We use black crayons to mark out old labels and do special labels. somebody stole mine from my workstation. [Clerks]Bunch of savages in this town[/Clerks]
Poor Ripple.
You rang?
Glad you got out and had fun, shoe.
sari, I have to wonder if Ripple’s ear infection is partially responsible for his wobbliness. Skritches to him.
wheelie, it sounds like you and your wife had a nice taste of normal. 
TOB laid out of irk today. When I had my weekly Zoom one on one with my boss, she told me not to worry about what was left in TOB’s queue, so I didn’t. 
I had planned to take tomorrow off, but I need to wrap up some stuff before ducking out tomorrow.
After KP, it’s back to playing in the studio. I’m working on a new (to me) technique that I need to try a different printing method for.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
I have those things, except ham. I do have bacon. Some further investigation must ensue …
… after my rat buyer. Hopefully soon-ish and not late-ish. It may be five bucks at a time, for an individual feeder, but it’s nice to have some independent income of my own that’s outside The Man and stuff.
In the meantime, I almost teared up a bit, because … okay not entirely, I still need to put the clean stuff away once it’s dry, but … the kitchen is all clean. Not “mostly clean, if you ignore the giant roasting pan that’s been there a month” but just all clean.
I’ve been putting off the sheets because I hatesez that chore, but I’m otherwise O.K. on laundry, and sweeping. I feel like … I’m not caught up entirely on life’s hamster wheel (esp. not the financial one!!) but on the “daily maintenance” stuff, I don’t feel so hopelessly, disgustingly behind anymore. Like if someone swung by, I might not feel like I have to block their view.
I might eventually feel presentable enough to have a coupla people from work swing by MY place. Maybe. Someday.
I’ve been slacking off with updates here, but I’ve been reading about everyone else’s adventures.
My dog Sweetie got me up in the middle of the night the last two nights. The vet had put her on Deramaxx (doggie nsaid) about a month ago because she apparently is having discomfort in her back legs and hips due to arthritis. It makes her restless. She couldn’t seem to get comfortable on one of the two dog beds in the bedroom. Then she wanted to go outside (a request one ignores at their own peril) and that meant black cat EC had to go out, too. Lordy, lordy, what wouldn’t I give for a full night’s sleep.
Today I took Sweetie to the vet for her regular “spa day”-- every three weeks. Bath, nail trim, express anal glands – she’s a dainy 50+ pound girl and doesn’t want me shouting out private details to the whole world, adequan shot, and cold laser treatment.
Today the vet added tramadol at bedtime to help her (and me) sleep through the night. We’ll try that for a week and discuss other options after that time.
My dog Buddy, of blessed memory (known as “Dr. B” at the vet’s office) got weekly acupuncture treatments that kept him able to walk for a couple of years after he started to decline. I’ve had acupuncture and never felt it did a thing for me. But I’d take him in barely able to walk (him, not me) and he’d come out literally prancing. No placebo effect there. I dunno. That might be next for Sweetie.
She’s about 14-- I’m not sure how old she was when she showed up at my house in the country in 2007-- maybe two? He appetite is good, and her poop is picture-perfect, if I do say so myself.
While she was at her spa day, I went to Tuesday Morning and got her a new, thick, soft dog bed for my bedroom. There are five other dog beds throughout the house, so if anyone has a nap attack, all they have to do is fall down.
P.S. After I got Sweetie settled down the last two nights, then I had to go outside at 2-ish in the morning to round up EC (cat) and bring her back in. On the upside, I got to see the bee-you-tee-ful full moon.
I’VE had an upset stomach all day. Anxiety over this? Maybe. I hope a decent night’s sleep cures it. I do not see how you people cope who have children. I worry so much about my animals.
