A trip to the doctor.

So, what happened at the doctor? 

We had a good trip there and stopped at the Starbucks in the parking lot for a treat before entering the building. 

Ron had to "complete" a dementia/depression assessment.  He lied and said he was happy most of the time. 

We waited.  For once, I didn't hear a million sick people hacking moistly in the background.  If you have to get sick, mid-July seems to be a good time. 

We brought the wheelchair.  Ron got progressively more painful as the day wore on, which makes me think this is his back. 

They took us back, weighed him (152), blood pressure (122/70), and put us in a room.  A medical assistant came in and asked for the medical history.  I laughed as I gave it, it's pretty long.  Ron kept chipping in and "reminding" me of things I'd forgotten. 

Doc came in and examined Ron.  Not sure if it is a blood clot because it's both legs, but no back pain so maybe a nerve issue with the back?  Ron will need an MRI and ultrasound to determine. 

I was impressed.  Ron specifically told the doctor he is "drinking to tune out everyday" and "would like something to help him sleep".  Doc suggested an antidepressant. 

I talked to Ron later and he said he will not drink while taking the antidepressant, "Just don't take away my crutch without giving me another one".   He will talk to doc about the antidepressant during the follow up. 

I am impressed.  I just sat there with my mouth shut and let Ron do the talking. 

Ron asked the doctor to run blood tests (that will be very interesting to see the liver result), so Doc wrote orders for that. 

Ron told me today he didn't understand that the liver can only regenerate "so much".  He thought it just kept repairing itself indefinitely.  I am glad he is thinking about that. 

After we scheduled the MRI, they took us to the blood lab.  A very young woman drew Ron's blood.  I suggested she try the left arm but told her to look for herself (the right arm's veins are destroyed from the accident and subsequent hospitalization).   Ron didn't even know she had stuck him.  They took about 8 vials of blood. 

When we finished, Ron called the paratransit company, but the "system was down".  They couldn't transport anyone. 

Great.  Here we are, probably 10 miles from home...

We called our driver.  Nothing.  Ron sent him a text.  Nothing. 
We called a couple of cab drivers.  Nothing. 
We called Yellow.  Ron offered a $10 tip if they came fast. 

We had a ride within 10 minutes.  The driver and I folded up the wheelchair and put it in the back of the vehicle, once Ron had transferred.  The driver had had us before and was delighted when Ron gave him the $10 up front. 

Of course Ron paid the fare when we got home, but that bonus really made his day. 

Most importantly, we got his phone number so we can call him again. 

I came home and ate a slice of pizza, taking ALL my pills at once.  I had not been able to take them earlier due to the severe headache.  I laid down. 

I woke with another severe headache.  Apparently my body doesn't like pizza anymore.  I tried aspirin but that doesn't touch it.  I will have to wait until I can take some headache pills, which will mess up my sleep cycle, or try to sleep with the headache. 

And I have a long day tomorrow.  Oh, well. 

Get out of bed

Ugh.  I was sleeping well until I awoke with a crushing headache around 2:30.  I laid in bed, debating if I should take Excedrin (it has caffeine and might interfere with my sleep cycle), and finally decided I didn't have a choice, I had to take it. 

I did, and went back to sleep for about an hour and a half.  I had an interesting dream about scented geraniums, which I love.  When I awoke I wished I could get some, but realized I have Bad Cats who would knock them over and break them (as houseplants), and a very eager yard man who would probably weed-whack them as "weeds".  I did recall I had built a small raised garden, if I cleared out the weeds I might be able to put a rose (probably a Cramosi Superior, or a Hansa), plant some scented geraniums all around the edge, it would be lovely. 

But I couldn't sleep.  I lay in bed for a while, trying.  I finally got up.  Ron was already awake.  I told him he didn't have to be quiet (I tend to roar at him if he wakes me up) anymore.  He told me to go back to bed.  I told him I couldn't.  He told me to go back to bed.  I thought, I can't.  I already tried lying in bed and I can't sleep.  All the sleep experts say, if you can't sleep, get out of bed.  Then he told me to "Take a Phenergan" which is his stock answer for when he thinks I need to "take a sleeping pill".  I never do, unless I have a REALLY bad headache. 

