Ate half a grapefruit. That went well, waited about an hour.
"I could really use some rice. Oh, wait, I put some plain rice in the freezer". I took that out, thawed and ate it. About a cup.
Kept thinking about the burrito. Waited another hour. Feeling good, not quite hungry, but burrito on the brain.
Headache has been gone for a couple of hours at this point.
I took it out and tried a bite. It went well. Next thing I know I am throwing away the wrapper, I have eaten the whole thing.
Well, now I can take my pills. Not sure that was going to happen.
Of course I am feeling better right before it's time for bed. I will stay up a little bit yet.
Glad I feel human again.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Days like these
Before I bitch and moan I need to say I went to Swanson and ordered months' worth of migraine prevention herbs. They have worked well for me in the past, no reason they wouldn't work now.
So, that said: I slept OK but woke up with a crushing migraine. I will try to use a different adjective each time. It was very bad, I took a shower and even the smell of my bath soap made me gag. Thank God my current shampoo is not strong.
I got dressed. Ron asked if he looked OK, code phrase for "Do I need to change?" I decided he looked "good enough". I did not want to help him change.
I didn't eat. I drank a Mountain Dew.
Our ride came. She did not speak good English, she had a very heavy accent and it is apparent she does not speak English on a regular basis. She most likely speaks spanish at home and does not "think" in English. When you are fluent, you learn to think in the other language.
She treated us like criminals, banging on the door, demanding Ron's ID, etc. It is apparent he is a client. He looks very disabled. You can see that from the photos.
When we got to work she wouldn't park where I told her to go, drove around "looking for a better spot", couldn't find one, and tried, TWICE, to park in posted police parking spots. I told her we couldn't do that. Then she tried to park next to the posted police parking spot. 3 times she tried to do that, total. I finally told her to let me out, I would walk over to the right spot, and wave her in. Then she decided to do what I had been telling her for the last 5 minutes.
I told her we WOULD have gotten in trouble with the police had we gone with "her" plan. She looked at me, dead serious, and told me in her terrible English "I say you tell me to park there, when they come".
I was pissed.
We went in. We had enough time to do everything. The headache was variable but never got "better" or to anything approaching acceptable, but happily I did not need to do a lot of heavy lifting. I helped him first and then did my work, that seems to work best for us. He stayed busy in the stockroom while I worked.
We left and went to the bank. We had a good ride. A woman stood behind us as I got Ron through the door (not easy because half the door is broken), watching us, refusing to help, then walked through as I was holding it for Ron. Bitch. Could have helped.
And then she said "Thank you" like I meant to hold it for her!
We went in and made our deposit. Ron gave me $20, which I appreciated. I am never going to be haughty and refuse it, I can have a lot of fun with $20.
We had a little bit of a wait. I was tired and my feet were sore from standing in my work boots. A mexican woman let her toddler girl run wild all over the only couch that faced the parking lot. I was unable to sit and see if our ride had arrived. The little girl ran off and the mother chased her, taking the bag she had set on the couch to "claim their spot". I sat down. The mother was irked when she came back, but got a look at Ron and decided not to complain.
And I'm not going to apologize for "taking" 2 feet of an 8 foot long couch.
Our ride arrived. We told the driver all about Glucosamine. He was interested.
We went to our favorite taqueria. Now, for the record, all of these trips today were paratransit and thus "free". So no yelling at me over cab fares! :)
We got there. They have a really good $8 lunch special: fajitas, chicken, shrimp, and beef, lots of meat, charro bean soup, rice, and guacamole. Ron and I don't like pico but they had that too.
My headache was back to ghastly so I ordered 2 very small cheese quesadillas. Ron ordered the special. I also ordered a fajita burrito (they store well) to go, for later, when I felt better. And I will feel better eventually.
Ron worked on his charros and haltingly scooped some rice into the bowl. I offered to help but he said no. One big thing about Ron: he doesn't want help unless he asks. If he looks like he is having trouble I will ask but nearly always he says no and I respect that. He ate and got full just off the beans.
I ate my food. He encouraged me to sample his, and I nibbled a little. The pepper they had put on the chicken seemed to help my head, but it was still pretty awful.
We paid and went home. I was utterly miserable. I put the food away and crawled into bed with Torbie. I laid down for a couple of hours, not an easy time but resting helped. Torbie left at some point, and Biscuit joined me.
I got up. I was pretty miserable. Biscuit wanted dinner. I wasn't queasy today but I wasn't far from it. So I did not want to face a smelly can of cat food.
I am one of those people, my sense of smell is elevated during a migraine. One reason I bought a nice bar of unscented shea butter soap for days like these.
I fed Biscuit a double portion of dry food. He was OK with that, but upset at me when he realized he wouldn't be getting any wet food. He'll live. I'm sure he can smell I am in pain.
I got on the computer for a while and decided I did not want to be one of those moaners who moans and cries about physical problems, but does nothing to fix them. Like the diabetic who is always eating full sugar cheesecake.
I bought some herbs, butterbur and feverfew, I bought the bar of soap I mentioned, and one of the lemongrass soap I like. I got to checkout and I thought I had better buy DOUBLE the migraine herbs so I don't have to screw around with reordering in a month. Because I will probably forget and then the headaches again... no thanks. I am also strongly inclined to set up auto ship so I can just get it in the mail box without doing anything.
I also got a bottle of Milk Thistle, it is very good for the liver and I like to do a bottle of it every year or so to keep things tuned. All that with shipping was $35. That's why I love Swanson.
My grapefruit spoon arrived. And I have a nice looking, cold, grapefruit in the fridge. When I feel up to it I am so eating some. I love grapefruit.
Ron had a bad afternoon, for pain. We were a pair. It is awful to say, but at least we don't have an imbalance of one is always "better" than the other and wanting to do things the other can't. No, we are both pretty tragic at times.
He did say he was hungry, and ate, total, two large bowls of the beans and rice with ham, finishing it off. Good, glad he liked it. It was super easy to make. It was MY beans that were the pain, last night.
While he ate I washed out the pot (I had stored them in the pot). It was easy because it is non stick. It took about 2 minutes and that includes the lid. I can do that, even on my worst days (today).
And he is eating real food, that is unprocessed and healthy. That can only be good for us both.
Ron has tons of leftovers from today, and I have both the grapefruit and a giant burrito the size of my forearm. I don't need to worry about feeding us, tomorrow.
Tomorrow should be fun, I really hope I feel better. Chewy package arrives, 11 pounds of cat food (they don't need it right now but I want to replace the one I just opened), glucosamine cat treats (my bet, the other cats will like it and the intended target, Torbie, won't), and some regular cat treats. Then I get my produce box. I will take a photo of that. It came to $26 with delivery.
It is a little "more" than Walmart would have been but it comes right to the door and had a very good variety. I will try it at least a few times.
I like the concept of having fresh food show up on the porch.
Monday I get my curry powder. I am having a lot of fun with curries lately. Sometime after that I get the Swanson package.
And that is it for deliveries. Plenty! I have spent more of my money online than in person, this pay period. I still have a decent amount of cash. I don't have a big expense at the beginning of the month, just a couple of smallish autopays,
I had to take an overwhelming amount of caffeine laden headache pills today, so my existing mania is enhanced. It's a good thing I am staying home tomorrow or I would have no budget left.
Some times, in the past, I blew the whole check the day I got paid. I don't want to go back to that.
Headache is better but not great. At least I am not hating life like I was earlier.
Still no appetite for that grapefruit. I have learned to be patient. If I eat too soon it will not end well.
So, that said: I slept OK but woke up with a crushing migraine. I will try to use a different adjective each time. It was very bad, I took a shower and even the smell of my bath soap made me gag. Thank God my current shampoo is not strong.
I got dressed. Ron asked if he looked OK, code phrase for "Do I need to change?" I decided he looked "good enough". I did not want to help him change.
I didn't eat. I drank a Mountain Dew.
Our ride came. She did not speak good English, she had a very heavy accent and it is apparent she does not speak English on a regular basis. She most likely speaks spanish at home and does not "think" in English. When you are fluent, you learn to think in the other language.
She treated us like criminals, banging on the door, demanding Ron's ID, etc. It is apparent he is a client. He looks very disabled. You can see that from the photos.
When we got to work she wouldn't park where I told her to go, drove around "looking for a better spot", couldn't find one, and tried, TWICE, to park in posted police parking spots. I told her we couldn't do that. Then she tried to park next to the posted police parking spot. 3 times she tried to do that, total. I finally told her to let me out, I would walk over to the right spot, and wave her in. Then she decided to do what I had been telling her for the last 5 minutes.
I told her we WOULD have gotten in trouble with the police had we gone with "her" plan. She looked at me, dead serious, and told me in her terrible English "I say you tell me to park there, when they come".
I was pissed.
We went in. We had enough time to do everything. The headache was variable but never got "better" or to anything approaching acceptable, but happily I did not need to do a lot of heavy lifting. I helped him first and then did my work, that seems to work best for us. He stayed busy in the stockroom while I worked.
We left and went to the bank. We had a good ride. A woman stood behind us as I got Ron through the door (not easy because half the door is broken), watching us, refusing to help, then walked through as I was holding it for Ron. Bitch. Could have helped.
And then she said "Thank you" like I meant to hold it for her!
We went in and made our deposit. Ron gave me $20, which I appreciated. I am never going to be haughty and refuse it, I can have a lot of fun with $20.
We had a little bit of a wait. I was tired and my feet were sore from standing in my work boots. A mexican woman let her toddler girl run wild all over the only couch that faced the parking lot. I was unable to sit and see if our ride had arrived. The little girl ran off and the mother chased her, taking the bag she had set on the couch to "claim their spot". I sat down. The mother was irked when she came back, but got a look at Ron and decided not to complain.
And I'm not going to apologize for "taking" 2 feet of an 8 foot long couch.
Our ride arrived. We told the driver all about Glucosamine. He was interested.
We went to our favorite taqueria. Now, for the record, all of these trips today were paratransit and thus "free". So no yelling at me over cab fares! :)
We got there. They have a really good $8 lunch special: fajitas, chicken, shrimp, and beef, lots of meat, charro bean soup, rice, and guacamole. Ron and I don't like pico but they had that too.
My headache was back to ghastly so I ordered 2 very small cheese quesadillas. Ron ordered the special. I also ordered a fajita burrito (they store well) to go, for later, when I felt better. And I will feel better eventually.
Ron worked on his charros and haltingly scooped some rice into the bowl. I offered to help but he said no. One big thing about Ron: he doesn't want help unless he asks. If he looks like he is having trouble I will ask but nearly always he says no and I respect that. He ate and got full just off the beans.
I ate my food. He encouraged me to sample his, and I nibbled a little. The pepper they had put on the chicken seemed to help my head, but it was still pretty awful.
We paid and went home. I was utterly miserable. I put the food away and crawled into bed with Torbie. I laid down for a couple of hours, not an easy time but resting helped. Torbie left at some point, and Biscuit joined me.
I got up. I was pretty miserable. Biscuit wanted dinner. I wasn't queasy today but I wasn't far from it. So I did not want to face a smelly can of cat food.
I am one of those people, my sense of smell is elevated during a migraine. One reason I bought a nice bar of unscented shea butter soap for days like these.
I fed Biscuit a double portion of dry food. He was OK with that, but upset at me when he realized he wouldn't be getting any wet food. He'll live. I'm sure he can smell I am in pain.
I got on the computer for a while and decided I did not want to be one of those moaners who moans and cries about physical problems, but does nothing to fix them. Like the diabetic who is always eating full sugar cheesecake.
I bought some herbs, butterbur and feverfew, I bought the bar of soap I mentioned, and one of the lemongrass soap I like. I got to checkout and I thought I had better buy DOUBLE the migraine herbs so I don't have to screw around with reordering in a month. Because I will probably forget and then the headaches again... no thanks. I am also strongly inclined to set up auto ship so I can just get it in the mail box without doing anything.
I also got a bottle of Milk Thistle, it is very good for the liver and I like to do a bottle of it every year or so to keep things tuned. All that with shipping was $35. That's why I love Swanson.
My grapefruit spoon arrived. And I have a nice looking, cold, grapefruit in the fridge. When I feel up to it I am so eating some. I love grapefruit.
Ron had a bad afternoon, for pain. We were a pair. It is awful to say, but at least we don't have an imbalance of one is always "better" than the other and wanting to do things the other can't. No, we are both pretty tragic at times.
He did say he was hungry, and ate, total, two large bowls of the beans and rice with ham, finishing it off. Good, glad he liked it. It was super easy to make. It was MY beans that were the pain, last night.
While he ate I washed out the pot (I had stored them in the pot). It was easy because it is non stick. It took about 2 minutes and that includes the lid. I can do that, even on my worst days (today).
And he is eating real food, that is unprocessed and healthy. That can only be good for us both.
Ron has tons of leftovers from today, and I have both the grapefruit and a giant burrito the size of my forearm. I don't need to worry about feeding us, tomorrow.
Tomorrow should be fun, I really hope I feel better. Chewy package arrives, 11 pounds of cat food (they don't need it right now but I want to replace the one I just opened), glucosamine cat treats (my bet, the other cats will like it and the intended target, Torbie, won't), and some regular cat treats. Then I get my produce box. I will take a photo of that. It came to $26 with delivery.
It is a little "more" than Walmart would have been but it comes right to the door and had a very good variety. I will try it at least a few times.
I like the concept of having fresh food show up on the porch.
Monday I get my curry powder. I am having a lot of fun with curries lately. Sometime after that I get the Swanson package.
And that is it for deliveries. Plenty! I have spent more of my money online than in person, this pay period. I still have a decent amount of cash. I don't have a big expense at the beginning of the month, just a couple of smallish autopays,
I had to take an overwhelming amount of caffeine laden headache pills today, so my existing mania is enhanced. It's a good thing I am staying home tomorrow or I would have no budget left.
Some times, in the past, I blew the whole check the day I got paid. I don't want to go back to that.
Headache is better but not great. At least I am not hating life like I was earlier.
Still no appetite for that grapefruit. I have learned to be patient. If I eat too soon it will not end well.
Horrible headache
But I have to work anyway. Almost done, run one errand, then lunch.
I hope the Excedrin works. Oh yeah, started my cycle too but at least no cramps. Good thing I carry my supplies.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Shrimpy Shrimp
It was one of my more interesting days off. I woke up with a headache around 7? I had to take some Excedrin for that.
I got online and watched some TV. When I felt a little better I ate something and took my pills.
I decided to tackle the beans. Ron wanted black beans, cooked with ham. He did not want tomatoes.
I wanted to make some with chili powder and rice.
I poured off the soak water and rinsed the beans, then divided them. We each got about a cup. Ron's went in my nonstick saucepan with garlic, onions, 2 cups water, and some ham seasoning.
The ham seasoning is found in the Mexican grocery section with their other boullions. It is 10 packets of powder, ham flavor, msg, and salt. I put a packet in Ron's water. Then I added half a (small) can of ham. I put that on to simmer.
I had read online you could cook beans in a rice pot. That would be great, I thought. Let's give it a try, I thought. I put the beans, the right amount of water, some rice, enough water for the rice, onions, garlic, and some chili powder (one thing I did learn today, I like 1.5 t chili powder for a cup of soaked beans). The chili smelled very good.
I turned the rice pot to cook and closed it. Pretty soon I saw steam coming out of the vent and the smell of chili powder.
I turned my attention to Ron's beans. The ham had turned a disgusting shade of gray from the black beans, but that won't bother him. Nice thing about a blind husband. "The meat is gray? Who knew!"
Ron woke up. He said he would like some rice in his beans, so I added the dry rice and enough water, covered it and let it cook. Mine had "finished" so it said, but the beans weren't done. I added more water and hit the cycle again, something that would sadly become an ongoing occurrence over the next hours.
I checked my email. Swanson had sent me a cheerful message that I'd gotten my package. I had? I put my shoes on and opened the front door. Oh, there it is. I went ahead and checked the mail. When I came back I opened my package.
I had gotten one deodorant stone. Those things are good for over a year. They are great, I love them. I had a regular size and a travel size. I put the travel one in my traveling bag. I had 2 bars of soap. I smelled them and put them in the bathroom. I had a bottle of Oregano oil (great for immunity) and one of Wild Yam. I am seeing good results with Wild Yam so I plan to keep taking it. I put everything where it belonged.
I have a box for the supplements I have had for about 20 years now. Everything I'm taking goes in the box. When I do up my pills I take the bottle out, fill up my days of the week, and put the bottle on the floor. It is a sure way to know I have gotten everything.
I take things like the oregano oil as needed, so I keep the bottle in view from my chair.
My rice pot clicked. Now the beans were very watery. I put it on cook to reduce it. Ron's beans looked great. I tasted them. Tasted great. I diced up the remaining canned ham and stirred it into the beans and rice. I have noticed that cooking with canned ham, the flavor leaves the meat. That is good for whatever you are cooking it in, but not so good for the ham! So I wanted at least half the ham to be fresh and perky. I cooled Ron's down and put it in the fridge.
I laid down for a nap. I made sad noises until Torbie came out of her hiding place and got into bed with me. I gave her a lot of petting as she purred. We had a good time for a while. She likes to love on me while I'm in bed. I am happy to pet her. It is a lot better than getting left alone with what can be bad thoughts.
Biscuit came and laid on my foot for a while, too. He's a good boy. Baby Girl was with Ron.
I tried, but I couldn't sleep, and I kept thinking I smelled burning beans. So I got up. Beans = still watery in the rice pot. Well, crap.
