It's been quite a while sinse I've up-dated.
Della, one of my sweet chemo nurses, wrote me an e-mail telling me that she's enjoying reading my blog, so I think that's a hint that I need to get it going again.
The terrible neuropathy in my hands makes it painful to type, so I've not been keeping this thing going much lately.
Sad news first: Juanita Price, the lovely lady who was the nurse who delivered me when I was born, died last week. She had taught me in YMWB when I was around 10-12, been a good friend to my parents, given me many tips on my music, and taught me again at UT Hospital as a nuring instructor. She was on the surgical team that performed the first open-heart surgery in Knoxville. She was a very devout Christian lady of the highest order, and I loved her deeply. She had played the piano and organ for Hinton Street Mission for many years, and I was guilty of staring at her during the musical services because I thought her to be the most beautiful, tallented, lovely woman to ever grace the earth. She will be sadly missed. When I called Mary (my oldest living sister) to tell her about the obituary, as soon as she heard my voice, she said, "I saw it." She knew how much Juanita meant to everyone.
Betty Pike has been keeping me updated about her mother, Ruth, and her medical conditions. She's failing badly, and Betty is almost overwhelmed with her care. For someone as competent as Betty to be overwhelmed is baffleing to me. She is so capable and competent in everything she has ever undertaken that I can't imagine her not being able to handle any situation.
But, Ruth has lost her hearing, and has many other medical problems (mostly related to being 92 years old), and Betty is in her 70's, I believe, so I guess it's time for them both to slow down.
Our good neighbor, Muriel Daniel, is very low, and they feel that she could go at any time. She has been a behind-the-scenes leader and charity co-ordinator in Rutledge for many years. While Creed, her husband, has been rather flamboyant and public, Muriel has preferred to quitely go about making things better for everyone she can. I've known her sinse my teen years, but I didn't know of her roles of helping so many until I lived across Rutledge Pike from her for several years. No one will probably know of all the good she has done, but she will be sadly missed when she goes. Her daughter-in-law, Darly Daniel, does Steve's hair, and he says that she's the best he's ever had. I guess he's not counting Dorothy Reynolds, who did both our heads for many years until her retirement a few years ago.
Speaking of Darla....Barbara and I often drop off articles at her salon that we want each other to have. Well, Barbara had bought a rather droopy, pretty ordinary fuschia hat at the Dollar Store, and wanted me to decorate it for her. She left it at the beauty salon where Darla works, and I picked it up and decorated it for her to match a suit she had bought. When I took it to her at her home, both she and Elizabeth (her mother) went wild for it. It did look rather nice, I must admit. I coated it with one of my secret coatings to make it stiff, and put some irridescent fuschia roses on it, and decorater it so that she could make either end the front or back, according to the occasion. She loved it, and showed it to the doctor and home nurse when they came, and they loved it, also.
Elizabeth is getting more and more feeble, but she's 98 years old. Her mind is still very quick, though, and she always enjoys my visits. When Barbara and I talk on the phone, she'll say, "Oh, is she coming?" It's good to feel that I can lighten the day of someone I so love and admire. She taught school until she was 92, and has some wonderful stories to tell. She prays for me every night, as she does for many others. Barbara tells me that she has a rather long devotional time every night, and prays for more and more people every night. Barbara has to wait longer and longer to go into Elizabeth's room to tell her good night. I'd say that Eliazbeth's time in prayer is time well-spent.
My dear old friend, Faune Gerber, from the Nashville area, has a sick grandbaby in Florida, and is frantic over it. She sent many requests over the internet asking for prayers.
It must be awful for her to be so far away when there's sickness.
Janie has been in Gatlingberg this week, and I have had so much residual pain from my chemo that we haven't worked much at Creekside. It's supposed to snow tonight, so Steve and I will likely work there some this evening, to keep a fire going in the wood stove, to prevent pipes freezing.
I've worked some at home, but haven't felt like doing much.
Janie's daughter, Tina, and Shawn, Cherokee's son, have broken up. Shawn wanted to go drinking with the boys, and Tina would not allow it, especially on his limited license from a drunk-driving accident in which a man was killed. Tina has now moved to some place in Morristown, and wants to persue more medical education, which will assure her of good employement.
Our water has been brown, from some underground stream that feeds it. Steve days that he can't get the 'mud' out of the water. I wonder about the benefits of batheing anymore. It darkens our white laundry, and frustrates me to death.
The Womack's dogs have killed two more of our cats. I'm so mad at those careless and irresponsible people who won't contain their animals.
Steve saw the back porch torn up one morning, and I suggested that he might find the cause if he looked on our video surveilance system, so we looked. Two black dogs had come onto the porch, and they attacked the wood boxes where the cats sleep (they're heated). It was a viscous attack that lasted for some time, and I had a horror that the dogs would pull their heads out with a cat in their mouths. I truely don't know how the cats in those boxes held off the dogs, but it was not recorded that the dogs got those cats, though two were missing. It was some cats that Tina had given us, and they were not aware of just how determined our neighor's dogs could be.
