Reflections of My Life

I need to make some calls and see if I can find an oral surgeon who puts a patient out to extract their teeth. I need to have the rest of mine done but I CANNOT go through it again being awake. It was a traumatic ordeal for me. The pain afterwards is bad enough but getting all those shots was like being tortured. Trouble is my insurance (medicaid) does not pay for everything. I was tempted to put it on my credit card but don't want to struggle to make those payments again.

Since I am having so much trouble finding an aide at this time, I am going to call someone who does not work for RCIL (the agency I am supposed to use). Just have someone come in and do a thorough cleaning and go from there. I believe I can use the money I have budgeted for getting my hair done this month. It does not need color yet and just having it trimmed is not that much.

Yesterday, I watched the live stream that was streamed last week of Jeanne Robertson's funeral. I feel so bad about her dying. I have watched her YouTube channel for a few years now. Many times I would just watch her videos over and over. It was a beautiful service and I feel so bad not only for her son, Beaver, but her staff too. I liked her advice about looking at every day situations and seeing something funny about it or make it funny by exaggerating the story. Actually, that is how my bf is. Always has a story.
 

Sliverfox said:
Know what you mean about making plans for the day & none get done.

My aunt used to say"The mind makes plans that the body can't keep."

Off to make the bed,, & make myself decent.

Then hopefully make hubby another peach custard pie.
I think this is the 4th one I've made him.

Can I admit I'm tired of that pie?
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Peach pie sounds really good! Lucky hubby!
 

Had a nice day yesterday. Sonny took me out for lunch to the Chinese buffet restaurant that we like. It was pretty busy, but you know, check day. Then went to Walmart and I had to get a box fan and a cordless telephone for my son. Picked up a few groceries but not a lot. Store was too busy for me to shop. Funny how the lines are so long at the clerk check-outs but the self-check outs were empty. I love it because I like to pack my own groceries. The clerks handle everyone's items after they handled them. Seems to me the fewer other people handle your items the better. Sonny will always go to a clerk if I am not with him. He knows better when I am with him though. LOL
 
This morning I went to Tops on Jazzy. It was hot out by that time but felt good with the wind in my hair. Felt like I needed to put my feet up for a bit so watched a movie while I colored. Now I am cooking supper, chicken marinated in Spiedie chicken barbecue marinade in the Nuwave oven. Smells good! Going to clean Rabbit's cage in a few minutes.

Today there were people in parks but I wanted to get home. I guess with the compression stockings on, I do not feel like sitting outside in the sun. They are warm and I get too hot. So I do what I got to do and get back to my apartment. I do a little bit of work then sit down at the computer or in the recliner. In the recliner, I can put my feet up for a spell.

At Tops they had a sale table for summer items (not food) so I got a plush bath mat in light blue for $3.75 and it was selling for $14.99. I needed one but had put off getting one. I really needed one for when I get out of the shower. Good price. There was a pretty insulated cup with a steel inside and a plastic lid..........they call it a wine tumbler, in pink and purple floral design. It sold originally for $15.99 and was on sale for $4.00 so I bought that also. I don't usually splurge and buy extra stuff but both of these were things I had wanted to buy anyway.
 
As you know, I lived in a secluded location in the state forest for close to twenty years. I called it Peaceful Forest as that was what it was. Very quiet unless a car was going by or my husband was using a chainsaw. I could not play music unless I used my mp3 player and eventually, a boom box. I got used to the quiet. Very still except when the various breezes swept through the forest. Even the wind turbine was quiet, barely heard it spin.

It taught me to be aware of all sounds. The sound I loved and dearly miss since moving here was the morning song of the birds after they arrived in the spring. Watching them gathering to build their nests and start their morning song around 5 AM every morning, It would awake me slowly and I would eagerly get up and fix coffee and just listen. Some mornings I would take my coffee out on the porch or in the garden to surround myself with their music. It was such a happy sound!