I bitterly wished I had tried lentils instead. No, I had to do black beans, which needed an hour and a half on the stove. I couldn't sleep: I was manic.
By the way, last night I got on the computer shopping for the grapefruit spoon and that's all I got: a single grapefruit spoon and $5 worth of curry powder. So at least I am behaving.
I unplugged the rice pot, which was a mess. The design of the pot makes it difficult to clean. I prefer the rice pot that has 3 parts, the base, the pot, and the lid which is all separate. The pot I have (must have bought it when manic) has an integrated design, base and lid are one, with a difficult to clean hinge. Then there is a pot, but when you take it out, there is no lid to put on it. Because the lid is built into the base. It also has a strange latch, etc. They over improved it in my opinion.
And I don't have room for a lot of appliances. I have a crock pot and a mixer. That's it. No blender, no food processor, just the crock pot and the mixer. I would like a nice rice pot I can use to cook lentils. That's all. So I may get rid of this one (God knows I couldn't get it clean, even by my standards) and replace it.
Ron has a toaster and a toaster oven on his side of the kitchen. But we haven't used the toaster in ages. I don't even keep sliced bread in the house.
I had one of those enamelware (also bought when manic) pots on the stove. I rinsed it off (it was a little dusty), and ladled (more dishes!) the runny soup into the enamelware pot. I turned it on at one of the lowest stove settings.
The nonstick pot had no problem with that setting, but soon enough I smelled burning beans again. I stirred it and discovered a large amount of the beans had gotten baked onto the bottom of the pot. Well, crap.
I did manage to cook the rest of it down, standing over it and stirring, but I was absolutely done with black beans in a rice pot. Or enamelware. Done, done, done. Agh.
At the end of the drama (I've tortured you enough) I ate a bowl and they weren't even that good. The only thing I learned today, aside from the seasoning, is that it's easy to add some rice to a pot of beans and cook it in the broth.
The enamelware pot will probably have to be tossed. I am not sure about the rice pot but I found another model I like, that has what I want, for $15. That's looking better and better the more I think about it.
I ate the beans, put some in the fridge (Ron didn't want his beans right now and went back to bed), and got online.
When I had been snuggling with Torbie earlier, I noticed her back hips are stiff. They have been like that for years. She has to do warm up stretches when she gets up. Whenever Ron gives treats I always tell him to wait on Torbie because she is coming. She can't move very fast, but, according to the experts, she is probably around 13-15 years old.
I bought her a warm little house she enjoys. I got her some glucosamine treats, years ago, but she wouldn't touch them. I was so disappointed because I felt they would really help her. Both Ron and I have benefited from glucosamine.
And I need another bag of cat food. Ron would really rather not take me to the pet store if he can avoid it. So I went to Chewy and put the food in the cart. I found some glusosamine treats. I read the reviews to Ron, who was still awake at this point. I found one that had good reviews and is a national brand. The only bad comment on the treats seemed to be the need to break it up. And it was $10. I would spend way more than that on something if it made Torbie feel better. That went in the cart.
I had to spend about $10 more to get free shipping, so I looked around. My guys are very partial to Temptations. I found a small bag of "Shrimpy Shrimp". They like seafood flavors so I think it will be popular. Plus, whatever they add to those treats keeps the cats coming back! I added that to the cart, then got our usual "Surfer" in a large container. That put me over the minimum for shipping and I checked out.
So, I got my Swanson box today, Amazon grapefruit spoon will come tomorrow, then probably the Chewy box, and then my curry comes Monday. That is pretty busy.
But using Chewy saves me a long ride on 2 buses, or a $20 cab ride, to the pet store. That's one way. So it would be four buses and a mile of walking, including past the aggressive dog's house, twice, or $40 in cab fare.
And the Chewy price was pretty comparable to what I pay at the pet store. That's an all around win. I just hope the food is fresh and has a good code. But they have a high turnover so I imagine it will.
I plan to go to bed early (didn't get my nap) tonight, as I get up at 4 tomorrow for work. Not a horrific day planned but a longer one. I got an email from my health insurance saying they got my payment, and when I did my bank account reconciliation I had enough I didn't know about, to pay for the Chewy. I left my phone off all day. I like doing that on occasion.
I just need to go wish list that "good" rice pot on Amazon.
I got online and watched some TV. When I felt a little better I ate something and took my pills.
I decided to tackle the beans. Ron wanted black beans, cooked with ham. He did not want tomatoes.
I wanted to make some with chili powder and rice.
I poured off the soak water and rinsed the beans, then divided them. We each got about a cup. Ron's went in my nonstick saucepan with garlic, onions, 2 cups water, and some ham seasoning.
The ham seasoning is found in the Mexican grocery section with their other boullions. It is 10 packets of powder, ham flavor, msg, and salt. I put a packet in Ron's water. Then I added half a (small) can of ham. I put that on to simmer.
I had read online you could cook beans in a rice pot. That would be great, I thought. Let's give it a try, I thought. I put the beans, the right amount of water, some rice, enough water for the rice, onions, garlic, and some chili powder (one thing I did learn today, I like 1.5 t chili powder for a cup of soaked beans). The chili smelled very good.
I turned the rice pot to cook and closed it. Pretty soon I saw steam coming out of the vent and the smell of chili powder.
I turned my attention to Ron's beans. The ham had turned a disgusting shade of gray from the black beans, but that won't bother him. Nice thing about a blind husband. "The meat is gray? Who knew!"
Ron woke up. He said he would like some rice in his beans, so I added the dry rice and enough water, covered it and let it cook. Mine had "finished" so it said, but the beans weren't done. I added more water and hit the cycle again, something that would sadly become an ongoing occurrence over the next hours.
I checked my email. Swanson had sent me a cheerful message that I'd gotten my package. I had? I put my shoes on and opened the front door. Oh, there it is. I went ahead and checked the mail. When I came back I opened my package.
I had gotten one deodorant stone. Those things are good for over a year. They are great, I love them. I had a regular size and a travel size. I put the travel one in my traveling bag. I had 2 bars of soap. I smelled them and put them in the bathroom. I had a bottle of Oregano oil (great for immunity) and one of Wild Yam. I am seeing good results with Wild Yam so I plan to keep taking it. I put everything where it belonged.
I have a box for the supplements I have had for about 20 years now. Everything I'm taking goes in the box. When I do up my pills I take the bottle out, fill up my days of the week, and put the bottle on the floor. It is a sure way to know I have gotten everything.
I take things like the oregano oil as needed, so I keep the bottle in view from my chair.
My rice pot clicked. Now the beans were very watery. I put it on cook to reduce it. Ron's beans looked great. I tasted them. Tasted great. I diced up the remaining canned ham and stirred it into the beans and rice. I have noticed that cooking with canned ham, the flavor leaves the meat. That is good for whatever you are cooking it in, but not so good for the ham! So I wanted at least half the ham to be fresh and perky. I cooled Ron's down and put it in the fridge.
I laid down for a nap. I made sad noises until Torbie came out of her hiding place and got into bed with me. I gave her a lot of petting as she purred. We had a good time for a while. She likes to love on me while I'm in bed. I am happy to pet her. It is a lot better than getting left alone with what can be bad thoughts.
Biscuit came and laid on my foot for a while, too. He's a good boy. Baby Girl was with Ron.
I tried, but I couldn't sleep, and I kept thinking I smelled burning beans. So I got up. Beans = still watery in the rice pot. Well, crap.
I bitterly wished I had tried lentils instead. No, I had to do black beans, which needed an hour and a half on the stove. I couldn't sleep: I was manic.
By the way, last night I got on the computer shopping for the grapefruit spoon and that's all I got: a single grapefruit spoon and $5 worth of curry powder. So at least I am behaving.
I unplugged the rice pot, which was a mess. The design of the pot makes it difficult to clean. I prefer the rice pot that has 3 parts, the base, the pot, and the lid which is all separate. The pot I have (must have bought it when manic) has an integrated design, base and lid are one, with a difficult to clean hinge. Then there is a pot, but when you take it out, there is no lid to put on it. Because the lid is built into the base. It also has a strange latch, etc. They over improved it in my opinion.
And I don't have room for a lot of appliances. I have a crock pot and a mixer. That's it. No blender, no food processor, just the crock pot and the mixer. I would like a nice rice pot I can use to cook lentils. That's all. So I may get rid of this one (God knows I couldn't get it clean, even by my standards) and replace it.
Ron has a toaster and a toaster oven on his side of the kitchen. But we haven't used the toaster in ages. I don't even keep sliced bread in the house.
I had one of those enamelware (also bought when manic) pots on the stove. I rinsed it off (it was a little dusty), and ladled (more dishes!) the runny soup into the enamelware pot. I turned it on at one of the lowest stove settings.
The nonstick pot had no problem with that setting, but soon enough I smelled burning beans again. I stirred it and discovered a large amount of the beans had gotten baked onto the bottom of the pot. Well, crap.
I did manage to cook the rest of it down, standing over it and stirring, but I was absolutely done with black beans in a rice pot. Or enamelware. Done, done, done. Agh.
At the end of the drama (I've tortured you enough) I ate a bowl and they weren't even that good. The only thing I learned today, aside from the seasoning, is that it's easy to add some rice to a pot of beans and cook it in the broth.
The enamelware pot will probably have to be tossed. I am not sure about the rice pot but I found another model I like, that has what I want, for $15. That's looking better and better the more I think about it.
I ate the beans, put some in the fridge (Ron didn't want his beans right now and went back to bed), and got online.
When I had been snuggling with Torbie earlier, I noticed her back hips are stiff. They have been like that for years. She has to do warm up stretches when she gets up. Whenever Ron gives treats I always tell him to wait on Torbie because she is coming. She can't move very fast, but, according to the experts, she is probably around 13-15 years old.
I bought her a warm little house she enjoys. I got her some glucosamine treats, years ago, but she wouldn't touch them. I was so disappointed because I felt they would really help her. Both Ron and I have benefited from glucosamine.
And I need another bag of cat food. Ron would really rather not take me to the pet store if he can avoid it. So I went to Chewy and put the food in the cart. I found some glusosamine treats. I read the reviews to Ron, who was still awake at this point. I found one that had good reviews and is a national brand. The only bad comment on the treats seemed to be the need to break it up. And it was $10. I would spend way more than that on something if it made Torbie feel better. That went in the cart.
I had to spend about $10 more to get free shipping, so I looked around. My guys are very partial to Temptations. I found a small bag of "Shrimpy Shrimp". They like seafood flavors so I think it will be popular. Plus, whatever they add to those treats keeps the cats coming back! I added that to the cart, then got our usual "Surfer" in a large container. That put me over the minimum for shipping and I checked out.
So, I got my Swanson box today, Amazon grapefruit spoon will come tomorrow, then probably the Chewy box, and then my curry comes Monday. That is pretty busy.
But using Chewy saves me a long ride on 2 buses, or a $20 cab ride, to the pet store. That's one way. So it would be four buses and a mile of walking, including past the aggressive dog's house, twice, or $40 in cab fare.
And the Chewy price was pretty comparable to what I pay at the pet store. That's an all around win. I just hope the food is fresh and has a good code. But they have a high turnover so I imagine it will.
I plan to go to bed early (didn't get my nap) tonight, as I get up at 4 tomorrow for work. Not a horrific day planned but a longer one. I got an email from my health insurance saying they got my payment, and when I did my bank account reconciliation I had enough I didn't know about, to pay for the Chewy. I left my phone off all day. I like doing that on occasion.
I just need to go wish list that "good" rice pot on Amazon.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
"The Service was Terrible"
I had a pretty manic morning. I did a lot of looking up stuff on the Walmart website, for reference on what to buy later.
I got Ron when the alarm went off and helped get him ready. He wore sandals, I wore flip flops. It got up to the 50's today so it wasn't bad.
Our ride to Walmart was LATE. And then we had to pick up a "spanish only" lady and her bilingual daughter. It took forever because the woman was in a wheelchair. Then we went to Walmart.
All of us got unloaded. The driver unloaded the old lady first even though Ron and I had a VERY limited amount of time. I had about half an hour to make my deposit, shop, and check out. Good luck with that!
Ron threw himself on his sword "Don't worry about me, just get YOUR stuff". I tried to find his burritos, bur they rearranged the damned freezers and I couldn't find them. I did get some more quinoa, though.
I did manage to get most of the stuff on my list. I didn't get the cheese, or the cat treats, but I think we are OK on both.
I did get the soda, beans, canned ham, ham flavoring powder (in the mexican foods section, if you can't beat 'em...), diced tomatoes, diced peppers, etc.
I was racing around throwing stuff into the cart with abandon. I was very happy to see they had the drink mix I like. I was so excited I got 4.
Last on the list, garbage bags. I had to laugh to myself at the lost-looking, middle-aged man trying to figure out the garbage bags. Clearly he was not used to buying them for himself, I guess the woman in his life (hopefully still in his life) did that.
I got my "lavender" ones and went hunting for canisters. I have an open bag, 5 pounds of rice. I have it twisted and clipped shut but that is not a good long term storage. I couldn't find what I wanted, the thing I wanted was not in stock and the other item was nearly $10, and might not have worked. Forget that!
I hunted around and found a short line. I was thrilled to find J at the register. He is a really good cashier and one of the FEW who does not get an attitude about my reusable bags. He got me out of there quickly.
I did manage to get Ron his jerky, and 48 AAA batteries. He was happy.
Our ride came early, good thing I finished when I did. We had that driver 3 times today, as it turns out.
We had a straight trip home. I put almost everything away and tried to lay down. I was still pretty wound up and had to take more headache pills before we went to the store. I was running on way too much caffeine, according to my doctor.
I did manage to get a little nap with Torbie. She likes to lay in her house and put her paw on my hand. We both enjoy that a lot. She is so sweet. I have to think God was holding her just for me, otherwise, how could all the adopters pass her up, for a month? I don't get it. The only thing that makes sense is that God wanted us together. She is a great cat and I enjoy every minute.
But, when she goes, I will not get another. The other 2 don't do well with new cats.
I got up and got ready to go to the Waffle House. I had to get Ron up. He didn't want to go.
We had the same driver again, a straight trip. We went to the Waffle House. Ron got a grilled ham and cheese, which he said later was "too much". Not the fault of the Waffle House, but I think his stomach has shrunk. He gets all his calories from alcohol now.
I had a "melt". It featured a fried egg, bacon, cheese (good cheese), on grilled Texas Toast. It was very good. The same driver got us again and took us home.
Ron told me to leave a tip, as we left (I never forget that!). I told him no, loudly, and added "The service was terrible! I'm not leaving a tip!" with a big grin. The waiter laughed, I had already given him the tip (we were the only customers).
I took out the garbage before I put Ron to bed. Then I got the newly purchased black beans and took out a cup, sorted through, and soaked them. I will pour off the soak water tomorrow. I plan to cook them with some canned ham, ham seasoning, garlic, and black pepper. Ron wanted them with ham, so ham he'll get. Then add the rest of the ham at the end. Ron likes mushy beans so I may use my bean masher. Only in Texas would you find a bean masher.
I bought a grapefruit today. I love grapefruit, why am I not eating them? I am going to look around and try to find one grapefruit spoon. I don't need a set, just one.
I still have a pretty good amount of energy (but I have taken my pills) so I will probably be up for a while yet.
My experience with paratransit/Walmart today showed me the delivery option is probably going to be the best, if possible. I will still need to go in for some things, like clothes, pharmacy, etc. but for the majority I plan to do it from home and just have it delivered. No more rushing around trying to make my appointment time, or paying $$ for gas money or cabs. I am happier to pay $ instead.
Ron was happy to hear it, and encouraged me to put some cash into my account so I could do that. I did, when I made my deposit.
Off to hunt up grapefruit spoons.
I got Ron when the alarm went off and helped get him ready. He wore sandals, I wore flip flops. It got up to the 50's today so it wasn't bad.
Our ride to Walmart was LATE. And then we had to pick up a "spanish only" lady and her bilingual daughter. It took forever because the woman was in a wheelchair. Then we went to Walmart.
All of us got unloaded. The driver unloaded the old lady first even though Ron and I had a VERY limited amount of time. I had about half an hour to make my deposit, shop, and check out. Good luck with that!
Ron threw himself on his sword "Don't worry about me, just get YOUR stuff". I tried to find his burritos, bur they rearranged the damned freezers and I couldn't find them. I did get some more quinoa, though.
I did manage to get most of the stuff on my list. I didn't get the cheese, or the cat treats, but I think we are OK on both.
I did get the soda, beans, canned ham, ham flavoring powder (in the mexican foods section, if you can't beat 'em...), diced tomatoes, diced peppers, etc.
I was racing around throwing stuff into the cart with abandon. I was very happy to see they had the drink mix I like. I was so excited I got 4.
Last on the list, garbage bags. I had to laugh to myself at the lost-looking, middle-aged man trying to figure out the garbage bags. Clearly he was not used to buying them for himself, I guess the woman in his life (hopefully still in his life) did that.
I got my "lavender" ones and went hunting for canisters. I have an open bag, 5 pounds of rice. I have it twisted and clipped shut but that is not a good long term storage. I couldn't find what I wanted, the thing I wanted was not in stock and the other item was nearly $10, and might not have worked. Forget that!
I hunted around and found a short line. I was thrilled to find J at the register. He is a really good cashier and one of the FEW who does not get an attitude about my reusable bags. He got me out of there quickly.
I did manage to get Ron his jerky, and 48 AAA batteries. He was happy.