One night recently, I saw a possum on the back porch, stealing cat food. I grabbed my cane and a handy umbrella and went after it. I pinned it under my old tanning bed, and started beating it. I would stab it with the unbrella, then hit it over the head with my cane. It was a huge uproar, and Steve came back into the house, leaving it to me to mount the defense. This has happened before. I won't shoot a gun towards the house, because a bullit might go through a soft part and make a hole in the side of the house. That's happened before, too. It sometimes gets a little exciting around here after dark.
Jaime Combs will probably read this and laugh, as will her very close friend, Barbara Womack.
Joy La Tulip, Janie's sister, is planning to move to Tennessee, and she's planning to rent our mobile home. Janie and I want to do it all up nicely for Joy. She's disabled from many medical problems, and doesn't have much money to allow for rent, and she can't seem to get an apartment here in Rutledge that she can afford, so the trailer works out nicely for her. She's a good housekeeper, and will take care of the place, so she will be of great benefit to me. She has a wonderful personality, just like Janie, and we always have good times when she's here.
It's time for Steve to go to see Darla, so I'm off here. More later.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday January 25, 2013
People have been telling me I need to post again, so I will.
Faune Gerber says that she can't comment on my posts now. I was getting some terrible comments from some vulgar commoner who shall remain anoymus, and Steve set up my blog to be for only those who I give a special sign-in route to.
I don't mind people commenting, but some opinions just don't need to be aired on a blog that reaches many people. Lynn knows who I'm talking about.
There was a yelling match between Colton Smith and Janie at Creekside, and he wound up stomping out and quitting. That meant that he was also not going to rent the trailer from me. He and his woman plan to go back to South Carolina or North Carolina one, which is where they formerly lived. There's a drug culture there that is all-invasive, and his mother and I are afraid that he will lapse back into usage, which had landed him in prison before. He had a felony conviction when he was 19, and now he's 23, with no credit, no job, no car, no home, a bad attitude towards society, a 4-year-old child, and is living with either his parents or hers. His mother, Dena, is an emergency-room nurse, and she told me she had to sign a paper saying that she would not eat the groceries bought with Colton's food stanps. Just how crazy is this? It would seem to the folks down at the food stamp office that when someone comes in with tattoos, piercings all over, at least one bastard child, no car, no job, a live-in, thier pants down to their knees, and at least one felony conviction, that they'd not be too consciencious about who eats their food.
I love my country, but I fear our government
Everything has gotten turned upside down.
We got the kitchen floor back down, and I super-insulated the walls. It makes a world of difference.
Janie and I went to Southeasterm Salvage and bought the moulding and corner pieces to match, and I painted them with pearlizing finish. They look magnificient.
Joy, Janie's sister, came from North Carolina for a visit, and she loved the finish. She's interested in renting my trailer, and she picked out wall paper to cover the walls. She can't stand the dark paneling. She also picked out some ceiling medallions for her light fixtures, and she asked me if I'd pearlize them for her. I got up early this morning and put the primer coat on them. One of them had been painted with some ugly yellow paint (they're both salvaged). She willl make me a good tennant, though she can't afford much rent. But I want to help her, and she's lonely living in North Carolina. She comes often to visit Janie, and we have become like one big, happy, loud family.
I saw Barbara at the Down Home last night, and her hair looked like she'd been rode hard and put up wet. Darla Daniel is out of town a lot with Muriel, and Barbara just can't get top the beauty salon. She never does her own hair, and it just doesn't keep. She was there with the Republican Women's meeting. They want me to join, but I just don't have the time.
There was freezing rain during the night, and the Daniel p0astures, across tghe highway, are glazed over with the white ice crystals. It looks like a light snow, but is far more trecherous.
The Family Dollar and the IGA did a brisk business last evening, as soon as the prediction came of freezing rain.
Steve and I are home, safe, warm, and dry.
Faune Gerber says that she can't comment on my posts now. I was getting some terrible comments from some vulgar commoner who shall remain anoymus, and Steve set up my blog to be for only those who I give a special sign-in route to.
I don't mind people commenting, but some opinions just don't need to be aired on a blog that reaches many people. Lynn knows who I'm talking about.
There was a yelling match between Colton Smith and Janie at Creekside, and he wound up stomping out and quitting. That meant that he was also not going to rent the trailer from me. He and his woman plan to go back to South Carolina or North Carolina one, which is where they formerly lived. There's a drug culture there that is all-invasive, and his mother and I are afraid that he will lapse back into usage, which had landed him in prison before. He had a felony conviction when he was 19, and now he's 23, with no credit, no job, no car, no home, a bad attitude towards society, a 4-year-old child, and is living with either his parents or hers. His mother, Dena, is an emergency-room nurse, and she told me she had to sign a paper saying that she would not eat the groceries bought with Colton's food stanps. Just how crazy is this? It would seem to the folks down at the food stamp office that when someone comes in with tattoos, piercings all over, at least one bastard child, no car, no job, a live-in, thier pants down to their knees, and at least one felony conviction, that they'd not be too consciencious about who eats their food.