New topic: the little free neighborhood pantry. I’ve been stocking it faithfully on Tuesday and Thursday morning. Sometimes it takes a couple of days to be emptied, but on Tuesday of this week, everything (and it was a lot!) was gone by noon (I checked). One of the neighbors told me that some people come and take EVERTHING! I put up some signs asking people not to do that, but I don’t have any hope that that will do any good. Once I put the stuff out there, I have no control over what happens to it. I may start putting a smaller quantity but more often. I usually fill up two shopping bags at the grocery store (about $40 worth) and put all of that out. But maybe I’ll only put out one bag’s worth on Tuesday and then the second bag on Wednesday, then do the same thing on Friday and Saturday. If anyone can think of any psychological principles that I can apply here, do tell.
Why didn’t anybody tell me it was October? I suddenly realized it this afternoon, which meant I had to get my great-nephew’s birthday gift (one of those star projectors that rotate) wrapped and in the mail. It was also supposed to be flu shot day, but luckily the pharmacy is across the street from the P.O.
Hey, you know those “Drop you unused RX meds here?” thingies? Two guys came in to take care of the full bin. What an ordeal? Lots of paperwork, a very specialized procedure for removing and securing the bin. Who knew? Then the pharmacist who gave the shot said someone broke in overnight, so they had to delay opening.
I am very, very tired. I had to shuffle my way home due to foot joint unhappiness, but I don’t have to go anywhere, so who cares?
Flyboy, your very cool experience reminded me of watching the drawbridges over the Chicago River go up. I never tired of watching that.
Sari, after my dear departed lab had general anesthetic, she walked backwards for hours. Someone came to the door, and she barked while backing across the living room to the wall. Poor girl. I hope your adorable Tower of Pisa is back to normal soon.
MetalMouse, very important question: what cheese do you use on your cheeseburgers? You can tell a lot about people by the cheese on their cheeseburgers.
I so admire what you’re doing! Here’s one idea from the Littlefreepantry.org:
~Please note that irregular supply is an effective control keeping both consumption and traffic manageable. Irregular supply minimizes loitering as well.~
So, vary the days/times you restock? It’s hard to know if yours is always empty because someone is taking undue advantage or if it is because there are so many people are using it because there is such high need now.
Boo
Very informative! Thanks!
I suspect it’s this.
I do too, but I try to not always be glass half full. If some one person is clearing the shelves because they are feeding all of it to their hungry family, that’s one thing. Your food is feeding hungry people-mission accomplished. If that person is selling it or keeping the food when they could easily buy their own food and leave yours for someone genuinely without, then they deserve every whit of bad karma that comes their way.
Another idea~Do you have food banks or volunteer food networks (churches, etc) that might have some one you could have a conversation with about how to work around this? It is no doubt something they have had to work through also.
Again, good on you! 
Boo
I hope I am in the right MMP. We made it home from the horsepistol yesterday. First me because CVS was sending a bunch of IV antibiotics. Hubs had to wait for his 6 pm infusion so I left in time to spring Buddy from the Vet and get the medicine refrigerated. Hubby came after with a friend and they didn’t get here until 2 am due to a bridge being closed for maintenance.
Fun stuff was this morning when the visiting nurse showed up and showed me how to do the infusions. She set up the first one, left me hand written notes and returned to watch me do the second one. WTF? Isn’t all of it her job? Turns out apparently not. I can call if I have any questions, they will collect blood and get the results to the Dr. It is three infusions a day for the next three weeks. I texted her and told her I am not at all comfortable doing this. She does not care. So number three for the day is almost done. There are 20 more days of this.
I am in a major funk like never before. Like do I want to keep going funk. My job is going lacking and I am so depressed and exhausted. I can’t go back to work for 14 day’s from yesterday. I sneaked in there early this morning to grab EOM stuff.
I have not read as all I have time for is nursing now. I even purchased a little bell mostly to be sarcastic. No sooner I start to do something he needs whatever. Just ring the bell. I am only a little mad at him as the endocarditis was caused by the shots he had in his sacrum area due to his being clumsy and not taking it easy the way he was supposed to. I am so full of resentment for this I find it hard to be nice and empathic.