I don't like the concept of taking a pill just to sleep, ever.  The only time I ever did that I had really bad insomnia, was manic, and had a raging kidney infection.  I was in the hospital vomiting my guts out every day, feverish and miserable.  I could not sleep.  I got cranky enough (! Not proud of that!) that the nurses got the doctor to order me Valium.  They kept me pretty drugged up until I got better.  A win for all of us.  But that was over 23 years ago and I've never done it since. 

I have also seen enough of those reality medical shows to know, if you overuse a substance, you become immune to it.  Then it doesn't work when you do need it.  So, I didn't take a pill. 

Ron fell back asleep (!) and is now snoring. 

I got up, started the dryer (I had some wet clothes in there).  I don't dry clothes when it is hot, in the middle, or later, in the day.  It's just foolish to run the dryer and the A/C at the same time, if you can avoid it.  I don't have that many loads a week, so I can run it in the cool of the day.  This time of day (5:42) is about as cool as it will get.  So, they're running. 

Then I did my God Time.  All done.  When I finish my blog I will probably take a shower.  I might buy those sheets I was talking about last week - those cotton/poly sheets don't breathe and are miserable, but I had a very slim mattress before.  I don't have any sheets that will fit my new bed.  Well, I do, but they're cotton/poly and don't let me breathe. 

The cats seem happy to have me awake, I fed Biscuit and Baby Girl (salmon in gravy) and he is exploring the computer room.  He knows not to get near the keyboard now, I have a water bottle.  I will shake it at him if he gets too close, and he runs off. 

He and Baby Girl were fighting last night so I squirted them both.  I don't know who started it but I finished it. 

Ron's already had his bath (last night), amid much complaining, so all I have to do is dress him in a clean outfit for the doctor.  Since it's his back I assume that's what Doc will be looking at. 

This is the same Doc who treated my bladder infection in December, and my sinus infection in January, so he's good.  If anyone can help Ron, or at least get him started on the road to recovery, it's Doc. 

I found it really encouraging, when Ron drinks (alcohol) he gags and complains about how awful it is, he doesn't want to drink, etc.  Ron mentioned he might talk to the doctor about his drinking.  (me, quietly: !!!!!)  I will let Ron bring it up, but when we are filling out the forms I will ask him to be honest about the amount he is drinking every night (about 6 ounces that I know of). 

So today is just doctor day.  We will see how it goes, I will keep you posted. 

I have to go to bed early because we have to get up at 2 AM tomorrow to go to work and get our delivery. 

Yogurt + mood stabilizers

It was a long day. 

I didn't sleep well. 

I got up around 8 with a headache and took some Excedrin.  I laid back down for a while with Biscuit and waited for the medication to work.  Once it did, I got up. 

I did my God Time and took my shower, then I got on the computer for a while.  I am looking for good poly performance t-shirts because Houston is hellish 80% of the time.  I'm not sure I found what I want. 

The brand/style I wanted are completely sold out, or unavailable, in my size.  Frustrating.  I will have to go to another brand. 

About 1, we got picked up and went to work.  We met our driver.  I got the folding mag-liner
and put it in the truck.  You can google "mag liner image", it won't let me put one up. 

It was fun getting it in the truck but I did it, and we left.  We got lost on our way to the place but we found it, eventually. 

I took the cart out of the truck and someone was already holding the door open.  Two attentive people asked me what I needed.  I explained.  The first person (a man) took the cart away.  I heard some power tools being used as I waited.  I chatted with the sales rep for a few minutes and looked at the XL model.  Boy, it was nice.  I gave the sales clerk our information. 

About that time, the man brought out my mag liner!  I have had ongoing issues with a bad wheel, also, the latch was bad and it kept "attacking" me everytime I tried to fold it up.  It looked glorious with the new wheels and latch.  I squealed with joy and made happy squeaks as they laughed at me. 

I paid (of course!) and we left.  The man put it in the truck for me.  Great customer service! 

[Later on, I sent an email to our "rep" with the state blind vendor program, recommending these guys, and I also gave them a five star review on Google.]