I love my country, but I fear our government
Everything has gotten turned upside down.
We got the kitchen floor back down, and I super-insulated the walls. It makes a world of difference.
Janie and I went to Southeasterm Salvage and bought the moulding and corner pieces to match, and I painted them with pearlizing finish. They look magnificient.
Joy, Janie's sister, came from North Carolina for a visit, and she loved the finish. She's interested in renting my trailer, and she picked out wall paper to cover the walls. She can't stand the dark paneling. She also picked out some ceiling medallions for her light fixtures, and she asked me if I'd pearlize them for her. I got up early this morning and put the primer coat on them. One of them had been painted with some ugly yellow paint (they're both salvaged). She willl make me a good tennant, though she can't afford much rent. But I want to help her, and she's lonely living in North Carolina. She comes often to visit Janie, and we have become like one big, happy, loud family.
I saw Barbara at the Down Home last night, and her hair looked like she'd been rode hard and put up wet. Darla Daniel is out of town a lot with Muriel, and Barbara just can't get top the beauty salon. She never does her own hair, and it just doesn't keep. She was there with the Republican Women's meeting. They want me to join, but I just don't have the time.
There was freezing rain during the night, and the Daniel p0astures, across tghe highway, are glazed over with the white ice crystals. It looks like a light snow, but is far more trecherous.
The Family Dollar and the IGA did a brisk business last evening, as soon as the prediction came of freezing rain.
Steve and I are home, safe, warm, and dry.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
I'm back with enough time to write some more.
I'm flooded in at Clairemont. It's been raining so much the last few days. The ground is soggy, and all the rain is running off the mountains and the bluff we live on that Richland's Creek is flooded far out of it's banks. It's all the way up into Rutledge Pike, and Blue Springs Road is covered with a few feet of water. There are all kinds of things that float down the creek when it floods, like barbed wire fences, tree trunks and branches, dead animals, trash picked up in yards and parking lots, and, once, a set of patio steps.
I wouldn't dare drive through that water, even if it was more shallow. So, I'm at home, where I've been for three days.
The house is leaking in two places, where Steve put vent shafts in the attic years ago. They have leaked every time we've had bad storms for years, but he hasn't done anything about it. When insulatiion gets wet, it loses it's fire resistance, and I've told him that, but he seems like he doesn't care. I guess I'll have to climb up into the attic and do the repairs myself.
There are streams of water pouring down across the Daniel property, which is across the highway from us. That land is usually so dry they have to water it to get it to grow hay in the summer.
Wisteria is blooming, and I wonder if this is the spring flood that we usually have in March or April each year. They've called off school for Grainger County for three days. The busses can't get to some of the houses along their routes.
A pond that I had dug several years ago that had now gone dry is full of water today. It's down below the barn, and had been dry for some time. I'd love for it to be full all year long, so that it would attract water fowl. I don't have cows anymore, so I don't need it for livestock, but it's just a lumpy low place without water in it.
The cats were dirty, so I gave them both a bath last night. Stumpy took it pretty well, but Sweety howled and cried the whole time. She was the dirtiest, and many fleas came off her.
The house is cold, and I enjoy sleeping. I'm always so tired. The chemo made me tired all the time, and I guess it's not out of my system yet. My hands still hurt pretty badly all the time, and sometimes it's painful to eat cold food. I can still smell and taste that horrid stuff.
I'm supposed to go tomorrow for all kinds of tests to see if the cancer is out of my body, if I can get out over the roads. We're supposed to get more rain mixed with snow today. I may have to cancel. Janie is going to take me, if we can go.
She's feeling pretty badly today, too, but has her grandaughter's boyfriend working at Creekside to keep things going. We're making some progress.
Steve's office is turning out really nicely, and the Daffodil room is looking bright and clean. James put the baseboards in that room on Monday evening before all the rain got entrenched and the creek rose. Janie and I run over to Lowe's to get some trim for him to use on the corners of the baseboards to make it look a little more 'up-town'.
The floor is finally down again in the kitchen, and I stuffed all the insulation I could into the cavities. It is warmer, and the floor feels much stronger. The wall area that Steve cut out is still needing insulation and sheetrock or whatever we're going to put back on it, but there is some progress, and I'm glad for that. It seems like everything takes so long.
Jamie Combs and a friend, Scotty, caqme to visit me Sunday to see Creekside and me. I gave them the 'fifty-cent' tour, and they were full of praise. Steve wanted me to give an opinion on something, and we were sitting out on the front patio, and he came out and told me that they had to leave.