Our ride came early, good thing I finished when I did. We had that driver 3 times today, as it turns out.
We had a straight trip home. I put almost everything away and tried to lay down. I was still pretty wound up and had to take more headache pills before we went to the store. I was running on way too much caffeine, according to my doctor.
I did manage to get a little nap with Torbie. She likes to lay in her house and put her paw on my hand. We both enjoy that a lot. She is so sweet. I have to think God was holding her just for me, otherwise, how could all the adopters pass her up, for a month? I don't get it. The only thing that makes sense is that God wanted us together. She is a great cat and I enjoy every minute.
But, when she goes, I will not get another. The other 2 don't do well with new cats.
I got up and got ready to go to the Waffle House. I had to get Ron up. He didn't want to go.
We had the same driver again, a straight trip. We went to the Waffle House. Ron got a grilled ham and cheese, which he said later was "too much". Not the fault of the Waffle House, but I think his stomach has shrunk. He gets all his calories from alcohol now.
I had a "melt". It featured a fried egg, bacon, cheese (good cheese), on grilled Texas Toast. It was very good. The same driver got us again and took us home.
Ron told me to leave a tip, as we left (I never forget that!). I told him no, loudly, and added "The service was terrible! I'm not leaving a tip!" with a big grin. The waiter laughed, I had already given him the tip (we were the only customers).
I took out the garbage before I put Ron to bed. Then I got the newly purchased black beans and took out a cup, sorted through, and soaked them. I will pour off the soak water tomorrow. I plan to cook them with some canned ham, ham seasoning, garlic, and black pepper. Ron wanted them with ham, so ham he'll get. Then add the rest of the ham at the end. Ron likes mushy beans so I may use my bean masher. Only in Texas would you find a bean masher.
I bought a grapefruit today. I love grapefruit, why am I not eating them? I am going to look around and try to find one grapefruit spoon. I don't need a set, just one.
I still have a pretty good amount of energy (but I have taken my pills) so I will probably be up for a while yet.
My experience with paratransit/Walmart today showed me the delivery option is probably going to be the best, if possible. I will still need to go in for some things, like clothes, pharmacy, etc. but for the majority I plan to do it from home and just have it delivered. No more rushing around trying to make my appointment time, or paying $$ for gas money or cabs. I am happier to pay $ instead.
Ron was happy to hear it, and encouraged me to put some cash into my account so I could do that. I did, when I made my deposit.
Off to hunt up grapefruit spoons.
Ugh, manic
The caffeine in the headache pills has me manic today.
It's interesting. I remember as far back as my teens, some days I would just be a totally different person. I knew something was "off" but no one could tell me what.
I had to find out on my own, nearly 20 years later, in 2006.
So, I'm manic. We are going to Walmart later. I have worked on my list. I have planned to do some cooking when I get home (the black beans), for Ron.
I plan to buy mainly groceries and some pharmacy items. I already took my shower so I'm practically ready. I couldn't wash my hair yesterday with the headache but I got it today.
In the last couple months, I have noticed my hair gets very dry if I wash it every day, and I don't want to "fool" with conditioner. So I've been washing it every other day, it looks fine. I wear a shower cap, when bathing, on my no-wash days.
That's about the same time my skin got dry and I started having other symptoms. I think I am on the fast track to "losing" my fertility. Which is fine. A lot of reasons I never had kids.
One being, I didn't think Ron would make a good father. I sure wouldn't have made a good mother. Too much baggage!
It's interesting. I remember as far back as my teens, some days I would just be a totally different person. I knew something was "off" but no one could tell me what.
I had to find out on my own, nearly 20 years later, in 2006.
So, I'm manic. We are going to Walmart later. I have worked on my list. I have planned to do some cooking when I get home (the black beans), for Ron.
I plan to buy mainly groceries and some pharmacy items. I already took my shower so I'm practically ready. I couldn't wash my hair yesterday with the headache but I got it today.
In the last couple months, I have noticed my hair gets very dry if I wash it every day, and I don't want to "fool" with conditioner. So I've been washing it every other day, it looks fine. I wear a shower cap, when bathing, on my no-wash days.
That's about the same time my skin got dry and I started having other symptoms. I think I am on the fast track to "losing" my fertility. Which is fine. A lot of reasons I never had kids.
One being, I didn't think Ron would make a good father. I sure wouldn't have made a good mother. Too much baggage!
Another [censored] headache
I cooked dinner, fed Ron (managed to get him to eat!), went to bed early (around 8). I slept pretty well but woke up with a nasty headache.
It was 3 AM. I have to assume this is a combination of various factors, including hormonal (still no spotting or cycle). I will just have to push through it.
But the headache was pretty bad. I heard Ron awake (he was quiet enough he didn't wake me up, but loud enough I heard him when I did). I got up and drank some water, then went back to bed.
When I was a teenager I loved a boy in my youth group. We were very proper and never did anything beside hold hands at prayer time, but I would have given him a kidney. He was very kind, not very good looking, receding hair line and paunch even then, but a good guy.
One time, on a youth group mission trip to Mexico (I have seen the slums over there, I get it!), I developed a migraine. He suggested it might be due to dehydration, so whenever I have a headache I try to drink some water. Sometimes it does help.
Ron started literally squealing with joy when he heard me turn the faucet. He is always so happy when I wake up in the middle of the night. I think that is sweet, he still gets that excited to spend time with me, after nearly 27 years.
I laid down again for a while but this headache wasn't quitting. It is more a frontal headache and not one-sided, so probably not a migraine. Just a really nasty [censored] of a headache.
I got up, brushed my teeth (Biscuit came on alert when I did that, and started following me around for breakfast), and took some headache pills. I talked to Ron for a while, before he went back in his room and laid down.
I did an inventory of my headache pills. Not counting what I have in the cabinet (a little over 100), I have about 300 pills. I need to get more. I go through a lot of headache pills.
I fed the cats. Torbie had been nosing around the dinner leftovers, a half dried out can of cat food, and she was quite happy to get some nice fresh dry for a change. She normally eats last so I was happy to see her eating first, today.
I finished doing the dishes from last night and set them up to dry. I am very happy I froze some of the rice from last night, in addition to what I put in with the lentils, so I can just take out a bag and thaw it when I want some rice for a meal. I also have some "lentils and rice" "meals" in the freezer, just take it out and warm it up. That will be great when I feel depressed.
I have some:
rice
Lentils and rice (2 bags)
Cooked beef stew (1 bag)
Raw beef stew with all the fixin's, just need to be thawed and crock pot (2 batches)
Ron has frozen burritos (a lot of them) and TV dinners. Pretty good for our small freezer. The fridge works great so I am not inclined to get a new one.
When we do, we are limited by the available space in the kitchen, which is about 50 square feet. The fridge has to be about two and a half feet wide, so we won't get one of those huge "family units" they sell these days. One reason I have a lot of pantry food. It can live anywhere, not just a fridge.
No real place to put a stand alone freezer, anyway, and I have a bad feeling, if we got one, I would just fill it up with crap I won't eat, when I get manic.
I did clean out the bottom of the fridge for my produce delivery. I got a lot of citrus (blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons), which is seasonal right now, so I don't have to keep that in the fridge. Let me see what else I got.
Ginger root
Sugar snap peas
Dates
Grapefruit
Potatoes
Standard orange
Blood orange
Blueberries
Mandarins (mainly for Ron, but I will eat them if he doesn't)
Lemons
Cherry tomatoes (also for Ron, but I will eat them if he won't)
That's a lot better than what I normally eat, which is ZERO fruits and vegetables. I can supplement that with Walmart produce. Ron has been supportive of this endeavor. He wants me to be healthy, even as he takes me out to eat!
Well, the caffeine kicked in. Headache is half gone. I think I will drink another Diet Mountain Dew and look around online for a bit.
The nice thing about living in a house, I'm not going to wake up the neighbors when I take a shower, whenever that is.
Later on he is taking me to Walmart. I was shocked when he offered.
It was 3 AM. I have to assume this is a combination of various factors, including hormonal (still no spotting or cycle). I will just have to push through it.
But the headache was pretty bad. I heard Ron awake (he was quiet enough he didn't wake me up, but loud enough I heard him when I did). I got up and drank some water, then went back to bed.
When I was a teenager I loved a boy in my youth group. We were very proper and never did anything beside hold hands at prayer time, but I would have given him a kidney. He was very kind, not very good looking, receding hair line and paunch even then, but a good guy.
One time, on a youth group mission trip to Mexico (I have seen the slums over there, I get it!), I developed a migraine. He suggested it might be due to dehydration, so whenever I have a headache I try to drink some water. Sometimes it does help.
Ron started literally squealing with joy when he heard me turn the faucet. He is always so happy when I wake up in the middle of the night. I think that is sweet, he still gets that excited to spend time with me, after nearly 27 years.
I laid down again for a while but this headache wasn't quitting. It is more a frontal headache and not one-sided, so probably not a migraine. Just a really nasty [censored] of a headache.
I got up, brushed my teeth (Biscuit came on alert when I did that, and started following me around for breakfast), and took some headache pills. I talked to Ron for a while, before he went back in his room and laid down.
I did an inventory of my headache pills. Not counting what I have in the cabinet (a little over 100), I have about 300 pills. I need to get more. I go through a lot of headache pills.
I fed the cats. Torbie had been nosing around the dinner leftovers, a half dried out can of cat food, and she was quite happy to get some nice fresh dry for a change. She normally eats last so I was happy to see her eating first, today.
I finished doing the dishes from last night and set them up to dry. I am very happy I froze some of the rice from last night, in addition to what I put in with the lentils, so I can just take out a bag and thaw it when I want some rice for a meal. I also have some "lentils and rice" "meals" in the freezer, just take it out and warm it up. That will be great when I feel depressed.
I have some:
rice
Lentils and rice (2 bags)
Cooked beef stew (1 bag)
Raw beef stew with all the fixin's, just need to be thawed and crock pot (2 batches)
Ron has frozen burritos (a lot of them) and TV dinners. Pretty good for our small freezer. The fridge works great so I am not inclined to get a new one.
When we do, we are limited by the available space in the kitchen, which is about 50 square feet. The fridge has to be about two and a half feet wide, so we won't get one of those huge "family units" they sell these days. One reason I have a lot of pantry food. It can live anywhere, not just a fridge.
No real place to put a stand alone freezer, anyway, and I have a bad feeling, if we got one, I would just fill it up with crap I won't eat, when I get manic.
I did clean out the bottom of the fridge for my produce delivery. I got a lot of citrus (blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons), which is seasonal right now, so I don't have to keep that in the fridge. Let me see what else I got.
Ginger root
Sugar snap peas
Dates
Grapefruit
Potatoes
Standard orange
Blood orange
Blueberries
Mandarins (mainly for Ron, but I will eat them if he doesn't)
Lemons
Cherry tomatoes (also for Ron, but I will eat them if he won't)
That's a lot better than what I normally eat, which is ZERO fruits and vegetables. I can supplement that with Walmart produce. Ron has been supportive of this endeavor. He wants me to be healthy, even as he takes me out to eat!
Well, the caffeine kicked in. Headache is half gone. I think I will drink another Diet Mountain Dew and look around online for a bit.
The nice thing about living in a house, I'm not going to wake up the neighbors when I take a shower, whenever that is.
Later on he is taking me to Walmart. I was shocked when he offered.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Same old argument
I started heating up the lentils and Ron decided he wanted to come drink in the kitchen. He had some trouble word finding.
I had a little learning curve with the rice pot but finally realized it was done. I got Ron to eat some lentils and ham over rice, and dished some up for myself.
But while this all happened Ron and I had a discussion. He liked the lentils and ham. The ham comes in a can. It is very good, even Biscuit went after it. It is cheap, and a great source of protein.
I love lentils, easy to cook, good taste. Rice is easy if you eat it right away.
I have both on hand because I don't always have reliable transportation to the grocery store. It's just smart to have some food on hand.
Ron and I were talking. He liked the meal and said we should buy the supplies for #6. #6, who has been nothing but a thorn in our side and provided ZERO anything. The welfare cheat. The guy "married" to an illegal. The guy who came over and told me he was taking MY driveway "because he needed it".
No. I told him absolutely not. Ron said we would take him some food, along with a stern warning not to ask for more.
Oh, yeah, we're going to show the guy we're a food bank and tell him not to come? No way. We had an argument.
Ron felt it would be "kind" to #6, and that he would respect our boundaries. I told him the guy has a proven track record of DISrespecting our boundaries.
I think the final point for Ron was when I told him, right now the guy has very little food on hand, probably only enough for a week. But he also assumes we have the same amount of food. Let's not disrupt that.
Let him assume we are also too dumb to prepare for bad times. By the way, the government TELLS people to have extra food/water on hand.
It went around and around for a while but Ron finally agreed. Like I told him, 2 good brains over there, supposedly. If they can drive, he works, make and raise babies, and cheat welfare, they can certainly plan to keep some extra food on hand.
If things do get bad and he comes over, I will be wearing my fat pants, the ones that fall off of me. I will ask HIM for food and that should be the end of it. At least in a short term disaster.
I had a little learning curve with the rice pot but finally realized it was done. I got Ron to eat some lentils and ham over rice, and dished some up for myself.
But while this all happened Ron and I had a discussion. He liked the lentils and ham. The ham comes in a can. It is very good, even Biscuit went after it. It is cheap, and a great source of protein.
I love lentils, easy to cook, good taste. Rice is easy if you eat it right away.
I have both on hand because I don't always have reliable transportation to the grocery store. It's just smart to have some food on hand.
Ron and I were talking. He liked the meal and said we should buy the supplies for #6. #6, who has been nothing but a thorn in our side and provided ZERO anything. The welfare cheat. The guy "married" to an illegal. The guy who came over and told me he was taking MY driveway "because he needed it".
No. I told him absolutely not. Ron said we would take him some food, along with a stern warning not to ask for more.
Oh, yeah, we're going to show the guy we're a food bank and tell him not to come? No way. We had an argument.
Ron felt it would be "kind" to #6, and that he would respect our boundaries. I told him the guy has a proven track record of DISrespecting our boundaries.
I think the final point for Ron was when I told him, right now the guy has very little food on hand, probably only enough for a week. But he also assumes we have the same amount of food. Let's not disrupt that.
Let him assume we are also too dumb to prepare for bad times. By the way, the government TELLS people to have extra food/water on hand.
It went around and around for a while but Ron finally agreed. Like I told him, 2 good brains over there, supposedly. If they can drive, he works, make and raise babies, and cheat welfare, they can certainly plan to keep some extra food on hand.
If things do get bad and he comes over, I will be wearing my fat pants, the ones that fall off of me. I will ask HIM for food and that should be the end of it. At least in a short term disaster.
Produce box
I logged into my account at the appropriate time and clicked on customize. They had a list of stuff they had already planned to send me, and I had the option to edit.
I took out the mushrooms, but, if I liked mushrooms, they had a lot. I also got rid of the cilantro. They had a pretty good proportion of organics, which I was "allowed" to buy even though I have a "conventional" box. I got mainly seasonal produce, citrus, etc. I did splurge on some organic dates. They weren't much more than the conventional dates and not a large package. I got potatoes, stuff like that.
I would like to eat seasonally, stuff like that has got to have more nutrition, but I did get some blueberries from Chile because I love berries. I liked how they had each imperfection listed so I could decide if it was something I wanted.
A lot of it was "surplus" - too much of it on the market. Other things had cosmetic issues that won't matter to me.
So far it has been a good experience.
Now I'm off to snack on my sugar snap peas because I have more coming on Friday.
I took out the mushrooms, but, if I liked mushrooms, they had a lot. I also got rid of the cilantro. They had a pretty good proportion of organics, which I was "allowed" to buy even though I have a "conventional" box. I got mainly seasonal produce, citrus, etc. I did splurge on some organic dates. They weren't much more than the conventional dates and not a large package. I got potatoes, stuff like that.
I would like to eat seasonally, stuff like that has got to have more nutrition, but I did get some blueberries from Chile because I love berries. I liked how they had each imperfection listed so I could decide if it was something I wanted.
A lot of it was "surplus" - too much of it on the market. Other things had cosmetic issues that won't matter to me.
So far it has been a good experience.
Now I'm off to snack on my sugar snap peas because I have more coming on Friday.
Mayo tooth
Yesterday I woke up with a crushing headache. It did not abate all day, got a little better around bedtime, went to bed, it came back and woke me up.
I got up and got online in the middle of the night. Ron was thrilled when he woke up and found me awake. We talked a little bit and I went back to bed.
Got up this morning, exhausted and a crushing headache. I was pretty miserable. But, self-employed, I have no backup, it is just me. If I don't go nothing happens.
I drank a Diet Mountain Dew and took some Excedrin. They didn't really help. Then I took another Diet Mountain Dew with me on our ride to work. About halfway to work, the headache erased as if I'd flipped a switch. Thank God.
We got to work and I could work, I have to do a lot of heavy lifting in the course of my day. About 40 pounds is my max. I helped Ron, got it all done, got the delivery and stocked it.
At one point we sat down with a couple of sandwiches from our delivery and ate them. We hardly ever eat together unless we go out. But we did, today.
The sandwich was good, but a little dry to my taste. I told Ron "My Dad would put more mayo".
Dad loves mayo and used to feed me peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, when he was a single parent. Sometimes he would make me a fried SPAM sandwich with mayo, on toast, but those were special occasion. I never knew about peanut butter and jelly until I met my stepmother.