I am considering calling the nursing company and complaining about doing her job. I am not a nurse. This is serious stuff. I am not good with it.
Yay! I’m one of at least two people who look after a free food shelf in my neighborhood. I don’t fill it up all at one shot, both because people will snarf up everything, and because there’s not much space. Last week, I got two crates of cauliflower and a half dozen “supplemental” boxes (rice, beans, and about a dozen cans of tuna and veggies) from the food bank as they were leftovers from the last produce distribution of the day. Clever me - I volunteer at that last distribution, so I can get the goodies.
Less than stellar news from my latest CT scan and my surprise experience with diverticulitis. Compared to a month ago, it’s slightly improved, but an otherwise unclassified mass has quadrupled in volume.
I’ve got the images, but damned if I can make out anything other than my spinal fusion hardware. Everything else is gray blobs to my eyes.
I’m glad your sweetie got to come home and I hope it all gets easier immediately. I’m a retired home healthcare nurse. Send me a PM if you’d like to have someone to listen or to run questions by.
First, and most importantly, take care of yourself. Sleep when you can, let housework or errands slide unless absolutely necessary, use delivery or takeout foods, frozen meals, anything appealing and easy. Put your feet up and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee frequently during the day, read or knit or listen to music to relax so you can replenish yourself.
Here’s the radical part: take away that damn bell, it’s draining your spirit. As long as he can get himself to the bathroom by himself, he’ll be fine. Foster his self-reliance, he’ll recover faster. Bring him meals, refresh his bedside water, check on him occasionally but no beck and call. This is going to be a long haul.
Transitioning home from the hospital is a demanding process-it will take both of you as many days to ‘be home’ again as he was in the hospital and it is stressful and exhausting. Please cut yourself a lot of slack. Take every possible shortcut. When people offer to help, let them. When someone says “what can I do?”, tell them. Make soup, walk the dog, visit with your husband so you can go for a sanity-saving trip to the yarn shop or bookstore, whatever. Get outside every day, even if it is only for 15 minutes, to see the sun and feel the breeze on your skin.
We’ll all be thinking of you.
Boo
Up caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to sort.
{{{{gotti}}}}
{{{{Butter}}}}
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 57 Amurrkin out and moony (the moon is full and bright so that is too a term!) with a predicted high of 75 and N.O.S. for the day. A good day to open windows and air out da cave. The big item on today’s agenda is mowage. The neighbors all around have accomplished such, so we must before we become the worst lookin’ yahd in da hood! Scandalous! Sup shall be bacon cheeseburgers with fixin’s and fries.
{{{Butters}}} glad hubs is home, but like others have said, take care of yourself as well. Do call the nursin’ company. OYKW managed a home health agency which provided such services as home IV infusions and a nurse (sometimes even him, who was a nurse) always did that. Sounds to me like she’s slackin’ somewhat.
{{{gotti}}} yikes!
Nellie at least I think it was you, the candles we use are refillable as opposed to wax ones. They are filled with liquid paraffin. Why does paraffin always look misspelled? Anywho, we cleaned the brass tops (they get kinda sooty with use), washed out all the candles (fun since they have to be completely dried inside before fillin’ up so that takes a bit), and put new wicks in all the candles (a surprisingly easy yet a little time consumin’ task). That’s twenty candles altogether. Fun!
I read all but did not retain much, so yays, boos, hugs, noogies, trouts, chitlins, and how you doin’s all around as needed.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Firday Y’all!
Definitely call them and go straight over your nurse’s head to her supervisor, or higher if necessary. But DON’T spin it as “complaining about her doing her job.” Bad move. You do not want to go on their list of difficult clients. Take her out of the equation completely.
Keep it about you and The Patient. The Patient is their priority. You know they only want what’s best for The Patient, so you’re frankly asking for more help. Make it clear you need more help for your husband to get the best care. Even, if necessary, say you can’t do this alone three times a day. Present it to them as a problem you’re sure they will want to solve for you and The Patient. Make patient care the highest priority and keep that at the top of the argument.