I was so embarrassed! I would never have asked Jamie to leave my home. She is the most gracious and polite person, and has so much class. She comes so seldom, and I welcome her at anytime she can come. It had been back last summer that she had come last, and I wanted her to feel welcome and for us to have a nice visit. I could have sunk into the ground with embarrassment. Both she and Scotty have called me to tell me that I shouldn't feel badly about that, but my cheeks still burn when I think about it. I should have picked up a two-by-four and hit him over the head. He knows that Jamie is like an adopted niece to me, and that I love her so. This is not the end of this incident.
Scotty and his S.O. have bought a house in Holston Hills in Knoxville, where Steve and I lived when we were first married, and he wants me to come and give him some pointers about their house. He says he knows what he wants, but doesn't know how to get there with his ideas. I'll be glad to help him, and I have lots of material we can use. His house is just four doors down from the house where we lived, and we know some of the same people. He has a very large back yard that he's stumped with, and wants me to help him with ideas.
I had Jamie take a 'professional's' look at my scalp area, and she confirmed that I have new hair growth coming in. I'm excited about that. I've only been off chemo for a week, and already I'm getting hair. FAB! It looks like a soft, dark fuzz, way down at the roots, but it's hair, and it's mine.
Barbara is still fat, ugly, and her momma dresses her funny, but she's my friend. I'm planning to take her out for lunch some day soon, and we're going to wear our hats, and go some place nice. It's been a long time since the old days of 'the Hat Lady's Lunch'. It will be nice for her to get out.
Enough for now.
I love you, Jamie.
I'm flooded in at Clairemont. It's been raining so much the last few days. The ground is soggy, and all the rain is running off the mountains and the bluff we live on that Richland's Creek is flooded far out of it's banks. It's all the way up into Rutledge Pike, and Blue Springs Road is covered with a few feet of water. There are all kinds of things that float down the creek when it floods, like barbed wire fences, tree trunks and branches, dead animals, trash picked up in yards and parking lots, and, once, a set of patio steps.
I wouldn't dare drive through that water, even if it was more shallow. So, I'm at home, where I've been for three days.
The house is leaking in two places, where Steve put vent shafts in the attic years ago. They have leaked every time we've had bad storms for years, but he hasn't done anything about it. When insulatiion gets wet, it loses it's fire resistance, and I've told him that, but he seems like he doesn't care. I guess I'll have to climb up into the attic and do the repairs myself.
There are streams of water pouring down across the Daniel property, which is across the highway from us. That land is usually so dry they have to water it to get it to grow hay in the summer.
Wisteria is blooming, and I wonder if this is the spring flood that we usually have in March or April each year. They've called off school for Grainger County for three days. The busses can't get to some of the houses along their routes.
A pond that I had dug several years ago that had now gone dry is full of water today. It's down below the barn, and had been dry for some time. I'd love for it to be full all year long, so that it would attract water fowl. I don't have cows anymore, so I don't need it for livestock, but it's just a lumpy low place without water in it.
The cats were dirty, so I gave them both a bath last night. Stumpy took it pretty well, but Sweety howled and cried the whole time. She was the dirtiest, and many fleas came off her.
The house is cold, and I enjoy sleeping. I'm always so tired. The chemo made me tired all the time, and I guess it's not out of my system yet. My hands still hurt pretty badly all the time, and sometimes it's painful to eat cold food. I can still smell and taste that horrid stuff.
I'm supposed to go tomorrow for all kinds of tests to see if the cancer is out of my body, if I can get out over the roads. We're supposed to get more rain mixed with snow today. I may have to cancel. Janie is going to take me, if we can go.
She's feeling pretty badly today, too, but has her grandaughter's boyfriend working at Creekside to keep things going. We're making some progress.
Steve's office is turning out really nicely, and the Daffodil room is looking bright and clean. James put the baseboards in that room on Monday evening before all the rain got entrenched and the creek rose. Janie and I run over to Lowe's to get some trim for him to use on the corners of the baseboards to make it look a little more 'up-town'.
The floor is finally down again in the kitchen, and I stuffed all the insulation I could into the cavities. It is warmer, and the floor feels much stronger. The wall area that Steve cut out is still needing insulation and sheetrock or whatever we're going to put back on it, but there is some progress, and I'm glad for that. It seems like everything takes so long.
Jamie Combs and a friend, Scotty, caqme to visit me Sunday to see Creekside and me. I gave them the 'fifty-cent' tour, and they were full of praise. Steve wanted me to give an opinion on something, and we were sitting out on the front patio, and he came out and told me that they had to leave.
I was so embarrassed! I would never have asked Jamie to leave my home. She is the most gracious and polite person, and has so much class. She comes so seldom, and I welcome her at anytime she can come. It had been back last summer that she had come last, and I wanted her to feel welcome and for us to have a nice visit. I could have sunk into the ground with embarrassment. Both she and Scotty have called me to tell me that I shouldn't feel badly about that, but my cheeks still burn when I think about it. I should have picked up a two-by-four and hit him over the head. He knows that Jamie is like an adopted niece to me, and that I love her so. This is not the end of this incident.