So Dad always slathered everything he could, in mayo, and lots of it. We went through it pretty frequently, one of those items always on the list.
Side note: I do have a theory about that, I believe our brains (Dad's and mine) function better on a high-fat diet and we naturally crave what we need. It's just a theory.
The story ends back in 2002. We had the deli and I helped run the deli AND the vending machines, and, all this time, undiagnosed and unmedicated.
So, Judy always made the chicken salad for sandwiches. I was happy to have her do it because everyone liked her cooking.
One day she called in sick. Well, crap. I had to make the chicken salad. I made what I thought was a good-looking chicken salad and served it to everyone who asked.
Later on, Debbie (our other girl) came in early and covered for me so I could help Ron stock vending machines and do other work. We were in the stockroom doing an inventory when a woman knocked on the door.
I opened the door. "Are you Heather?" she queried softly. Yes, I told her, I was. "Did you make the chicken salad tonight?" Aw, I thought, I'm getting a compliment! I proudly told her I had.
"Honey" she said, reaching forward and putting her hand on my arm. "Don't ever make the chicken salad, again. That poor chicken was drowning in mayo."
Well.
So, I accept I have more of a mayo tooth than the average person. Other than that, though, the sandwich was good.
We went back to work and finished it all, it looked great when we left. I even had time to squash up all my cardboard before we left.
We had literally just gotten outside when our ride arrived, 7 minutes early. We boarded gleefully, happy to be going home. I was exhausted and ready for a nap.
Ron was ready for some vodka.
We had a straight trip home. While at work, we talked, and Ron, on his own, said he would take me to Walmart tomorrow. So I don't have to pay $40 for a cab. Good. I can take care of everything. He also had a few additions to the list. He goes through AAA batteries so fast I think he eats them.
We got home and he asked me if I had taken "all your crap" off the back of the toilet. I had all my "lady business" on the back of the toilet.
On that note, I haven't had any spotting in days now. So the Wild Yam is really helping.
I took it all off last night, and told him that. He straddled the toilet, facing the wall, and took the lid off. He tinkered with the toilet for a while, cursing a lot and flushing occasionally. I don't think he "fixed" it but at least he didn't "break" it. He finished up, put everything back, and went off to drink while I laid in bed with Torbie.
She was so awesome to me last night. I put my hand by her house, she was in it, and she stretched out a paw and put it on top of my hand. She is such a gift, I will never take her for granted.
I had a pretty good nap, slept pretty hard. Now I am just waiting to select what items I put in my produce delivery box. That arrives Friday. I am a little picky when it comes to vegetables, I don't like radishes, for instance.
But, as I proved the last time I had produce delivery, if I have it I will eat a lot more than I would have otherwise. I got the conventional box because I had a bad experience with worms in organic corn, before.
I have to do something with my lentils tonight. I got out the rice pot and will make a little rice, and make lentil and rice for dinner. That should be very soothing. Then I will freeze lentils & rice to eat later - that's going to be great when I am depressed.
I'm not hungry yet so I will wait. It is always better to wait on eating for me during/after a migraine. I am pretty thirsty though so I have been drinking. I got some nice orange drink mix yesterday, with my Walmart delivery.
That worked so well I told everyone about it today.
That's it for now. I will come back and post after I do the produce thing.
I got up and got online in the middle of the night. Ron was thrilled when he woke up and found me awake. We talked a little bit and I went back to bed.
Got up this morning, exhausted and a crushing headache. I was pretty miserable. But, self-employed, I have no backup, it is just me. If I don't go nothing happens.
I drank a Diet Mountain Dew and took some Excedrin. They didn't really help. Then I took another Diet Mountain Dew with me on our ride to work. About halfway to work, the headache erased as if I'd flipped a switch. Thank God.
We got to work and I could work, I have to do a lot of heavy lifting in the course of my day. About 40 pounds is my max. I helped Ron, got it all done, got the delivery and stocked it.
At one point we sat down with a couple of sandwiches from our delivery and ate them. We hardly ever eat together unless we go out. But we did, today.
The sandwich was good, but a little dry to my taste. I told Ron "My Dad would put more mayo".
Dad loves mayo and used to feed me peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, when he was a single parent. Sometimes he would make me a fried SPAM sandwich with mayo, on toast, but those were special occasion. I never knew about peanut butter and jelly until I met my stepmother.
So Dad always slathered everything he could, in mayo, and lots of it. We went through it pretty frequently, one of those items always on the list.
Side note: I do have a theory about that, I believe our brains (Dad's and mine) function better on a high-fat diet and we naturally crave what we need. It's just a theory.
The story ends back in 2002. We had the deli and I helped run the deli AND the vending machines, and, all this time, undiagnosed and unmedicated.
So, Judy always made the chicken salad for sandwiches. I was happy to have her do it because everyone liked her cooking.
One day she called in sick. Well, crap. I had to make the chicken salad. I made what I thought was a good-looking chicken salad and served it to everyone who asked.
Later on, Debbie (our other girl) came in early and covered for me so I could help Ron stock vending machines and do other work. We were in the stockroom doing an inventory when a woman knocked on the door.
I opened the door. "Are you Heather?" she queried softly. Yes, I told her, I was. "Did you make the chicken salad tonight?" Aw, I thought, I'm getting a compliment! I proudly told her I had.
"Honey" she said, reaching forward and putting her hand on my arm. "Don't ever make the chicken salad, again. That poor chicken was drowning in mayo."
Well.
So, I accept I have more of a mayo tooth than the average person. Other than that, though, the sandwich was good.
We went back to work and finished it all, it looked great when we left. I even had time to squash up all my cardboard before we left.
We had literally just gotten outside when our ride arrived, 7 minutes early. We boarded gleefully, happy to be going home. I was exhausted and ready for a nap.
Ron was ready for some vodka.
We had a straight trip home. While at work, we talked, and Ron, on his own, said he would take me to Walmart tomorrow. So I don't have to pay $40 for a cab. Good. I can take care of everything. He also had a few additions to the list. He goes through AAA batteries so fast I think he eats them.
We got home and he asked me if I had taken "all your crap" off the back of the toilet. I had all my "lady business" on the back of the toilet.
On that note, I haven't had any spotting in days now. So the Wild Yam is really helping.
I took it all off last night, and told him that. He straddled the toilet, facing the wall, and took the lid off. He tinkered with the toilet for a while, cursing a lot and flushing occasionally. I don't think he "fixed" it but at least he didn't "break" it. He finished up, put everything back, and went off to drink while I laid in bed with Torbie.
She was so awesome to me last night. I put my hand by her house, she was in it, and she stretched out a paw and put it on top of my hand. She is such a gift, I will never take her for granted.
I had a pretty good nap, slept pretty hard. Now I am just waiting to select what items I put in my produce delivery box. That arrives Friday. I am a little picky when it comes to vegetables, I don't like radishes, for instance.
But, as I proved the last time I had produce delivery, if I have it I will eat a lot more than I would have otherwise. I got the conventional box because I had a bad experience with worms in organic corn, before.
I have to do something with my lentils tonight. I got out the rice pot and will make a little rice, and make lentil and rice for dinner. That should be very soothing. Then I will freeze lentils & rice to eat later - that's going to be great when I am depressed.
I'm not hungry yet so I will wait. It is always better to wait on eating for me during/after a migraine. I am pretty thirsty though so I have been drinking. I got some nice orange drink mix yesterday, with my Walmart delivery.
That worked so well I told everyone about it today.
That's it for now. I will come back and post after I do the produce thing.
Monday morning
I got a little rest but still have the migraine, and feel like crap on a stick. Horrible.
But the show must go on, machines need stocking, delivery coming. So I'll go. It won't be a long day, just a few hours.
I can hardly wait to come home and go to bed.
But the show must go on, machines need stocking, delivery coming. So I'll go. It won't be a long day, just a few hours.
I can hardly wait to come home and go to bed.
The migraine came back
Had a migraine all day yesterday. Went to bed. Got a little sleep, woke up around 12:30 AM. Horrible drilling pain in my left temple.
I got up for a while because I sure wasn't sleeping. I am pretty miserable, more so, knowing I have to get up for good in 2 hours.
I think I'm going to try going back to bed.
I got up for a while because I sure wasn't sleeping. I am pretty miserable, more so, knowing I have to get up for good in 2 hours.
I think I'm going to try going back to bed.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Delivery rated
I finished putting the order in about 7:45. The earliest time they said they had was noon today. I said OK and paid $2 extra for that.
I laid down for a while and got up around 11:20. I got dressed, got a message around 20 till that the driver had left the store with my stuff.
I like the sugar free drink mix, and had ordered some of that. They didn't have it in stock so they subbed it, but with stuff I think will work.
She showed up just before noon. I opened the garage door. She had a helper with her and we got everything put up in one trip (I put it in the garage, then shut the door and put everything in the house, so the cats wouldn't escape). I gave her the tip, which she loved.
I am saying I did this because Walmart has an option, after your order, to tip, so clearly they are OK with this.
I checked the order, everything was there and in good shape. I put some of it away. Ron got his jerky and motion sickness pills, I got my stuff. All in good shape and pretty painless for a woman with a migraine.
I would give them five stars, and will definitely do this again. I rated them online as well.
If someone is doing a good job they deserve to hear about it.
It will be a very nice option when I don't have other options. Even with a tip, this is less than the cost of cab fare, one way, so very viable option.
Now I'm going to go lie down again. I still feel pretty awful.
At least now I have something to eat when I feel better.
I laid down for a while and got up around 11:20. I got dressed, got a message around 20 till that the driver had left the store with my stuff.
I like the sugar free drink mix, and had ordered some of that. They didn't have it in stock so they subbed it, but with stuff I think will work.
She showed up just before noon. I opened the garage door. She had a helper with her and we got everything put up in one trip (I put it in the garage, then shut the door and put everything in the house, so the cats wouldn't escape). I gave her the tip, which she loved.
I am saying I did this because Walmart has an option, after your order, to tip, so clearly they are OK with this.
I checked the order, everything was there and in good shape. I put some of it away. Ron got his jerky and motion sickness pills, I got my stuff. All in good shape and pretty painless for a woman with a migraine.
I would give them five stars, and will definitely do this again. I rated them online as well.
If someone is doing a good job they deserve to hear about it.
It will be a very nice option when I don't have other options. Even with a tip, this is less than the cost of cab fare, one way, so very viable option.
Now I'm going to go lie down again. I still feel pretty awful.
At least now I have something to eat when I feel better.
A migraine and a delivery
I had to eat my dinner in 5 minutes last night, but I did it.
I always wonder how much you want to hear about what we go through with paratransit. I'll keep it short.
Ron planned "45 minutes" at the restaurant. Our ride to go was late. He had a very ugly tantrum and tried to "forbid" me from talking to the driver because "It makes them slow". I don't like to play head games, so I don't "obey".
Ride was a good 20 minutes late, and then took probably 10-15 minutes to get there. We had about 20 minutes to eat when we got there. Ron got on the phone and said he had "fixed" the ride to come half an hour later. So I relaxed.
You can imagine how I felt when, after ordering, a driver walked in looking for us. Pickup in 10 minutes. The guy did not fix Ron's trip.
A lot of chaos ensued but I managed to gobble my meal, pay, and get him out in time for our pickup. He found the restaurant too noisy, the children in particular, and wanted to get out of there!
We got home, I called my parents. Torbie likes it when I get on the phone, sitting in my chair. It means lap time and she takes it! She gets in my lap for petting, while I talk. She has done this the last couple times. I don't talk on the phone that often.
Chuck had called to say his clutch was dead. So he is going to be out of order for a while. I had to figure out something for groceries. I looked at Aldi first but they didn't have a lot of choices. I had been interested in them because I've never been there.
I decided to to with Walmart. They have done a big campaign lately to promote their pickup and delivery service. Of course I would be interested in the delivery.
I liked what I saw and went to bed without buying anything. I slept pretty well but woke up with a horrific headache. Sort of a proto-migraine. I am functional enough so not calling it "migraine" - but bad.
Bad enough I got up at 6 and took some Excedrin. I drank a Diet Mountain Dew (sometimes caffeine helps) and even had a powdered energy drink that was surprisingly good.
Ron was awake and wanted to tell me all about the "horrible" book he was reading, in great detail, then went back to reading it and shouted at me every time I "bothered" him (not much!).
I got back on the computer, this time with my cell phone and list app open to my Walmart list. I picked out my items. I got shouted at twice, once for asking him if he wanted motion sickness pills, and another time if he wanted jerky. He had given me money which I had put in my account for times like this. The answer was yes, to both.
I picked everything and stayed under budget. I even had enough to buy some crock pot liners for a friend. They didn't have the blueberry drink mix I had liked so much but I have to go in later this week anyway. I even got cat food, they had my guys' favorite flavor.
I had a little trouble checking out. Apparently I had set up an account many years ago. I reset the password and then I was good. I had 2 choices, delivery at noon for $10, or delivery after that for $8. I want to take a nap today so I picked noon.
I accidentally left substitute if not in stock, "on" so I may get some things I didn't plan on, but it's a learning curve. Considering this headache I am just happy I could do it.
I also selected send me text alerts, so I will be kept in the loop. I don't live that far from the store, which is the really sad thing in the whole equation. I have to pay $40 round trip, or a $10 fee, I can't just go. But $10 is a lot cheaper.
That accomplished, I got a little money for a tip (you knew that was coming). YES they get a wage but if someone delivers something to me, especially 12 cans of cat food, I am going to be the "good" stop. I have it next to my phone.
Then I used the toilet. I made a joke earlier about not telling you about bathroom issues, but I will need to share some. Our toilet is getting progressively worse. I have been OK with that as long as what is put into it gets taken out.
This time, my "no clog" toilet clogged. I had a migraine. And I had to plunge the damned thing because Ron's crippled, and would have been utterly awful to me had I asked for help. He blames me if the toilet clogs, makes a lot of ugly comments, gets angry, and I end up plunging anyway.
That is a good test of a man, how does he react when the toilet backs up! I will have to remember that for my next one (Ron's a lot older than me, he's going first).
So I stood over the toilet plunging and plunging and my head was RAGING and I just wanted to puke and curl up with an icepack on my head. But I had to keep plunging because one more flush with it clogged and it would have overflowed. Then I'd have a real mess on my hands. I went, and went, and struggled, and cursed, and prayed.
I didn't think of this when I married a disabled man. I really thought I would have to call a plumber.
I finally figured [censored] it, got undressed, got in the shower. I needed a shower anyway.
I would just bathe, and attack it later. I put my glasses away (well away from Ron's reach) and climbed in, started running the water. The toilet made a burping noise, a belch, and some bubbling noises. What now? I got out and got my glasses.
It had cleared. I took my shower, put my glasses on again, and flushed. It worked as well as it does. OK. It is not going to overflow all over Ron, that is all I cared about.
I got back on the computer, and took some more Excedrin. I feel very unpleasantly accelerated from the caffeine. Ron finished his book and came out to talk.
Now I'm just waiting on my delivery.
I always wonder how much you want to hear about what we go through with paratransit. I'll keep it short.
Ron planned "45 minutes" at the restaurant. Our ride to go was late. He had a very ugly tantrum and tried to "forbid" me from talking to the driver because "It makes them slow". I don't like to play head games, so I don't "obey".
Ride was a good 20 minutes late, and then took probably 10-15 minutes to get there. We had about 20 minutes to eat when we got there. Ron got on the phone and said he had "fixed" the ride to come half an hour later. So I relaxed.
You can imagine how I felt when, after ordering, a driver walked in looking for us. Pickup in 10 minutes. The guy did not fix Ron's trip.
A lot of chaos ensued but I managed to gobble my meal, pay, and get him out in time for our pickup. He found the restaurant too noisy, the children in particular, and wanted to get out of there!
We got home, I called my parents. Torbie likes it when I get on the phone, sitting in my chair. It means lap time and she takes it! She gets in my lap for petting, while I talk. She has done this the last couple times. I don't talk on the phone that often.
Chuck had called to say his clutch was dead. So he is going to be out of order for a while. I had to figure out something for groceries. I looked at Aldi first but they didn't have a lot of choices. I had been interested in them because I've never been there.
I decided to to with Walmart. They have done a big campaign lately to promote their pickup and delivery service. Of course I would be interested in the delivery.
I liked what I saw and went to bed without buying anything. I slept pretty well but woke up with a horrific headache. Sort of a proto-migraine. I am functional enough so not calling it "migraine" - but bad.
Bad enough I got up at 6 and took some Excedrin. I drank a Diet Mountain Dew (sometimes caffeine helps) and even had a powdered energy drink that was surprisingly good.
Ron was awake and wanted to tell me all about the "horrible" book he was reading, in great detail, then went back to reading it and shouted at me every time I "bothered" him (not much!).
I got back on the computer, this time with my cell phone and list app open to my Walmart list. I picked out my items. I got shouted at twice, once for asking him if he wanted motion sickness pills, and another time if he wanted jerky. He had given me money which I had put in my account for times like this. The answer was yes, to both.
I picked everything and stayed under budget. I even had enough to buy some crock pot liners for a friend. They didn't have the blueberry drink mix I had liked so much but I have to go in later this week anyway. I even got cat food, they had my guys' favorite flavor.
I had a little trouble checking out. Apparently I had set up an account many years ago. I reset the password and then I was good. I had 2 choices, delivery at noon for $10, or delivery after that for $8. I want to take a nap today so I picked noon.
I accidentally left substitute if not in stock, "on" so I may get some things I didn't plan on, but it's a learning curve. Considering this headache I am just happy I could do it.