There were sounds that were not so welcome though. I know people like owls and I used to also. But I had cats and when I first moved there I would not let my cats be outside after dark. because of the owls. I would hear them every night answering each other through out the forest. Or killing rabbits and other small creatures. The cats came in when I finished supper and learned to come to the door if they were not all ready inside. Cats love to be outside at night. It is their favorite time but also a dangerous time for them. If I had lived alone, I would probably not ever had let them learn to be outside at all. If they had to be watched to not go out the door or cried at night to go out, my husband would rather let them have their way than to hear them or have them disturb his sleep or whatever. It was a source of resentment in me that I kept to myself. I am not a fighter.

The forest directly across the road from my house. When my cats were younger they adventured out there. As they got older, if they did, they stayed close but still liked to be outside. It was like anything that is pretty. Pretty but dangerous or not good for you. Coyotes lived in the forest also and I would hear them howling as they ran along the creek bed on some nights. They did not come to our yard though due to our highly spirited horses. If any animal came nearby, they would be running, jumping and making noise.

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Well my Walmart order arrived today. I ordered if Friday and here it is already. It cost the same as if I bought it in the store. But I did not have to walk around the aisles on the far side of the store and taking it out to the car and then bringing it upstairs to my apartment. It is more convenient this way. Another thing is that I cannot find the unscented garbage bags in our local store but there available to buy buy online. I could barely stand the scent of the last box I bought but it is almost empty now.

I did not buy food items but things like garbage bags, toilet tissue, tissues, dish soap and some other things. It is just so much easier for me since I usually shop with my walker. Sonny usually pushed the shopping cart but lately has been using a store scooter because his feet are not good. So I have been buying only enough to put in two grocery bags at the most. Then when he brings me home, I can bring them upstairs on my walker seat instead of getting a cart.

It has been a lazy day for me. I had every intention of doing that load of laundry that I keep planning on doing. But I felt it was smarter to keep my feet up. I can do things inside my apartment but going downstairs is not going to happen today.

I hope I will be better by Wednesday because Sonny has promised to take me to the Salvation Army to donate my stuff that is my storage locker. Two big things of good clothing. Not going to worry about if I will be able to wear them again or not. Takes up too much room. Boxes of books, household stuff and Christmas decorations. I really need that storage area empty so I can use it more wisely. Plus there seems to be a musty smell in that storage room so best to get rid of the good stuff now.
 
katlupe said:
Had a nice day yesterday. Sonny took me out for lunch to the Chinese buffet restaurant that we like. It was pretty busy, but you know, check day. Then went to Walmart and I had to get a box fan and a cordless telephone for my son. Picked up a few groceries but not a lot. Store was too busy for me to shop. Funny how the lines are so long at the clerk check-outs but the self-check outs were empty. I love it because I like to pack my own groceries. The clerks handle everyone's items after they handled them. Seems to me the fewer other people handle your items the better. Sonny will always go to a clerk if I am not with him. He knows better when I am with him though. LOL
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Oh, great, now I WANT Chinese food. 😳😂
 
I am eagerly awaiting awaiting cold weather. I want to wake up and see frost on the car windows in the parking lot. I see other people wearing jackets when they go outside. Not me. Not yet. I believe I must be the only person here (in my building) who does not complain about the cold weather. There are a couple apartments who do not have air conditioners and I do not understand how they can stand it. Especially on the 3rd floor. I can say all this now but before I moved here, when I was with my husband, any mention of wanting cold weather or even liking it, would set him off. I see the temperature is 52 degrees but it is much hotter than that inside my apartment.

One of the reasons too, that I left my marriage when I left my house was money and debt. I tried many times to talk to him about it. I wanted to do the "snowball" affect of paying down debt. But he would not even listen. He would storm out of the room cussing and banging stuff around (did I mention he had a very bad temper?). I hated living that way. No money to even make a budget for things like food and our mortgage (a big $283. a month!) or health insurance for me (he had the VA). When I left he was all sweetness and cream. Tried to work on me but it was too late.