Scotty and his S.O. have bought a house in Holston Hills in Knoxville, where Steve and I lived when we were first married, and he wants me to come and give him some pointers about their house. He says he knows what he wants, but doesn't know how to get there with his ideas. I'll be glad to help him, and I have lots of material we can use. His house is just four doors down from the house where we lived, and we know some of the same people. He has a very large back yard that he's stumped with, and wants me to help him with ideas.
I had Jamie take a 'professional's' look at my scalp area, and she confirmed that I have new hair growth coming in. I'm excited about that. I've only been off chemo for a week, and already I'm getting hair. FAB! It looks like a soft, dark fuzz, way down at the roots, but it's hair, and it's mine.
Barbara is still fat, ugly, and her momma dresses her funny, but she's my friend. I'm planning to take her out for lunch some day soon, and we're going to wear our hats, and go some place nice. It's been a long time since the old days of 'the Hat Lady's Lunch'. It will be nice for her to get out.
Enough for now.
I love you, Jamie.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013 AM
Exciting week, as Wednesday, when I got my chemotherapy pump off, it was my last treatment.
I felt like a bird out of a cage! I was so excited that when Penny, one of my nurses, took my BP, it was 180/140. They told me I had to go to the ER, and I refused. They then took my BP again, and it had come down just a few points. I still refused to go to the ER, and asked if I could just recline on one of the recliners we use for chemotherapy for a few minutes and see if I could concentrate and get it down further. It got down enough that they didn't send me to the ER. I just have too much to do.
Janie was in a state of panic, and was stroking my face to try to calm me.
Barbara had one of these spells once in her doctor's office, and she asked the doctor if she could lay in the dark for a while and sing hymns, and she got her blood pressure down in a few minutes. I'll bet the other patients in that doctor's office had pretty high blood pressure, though.
Steve decided that he was vexed over the kitchen floor at Creekside, so he tore it up to replace a sill beam. That's twice in two years that floor has been pulled u[p, and I'm getting pretty tired of insulating it while crawling on my belly on the ground under it. There was, until Saturday, just about 8" of clearance, and it made for rough work, nailing sheets of wide insulation onto the bottoms of the floor joists with a hammer swinging just a few inches from my face.
It seems like we have to do everything twice, at least.
All the kitchen cabinets from that side of the kitchen are now piled up in the dining room.
Such a pleasant place.
It's been raining off and on all week, so the floors of Creekside now look like a ride at Dollywood after a busy weekend.
I tried to work upstairs all day yesterday, and got a closet in Steve's library papered with some cute wall paper that looks just like boards. I put some gynaglypta (looks like stucco) on the ceiling, and it turned out real nice. He likes it.
His office is nearing completion.
I'm about to be ready to paper the front bedroom upstairs, and I'm going to do it in the same wallpaper we have on our bedroom at Clairemont. It's Victorian roses in a sage green on a light gray background. I've found it very restful.
I had planned to use a magnolia paper in that room, but I think I like the green better.
This young couple (not married) are going to rent the trailer, and they're working on it now. Colton is a pretty good carpenter, and he's been helping out at Creekside quite a lot. They don't have a car or furniture, so I'm being patient about the rent until they can get settled. His mother is a nurse, and worked with Judy for several years. She will make good on anything he misses. His step-father just wants them out of their house, and is willing to help with ANYTHING.
I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, and I sure hope not. The chemotherapy destroyed my immunity to everything, and I'm terrified of what a cold or the flu could do to me right now. I'm eating vitamins and preventives.
There's more, but it will have to come later. I'm being summoned, and Barbara's still fat.
I felt like a bird out of a cage! I was so excited that when Penny, one of my nurses, took my BP, it was 180/140. They told me I had to go to the ER, and I refused. They then took my BP again, and it had come down just a few points. I still refused to go to the ER, and asked if I could just recline on one of the recliners we use for chemotherapy for a few minutes and see if I could concentrate and get it down further. It got down enough that they didn't send me to the ER. I just have too much to do.
Janie was in a state of panic, and was stroking my face to try to calm me.
Barbara had one of these spells once in her doctor's office, and she asked the doctor if she could lay in the dark for a while and sing hymns, and she got her blood pressure down in a few minutes. I'll bet the other patients in that doctor's office had pretty high blood pressure, though.
Steve decided that he was vexed over the kitchen floor at Creekside, so he tore it up to replace a sill beam. That's twice in two years that floor has been pulled u[p, and I'm getting pretty tired of insulating it while crawling on my belly on the ground under it. There was, until Saturday, just about 8" of clearance, and it made for rough work, nailing sheets of wide insulation onto the bottoms of the floor joists with a hammer swinging just a few inches from my face.
It seems like we have to do everything twice, at least.
All the kitchen cabinets from that side of the kitchen are now piled up in the dining room.
Such a pleasant place.
It's been raining off and on all week, so the floors of Creekside now look like a ride at Dollywood after a busy weekend.