I also selected send me text alerts, so I will be kept in the loop. I don't live that far from the store, which is the really sad thing in the whole equation. I have to pay $40 round trip, or a $10 fee, I can't just go. But $10 is a lot cheaper.
That accomplished, I got a little money for a tip (you knew that was coming). YES they get a wage but if someone delivers something to me, especially 12 cans of cat food, I am going to be the "good" stop. I have it next to my phone.
Then I used the toilet. I made a joke earlier about not telling you about bathroom issues, but I will need to share some. Our toilet is getting progressively worse. I have been OK with that as long as what is put into it gets taken out.
This time, my "no clog" toilet clogged. I had a migraine. And I had to plunge the damned thing because Ron's crippled, and would have been utterly awful to me had I asked for help. He blames me if the toilet clogs, makes a lot of ugly comments, gets angry, and I end up plunging anyway.
That is a good test of a man, how does he react when the toilet backs up! I will have to remember that for my next one (Ron's a lot older than me, he's going first).
So I stood over the toilet plunging and plunging and my head was RAGING and I just wanted to puke and curl up with an icepack on my head. But I had to keep plunging because one more flush with it clogged and it would have overflowed. Then I'd have a real mess on my hands. I went, and went, and struggled, and cursed, and prayed.
I didn't think of this when I married a disabled man. I really thought I would have to call a plumber.
I finally figured [censored] it, got undressed, got in the shower. I needed a shower anyway.
I would just bathe, and attack it later. I put my glasses away (well away from Ron's reach) and climbed in, started running the water. The toilet made a burping noise, a belch, and some bubbling noises. What now? I got out and got my glasses.
It had cleared. I took my shower, put my glasses on again, and flushed. It worked as well as it does. OK. It is not going to overflow all over Ron, that is all I cared about.
I got back on the computer, and took some more Excedrin. I feel very unpleasantly accelerated from the caffeine. Ron finished his book and came out to talk.
Now I'm just waiting on my delivery.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
I can't take him anywhere
Another late ride, another tantrum. Being ugly now.
I told him, next time he wants to take me out I will say no.
Finally got the flea drops
I slept pretty well and got up early, took my shower, got dressed, helped Ron. I fed the cats and got ready to go.
Our ride came on time. Ron did the whole "I am blind because you don't believe in Jesus" thing. I do not think I will tell my parents about that development when we talk today. Ron said he was going to keep (harassing) the driver until she "believed". It doesn't work that way at all.
I made a joke about talking about my cats the whole trip, every trip, which is pretty much what Ron is doing. He didn't process it.
We went in and I parked him at a table. It was slightly wobbly but he wasn't sitting there so it didn't matter. Well, it did to him. While I shopped he got a manager over there and they "fixed" the table for him.
I went and bought everything we needed. I got a little out of breath pushing the cart, which had about 15 cases of bottled drinks on it, not counting the canned soda and snacks.
I did not have a headache today. My body likes lentils.
Oh, about the lentils, I cooked them down into a nice thick stew. I don't like runny lentils. I added some more spice as I cooked and I am very happy with how they turned out.
Jack came, we went to work. I got everything loaded into the fridge/stockroom and helped Ron. I was at a busy point of the day, hustling, I walked past a woman seated at a table. She was not disabled. Very few overtly disabled people at work.
Anyway, I walked past. She stuck a dollar out at me and said she wanted "One of those Diet Cokes". She was seated perhaps 7 feet from the vending machine that sells Diet Coke. The machine was working. I smiled at her and told her the drinks on my cart were hot, but I had "some nice cold ones in that vending machine over there" and walked away.
How lazy can you get! "I won't walk 3 steps to a vending machine, you sell it to me". Some people want me to do that. They want to make me sell them something, they don't want to use a machine because they can't boss it around.
Then we had the woman with a $20. She was not sick. I was busy so I checked it to make sure it was a real $20 and Ron gave her the change. He longer makes change alone because he had a problem with a woman who gave him a $1 bill, told him it was a $20, and got change. Ron didn't ask anyone to check it because everyone was honest, right?
Wrong. I caught her and her buddy laughing about it when I caught up to them. You never saw someone settle down as fast as they did when they saw Heather, "The Pit Bull" coming for them. She gave me a $20 and said she was "kidding".
I had another incident where a woman stole soda from Ron, started walking off with it. I shouted at her to stop and give it back. She said she was "kidding" and "it would have been so funny to see Ron react when the soda was gone". I told her no one was laughing and give it back or I would contact the in-plant police. She did, still protesting it was "a joke". She never tried it again.
Ron said, regarding the change, sometimes he gets people who approach him "for change" when I am not around. He always tells them he is sorry, but he can't do it, and why. Then they try to guilt him into "just this one time, I'm not like her" etc. But when I come back and Ron asks aloud does anyone still want change, they are silent. I think they are also trying to scam him.
At any rate, the usual stock and stuff (all the purchases, in the stockroom) we do on Saturday. Since we went in yesterday it didn't need much.
Ron informed me he had cancelled our ride home, they were going to come very late, there wasn't anything to do (not much) and he wanted to go. So, once I got everything stuffed we left and called Arturo.
He came in about 10 minutes. We decided to go back to the vet (they had called Ron and told him they were for certain open today) and get the flea medicine. Ron had given me the $200 for it. Thank God. That's a huge bite out of my budget. Cats are worth it. But glad he paid for it.
He said he would "try", and he did. He does a pretty good job of funding the cats. I do all the work but he helps buy the food, takes me to the pet store, etc.
We went to the vet and the open sign was not lighted. I got out and tried the door anyway, and it opened. I went in and paid for the medicine, made a joke about Biscuit needing a "cat-band". We went home.
Torbie sniffed the bag intently, Ron said it must have smelled like other cats. I took a nap with Torbie and Biscuit, for a little bit.
#6 was making noise, lots of door opening (he got a dark red door and has a light pink home, it clashes horribly, but it is "big and fancy" - it also makes a lot of noise when they open/close it. So I had to hear that. Then lots of noise from next door, garbage can. He had another guy with him in the driveway when we pulled up so I assume they are doing yet more remodeling work. Then they turned on the music. I am so sick of mexican music.
Got through that, they finally turned it down, and Ron started making noise in his room. I finally said screw it and got up. Watched a little TV and got on the computer.
My package from Swanson arrives Wednesday. Everything else is pretty quiet online. I had no comments on the blog :( .
Ron said he wanted to buy me dinner so I am going to "let" him. Our ride comes in about 20 minutes so I had better get ready.
I will catch you later.
Our ride came on time. Ron did the whole "I am blind because you don't believe in Jesus" thing. I do not think I will tell my parents about that development when we talk today. Ron said he was going to keep (harassing) the driver until she "believed". It doesn't work that way at all.
I made a joke about talking about my cats the whole trip, every trip, which is pretty much what Ron is doing. He didn't process it.
We went in and I parked him at a table. It was slightly wobbly but he wasn't sitting there so it didn't matter. Well, it did to him. While I shopped he got a manager over there and they "fixed" the table for him.
I went and bought everything we needed. I got a little out of breath pushing the cart, which had about 15 cases of bottled drinks on it, not counting the canned soda and snacks.
I did not have a headache today. My body likes lentils.
Oh, about the lentils, I cooked them down into a nice thick stew. I don't like runny lentils. I added some more spice as I cooked and I am very happy with how they turned out.
Jack came, we went to work. I got everything loaded into the fridge/stockroom and helped Ron. I was at a busy point of the day, hustling, I walked past a woman seated at a table. She was not disabled. Very few overtly disabled people at work.
Anyway, I walked past. She stuck a dollar out at me and said she wanted "One of those Diet Cokes". She was seated perhaps 7 feet from the vending machine that sells Diet Coke. The machine was working. I smiled at her and told her the drinks on my cart were hot, but I had "some nice cold ones in that vending machine over there" and walked away.
How lazy can you get! "I won't walk 3 steps to a vending machine, you sell it to me". Some people want me to do that. They want to make me sell them something, they don't want to use a machine because they can't boss it around.
Then we had the woman with a $20. She was not sick. I was busy so I checked it to make sure it was a real $20 and Ron gave her the change. He longer makes change alone because he had a problem with a woman who gave him a $1 bill, told him it was a $20, and got change. Ron didn't ask anyone to check it because everyone was honest, right?
Wrong. I caught her and her buddy laughing about it when I caught up to them. You never saw someone settle down as fast as they did when they saw Heather, "The Pit Bull" coming for them. She gave me a $20 and said she was "kidding".
I had another incident where a woman stole soda from Ron, started walking off with it. I shouted at her to stop and give it back. She said she was "kidding" and "it would have been so funny to see Ron react when the soda was gone". I told her no one was laughing and give it back or I would contact the in-plant police. She did, still protesting it was "a joke". She never tried it again.
Ron said, regarding the change, sometimes he gets people who approach him "for change" when I am not around. He always tells them he is sorry, but he can't do it, and why. Then they try to guilt him into "just this one time, I'm not like her" etc. But when I come back and Ron asks aloud does anyone still want change, they are silent. I think they are also trying to scam him.
At any rate, the usual stock and stuff (all the purchases, in the stockroom) we do on Saturday. Since we went in yesterday it didn't need much.
Ron informed me he had cancelled our ride home, they were going to come very late, there wasn't anything to do (not much) and he wanted to go. So, once I got everything stuffed we left and called Arturo.
He came in about 10 minutes. We decided to go back to the vet (they had called Ron and told him they were for certain open today) and get the flea medicine. Ron had given me the $200 for it. Thank God. That's a huge bite out of my budget. Cats are worth it. But glad he paid for it.
He said he would "try", and he did. He does a pretty good job of funding the cats. I do all the work but he helps buy the food, takes me to the pet store, etc.
We went to the vet and the open sign was not lighted. I got out and tried the door anyway, and it opened. I went in and paid for the medicine, made a joke about Biscuit needing a "cat-band". We went home.
Torbie sniffed the bag intently, Ron said it must have smelled like other cats. I took a nap with Torbie and Biscuit, for a little bit.
#6 was making noise, lots of door opening (he got a dark red door and has a light pink home, it clashes horribly, but it is "big and fancy" - it also makes a lot of noise when they open/close it. So I had to hear that. Then lots of noise from next door, garbage can. He had another guy with him in the driveway when we pulled up so I assume they are doing yet more remodeling work. Then they turned on the music. I am so sick of mexican music.
Got through that, they finally turned it down, and Ron started making noise in his room. I finally said screw it and got up. Watched a little TV and got on the computer.
My package from Swanson arrives Wednesday. Everything else is pretty quiet online. I had no comments on the blog :( .
Ron said he wanted to buy me dinner so I am going to "let" him. Our ride comes in about 20 minutes so I had better get ready.
I will catch you later.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Salt and pepper lentils
1 cup lentils, soaked in one cup water (do this ideally the day before)
2.5 cups water or stock (stock for everything would be best)
3/4 t ground black pepper
1 t minced garlic
1/4 t salt
Enough cut up small red potatoes to cover the bottom of your pot, about 2-3 cups. Don't use the big brown ones.
Cut up potatoes and put them into the 2.5 cups in your pot. When you're done, add the spices, turn on the burner, and get up to boiling. Add lentils slowly so it doesn't stop boiling. Stir well, reduce heat, cover and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Done in 30 minutes. Had some "gravy", it was good. Plan to have it for dinner tomorrow night. Ron won't eat it, but he bought half a dozen five-layer burritos today.
This would be really good, I bet, with some cut up sausage in it.
I had another bite, it's good, but it's got some heat. If you don't like pepper I would cut it in half.
2.5 cups water or stock (stock for everything would be best)
3/4 t ground black pepper
1 t minced garlic
1/4 t salt
Enough cut up small red potatoes to cover the bottom of your pot, about 2-3 cups. Don't use the big brown ones.
Cut up potatoes and put them into the 2.5 cups in your pot. When you're done, add the spices, turn on the burner, and get up to boiling. Add lentils slowly so it doesn't stop boiling. Stir well, reduce heat, cover and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Done in 30 minutes. Had some "gravy", it was good. Plan to have it for dinner tomorrow night. Ron won't eat it, but he bought half a dozen five-layer burritos today.
This would be really good, I bet, with some cut up sausage in it.
I had another bite, it's good, but it's got some heat. If you don't like pepper I would cut it in half.
Trust me, I wanted to zap him today
So, my day.
Well, I slept pretty good last night. I got up and took my shower. I used my new deodorant stone. I love those things, I don't stink and they last forever. The trick, wash in shower as usual. When you get out, DON'T dry your armpits. Take stone and rub over each pit. Put it back in the holder. You are done.
I have gotten out of the habit of wearing highly scented things. About 20 years ago I worked in an office, we couldn't wear scented anything due to people with chemical sensitivity. I know I am sensitive to scents when I have a migraine. A heavy perfume is like a bat to the head.
Then working food service with Ron for 20 years, I can't wear perfume because it might transfer to the food, and who wants "Rain Garden" potato chips? No one, that's who. Ron has allergies to some fragrance as well, plus my headaches, I just got out of the habit.
So an unscented deodorant stone works great for me. I use regular shampoo and soap but that's about it. I do have some perfume but I very seldom wear it.
Then I sat on the toilet and decided to remove my tampon from last night. I had used an ultra. If my period started, this sucker can take half an ounce and then some. I couldn't get it. I tried it a few different ways, nothing.
This is the first time I have had the issue. I guessed I had better ask Ron to help. I went in the bedroom and asked for his help, put his good hand on the string. I could feel him tugging but nothing. Then he wanted to get the vice grips but we had a pickup bearing down on us. I told him not now, and got dressed.
I did vaguely remember an incident as a young teen. I just left it in there for a while to think about how naughty it had been, and the next time I tried I got it.
I got Ron to change his shirt and presentable. Into the wheelchair. Got all our crap on the back of the wheelchair. The vehicle arrived.
I rolled him out and we boarded. Then Ron started with his "It's all your fault I'm blind because you won't believe". He even said it directly to her "It is your fault I am blind." The driver was, like, WTF they don't pay me for this, turned up her GPS very loud to drown Ron out, and floored it all the way to work.
Like he did with the other driver, Ron also accused her of cheating "If they'll cheat with you, they'll cheat on you, you're going to hurt if you don't stop that". WHAT the hell is going on?! We got off.
Ron was in an extremely bad mood all day, vile tempered, short, abusive, demanding, ugly, etc. He kept telling me to work but there was nothing to do. I finally filled out my health insurance check and mailed that, it made him happy. I called it "a bill" because he goes ballistic when I mention my insurance. As far as he's concerned, I should carry no insurance and "the hospital will take care of you". I told him that only works if you are illegal.
He finally occupied himself with sorting change for a while.
The workers must have just been paid today. Everyone had a $20 and wanted change. One guy was a regular. I had to go to 3 machines total before I got enough ones to make change for him. Then a woman came up.
She is not a customer at all, not even occasional. She only came to me because I was there and could presumably make change for her. I told her I had already used up my change on the first guy.
She asked again if I could make change, deep wet coughing, snorting mucus into her sinus cavity, wiping her nose on the back of her hand, coughing all over the money she extended to me. You couldn't have paid me $500 to take that bill. And she is not a customer.
It is particularly frustrating because these guys get GOOD sick leave, and excellent medical. But no, she had to come to work and share the germs.
I put on my best sad face and told her I was sorry, but I really didn't have any change, I had given it to the other guy. She said it was OK but I could tell she was a little peeved. She left, taking her germs with her.
Later I explained to Ron, and he agreed completely: I did the right thing. We can't afford for me to get sick.
The other vendor leaves a radio on in the stockroom. It is impossible to get to the radio, the way they have it arranged. It was playing love songs every time I got dragged in there to help Ron, and it drove me nuts.
We finished everything and left. He had a bucket with $100 in nickels (it had a screw on lid, the Walmart pantry canisters are surprisingly robust), in a bag in his lap. We were going to the bank.
We had a good ride to the bank. Until we got there and the armored truck was blocking the wheelchair ramp. Our driver asked them to move up. The security guard asked them to move up. Nothing.
We finally pulled into a parking spot and unloaded Ron. Finally seeing a man in a wheelchair who actually needed the ramp, they pulled up. But not before the young female occupant giggled and flirted with the security guard.
Oh, come on. I had already had a long and difficult day. I really didn't need mating games on top of it.
We went into the bank, we were met by the manager. I asked him if he could "have a word" with the armored car company as this has been an ongoing problem. He said he would.
Whether he does or not is anyone's guess, but I feel better for asking.
We finished our business. Ron decided he wanted to take a cab straight to the liquor store [facepalm], then Taco Bell, and home.
I mentioned the vet was on the way and asked if we could stop by the vet to get the flea medicine. Ron said yes, and gave me enough to cover the flea medicine. I appreciated that because it would have been a third of my budget, and I still have to do my auto pays and buy groceries for 2 weeks.
So we compromised, liquor store (he knows I won't get out or help), Taco Bell, vet, home.
But when we got close to the liquor store I said "Why don't you drop me at the Taco Bell, and I can get them going while you 2 get the liquor?" They couldn't argue with my logic so I was not a part of the liquor in any way.
I know some of you will disagree, but it is very important to Ron that I condone the alcohol in some way, and opting out like I did meant I wouldn't be sucked into sick head games.
I got dropped at Taco Bell. The other one, near our home, is not well run or managed. This one, the one time I went in, was fine. I went in and ordered.