Ever since I moved here in 2018, I write out a budget sheet for the month. If I want or need something, I must save for it. I am doing okay with this. Paid off a few of the bills I moved here with. I have 4 presently. Since I do not go a lot of places (or even want to) I don't need to spend much money on eating out or clothing. I just gave a big bag of clothing to my friend upstairs. My biggest luxury was the Ancestry subscription. I take a vacation from it every so often. Like now.
 
Sliverfox said:
katlupe,, cool weather is with us today here in NW Pa.
My knees are chilled , time to put on longer pants?

The poor dog must be cold,, I see his legs shaking in his sleep.
The sun should be on the back deck,, so he can 'sun bathe'.
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He may be just chasing rabbits in his dreams. Longer pants? Yes. It’s 90 during the days and 60 at 6 am so long pants in the morning and shorts at about 9 am. We might actually have a cold winter this year
 
I watch how the wild life changes habits , colors to get some idea what Fall/Winter might be like.

Hummingbirds are still coming to the feeder.
Am seeing young deer still with spots.

This is the first year we've had flock of turkey feeding on deer corn & grass hoppers.

They fed heavily the day before it our first cool night , 45*.

Wild turkey hunting starts end of Oct. probably won't see any till after all hunting seasons are over.
 
Well, I am a happy camper tonight! First thing is that I am interviewing an aide on Thursday morning! She answered the ad I put up on RCIL's website. Sounds like she is experienced and lives close by. Looking forward to meeting her. Since she is in their system already, there will not be a mountain of paperwork to do. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Second thing is that Sonny ordered new tires for my mobility chair, "Jazzy". The threads are showing and I was worried about it. He came up here this afternoon and checked the nuts out to make sure of the size and shape. Then made some calls. To order directly from the manufacturer would have been over $300. So he ordered the tires from Amazon and his SIL works for a tire place and he said they can figure it out.........not sure what needs to be done but they will take care of it for me.

Now doesn't it seem strange that hundreds of people are using these things and then when you need to replace or repair parts of it they are hard to find? I am lucky to have a mechanical minded man in my life, but what about others who do not? My friend downstairs paid a guy from the manufacturer of her scooter to come here and put her new batteries in. A couple hundred dollars for him to do that because he comes from Syracuse. Now my neighbor across the hall puts the batteries in for no charge.

My counselor from Adult Services (the ones who have the program for the home aides) is coming here on Thursday afternoon to go over my paperwork and see what I need. They like to make sure you are doing okay and see if you need anything else. My original paperwork had expired and I hadn't gotten an aide in all that time. They are hard to come by around here.
 
Sliverfox said:
Am seeing ads in local paper wanting more care givers.
Good luck with the tires for Jazzy.

When you mentioned about getting out & about with it.
Thought ,she needs 'winter treads'
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I need the tires because the tire is showing threads in the middle of the tire. Actually I do not take it outside in winter or wet weather. I could, others do but I don't like to get the tires wet and then come inside. If it is cold, but dry, I will take it outside.

This morning the woman who answered the ad I put on RCIL's website for my aide job. Then after that, my counselor is coming for our appointment. Saying a prayer that it all works out because I really need some help.

I am excited about working on my storage locker now. I will take a picture of it to show how it looks now. But I will be emptying it out more so I can keep things I really need down there, as well as my extra supplies. I already keep Rabbit's hay, paper towels, tissues and toilet tissue down there. I can put extra cleaning supplies or personal care items there. In Rubbermaid containers, of course.
 
I have been working on my blog again. I want to write a few times a week. I used to write four of them and would do at least one a day. Now it takes my brain a little more work to see things that I do that might be of interest to people of my generation. Many of us cannot go out and work in big gardens and canning jars of food. I know some still can but I am writing about things in my life and I think there are many women just like me. With the same problems and need to figure out what or how to do these things.