I tried to work upstairs all day yesterday, and got a closet in Steve's library papered with some cute wall paper that looks just like boards. I put some gynaglypta (looks like stucco) on the ceiling, and it turned out real nice. He likes it.
His office is nearing completion.
I'm about to be ready to paper the front bedroom upstairs, and I'm going to do it in the same wallpaper we have on our bedroom at Clairemont. It's Victorian roses in a sage green on a light gray background. I've found it very restful.
I had planned to use a magnolia paper in that room, but I think I like the green better.
This young couple (not married) are going to rent the trailer, and they're working on it now. Colton is a pretty good carpenter, and he's been helping out at Creekside quite a lot. They don't have a car or furniture, so I'm being patient about the rent until they can get settled. His mother is a nurse, and worked with Judy for several years. She will make good on anything he misses. His step-father just wants them out of their house, and is willing to help with ANYTHING.
I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, and I sure hope not. The chemotherapy destroyed my immunity to everything, and I'm terrified of what a cold or the flu could do to me right now. I'm eating vitamins and preventives.
There's more, but it will have to come later. I'm being summoned, and Barbara's still fat.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I've been a while posting.
Steve took me shopping the day after Christmas, to buy me lights and things that we (?) will use next year.People were very rude
We rested more right after Christmas, as everyone wanted a few days off. It was good to have some time for just me and Steve. Janie came with some goodies she'd baked, and a plate-full from Mary Ann.
I'm winding down my chemotherapy, as today they take off my pump for (I hope) the last time. It's really bothered me this time, as Janie and I finished papering Steve's office. It is beautiful, and he even mentioned how nice it looks. My right arm and shoulder is sore as all get out this morning, from the efforts.
Colt has not worked any this week. Sarah called once to say that he is sick, but that's all we've heard.
It's been just Janie, Steve, and me there.
That's OK with me.
Steve took me shopping the day after Christmas, to buy me lights and things that we (?) will use next year.People were very rude
We rested more right after Christmas, as everyone wanted a few days off. It was good to have some time for just me and Steve. Janie came with some goodies she'd baked, and a plate-full from Mary Ann.
I'm winding down my chemotherapy, as today they take off my pump for (I hope) the last time. It's really bothered me this time, as Janie and I finished papering Steve's office. It is beautiful, and he even mentioned how nice it looks. My right arm and shoulder is sore as all get out this morning, from the efforts.
Colt has not worked any this week. Sarah called once to say that he is sick, but that's all we've heard.
It's been just Janie, Steve, and me there.
That's OK with me.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
I've been asleep for the last two days. The 'sleeping migraines' are coming more often and lasting longer.
I must be getting in shape for 'the Big Sleep'.
Steve is angry with me for not being able to keep up with him, but if I get up I throw up. He doesn't like that, either,
Stumpy stays in bed with me , and her comfort is good for me.
I've done very little in preparation for Christmas, except to put up a tree and do the yard nativity set at Creekside. I think Steve hates Christmas. He grumbles about having to do anything for decorations, he doesn't like the music, and he doesn't like to shop for presents. He never seems happy with the things I get him, and he never gets anyone else anything. He's just an old Scrooge.
This will probably be my last Christmas, and it's depressing for me. Steve will probably just throw away all my decorations after I'm gone. My blow mold set alone is worth thousands of dollars, but he won't want to fool with it.
A lot of tradition will be gone.
But I'm here now.
For a while.
I must be getting in shape for 'the Big Sleep'.
Steve is angry with me for not being able to keep up with him, but if I get up I throw up. He doesn't like that, either,
Stumpy stays in bed with me , and her comfort is good for me.
I've done very little in preparation for Christmas, except to put up a tree and do the yard nativity set at Creekside. I think Steve hates Christmas. He grumbles about having to do anything for decorations, he doesn't like the music, and he doesn't like to shop for presents. He never seems happy with the things I get him, and he never gets anyone else anything. He's just an old Scrooge.
This will probably be my last Christmas, and it's depressing for me. Steve will probably just throw away all my decorations after I'm gone. My blow mold set alone is worth thousands of dollars, but he won't want to fool with it.
A lot of tradition will be gone.
But I'm here now.
For a while.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
I've had another of those 'sleeping migraines' for the last two days, and been in bed almost all the time.
The insurance company that provides us with our medications says I don't need Nuvigil, and if I don't take it, I'm so sleepy that I can't function. I talked with one of their nurses, a very pleasant lady named Yolanda, and she was convinced that I need it, and she's going to see if she can get it for me.
We talked for almost two hours. She's a really sweet lady, and lives in a Craftsman House. She subscribes to The Old House Journal, and uses the information she gains there for her projects on her house. She, like me, cruises salvage yards for vintage pieces. She has a contractor who is dependable, and I envy her that.
There are good people everywhere, if we look for the good in others.