The cab came back right before they gave me my food. I guess I look like a "Heather", they didn't call my name, they just walked over and handed it to me.
I called the vet, just to make sure they were open. And they weren't. Ron wanted to go anyway and they had a note up in the door. . We went home.
The cab driver put the alcohol in the garage and I got Ron and the food in the house. I ate and took my pills, then went to bed. But, after about an hour he either "forgot" or thought he was "being quiet" and called an old school friend to pick at him.
The friend thinks I am just the greatest thing in the world, and Ron is lucky to have me. All of Ron's friends say that. It really bugs Ron most times.
This man is also a Christian. Ron likes to give him a hard time over that, asking difficult questions, etc. I don't think it's kind. Ron is not a true seeker, he just wants to make everyone miserable in their faith.
He goes on and on, attacking my faith, and then says 'Don't lose your faith or God will hold it against me" well, don't be a toxic cloud and I won't be in danger!
I thought about getting up and saying something to him, but I was taking a nap. I calculated getting up, talking to him, and then going back to bed. The probability of going to sleep again. Unlikely.
I got up. Torbie got up with me. She had been laying on the heated mattress pad. I pulled away the covers on half of the bed so the cats can sleep on the "warm". She really enjoys it on her old bones.
I went to the bathroom and got into position. I gave a yank and the tampon came out. Thank God. I noticed very little spotting on it so the Wild Yam is working. I would have had a lot more a month ago. Especially considering the length of time it had to work.
Ron went to bed and has been asleep for a while, I'm viewing it as a break. Things are at a pretty sad state when I can have toxic, abusive Ron, or no Ron at all. It's making me prefer my own company and want to avoid his.
And that's a really sad state.
At any rate, my lentils will not cook themselves so I'm going to do that. He had planned to go out tonight but I said no.
I have to get up at 4 AM tomorrow so I had better get going.
Well, I slept pretty good last night. I got up and took my shower. I used my new deodorant stone. I love those things, I don't stink and they last forever. The trick, wash in shower as usual. When you get out, DON'T dry your armpits. Take stone and rub over each pit. Put it back in the holder. You are done.
I have gotten out of the habit of wearing highly scented things. About 20 years ago I worked in an office, we couldn't wear scented anything due to people with chemical sensitivity. I know I am sensitive to scents when I have a migraine. A heavy perfume is like a bat to the head.
Then working food service with Ron for 20 years, I can't wear perfume because it might transfer to the food, and who wants "Rain Garden" potato chips? No one, that's who. Ron has allergies to some fragrance as well, plus my headaches, I just got out of the habit.
So an unscented deodorant stone works great for me. I use regular shampoo and soap but that's about it. I do have some perfume but I very seldom wear it.
Then I sat on the toilet and decided to remove my tampon from last night. I had used an ultra. If my period started, this sucker can take half an ounce and then some. I couldn't get it. I tried it a few different ways, nothing.
This is the first time I have had the issue. I guessed I had better ask Ron to help. I went in the bedroom and asked for his help, put his good hand on the string. I could feel him tugging but nothing. Then he wanted to get the vice grips but we had a pickup bearing down on us. I told him not now, and got dressed.
I did vaguely remember an incident as a young teen. I just left it in there for a while to think about how naughty it had been, and the next time I tried I got it.
I got Ron to change his shirt and presentable. Into the wheelchair. Got all our crap on the back of the wheelchair. The vehicle arrived.
I rolled him out and we boarded. Then Ron started with his "It's all your fault I'm blind because you won't believe". He even said it directly to her "It is your fault I am blind." The driver was, like, WTF they don't pay me for this, turned up her GPS very loud to drown Ron out, and floored it all the way to work.
Like he did with the other driver, Ron also accused her of cheating "If they'll cheat with you, they'll cheat on you, you're going to hurt if you don't stop that". WHAT the hell is going on?! We got off.
Ron was in an extremely bad mood all day, vile tempered, short, abusive, demanding, ugly, etc. He kept telling me to work but there was nothing to do. I finally filled out my health insurance check and mailed that, it made him happy. I called it "a bill" because he goes ballistic when I mention my insurance. As far as he's concerned, I should carry no insurance and "the hospital will take care of you". I told him that only works if you are illegal.
He finally occupied himself with sorting change for a while.
The workers must have just been paid today. Everyone had a $20 and wanted change. One guy was a regular. I had to go to 3 machines total before I got enough ones to make change for him. Then a woman came up.
She is not a customer at all, not even occasional. She only came to me because I was there and could presumably make change for her. I told her I had already used up my change on the first guy.
She asked again if I could make change, deep wet coughing, snorting mucus into her sinus cavity, wiping her nose on the back of her hand, coughing all over the money she extended to me. You couldn't have paid me $500 to take that bill. And she is not a customer.
It is particularly frustrating because these guys get GOOD sick leave, and excellent medical. But no, she had to come to work and share the germs.
I put on my best sad face and told her I was sorry, but I really didn't have any change, I had given it to the other guy. She said it was OK but I could tell she was a little peeved. She left, taking her germs with her.
Later I explained to Ron, and he agreed completely: I did the right thing. We can't afford for me to get sick.
The other vendor leaves a radio on in the stockroom. It is impossible to get to the radio, the way they have it arranged. It was playing love songs every time I got dragged in there to help Ron, and it drove me nuts.
We finished everything and left. He had a bucket with $100 in nickels (it had a screw on lid, the Walmart pantry canisters are surprisingly robust), in a bag in his lap. We were going to the bank.
We had a good ride to the bank. Until we got there and the armored truck was blocking the wheelchair ramp. Our driver asked them to move up. The security guard asked them to move up. Nothing.
We finally pulled into a parking spot and unloaded Ron. Finally seeing a man in a wheelchair who actually needed the ramp, they pulled up. But not before the young female occupant giggled and flirted with the security guard.
Oh, come on. I had already had a long and difficult day. I really didn't need mating games on top of it.
We went into the bank, we were met by the manager. I asked him if he could "have a word" with the armored car company as this has been an ongoing problem. He said he would.
Whether he does or not is anyone's guess, but I feel better for asking.
We finished our business. Ron decided he wanted to take a cab straight to the liquor store [facepalm], then Taco Bell, and home.
I mentioned the vet was on the way and asked if we could stop by the vet to get the flea medicine. Ron said yes, and gave me enough to cover the flea medicine. I appreciated that because it would have been a third of my budget, and I still have to do my auto pays and buy groceries for 2 weeks.
So we compromised, liquor store (he knows I won't get out or help), Taco Bell, vet, home.
But when we got close to the liquor store I said "Why don't you drop me at the Taco Bell, and I can get them going while you 2 get the liquor?" They couldn't argue with my logic so I was not a part of the liquor in any way.
I know some of you will disagree, but it is very important to Ron that I condone the alcohol in some way, and opting out like I did meant I wouldn't be sucked into sick head games.
I got dropped at Taco Bell. The other one, near our home, is not well run or managed. This one, the one time I went in, was fine. I went in and ordered.
The cab came back right before they gave me my food. I guess I look like a "Heather", they didn't call my name, they just walked over and handed it to me.
I called the vet, just to make sure they were open. And they weren't. Ron wanted to go anyway and they had a note up in the door. . We went home.
The cab driver put the alcohol in the garage and I got Ron and the food in the house. I ate and took my pills, then went to bed. But, after about an hour he either "forgot" or thought he was "being quiet" and called an old school friend to pick at him.
The friend thinks I am just the greatest thing in the world, and Ron is lucky to have me. All of Ron's friends say that. It really bugs Ron most times.
This man is also a Christian. Ron likes to give him a hard time over that, asking difficult questions, etc. I don't think it's kind. Ron is not a true seeker, he just wants to make everyone miserable in their faith.
He goes on and on, attacking my faith, and then says 'Don't lose your faith or God will hold it against me" well, don't be a toxic cloud and I won't be in danger!
I thought about getting up and saying something to him, but I was taking a nap. I calculated getting up, talking to him, and then going back to bed. The probability of going to sleep again. Unlikely.
I got up. Torbie got up with me. She had been laying on the heated mattress pad. I pulled away the covers on half of the bed so the cats can sleep on the "warm". She really enjoys it on her old bones.
I went to the bathroom and got into position. I gave a yank and the tampon came out. Thank God. I noticed very little spotting on it so the Wild Yam is working. I would have had a lot more a month ago. Especially considering the length of time it had to work.
Ron went to bed and has been asleep for a while, I'm viewing it as a break. Things are at a pretty sad state when I can have toxic, abusive Ron, or no Ron at all. It's making me prefer my own company and want to avoid his.
And that's a really sad state.
At any rate, my lentils will not cook themselves so I'm going to do that. He had planned to go out tonight but I said no.
I have to get up at 4 AM tomorrow so I had better get going.
More and more ugly
NOT going out with him later. A combination of overwhelming self pity, hostility, and bitterness.
Extremely abusive. NOT acceptable.
Vice grips? There!?
Got the message that I will not publish.
Having a problem today. You may want to skip if you are squeamish.
I am having some pre-menopause issues. Heavy daily spotting in between cycles that require the use of some "help". Then the regular cycle on top of the spotting.
I will be going to the doctor once I get a new primary. But from what I hear this is fairly normal.
So, I've been wearing tampons. No big deal. Some days are heavier than others, I change it 2x a day. Sometimes not much discharge, other times a pretty good amount.
My cycle has, in spite of all this, been pretty regular. So I inserted an ultra tampon a day before it was due. I would rather catch it before it gets out of me.
Had no problem getting rid of the first tampon, not much discharge but it came out OK. This morning, though, has been another matter. Since it is mostly dry it does not want to come out until it's "full".
I tried and tried. Can't get it. I went to Ron, figured he could offer another angle. "My hands aren't good" he said, as he tried. He can't get it, either.
So I said, screw it, I'm not going to die if I leave it in today. But Ron is in full manhood mode and "has" to get it out. His solution? The vice grips. He's going to get them, pinch the tampon with them, and pull it out.
I'm thinking, this is a really bad idea that is not going to end well. Assuming I even wanted a thing like that near my "treat", there is a good chance of catching some innocent tissue in the pinchers.
I am hoping wearing it for another several hours, either 1. flow starts (as I said, has been very reliable) or 2. natural fluids get it to the point of removal.
Absolute worst case I go to the local doc in the box and have them get it out. But I don't think it will get to that point.
What a morning.
Having a problem today. You may want to skip if you are squeamish.
I am having some pre-menopause issues. Heavy daily spotting in between cycles that require the use of some "help". Then the regular cycle on top of the spotting.
I will be going to the doctor once I get a new primary. But from what I hear this is fairly normal.
So, I've been wearing tampons. No big deal. Some days are heavier than others, I change it 2x a day. Sometimes not much discharge, other times a pretty good amount.
My cycle has, in spite of all this, been pretty regular. So I inserted an ultra tampon a day before it was due. I would rather catch it before it gets out of me.
Had no problem getting rid of the first tampon, not much discharge but it came out OK. This morning, though, has been another matter. Since it is mostly dry it does not want to come out until it's "full".
I tried and tried. Can't get it. I went to Ron, figured he could offer another angle. "My hands aren't good" he said, as he tried. He can't get it, either.
So I said, screw it, I'm not going to die if I leave it in today. But Ron is in full manhood mode and "has" to get it out. His solution? The vice grips. He's going to get them, pinch the tampon with them, and pull it out.
I'm thinking, this is a really bad idea that is not going to end well. Assuming I even wanted a thing like that near my "treat", there is a good chance of catching some innocent tissue in the pinchers.
I am hoping wearing it for another several hours, either 1. flow starts (as I said, has been very reliable) or 2. natural fluids get it to the point of removal.
Absolute worst case I go to the local doc in the box and have them get it out. But I don't think it will get to that point.
What a morning.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
"I took the back roads"
Looking back, it was not an easy day. I woke up horribly depressed, with a nasty headache. It's always bad when I can't take my antidepressant when I need it.
So I got through that, got dressed, got to the warehouse. So far so good. I get the supplies, and some muffins. Ron wants chips for him to eat, so I get some.
He ate 2 bags of chips. One, he says, is good. The other one, not so much.
We rode in a cab hired by paratransit, to go to work. The driver was very nice and we liked him enough to get his phone number.
Work was awful, Ron was just ugly, demanding, petty, you name it. He creates drama and crisis out of nothing.
I would say that is a head injury thing, but it's not. He used to do that before the accident. I remember one time he was screaming at me and threatened to fire me, then stomped off walking a mile each way to the convenience store. Why? We were out of pickles.
Who gives a [censored] if we run out of pickles? It was one day, but Ron acted like he was going to die if he didn't have a gallon of pickles available for sale.
And I got to restaurants all the time, they are out of something, they just say, sorry, we're out. But Ron made it into a big production and damaged our relationship over it. So he had a couple of mini-dramas.
One example is "Heather is busy so I will load EVERY soda I need into my lap and attempt to roll myself over to the vending machines" Of course he drops them. That's about when I stepped in and said "You will not treat me this way. You are disrespecting me and it is inappropriate. You need to take a step back." That's about all I got out before he started screaming at me. [sigh] So I told him "I am walking away from you, for a while, until you calm down".
Finally got most of it done. He made it a lot harder than it had to be.
We geo ready to go: heading for the door. I had to use the bathroom. I went in and use it, washed my hands. I don't even have to guess, if they EVER caught me NOT washing my hands it would be the end of us. I do anyway for food safety reasons (even though I only handle packages) and so I don't get a flu virus or whatever on my hands.
I come out and Ron says he has to go, but doesn't want to use the work toilet. He's going to "wait".
We went outside and the ride came. The police officer on staff gave the driver a hard time because he was blocking something. Well, if his postal worker hadn't run over my husband we wouldn't NEED a wheelchair van. But I didn't say that.
We rode around for an hour, it is a shared ride service, it is to be expected sometimes. We finally turned onto our street. We are in the paratransit van that is decorated with their logo of the man in the wheelchair. And there is a police car in front of our house, blocking our driveway.
First thought, something is wrong with the house. I looked. The front of the house looked fine. Second thought, why is the officer parked in front of MY house?
I see he is there for #6. They have ongoing "false alarm" issues so it is probably that. The officer does not seem to be stressed, like something bad happened. He is laconic.
He stands there watching the wheelchair van, clearly wanting to go in our driveway, but blocked by his police car. Ron punches the garage door remote, the door starts rolling up. He turns and looks at that, then looks back at us.
The light has apparently not dawned. Wheelchair van trying to get in our driveway + opening garage door + his car blocking the driveway = ???
I curse, and tell the driver to stop, we will unload Ron in the street. I am pretty ticked. I really don't like it when people block my driveway. I like it even less when they play head games about moving. I'm not [censored]ing with their damned head, why do they have to play with mine?
Plus, Ron still has to pee.
I got out. I have been told I have "strong" body language when I am angry so he knows I'm upset. He looks at me and looks back at the driveway. The light is slowly dawning.
"Do you need me to move?"
I didn't say any of the first half-dozen things that came to mind. I just pointed at the cab. "I need to get a man in a wheelchair" point at garage "Into there.". He looks at me. The sun has finally come up.
"All you had to do was ask me to move" he said, sarcastically. I take my pills for this very reason: I was able to ignore him and focus on getting Ron into the house without getting into an argument. Ron wanted to say something to him, but I wouldn't let him. We get into it with the officer, guaranteed we will end up on the bad end of it.
I rolled Ron in the garage. If I could have slammed the garage door, I would have. I got Ron in the house.
I took a nap. I woke up with a bad headache and took something, then we went to the Waffle House. We are in between 2 stores and we wanted to try the closer one. It was very nice, clean, friendly, well prepared food. I would be happy going there.
I ate and took my pills. Ron said he didn't want anything. He spends most of his calories on vodka. But, as time passed, he decided he wanted a grilled cheese. He ordered one and ate it while waiting.
He didn't want to spent an hour and a half at the restaurant, and that's how paratransit was going to leave us, so he called Arturo to come get him. I thought it would take forever, being rush hour, but it actually didn't take long at all. Arturo: "I took the back roads".
Ron had trouble getting into the cab so I gave him a moderate shove, as if I were kidnapping him. He thanked me. Once everything was inside I shut the door, went around, and got in on my side.
It was a pretty painless ride home. We paid Arturo, got the wheelchair out of the trunk (well, he did), got Ron un-stuffed, and stuffed him in the wheelchair.
The whole time at the restaurant, I kept worrying we had lost something. It was pretty worrisome. But I found it when we got in the house.
Biscuit put his paw on my leg, while I was on the computer, with claws ever so slightly extended. Just a reminder it was dinner time. I fed him (and Baby Girl), while Torbie sat next to Ron in bed.
Ron decided to "punish" me by "making" me work tomorrow. Because I forgot to put something in the fridge, on Monday, because I was too busy running around helping him. Petty and stupid, but the machine will be happy for the attention and I can do a good inventory.
What Ron forgot is that, by doing this "to me" he is also doing it to himself. And paratransit is already saying they are going to leave us there a lot longer than he wanted. [sigh] I hate these petty little games.
I don't mind working, if they need filling I will fill them, but using work as a club to beat me? That's a new low for him.
At home, I decided to use up the last of my beef stock (I only used 3 cups, of a quart, making stew) on some lentils. I got my new, hopefully fresh, lentils out and measured a cup, put them in a zip lock bag. Then I added the last cup of stock to them so they can soak. I will cook them tomorrow with some salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and cut up potatoes (the good kind). I still have a pound and a half of "good" potatoes so I want to use them up.