We got to work and I took the cart out.  It stayed closed, not attacking me as I moved it.  Nice.  It rolled so nice!  Still does!  Glad, glad, glad, we did that. 

Then we went in and stocked, of course.  That took a while and we came home. 

My headache is back.  If I can get rid of it I will get some pizza but that is dubious right now.  I may just do yogurt + mood stabilizers for dinner. 

$20 Handout

With the political climate the way it is, I was a little worried about going to Acres Homes today.

Turns out I should have been more worried about my ride home.

I decided to call a cab, as Ron didn't want to go. He arrived promptly, was very nice and helpful, but not overly so (let me put the cart away myself). He was very quiet but nice, and the ride was only $20, a bargain, I thought, considering one of my tie-downs had snapped on my hand cart and smacked me in the hand.

It was very slow. I picked, I think, a bad time of day. Had I gone after dinner I think things would have been much more lively. However, I did distribute a little over 50 Bibles in about an hour and fifteen minutes.

I did mostly singles, ladies with gold teeth for a while. Then a few men who clearly lived in the neighborhood, interested. I was delighted to distribute to them.

"I want to pour a little Jesus on things" I told one recipient, a white lady in a fast-food uniform (she wanted 3). She agreed, said things were getting really bad, and I reminded her Jesus was coming back for us soon.

I had a couple of passers-by, including a young woman in scrubs, who took Bibles. One lady stopped going the wrong way, walked back, and got a few Bibles. Another Spanish lady wanted an English Bible for her son, so I gave her one of each, so they can talk.

One car going the other way stopped dead, almost causing a pileup, and the car behind started honking. I had gotten the first car by that point so I grinned and held up my sign. She waved me over!

I got some couples, clearly from the neighborhood, and was thrilled with them. One older couple, him overtly disabled, sat on the bus stop and watched me like a theater. It was a little disconcerting.

The Friendly mart changed it's name and the usual crowd wasn't hanging outside it anymore. So it was probably one of the safer handouts I've done.

When I finished, I got some Pupusas and called a (different) cab, who jerked me around playing games for an hour, before I said forget it and took the bus.

I was home in 20 minutes.  Please pray for the recipients! 

Food machine business

I am beyond tired.  Please "to" forgive any spelling and grammar errors. 

I woke up at 4 AM.  Took my shower, ate my protein bar, took my pills. 

Went to work.  Ron dropped a case of Big Red on the floor.  Big Red is a caffeinated, red-colored, fruit flavored soda. We sell a lot.  Caffeine drinks do very well at work. 

Anyway, I had half a case of brightly colored red syrup all over the floor.  Agh.  It was all over Ron, me, and the wheelchair.  The custodian felt sorry for us and very nicely cleaned it all up. 

She was so sweet and helpful I just have to believe she knows Jesus.  She has "a servant's heart" as they used to say in my old church.  She was wonderful.  I praised her to one boss and had Ron call in a compliment to "the big man" in maintenance. 

Ron kept rolling back and forth in the goo, adding wheelchair tire tracks to the mess.  We got it cleaned up but what a mess.  He was far more careful stocking the rest of the sodas. 

I did snacks, which needed a lot.  I did all that, and then did the food machine.  We had a lot of trainees coming in today so I loaded the machine. 

We need to have the one machine taken away.  Half the time it does not accept money and it's just eating electricity.  It's a decent machine, but we just don't do that much food machine business. 

A good thing, too, generally they have a higher food cost than, say, snacks.  I can buy a bag of chips for 18 cents to a quarter.  I sell that bag for 70 cents.  You can see why vending machines are so popular. 

After everyone left, I went to work on the coffee vending machine.  I emptied the yuck bucket (waste pail) and filled the grounds, which were very low.  The wide bucket is harder to replace, but I figured out a trick.  If I take out the narrow bucket next to it, I can ensure the spout lines up with the hole.  Once I did that I replaced the narrow bucket, which I feel a lot more comfortable doing. 