Judy, my favorite niece, graduated with her Master's of Science in Nursing yesterday. I'm so proud of her. I so wanted to go to the ceromony, but I was sleeping all day. She sent me a picture of her in her cap and gown. I told Steve that I want it printed on good paper, so I can frame it. She's one of the best nurses I've ever known, and, aparently, others find her skills worthy, as her school has already given her a teaching position. She will be training nurses from RN (graduate) and BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing) to the Master's Degree status. She's been a Med Flight nurse for a few years now, and they have to be really sharp.
One of my nurses at Thompson's confided to me recently that she's 'burned out' with her position, and wants to move into another branch of nursing. That's at Thompson's in Morristown, and one of the classes Judy will be teaching is at Walter's State Community College in Morristown. I'm going to try to get Della to check out classes with Judy. They've met, as Della was the nurse who first interviewed me for chemotherapy, and Judy was with Steve and me. Judy remembers her, and Della will surely remember Judy. Perhaps I can get them together. Della is a wonderful nurse, and Thompson's often sends her to some satelite position, as she can 'bounce' to other locations with ease.
Janie had to carry on without me in getting the fellows to work on Saturday.
Her grand daughter's man is working some for us, and I've got to really liking him. He's dedicated, and Janie put the fear of God in him. She told him that if he disappointed me, she'd fire him herself.
Dena LaTulip's son, Colton, is also working for us, but he's not as inspired, though he works pretty hard when Steve is there to push them.
The plastic-covered cold frame barn is now down. It had some damage from high winds, and it looked so bedraggled and gave so little shelter that we decided to take it down, which greatly reduced our dry storage.
Steve gave me the go-ahead to start a real garage there at Creekside, and I hope to get something under way before the spring rush.
Janie and I saw Cherokee last week, and she would hardly speak to us, except to whine about how sick her mother is. She's been really sick for a long time, and they've called in hospice now.
Shawn is out of jail now, and he's staying with Tina, Janie's daughter. They rent a trailer from Adrian Kamer, an old friend of mine, and he is really pleased with all the work Tina has done to improve things there. She's a good housekeeper, and Shawn is really handy with the building trades, so there has been a good improvement to Adrian's place. Shawn is a nice fellow, and I'm glad that he and Tina have each other.
My front bridge (teeth) came loose on one side last week, but Dr. Fouch and his staff were out of the office, and I just had to be VERY careful. I hope they can work me in to see if repairs can be made sometime today. I have had, in the past, the terrible experience of having all four of the front teeth to come out....in a restaurant. At that time, one of the 'anchor' teeth had broken off at the gum line, and we had to go with a 6-tooth replacement. If it came out, I'd look like I didn't have a tooth in my mouth. HORRORS!
Janie and I took Barbara and the Queen Mother their Christmas gifts on Friday, and I took a blow mold nativity set to give Barbara. We set it up in her front yard, but she didn't have a long extension cord, so it hasn't been lit. We will take a cord and light it for her today.
That is one of the secret projects I had been working on for the last week. I bought it at the Rutledge Goodwill, and it was in pretty bad shape, so I repaired it and gave it a pretty good coat of paint, using mostly nail polish, so it would be nice and shiney, and the paint would last longer in the weather. It's not a huge set, but Barbara's other one had melted in her house fire a couple of years ago, and she missed it. She lives right on 11W, so all the world that passes by will see her witness.
I looked around while we were there, and I saw quite a few little projects that could make her home more energy-efficient and better for her and Elizabeth. Janie and I will have to go down there some day and put in a 'work day' for her.
I have been keeping a close watch on the Rutledge Topix forum. A man has announced that he will be running for sherrif, and I like what he says. There's a lot of talk about him, and a lot of it is not based on fact. He has sent me and a friend of mine a huge file of his work and many awards from his long carrer in law enforcement, and I'm very favorably impressed with him. I jump to his defense every time someone says something negative about his work. I have a friend, Oak Tree, who has also researched his background and had extensive phone contact with him, and we both have thrown our support to him. The election is not for two years, but it will take a lot of effort to defeat the 'good 'ol boy' system around here, which needs to go so badly. The present sherrif has quite a few lawsuits against his department, and several more looming. Grainger County just can't afford him anymore.
I'd say that the Renfro family will sue the pants off him for the way he treated Ruth and Sue.
He's been an expensive learning experience.
A good friend and neighbor, Muriel (Merle) Daniel, is very low. She's been sick for years, and has had the prayers and love of our community poured out to her. I talked with Creed, her husband, last week, and he cried when talking with me about her. He's a very successful lawyer here in Rutledge, and his son, Dirk, is coming right along in his father's foot steps. They're neighbors on both ends of town, the seniors living across the highway from Clairemont, and Dirk and Lori living across from Creekside. I've known them most of my adult life.
Shannon said that she saw my post about Lucy Ferguson Smith last week. She attested to the fact that Ferguson was a great instructor and a fine lady in all her conduct. She lived a good, long life, and was helpful in starting the carreers of many young people. I was gifted to know her.
