise on it.  As I was taking it out, someone held the door (that was the hard part about the whole day, getting the cart in and out the door).  "What are you doing, taking it out of the building?  You're supposed to bring it in!"  I had to explain, and head over to Ron.

It was starting to drizzle.  I told him.  I left the sunflower seeds with him, took the drinks inside, and put them up in our empty fridge.  Once I put my cart away I got a cold drink out of a vending machine and went outside to Ron.

Cue long wait in the ever-increasing rain.  I had brought supplies, and offered Ron "his" garbage bag.  He said no, even though he always wears it in the rain.  I put on my purple poncho - with my fanny pack, I looked like pregnant purple grapes.  I offered Ron the umbrella.  He said yes to that, and held it up until the driver arrived.

The cab was empty at first, so I was happy.  We had one pickup at some senior apartments.  Ron was riding in the backseat and I was in the front.  I told you he is sweet.

Anyway, we saw two people waiting under an overhang.  I recognized the man.  The last time we rode with him he tried to pick a fight with Ron, and kept saying Ron had to have the last word (when it was, in fact, the other guy).  He was offensive, rude, and entitled.  I didn't like him at all.

He wasn't much better today.  He was rude to the driver, rude to us.  He couldn't fit in the middle seat (he was very obese, well over 400 pounds), so he made his wife sit in there, pressed up against Ron (she had to, because her own husband was so large he consumed more than his fair share of the back seat).  Ron was VERY crowded but he didn't say a word.

I told you today was our day for riding around like sardines.  At first it was OK.

Ron and I had gotten drenched waiting outside, and, when we boarded, had asked the driver to turn off the air conditioner.  It was only about 75 degrees today anyway.  We were soaked and the last thing we needed was freezing AC giving us a cold.

But no, that wasn't good enough.  Mr Cranky pitched a hissy fit about the A/C and the driver apologetically turned it on.  Ron and I would just have to freeze.

And the wife decided to apply strongly scented baby oil to her arms and hands, while riding right next to Ron, who has allergies.

Why do women do that on the service?  They never apply their lotion out of the vehicle, it's always when they are riding, so they can drown us all in the fragrance.  Never while they're waiting, always after they get aboard.

Or they ask ME for lotion.  I don't carry lotion.

So, it was an uncomfortable and unpleasant ride until we got to the subdivision.  Then the woman started talking about how nice the houses are, etc.  Ron told her they almost flooded last year.  I told her they did flood during Allison.  That shut her up, at least until we got out.

Ron opened the garage and we went in the house.  Then he started complaining about the baby oil.  I didn't blame him.

I ate a snack and took my antidepressant.  Then I took a nap, woke up with a headache.  I had some diet soda today so I think that was my trigger.  It's not the antidepressant, I proved that a couple weeks ago.

I did some work-from-home.  We need to start planning for the conference that is coming up.  I am working out the details.  I slogged through my email.

I also started some laundry.  The load needed a "soak" before a proper cycle, so I did that.  It should be about done pretty soon.  I also need to do another load of clothes.  Since they're towels, I almost forgot the last rinse with some vinegar to cut the suds.  It makes the towels more absorbent.

Ron had a pretty good day as far as I know.  But he just woke up and is in pain.  I hate to see him hurting.

Tomorrow we do our supply run.

I also need to cook my cube steaks.  Ron doesn't want them so I will probably freeze 2 and eat 2 tonight.  I plan to cook it with just some spices and vegetable oil, and then melt some cheese on top.  Sounds good.

The cats are good, and eating their dinner.  I had to help Ron find his small fan because Torbie knocked it off the bed, it was in her way.

That's it for today.

Edit: I fried up some bacon ends and used the grease to cook my cube steaks.  I ate 2 and froze 2 for later.  It was pretty good.