I don't mind saying I pray a lot when working on the coffee vending machine, because it is a lot more complicated.  I got a nice compliment, by the way.  One of the customers was sitting one table over as I filled the grounds (open the mylar bag, pour it in, put the lid on) and said "Oh, that smells so good!  What is it?"  I told him, Community Coffee Dark Roast.  It brews up very well and even the repairman likes it. 

Once I finished that I had to help Ron run change, and do the Dr Pepper order.  That just means I counted everything, 5 of this 2 of that, none of those.  That way Ron knows what to order. 

The order is due Wednesday morning and we will not be working until Wednesday afternoon.   Ron will probably call it in tomorrow. 

A while back, a "new" sales clerk "messed up" Ron's order and sent everything to him as 12-packs instead of cases.  He was really pissed for a couple of days, then he realized it is a lot easier for him, he likes it, and he wants it this way from now on - so he requests them. 

And he gets them.  They are pretty good with Customer Service at Dr Pepper Bottling Company.  We had a Coke rep at one of our vendor meetings and they ate him alive.  Yike.  I'll take the distributor I know. 

Finally done.  Now I had to wrangle two huge canisters of coins into a sturdy bag and put them on the walker.  They money was going to sales tax, once we did a "coin dump" at the bank.  We went to the bank and did that, it took forever. 

I thought it was sad, there was a black guy sitting on the couches where people wait on the service reps.  He was sitting at one end.  Because we had some $1's for deposit, I placed Ron about 2/3 down so we'd have room to count.  A latino family came along when I was doing the coins and sat at the very end, so Ron was between them and the black man. 

I just thought it was sad that "everyone" was so scared of him.  He must have felt it, too. 

The black man was assisted (and he looked like he had a very expensive phone so I wasn't worried about him - I just don't like anyone too close when we are counting money - I would have done the same if he were a white guy in a suit), we counted the 1's, and I dealt with that transaction. 

We can finally start repaying savings for all the raids we've made lately, Torbie's surgery, the refrigerator...

And then today, the air conditioner.  Ron said it was making funny noises so he had called a tech to come out. 

First, we got some lunch.  Then we came home.  I did most of my God Time before the tech came out.  He had a look at everything. 

Everything was fine, except for one part about to burn out.  He showed me, it does look pretty crispy.  I trust the company, and, by extension, their tech, even though we hadn't seen this guy before. 

So we paid to have the part replaced and everything is humming along.   Good to know it's fine for now. 

We have had some hellish temperatures in the upper 90's, lately.  "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" - well, it's been pretty humid and extremely sunny too. 

I need to buy some more performance tshirts.  They are good in hot weather or cold, but they really shine in hot weather.  The ones by Dickies have a pocket, which I find very useful, too.  Best of all, they only cost about $10 each and have a decent range of neutral colors. 

By the time he left, it was 4 PM, so no nap for me.  :(  I am exhausted but I guess no more than usual. 

I already fed Biscuit his dinner but I need to clean the litter boxes.  Not looking forward to that but no one wants a filthy toilet. 

I also need to clean and fill the water bowls.  It's been hot and I'm sure the cats are feeling it. 

Tomorrow won't be bad, I hope.  We're just going to the pet store to restock on cat food. 

Ron's been really stiff today but says he did some unusual lifting the last couple days.  I'm hoping that's it.  If not, I'm going to have to drag him to a neurologist. 

It's hard to watch him suffer. 

Tough Day

 Tough day. 

I woke up without a headache and we went out to breakfast. That wasn't bad.  We had good rides to and from, and our return trip driver was one of those "coexist" guys.  Interesting. 

I didn't witness to him, mainly because I didn't know where to start, and also because he was very old, and driving at the time.  "We are all one" sounds really good until you die, and discover, to your horror, that hell really exists and no one has ever earned their way to heaven. 

Salvation is a gift, one you only get when you're alive.  Remember that. 

Anyway, I came home, totally depressed (maybe the gluten in my pancakes), and took a nap for a couple of hours.  Torbie joined me at one point. 

I have had more cat activity in my bed since I started sleeping with the fleece blanket gravy used to love.  There's something about cats and blankets.  They love blankets.  My gang really love this cheap fleece blanket.  Who am I to argue? 