This is my newest blog post, Living Your Best Life, Disabilities Included! The reason I wrote this is I was talking to someone about goals and how he thought age didn't matter. You can set a goal and just work toward it. Do what you have to. Of course, even though he is older than me, he has never had health or financial issues. It is difficult for me to take advice from someone who had never lived in the actual situation I am in. I think this is why I relate to Sonny (my boyfriend) so well. He has had a hard life too.

Well anyway, I am going to make a goal list today............yes, another one. I have one for health and home stuff but want another one for my brain. As I was speaking to this friend, he did make me feel like I was smarter than I think. Even though I am not someone who went to college or had fancy jobs. And he actually has done those things but I felt an unhappiness in him.

My appointment with interviewing an aide is pushed back to tomorrow. She called and had to have a tooth extracted today. I told her no problem. So just waiting for my other appointment. Then might go downstairs to check out my storage locker and wash a load of laundry.
 
Happy Anniversary to my little bunny boy, Rabbit! Seven years ago today an owl dropped him on my homestead. He had wounds on his side but he survived! That was in 2014 and I knew zero about owning a rabbit as a house pet. He is super smart and a wonderful pet to share my life with. I love him so much and he seems to love me right back.

This is this morning having his breakfast banana. I gave him a bigger piece since it is a special day
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I am excited! I met with the young woman who is going to take the job as my aide. I liked her immediately. I have a good feeling about this and she took all the paperwork to fill out. But she is already employed by RCIL so she doesn't have to do all of it. She is going to work for me on Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 - 2:00. She has been doing this work for 7 years now and is a single mother of 3 children. I need this so bad.

Now I am getting ready to go downstairs to our coffee hour in the community room. After that I might venture outside to see what is happening with getting the parks prepared for Colorscape this week-end. I imagine it will be pretty big this year since it was skipped last year.
 
Today, Sonny is bringing his scooter up and we are going to Colorscape. Colorscape is an art festival with live music, food and all types of entertainment for two days. It is outside in the four parks that are almost right across the street from my building. They have been putting up tents and stuff since Thursday. I am taking my camera so I will have pictures to share. They could not have it last year so I think it will be pretty big today. Last night they had fireworks going off, so must be it was getting started.

If it wasn't for my mobility chair and Sonny's scooter, I would not have as much fun at things like this. We go all over the place checking out all the beautiful artwork. Some of the artists work on their projects right there. The food carts are expensive so we most likely will not buy from those. There is a small coffee shop, locally owned that I want to get a coffee from while we are out. Just to check it out and see if I can go in there on my own with my chair.

I bought the Vive Sock Assist for putting on my compression stockings and it works like a charm! I love it so much I wrote my last blog post about it.

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I am up early today. Yesterday instead of going back to Colorscape for the second day, Sonny took me grocery shopping instead. I felt good to have gotten to the store finally to do a big shopping trip.............but I was really done in when I got home. So I only put the cold stuff away and everything is on my counters. I am pretty lucky to have such a large kitchen for a tiny studio apartment. I made a clear spot on the one where the coffee maker sits. Important to keep that clear. Right now, I can;t wait to get some.
 
In between times of elevating my feet, I managed to get my groceries put away that I left on the counter. I made chicken noodle soup and re-organized my cupboards where I keep canned goods and jars. I always make this soup when I am feeling off. It goes back to my mom. She always made homemade soups and chicken noodle especially if someone was sick.

When I lived in an apartment with my son when I was about 23 or so, I was really sick with a cold. She talked to me on her lunch hour while she was at work and never said a word about it, but she came over right after work with a bag of groceries to make her homemade chicken noodle soup for me! Not in a rush to get home to my father, because he can cook himself if he had to. Truly a wonderful mother and there was never a doubt that she loved me and my brother.

I don't have a cold today, just feeling worn out I guess and have a lot of chores to do. But I will do them when I do them.
 
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