I wasn't happy with my last version of lentils and potatoes, this one should be better.
If nothing else it is a cheap experiment.
So I got through that, got dressed, got to the warehouse. So far so good. I get the supplies, and some muffins. Ron wants chips for him to eat, so I get some.
He ate 2 bags of chips. One, he says, is good. The other one, not so much.
We rode in a cab hired by paratransit, to go to work. The driver was very nice and we liked him enough to get his phone number.
Work was awful, Ron was just ugly, demanding, petty, you name it. He creates drama and crisis out of nothing.
I would say that is a head injury thing, but it's not. He used to do that before the accident. I remember one time he was screaming at me and threatened to fire me, then stomped off walking a mile each way to the convenience store. Why? We were out of pickles.
Who gives a [censored] if we run out of pickles? It was one day, but Ron acted like he was going to die if he didn't have a gallon of pickles available for sale.
And I got to restaurants all the time, they are out of something, they just say, sorry, we're out. But Ron made it into a big production and damaged our relationship over it. So he had a couple of mini-dramas.
One example is "Heather is busy so I will load EVERY soda I need into my lap and attempt to roll myself over to the vending machines" Of course he drops them. That's about when I stepped in and said "You will not treat me this way. You are disrespecting me and it is inappropriate. You need to take a step back." That's about all I got out before he started screaming at me. [sigh] So I told him "I am walking away from you, for a while, until you calm down".
Finally got most of it done. He made it a lot harder than it had to be.
We geo ready to go: heading for the door. I had to use the bathroom. I went in and use it, washed my hands. I don't even have to guess, if they EVER caught me NOT washing my hands it would be the end of us. I do anyway for food safety reasons (even though I only handle packages) and so I don't get a flu virus or whatever on my hands.
I come out and Ron says he has to go, but doesn't want to use the work toilet. He's going to "wait".
We went outside and the ride came. The police officer on staff gave the driver a hard time because he was blocking something. Well, if his postal worker hadn't run over my husband we wouldn't NEED a wheelchair van. But I didn't say that.
We rode around for an hour, it is a shared ride service, it is to be expected sometimes. We finally turned onto our street. We are in the paratransit van that is decorated with their logo of the man in the wheelchair. And there is a police car in front of our house, blocking our driveway.
First thought, something is wrong with the house. I looked. The front of the house looked fine. Second thought, why is the officer parked in front of MY house?
I see he is there for #6. They have ongoing "false alarm" issues so it is probably that. The officer does not seem to be stressed, like something bad happened. He is laconic.
He stands there watching the wheelchair van, clearly wanting to go in our driveway, but blocked by his police car. Ron punches the garage door remote, the door starts rolling up. He turns and looks at that, then looks back at us.
The light has apparently not dawned. Wheelchair van trying to get in our driveway + opening garage door + his car blocking the driveway = ???
I curse, and tell the driver to stop, we will unload Ron in the street. I am pretty ticked. I really don't like it when people block my driveway. I like it even less when they play head games about moving. I'm not [censored]ing with their damned head, why do they have to play with mine?
Plus, Ron still has to pee.
I got out. I have been told I have "strong" body language when I am angry so he knows I'm upset. He looks at me and looks back at the driveway. The light is slowly dawning.
"Do you need me to move?"
I didn't say any of the first half-dozen things that came to mind. I just pointed at the cab. "I need to get a man in a wheelchair" point at garage "Into there.". He looks at me. The sun has finally come up.
"All you had to do was ask me to move" he said, sarcastically. I take my pills for this very reason: I was able to ignore him and focus on getting Ron into the house without getting into an argument. Ron wanted to say something to him, but I wouldn't let him. We get into it with the officer, guaranteed we will end up on the bad end of it.
I rolled Ron in the garage. If I could have slammed the garage door, I would have. I got Ron in the house.
I took a nap. I woke up with a bad headache and took something, then we went to the Waffle House. We are in between 2 stores and we wanted to try the closer one. It was very nice, clean, friendly, well prepared food. I would be happy going there.
I ate and took my pills. Ron said he didn't want anything. He spends most of his calories on vodka. But, as time passed, he decided he wanted a grilled cheese. He ordered one and ate it while waiting.
He didn't want to spent an hour and a half at the restaurant, and that's how paratransit was going to leave us, so he called Arturo to come get him. I thought it would take forever, being rush hour, but it actually didn't take long at all. Arturo: "I took the back roads".
Ron had trouble getting into the cab so I gave him a moderate shove, as if I were kidnapping him. He thanked me. Once everything was inside I shut the door, went around, and got in on my side.
It was a pretty painless ride home. We paid Arturo, got the wheelchair out of the trunk (well, he did), got Ron un-stuffed, and stuffed him in the wheelchair.
The whole time at the restaurant, I kept worrying we had lost something. It was pretty worrisome. But I found it when we got in the house.
Biscuit put his paw on my leg, while I was on the computer, with claws ever so slightly extended. Just a reminder it was dinner time. I fed him (and Baby Girl), while Torbie sat next to Ron in bed.
Ron decided to "punish" me by "making" me work tomorrow. Because I forgot to put something in the fridge, on Monday, because I was too busy running around helping him. Petty and stupid, but the machine will be happy for the attention and I can do a good inventory.
What Ron forgot is that, by doing this "to me" he is also doing it to himself. And paratransit is already saying they are going to leave us there a lot longer than he wanted. [sigh] I hate these petty little games.
I don't mind working, if they need filling I will fill them, but using work as a club to beat me? That's a new low for him.
At home, I decided to use up the last of my beef stock (I only used 3 cups, of a quart, making stew) on some lentils. I got my new, hopefully fresh, lentils out and measured a cup, put them in a zip lock bag. Then I added the last cup of stock to them so they can soak. I will cook them tomorrow with some salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and cut up potatoes (the good kind). I still have a pound and a half of "good" potatoes so I want to use them up.
I wasn't happy with my last version of lentils and potatoes, this one should be better.
If nothing else it is a cheap experiment.
Ron has been in a really bad mood
Just treating me like an enemy. Finally told him to knock it off, walked away for awhile. Didn't help much. (Sigh)
Bad headache this morning
Managed to stomp that, but very depressed now. Have to work but hopefully not long.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Wednesday adventures
Ron often holds things up, asking me what they are. He does it a lot. Usually, I don't mind, but I was pretty sick with a bad headache this morning.
"Heather, what's this?" holding up a can of juice.
"Poison". It just popped out. He didn't think it was funny but I do.
I managed to whack the headache but I was pretty tired. I watched some TV after getting on the computer for a while.
Ron drank and went to bed. I took a nap with Biscuit and Torbie. Torbie was in her haus, (house) her tail hanging out of the opening, purring. Very cute. Biscuit laid on my legs.
I was cold so I turned on the heated mattress pad. Biscuit really liked that and lay on the bare sheet. Torbie got bored and climbed me (I was lying on my side, like a mountain range), stood on top of my ribs for a moment, and then got down on the other side. My phone rang, waking me up.
I put "important" people in my phone book. If you are not in the phone book I am not answering your call. I will check any messages left, but usually delete them after a few seconds. It's called "Whitelisting", I've been told.
Then the helicopters came, circling over the house. This happens periodically as we are near a "bad" freeway exit and it experiences the occasional wreck. The public wants the grisly footage on the nightly news so they "have" to send the helicopter to hover, get the payoff shot of someone being loaded on a backboard next to their wrecked car, etc. Which means I don't get any sleep because the damned helicopters are very loud.
I finally got up. I unplugged my stun gun (I had put it on to charge for a while) and stuck it in my pocket. That aggressive dog is still around, as far as I know. The stun gun fits well in my pocket, that is good to know. I will carry it to the mailbox, I am only a couple of very short blocks from the bad dog.
I have been almost attacked by dogs on many occasions, but only once attacked by a strange cat. Even then, she started off friendly, then suddenly turned on me. Answer to that, be careful about petting strange cats.
The other times I got attacked by a cat in my own home, I was trying to give them medicine and I understood.
I brought in the trash can, literally brought it into the garage. The homeowner's association was all upset that I had them in my driveway.
I was just reminded of one episode of Hoarders. A guy lived in a house with no plumbing. His solution to that: put plastic liners in the toilet, defecate in the plastic, wrap it up, and throw it in his neighbor's trash can. Can you imagine finding out the guy next door is putting all his feces in your garbage can? Even more alarming, he said his neighbor was OK with it. So maybe it's a good idea to keep that can locked up.
Simple math says there must be a couple of hoarders, at least, in my subdivision.
I made room for it in the garage (barely enough room to get Ron in and out, now) and parked it. Then I cleaned out the lower cabinet in the kitchen. I had some old split peas in there and, based on the trouble cooking the last batch of lentils, I don't want old beans if I can avoid them.
I will buy more when I do my supply run.
Ron got up and we planned our trips for tomorrow. It was nice just going out in the (attached) garage to throw away the empty vodka bottle. I don't mind doing that one. It hogs up the sink or trash bag under the sink, easier to just throw it in the can.
The cats got out in the garage (that's OK as long as we're not leaving) and investigated the trash can intently sniffing at it. I figure the black cat must have peed on it. But they're inside and he's not, so who won that round?
I am tired of beef stew. I will ask Ron if he wants some, and then, if he doesn't, freeze what is left in a labeled bag.
Then most likely eating some precooked quinoa for dinner. It comes already cooked in a microwavable bag. I just take it out and nuke it, let it cool down, cut it open, and (I) eat right out of the bag. It is filling, has carbs and protein, and gets along with my medication.
Tomorrow I will likely make some lentils in beef stock. I still have some stock left from making the stew.
That's it for now. We work pretty early tomorrow so I need to go to bed early.
"Heather, what's this?" holding up a can of juice.
"Poison". It just popped out. He didn't think it was funny but I do.
I managed to whack the headache but I was pretty tired. I watched some TV after getting on the computer for a while.
Ron drank and went to bed. I took a nap with Biscuit and Torbie. Torbie was in her haus, (house) her tail hanging out of the opening, purring. Very cute. Biscuit laid on my legs.
I was cold so I turned on the heated mattress pad. Biscuit really liked that and lay on the bare sheet. Torbie got bored and climbed me (I was lying on my side, like a mountain range), stood on top of my ribs for a moment, and then got down on the other side. My phone rang, waking me up.
I put "important" people in my phone book. If you are not in the phone book I am not answering your call. I will check any messages left, but usually delete them after a few seconds. It's called "Whitelisting", I've been told.
Then the helicopters came, circling over the house. This happens periodically as we are near a "bad" freeway exit and it experiences the occasional wreck. The public wants the grisly footage on the nightly news so they "have" to send the helicopter to hover, get the payoff shot of someone being loaded on a backboard next to their wrecked car, etc. Which means I don't get any sleep because the damned helicopters are very loud.
I finally got up. I unplugged my stun gun (I had put it on to charge for a while) and stuck it in my pocket. That aggressive dog is still around, as far as I know. The stun gun fits well in my pocket, that is good to know. I will carry it to the mailbox, I am only a couple of very short blocks from the bad dog.
I have been almost attacked by dogs on many occasions, but only once attacked by a strange cat. Even then, she started off friendly, then suddenly turned on me. Answer to that, be careful about petting strange cats.
The other times I got attacked by a cat in my own home, I was trying to give them medicine and I understood.
I brought in the trash can, literally brought it into the garage. The homeowner's association was all upset that I had them in my driveway.
I was just reminded of one episode of Hoarders. A guy lived in a house with no plumbing. His solution to that: put plastic liners in the toilet, defecate in the plastic, wrap it up, and throw it in his neighbor's trash can. Can you imagine finding out the guy next door is putting all his feces in your garbage can? Even more alarming, he said his neighbor was OK with it. So maybe it's a good idea to keep that can locked up.
Simple math says there must be a couple of hoarders, at least, in my subdivision.
I made room for it in the garage (barely enough room to get Ron in and out, now) and parked it. Then I cleaned out the lower cabinet in the kitchen. I had some old split peas in there and, based on the trouble cooking the last batch of lentils, I don't want old beans if I can avoid them.
I will buy more when I do my supply run.
Ron got up and we planned our trips for tomorrow. It was nice just going out in the (attached) garage to throw away the empty vodka bottle. I don't mind doing that one. It hogs up the sink or trash bag under the sink, easier to just throw it in the can.
The cats got out in the garage (that's OK as long as we're not leaving) and investigated the trash can intently sniffing at it. I figure the black cat must have peed on it. But they're inside and he's not, so who won that round?
I am tired of beef stew. I will ask Ron if he wants some, and then, if he doesn't, freeze what is left in a labeled bag.
Then most likely eating some precooked quinoa for dinner. It comes already cooked in a microwavable bag. I just take it out and nuke it, let it cool down, cut it open, and (I) eat right out of the bag. It is filling, has carbs and protein, and gets along with my medication.
Tomorrow I will likely make some lentils in beef stock. I still have some stock left from making the stew.
That's it for now. We work pretty early tomorrow so I need to go to bed early.
He is my caregiver, too
I went to bed very early and slept as long as I could. Unfortunately for me, Ron found his missing digital recorder and wanted to listen to it. It makes a lot of beeping noises, very annoying.
It woke me up and I realized I had a crushing headache, one step away from a migraine. I debated lying in vs getting up and taking my Excedrin. BEEP. I got up, took my pills.
I went back to bed for a while, didn't sleep, and Biscuit was demanding his breakfast. I got up and fed them (the other 2 showed up), got a diet Mountain Dew. Talked to Ron for a little bit.
But, while I was lying in bed, I had a revelation: I am Ron's caregiver, yes. But he is also supposed to be my caregiver.
That means he should be giving me at least as much as I give him. I, also, have conditions, like the migraines, bipolar, brain damage. Sometimes, I need help too.
He has a mixed track record with that. On some occasions he has been great, quiet during a migraine. I remember one of my recent long, severe, migraines he just went around in a pair of underwear, in his wheelchair, for a week until I felt better. That meant I didn't have any clothes to wash, except the briefs. Wonderful. He also "tries" to be quiet if he knows I am sick (I didn't tell him this morning until I was already up).
Other times, he fails dismally. He isn't supportive, tries to "one up" me "I am worse", etc. At some point I will tell him this "You are my caregiver as much as I am yours" and see where that takes us.
For now, hopefully, I will get through my shower OK, after I drink another diet Dr Pepper and watch some TV.
It woke me up and I realized I had a crushing headache, one step away from a migraine. I debated lying in vs getting up and taking my Excedrin. BEEP. I got up, took my pills.
I went back to bed for a while, didn't sleep, and Biscuit was demanding his breakfast. I got up and fed them (the other 2 showed up), got a diet Mountain Dew. Talked to Ron for a little bit.
But, while I was lying in bed, I had a revelation: I am Ron's caregiver, yes. But he is also supposed to be my caregiver.
That means he should be giving me at least as much as I give him. I, also, have conditions, like the migraines, bipolar, brain damage. Sometimes, I need help too.
He has a mixed track record with that. On some occasions he has been great, quiet during a migraine. I remember one of my recent long, severe, migraines he just went around in a pair of underwear, in his wheelchair, for a week until I felt better. That meant I didn't have any clothes to wash, except the briefs. Wonderful. He also "tries" to be quiet if he knows I am sick (I didn't tell him this morning until I was already up).
Other times, he fails dismally. He isn't supportive, tries to "one up" me "I am worse", etc. At some point I will tell him this "You are my caregiver as much as I am yours" and see where that takes us.
For now, hopefully, I will get through my shower OK, after I drink another diet Dr Pepper and watch some TV.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Tuesday afternoon
It never rained.
I tried taking a nap but couldn't sleep. I finally got up and got back online. I didn't watch much TV, they were doing "Criminal Minds" reruns and I find them too dark when I am already depressed.
When I got an appetite, I ate a bowl of beef stew, it was pretty good. Ron's right, it does need a little more salt, but I would rather not put enough, then put too much. I ate it.
The little red potatoes really made the stew. They weren't cheap ($4) by my standards but they had a great texture and flavor. I am glad I read that article about the brown potatoes being bad for stew.
I took my pills and watched some Criminal Minds. It started getting depressing so back on the computer.
DING DONG. What's that? Our stuff from Amazon. I found a large envelope on the porch. I took out my stun gun and gave Ron his flash drives. He wanted a couple, large memory, for storage. I found some likely ones and ordered them. They, and the stun gun, had one day shipping for a prime member.
Now, I know I spend a lot more on Prime than I save, but it works to get my stuff fast when I order it. Two of the drives have "certified frustration free packaging" - seem to be in some sort of cardboard envelope. Ron should have an easy time getting it open.
He asked me if he owed me money, he did not. He had given me some money to put in my account and use that to pay for his stuff. He still has, let me check: $12.
You can have a lot of fun with $12 on Amazon, with free shipping.
I was a little annoyed I forgot to buy my spices, but I will get them next time. I want to use up the "old" spices first anyway.
I cleaned up under the cabinet (the floor cabinet) and put my crock pot pieces together. I had an older one I had lost, it is a little bigger, then I have the new one which is what I used.
Last night I spent some time reading a crock pot cookbook. I will have to try some of the recipes. I find it very easy to use the crock pot since I got the liners.
Around 6, I checked the mail. Ron has been moping and moaning ever since he sent his talking book machine back to Austin for repair. It had the bad headphone jack. He called a few days ago and they said they didn't have it yet.
I looked in the box, found a medical bill, some junk, and some moderately important papers. I also found a key.