I woke up, even more depressed, and did my God Time.  I also did some computer work and then decided it would be a good idea to do something active outside. 

I have a bay tree, in a pot, which was wilted.  I went out and watered it, then trimmed some overhanging branches on the ash tree.  It has big limbs and little "whips" that grow off the limbs.  The whips hang down, sort of like a weeping willow.  They were hitting vehicles in the driveway. As a result, the paratransit vehicles won't pull in like they used to, and the branches smack us in the face. 

I asked Ron to help but he was drinking.  So I went out and did it by myself. 

A little ways into it, he came out to help.  All he did was complain. 

He has gotten a lot more feeble lately, he can't stand up, or, apparently, walk a couple of steps unassisted.  I told him he needs to see a neurologist about his back (preferably before he ends up paralyzed).  I spent more time moving him a few steps here and there than I did doing the actual work. 

If that's his best, and he's seen a professional and they can't help, I have to be OK with that.  But it is very hard for me because I feel 1.  He is abusing himself terribly and 2.  He is refusing to see any medical professionals. 

I did get him to agree to eat more protein, and we got some takeout for him that should help.  But he won't do anything else.  He's just - rotting. 

That's a horrible thing to watch even if I didn't love him. 

I sent him back in the house and finished the rest of the work on my own.  When I came in he was very derogatory and insulting, then switched to "Oh, you're the best, I am so lucky to have you" back to derogatory name calling, then I'm the best again.  It would make me nuts if I was receiving any of it.

I just kind of thought "Yeah-yeah" and didn't hear it.  He was drunk.  Drunk talk is never nice. 

One thing I found pitiful: he kept going on about my family of origin, how he was so much better than them, etc.  I couldn't help but think he is exponentially worse. 

I remember one time when I was about 14.  My Dad's company had a family picnic at the water park.  Each of us kids could bring a guest.  I brought my boyfriend at the time, a nice guy named Eric. 

We had a good time at the park, but the sun was hot. They also had free beer for the adults.  My Dad got thirsty from all the sun, drank a lot of beer, and got drunk. 

I remember my shame and mortification when Eric told me my Dad was drunk.  That was the first time I had ever seen Dad drunk. 

Can you imagine the memories my kids would have, if I'd had them?  Eric, by the way, last I heard was a captain in the Air Force and doing quite well for himself.  I am very happy for him. 

John, my other high school boyfriend, just kind of magnified his inner child and is a far-leftie.  Last I heard John works food service. 

So Ron's pretty squarely between the two from a breadwinner standpoint. 

He didn't c- I was going to say he didn't call me names today, but he did.  Alcohol just makes him an awful person. 

I can see why bars have so many fights. 

No wonder I'm so depressed. 

Careful what I ask for

I need to learn to carry my sunglasses "with". 

Oh, my head.  It was fine when I woke up.  I got up and took my shower, ate my protein bar, took my pills. 

Then we went to Walmart.  They didn't have any Kiddie carts so I left Ron sitting up front.  I got his stuff, and mine.  I got some diet decaf Coke for the next Bible Handout, which I had hoped to do today. 

It didn't work out that way.  We waited outside in the bright sun for about 10 minutes and it was uncomfortable but not horrible. 

We got home and I took a nap.  I asked God to make it clear if He wanted me to do the Handout today.  I woke up with a vicious headache with has morphed into a (non vomiting) migraine.  Ugh.  My eyes are watering and I feel like my right temple is being drilled.  It is horrible. 

I couldn't do a handout if you paid me.  I could barely pick up one Bible, much less put a whole case in the back of a cab.  [groan]  I hope to do them up tonight and do a Handout tomorrow. 

We'll see. 

I took some Excedrin which took a large part of the edge off.  The stuff really does work, one reason I always have a couple bottles lying around the house. 

I'm blaming the sun because I didn't eat anything weird and 2 family members (an aunt, and a nephew) both swear bright sun will trigger migraines.  I'll just have to wait it out. 

At least I got my answer.  Maybe things are too "sparky" in the 'hood today.  I'll have to try again tomorrow.