If you get nowhere, then go to the referring physician and say you need another Home Health Agency because this one is making it hard to work with them.
But DO speak up and don’t feel sheepish about it. Just be very calm and act/speak as if you believe they want your husband to have the best care.
We weren’t able to put Higgs’ crate back since this room has yet to be carpeted, so FCD let her sleep free last night. Well, the new carpet has now been peed upon. 
On the plus side, we sprung for the liquid-proof backing and it seems top have worked. I just ran over the area with the shampooer.
Stoopit dog. 
As soon as I do my morning reading, I’ll put all the computer parts out of the way so the carpet guys only have to move the desk. I’ve got SIL’s car and he’s got our truck - we’ll swap when I go to watch Roxy later this morning. And when I get back home, I’ll continue putting the house back together.
With luck, this weekend, the house will mostly return to normal. First of the new furniture should be delivered in about 3 weeks or so. I’m feeling less stressed.
{{{Butters}}} Wish I had more to offer you. Deep cleansing breaths, my friend!
And Happy Firday, all!
Got a magical six and a half hours sleep last night-- yay! (According to my Fitbit.) Gave Sweetie a Tramadol at bedtime and she slept straight through. She lurves her new beddie!
Afternoon, mumpers! Happy Friday!
{{{{{Butters}}}}} - some great advice up there, don’t be afraid to take it especially when it comes from folks who know from whence they speak
{{{{{gotti}}}}} yikes, indeed.
Finally made it to the end of the week, and you’ll be pleased to know that I have not yet brained anyone with a chair despite serious provocation. Of course, if I’d been in the campus office, it might have been very different. Timetabling has been horrible, and now the system itself is conspiring against me. I had a discussion with a colleague this morning because I could see two sessions from the same language module clashing with each other…and that shouldn’t happen. It didn’t happen in her view of the system, so mine must be wrong. It ought to be simple enough to delete the apps folder and reinstall it, except I can’t find the folder it’s meant to display in. So I have a call in with our IT Support and now I have to wait for a remote session with them so they can tinker with the laptop and tell me where I’m going wrong.
On the plus side, I watched a couple of hours of my favourite singer, live from his living room. He has new t-shirts and stuff in his online shop, and my order is already in. And I’ve been to the gym this morning. Even more exciting is the fact I’ll be getting my flu shot tomorrow afternoon. And then I’ll be spending the evening with four bands on a livestream thing, dancing round the living room!
Happy days
Rainy day. Bringing a change of pants and socks to work today, that’s for sure.
Your posts are always full of such wise advice. I sincerely wish I’d had you as a mom-figure in my life growing up.
@gotpasswords Tell me more about how you do this WRT to timing. This morning I went to the grocery store and got my usual two shopping bags of non-perishables. But I only put the contents of one in the pantry. I’ll leave the other one in my car and maybe put that stuff out Sunday or Monday. I guess filling up the pantry gives the impression of bounty, so people feel there will be plenty more coming, so why not take it all. Here’s a picture of the pantry. Someone put the box up ages ago, and I decided it was a little something I could to do fight entropy.
Last Friday when I was putting stuff in there, the most beautiful young man came up and shyly asked if these were donations. He was maybe all of twenty, obviously living on the street, clothes were ratty but they were nice clothes that had deteriorated. He had a stuffed animal under his arm. 
He was so gentle and soft-spoken… and absolutely beautiful. Dear God, he practically had “PREY” tattooed across his forehead. I told him to take whatever he wanted and then I got $20 out of my purse and asked, “Would you be insulted if I offered you some money?” He stammered a bit and then graciously accepted. I got back in my car and he waved as he walked away. I put my head on the steering wheel and cried. Isn’t there a mother somewhere who wonders where he is and waits for him to call? Or maybe a mother who told him to get out and never come back. 
I can’t bear to see a dog or cat on the street with no home, but a kid like this… Beam me up, Scottie-- I can’t stand it here anymore…