I have a subdivision mail box. It hold about 2 dozen mailboxes, stacked on each other. Two large lockers are mounted on the side. They can only be opened with a key, and once you insert the key it will not come out. I opened the box.
I knew it had to be Ron's because my order hasn't shipped yet from Swanson. And, sure enough, it's a talking book shipping box. I took it to Ron.
I told him I had something for him I thought he had better check out. He wanted to know what it was. I told him I wasn't sure but figured he would sort it out. He held out his hand and sighed.
His face underwent a total change when he felt the box. He began squealing and handed me some scissors to open the box. That's when I realized they had sent us a different machine, I had taped the send-back in a distinctive way, this was done the way they normally ship them. I cut the tape and handed it back to him. He took it out and began playing with it.
He has about 8 books to read so he will be busy for a while.
My pills got me queasy again, my stomach is very irritated. I think I will have some quinoa with my stew tomorrow night.
I'm tired and it's pretty quiet, so I think I will go to bed early.
By the way, I lost my cell phone for a while and couldn't find it. Then I realized there was something under me and investigated, finding the phone! I was sitting on it!
I tried taking a nap but couldn't sleep. I finally got up and got back online. I didn't watch much TV, they were doing "Criminal Minds" reruns and I find them too dark when I am already depressed.
When I got an appetite, I ate a bowl of beef stew, it was pretty good. Ron's right, it does need a little more salt, but I would rather not put enough, then put too much. I ate it.
The little red potatoes really made the stew. They weren't cheap ($4) by my standards but they had a great texture and flavor. I am glad I read that article about the brown potatoes being bad for stew.
I took my pills and watched some Criminal Minds. It started getting depressing so back on the computer.
DING DONG. What's that? Our stuff from Amazon. I found a large envelope on the porch. I took out my stun gun and gave Ron his flash drives. He wanted a couple, large memory, for storage. I found some likely ones and ordered them. They, and the stun gun, had one day shipping for a prime member.
Now, I know I spend a lot more on Prime than I save, but it works to get my stuff fast when I order it. Two of the drives have "certified frustration free packaging" - seem to be in some sort of cardboard envelope. Ron should have an easy time getting it open.
He asked me if he owed me money, he did not. He had given me some money to put in my account and use that to pay for his stuff. He still has, let me check: $12.
You can have a lot of fun with $12 on Amazon, with free shipping.
I was a little annoyed I forgot to buy my spices, but I will get them next time. I want to use up the "old" spices first anyway.
I cleaned up under the cabinet (the floor cabinet) and put my crock pot pieces together. I had an older one I had lost, it is a little bigger, then I have the new one which is what I used.
Last night I spent some time reading a crock pot cookbook. I will have to try some of the recipes. I find it very easy to use the crock pot since I got the liners.
Around 6, I checked the mail. Ron has been moping and moaning ever since he sent his talking book machine back to Austin for repair. It had the bad headphone jack. He called a few days ago and they said they didn't have it yet.
I looked in the box, found a medical bill, some junk, and some moderately important papers. I also found a key.
I have a subdivision mail box. It hold about 2 dozen mailboxes, stacked on each other. Two large lockers are mounted on the side. They can only be opened with a key, and once you insert the key it will not come out. I opened the box.
I knew it had to be Ron's because my order hasn't shipped yet from Swanson. And, sure enough, it's a talking book shipping box. I took it to Ron.
I told him I had something for him I thought he had better check out. He wanted to know what it was. I told him I wasn't sure but figured he would sort it out. He held out his hand and sighed.
His face underwent a total change when he felt the box. He began squealing and handed me some scissors to open the box. That's when I realized they had sent us a different machine, I had taped the send-back in a distinctive way, this was done the way they normally ship them. I cut the tape and handed it back to him. He took it out and began playing with it.
He has about 8 books to read so he will be busy for a while.
My pills got me queasy again, my stomach is very irritated. I think I will have some quinoa with my stew tomorrow night.
I'm tired and it's pretty quiet, so I think I will go to bed early.
By the way, I lost my cell phone for a while and couldn't find it. Then I realized there was something under me and investigated, finding the phone! I was sitting on it!
Tuesday Morning
I took 3 doses of Excedrin yesterday, on an empty stomach, or with diet soda. Then I took my lithium and friends at dinner. Cue pretty bad nausea.
I finished cooking my beef stew, and put it in the fridge after I let it cool down, went to bed.
I kept waking up. Ron made some noise, so did the cats. I still had residual caffeine in my system. I finally fell asleep, only to be awakened by Ron.
I am not sure if it is talking in his sleep, or talking at the television, but he does it every now and then. He stops if I yell at him to shut up but I am already awake by then.
Then he was making noise, which turned out to be eating jerky. I finally got up around 7.
I had a plant protein shake (no calcium so the iron absorbs better, I can taste it in my mouth), that settled my stomach pretty well. The flavor is hard to describe but pea soup meets vanilla shake is pretty close. I got it mixed OK - I had problems with it at first but I have figured it out: add more water. I chugged it down. They strongly suggest drinking it in 10 minutes. I did.
It's not flavorful but my body likes it. I am full forever after one of these shakes, I can take my iron, and I'm getting 20 g protein. So it hits most of the targets.
I plan to buy another tub the next time I go to Walmart.
I was OK until I took my iron and Wellbutrin - got queasy again. I am going to give it a little longer to digest and then take my pepto pills. Oh, I need to put those on my list. Done.
I keep an open list on my cell phone (I have a list app) and add things as I need. My short term memory isn't great so I adjust.
I think I have been good for Ron in that regard, he loves his digital recorder for making notes of medication times, etc. He also has "future delivery messages" with his cell phone carrier. He can record a message about a doctor's appointment and set it to send him a message the day before the appointment so he can make a trip, and be there.
We do alright most days, between us.
It's supposed to rain later today. I could probably go out and do something BUT I have no money, and that fence is down at the very aggressive dog's yard. The one that tried to "get" me just walking by, across the street. I'm going to wait until that is resolved before I go out again. I cannot afford to be mauled, and the resident is a renter so no assets if I did get attacked. I will have Ron call animal control later and get that handled.
The fence is broken enough the dog can get out. I assume it is roaming the neighborhood. One big reason I bought a stun gun, which should arrive today. Between that, time, and animal control they should have it handled. There are a lot of families with small kids that walk around in that area, and the school bus stop is right across the street from the house.
I don't wish pain on anyone, or even the dog, but I am sure this will be handled in short order.
I finished cooking my beef stew, and put it in the fridge after I let it cool down, went to bed.
I kept waking up. Ron made some noise, so did the cats. I still had residual caffeine in my system. I finally fell asleep, only to be awakened by Ron.
I am not sure if it is talking in his sleep, or talking at the television, but he does it every now and then. He stops if I yell at him to shut up but I am already awake by then.
Then he was making noise, which turned out to be eating jerky. I finally got up around 7.
I had a plant protein shake (no calcium so the iron absorbs better, I can taste it in my mouth), that settled my stomach pretty well. The flavor is hard to describe but pea soup meets vanilla shake is pretty close. I got it mixed OK - I had problems with it at first but I have figured it out: add more water. I chugged it down. They strongly suggest drinking it in 10 minutes. I did.
It's not flavorful but my body likes it. I am full forever after one of these shakes, I can take my iron, and I'm getting 20 g protein. So it hits most of the targets.
I plan to buy another tub the next time I go to Walmart.
I was OK until I took my iron and Wellbutrin - got queasy again. I am going to give it a little longer to digest and then take my pepto pills. Oh, I need to put those on my list. Done.
I keep an open list on my cell phone (I have a list app) and add things as I need. My short term memory isn't great so I adjust.
I think I have been good for Ron in that regard, he loves his digital recorder for making notes of medication times, etc. He also has "future delivery messages" with his cell phone carrier. He can record a message about a doctor's appointment and set it to send him a message the day before the appointment so he can make a trip, and be there.
We do alright most days, between us.
It's supposed to rain later today. I could probably go out and do something BUT I have no money, and that fence is down at the very aggressive dog's yard. The one that tried to "get" me just walking by, across the street. I'm going to wait until that is resolved before I go out again. I cannot afford to be mauled, and the resident is a renter so no assets if I did get attacked. I will have Ron call animal control later and get that handled.
The fence is broken enough the dog can get out. I assume it is roaming the neighborhood. One big reason I bought a stun gun, which should arrive today. Between that, time, and animal control they should have it handled. There are a lot of families with small kids that walk around in that area, and the school bus stop is right across the street from the house.
I don't wish pain on anyone, or even the dog, but I am sure this will be handled in short order.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Beef stew recipe
Exactly how I made it this morning. Ron loved it.
1 pound beef stew meat
One handful frozen chopped onions (or to taste)
2 handfuls baby red potatoes, smallest ones whole, larger ones quartered
1 handful sliced carrots
(now we get more precise)
1 bay leaf
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t salt
1 cup GOOD beef stock (I used bone broth)
Layer vegetables/onion in crock pot, bay leaf, then meat. Sprinkle seasoning on top of meat and pour stock down the side (so it doesn't wash away the seasonings).
Cook 12 hours. Stir well before serving.
Works best with disposable liner for ease of clean up.
He licked the bowl. :)
1 pound beef stew meat
One handful frozen chopped onions (or to taste)
2 handfuls baby red potatoes, smallest ones whole, larger ones quartered
1 handful sliced carrots
(now we get more precise)
1 bay leaf
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t salt
1 cup GOOD beef stock (I used bone broth)
Layer vegetables/onion in crock pot, bay leaf, then meat. Sprinkle seasoning on top of meat and pour stock down the side (so it doesn't wash away the seasonings).
Cook 12 hours. Stir well before serving.
Works best with disposable liner for ease of clean up.
He licked the bowl. :)
This morning
It was a long day. We went to work. As usual, I helped Ron stock, then did my work while he sorted change. I had to take more Excedrin but I was able to do the lifting, etc.
One customer yelled at me because, basically, people are buying things from the vending machines. According to her, they should be 100% stocked at ALL times, and any sign of sales is a sign of failure on my part. Oh, and she never buys anything.
I get that a lot, I have dozens of items in the machines. I think Ron tallied it up and he sells over 2 dozen sodas. But if ONE item is out some people will scream, even though they can get it, right down the hall, at the other vendor.
Or, my favorite, they yell at me because we don't sell something the other vendor does. Like the pickle chips. I got shouted at by one woman because we don't sell them. I said we had never sold them. She tried to tell me we had, then realized she had bought them all from the other vendor. Finally admitted she only eats them when pregnant.
That doesn't sound like something I should use to replace a "good seller".
Anyway, finished up, went home. We had good rides all day today.
We got home and I laid down for a while after checking on my stew (it looks good, through the lid). I was pretty wound up from the caffeine and tried to sleep. Torbie came and lay with me, in her house. She loves her house. I got a little sleep.
I woke up when the alarm went off. Ron wanted to go to Denny's and get his free birthday meal. The store near us has been so badly run we stopped going.
Someone we know, knows the owner of that Denny's. He wanted to know why we stopped going, we told him the truth, constantly out of basic stuff. Excuses all the time. Out of Diet Coke for over a month (when we stopped going), with a Sam's Club and 5 gallons of Diet Coke syrup for sale at $80 a case. 10 minutes for someone in a car. We're not worth 10 minutes.
But we heard they had a new owner so we decided to check them out. Our friend asked for a report, so he could pass it along.
Our ride was pretty punctual, and it was a straight trip (I told you, good rides today). We got there. I was happy they had moved the seat so I could push Ron up to the table.
They brought the menu. Ron showed his ID card. I read Ron the menu. He ordered. "Oh, so sorry, we don't have any fruit salad". They are literally half a mile from a huge grocery store, AND a SuperWalmart besides. No one could go and buy a couple bunches of grapes and a bunch of bananas? Not looking good.
They did have everything else we ordered, and they did have the diet Coke. We ate our meal. I had eggs but I could tell they weren't agreeing with my pills. I asked for a dessert. "Oh, sorry, we're out of vanilla ice cream" - again, just a few miles from SAM'S, half a mile from two huge grocery stores, and no one can be bothered to run and get some ICE CREAM?
I sent our guy a text, with the shortages, and then told him "Wouldn't go back". And I won't. I would rather go to the Waffle House. They are much better stocked.
Our ride came, we paid, left a tip. They did give Ron his birthday discount.
We had a nice driver take us home. She was ranting about a terrible experience she had at that store, how they wouldn't let her sit at her usual spot, which was empty, instead trying to stick her "by the kitchen". We got home.
Ron laid down after I put his food away. I got online and bought him the flash drives he requested. He didn't ask for much, just "a couple of flash drives". I got him 3, two of one type, one of another. I also got myself a stun gun.
I believe the political climate, and national mood, will get worse. I believe, in some of "my" places, I will become a target. I believe I should carry a stun gun unless I am at work. I looked at some soap I had checked out recently, but couldn't justify the price ($7). I just stuck with the electronics.
And, during checkout, I had the option for free ONE day shipping. Ooooh! I took it. Ron, like a lot of people, wants his stuff RIGHT NOW. So he doesn't know it's coming tomorrow. It will be a nice surprise.
Hopefully he has learned his lesson about backing up files. By the way, I need him to update the flash drive he gave me with the newest files. It is about a month out of date.
It's going to be cold, and rain, tomorrow. So Ron gave me the day off. I will sleep in and probably do some housework.
But my garbage can is almost full so I can't toss much.
I haven't tried the stew yet, I plan to give it another hour, then let it cool some. Ron agreed to "try" it and give me his opinion. Once I get that I will finish prepping my meat bags with the vegetables, spices, and stock, then freeze them.
I hope he likes it. If he does, I still remember what I did this morning.
One customer yelled at me because, basically, people are buying things from the vending machines. According to her, they should be 100% stocked at ALL times, and any sign of sales is a sign of failure on my part. Oh, and she never buys anything.
I get that a lot, I have dozens of items in the machines. I think Ron tallied it up and he sells over 2 dozen sodas. But if ONE item is out some people will scream, even though they can get it, right down the hall, at the other vendor.
Or, my favorite, they yell at me because we don't sell something the other vendor does. Like the pickle chips. I got shouted at by one woman because we don't sell them. I said we had never sold them. She tried to tell me we had, then realized she had bought them all from the other vendor. Finally admitted she only eats them when pregnant.
That doesn't sound like something I should use to replace a "good seller".
Anyway, finished up, went home. We had good rides all day today.
We got home and I laid down for a while after checking on my stew (it looks good, through the lid). I was pretty wound up from the caffeine and tried to sleep. Torbie came and lay with me, in her house. She loves her house. I got a little sleep.
I woke up when the alarm went off. Ron wanted to go to Denny's and get his free birthday meal. The store near us has been so badly run we stopped going.
Someone we know, knows the owner of that Denny's. He wanted to know why we stopped going, we told him the truth, constantly out of basic stuff. Excuses all the time. Out of Diet Coke for over a month (when we stopped going), with a Sam's Club and 5 gallons of Diet Coke syrup for sale at $80 a case. 10 minutes for someone in a car. We're not worth 10 minutes.
But we heard they had a new owner so we decided to check them out. Our friend asked for a report, so he could pass it along.
Our ride was pretty punctual, and it was a straight trip (I told you, good rides today). We got there. I was happy they had moved the seat so I could push Ron up to the table.
They brought the menu. Ron showed his ID card. I read Ron the menu. He ordered. "Oh, so sorry, we don't have any fruit salad". They are literally half a mile from a huge grocery store, AND a SuperWalmart besides. No one could go and buy a couple bunches of grapes and a bunch of bananas? Not looking good.
They did have everything else we ordered, and they did have the diet Coke. We ate our meal. I had eggs but I could tell they weren't agreeing with my pills. I asked for a dessert. "Oh, sorry, we're out of vanilla ice cream" - again, just a few miles from SAM'S, half a mile from two huge grocery stores, and no one can be bothered to run and get some ICE CREAM?
I sent our guy a text, with the shortages, and then told him "Wouldn't go back". And I won't. I would rather go to the Waffle House. They are much better stocked.
Our ride came, we paid, left a tip. They did give Ron his birthday discount.
We had a nice driver take us home. She was ranting about a terrible experience she had at that store, how they wouldn't let her sit at her usual spot, which was empty, instead trying to stick her "by the kitchen". We got home.
Ron laid down after I put his food away. I got online and bought him the flash drives he requested. He didn't ask for much, just "a couple of flash drives". I got him 3, two of one type, one of another. I also got myself a stun gun.
I believe the political climate, and national mood, will get worse. I believe, in some of "my" places, I will become a target. I believe I should carry a stun gun unless I am at work. I looked at some soap I had checked out recently, but couldn't justify the price ($7). I just stuck with the electronics.
And, during checkout, I had the option for free ONE day shipping. Ooooh! I took it. Ron, like a lot of people, wants his stuff RIGHT NOW. So he doesn't know it's coming tomorrow. It will be a nice surprise.
Hopefully he has learned his lesson about backing up files. By the way, I need him to update the flash drive he gave me with the newest files. It is about a month out of date.
It's going to be cold, and rain, tomorrow. So Ron gave me the day off. I will sleep in and probably do some housework.
But my garbage can is almost full so I can't toss much.
I haven't tried the stew yet, I plan to give it another hour, then let it cool some. Ron agreed to "try" it and give me his opinion. Once I get that I will finish prepping my meat bags with the vegetables, spices, and stock, then freeze them.
I hope he likes it. If he does, I still remember what I did this morning.
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