I think Dorothy Myers Reynolds is not doing so well, either. Someone told me they saw her, and that she looked pretty bad. I can't imagine her not looking well and pretty. I've always thought her to be a beautiful lady with a great deal of poise and grace. She must be pretty low if she's letting her appearance slide. Her yard is kept nicely, so I guess she's pushing Ted and keeping him busy.
Our neighbor lady at Creekside, Sandra Jones, often walks over to say hello and to remind me that they are keeping me in their prayers at New Blackwell. She's a very quite lady, and rarely has company, but she's warmed up to me somewhat. She's really nice, and keeps her yard and house as neat as a pen. She's got everything decorated for Christmas, and it looks so nice. She works hard to keep things the was they should be kept.
I often wonder how Betty Pike does with her yard and house. She's getting a few years on her now, and Pa Pike is not around anymore to keep things up for her. She's a work horse, and will give all her efforts as long as she's around. She has such a nice house and yard, and keeps it so clean.
Stumpy has forgotten her litter training, and has taken to leaving little surprises all over the house. I don't know what the problem is, but she's going to have to quit that. We had another cat some years ago that we could not litter train. We finally had to make him an outside cat. I'd really like to keep Stumpy in the house, as she is so affectionate with me, and is such good company. She's really small, and I'm afraid that the other cats might pick on her if she was outside.
Steve is up now, so my computer time is over for this morning.
s
The insurance company that provides us with our medications says I don't need Nuvigil, and if I don't take it, I'm so sleepy that I can't function. I talked with one of their nurses, a very pleasant lady named Yolanda, and she was convinced that I need it, and she's going to see if she can get it for me.
We talked for almost two hours. She's a really sweet lady, and lives in a Craftsman House. She subscribes to The Old House Journal, and uses the information she gains there for her projects on her house. She, like me, cruises salvage yards for vintage pieces. She has a contractor who is dependable, and I envy her that.
There are good people everywhere, if we look for the good in others.
Judy, my favorite niece, graduated with her Master's of Science in Nursing yesterday. I'm so proud of her. I so wanted to go to the ceromony, but I was sleeping all day. She sent me a picture of her in her cap and gown. I told Steve that I want it printed on good paper, so I can frame it. She's one of the best nurses I've ever known, and, aparently, others find her skills worthy, as her school has already given her a teaching position. She will be training nurses from RN (graduate) and BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing) to the Master's Degree status. She's been a Med Flight nurse for a few years now, and they have to be really sharp.
One of my nurses at Thompson's confided to me recently that she's 'burned out' with her position, and wants to move into another branch of nursing. That's at Thompson's in Morristown, and one of the classes Judy will be teaching is at Walter's State Community College in Morristown. I'm going to try to get Della to check out classes with Judy. They've met, as Della was the nurse who first interviewed me for chemotherapy, and Judy was with Steve and me. Judy remembers her, and Della will surely remember Judy. Perhaps I can get them together. Della is a wonderful nurse, and Thompson's often sends her to some satelite position, as she can 'bounce' to other locations with ease.
Janie had to carry on without me in getting the fellows to work on Saturday.
Her grand daughter's man is working some for us, and I've got to really liking him. He's dedicated, and Janie put the fear of God in him. She told him that if he disappointed me, she'd fire him herself.
Dena LaTulip's son, Colton, is also working for us, but he's not as inspired, though he works pretty hard when Steve is there to push them.
The plastic-covered cold frame barn is now down. It had some damage from high winds, and it looked so bedraggled and gave so little shelter that we decided to take it down, which greatly reduced our dry storage.
Steve gave me the go-ahead to start a real garage there at Creekside, and I hope to get something under way before the spring rush.
Janie and I saw Cherokee last week, and she would hardly speak to us, except to whine about how sick her mother is. She's been really sick for a long time, and they've called in hospice now.
Shawn is out of jail now, and he's staying with Tina, Janie's daughter. They rent a trailer from Adrian Kamer, an old friend of mine, and he is really pleased with all the work Tina has done to improve things there. She's a good housekeeper, and Shawn is really handy with the building trades, so there has been a good improvement to Adrian's place. Shawn is a nice fellow, and I'm glad that he and Tina have each other.
My front bridge (teeth) came loose on one side last week, but Dr. Fouch and his staff were out of the office, and I just had to be VERY careful. I hope they can work me in to see if repairs can be made sometime today. I have had, in the past, the terrible experience of having all four of the front teeth to come out....in a restaurant. At that time, one of the 'anchor' teeth had broken off at the gum line, and we had to go with a 6-tooth replacement. If it came out, I'd look like I didn't have a tooth in my mouth. HORRORS!
Janie and I took Barbara and the Queen Mother their Christmas gifts on Friday, and I took a blow mold nativity set to give Barbara. We set it up in her front yard, but she didn't have a long extension cord, so it hasn't been lit. We will take a cord and light it for her today.
That is one of the secret projects I had been working on for the last week. I bought it at the Rutledge Goodwill, and it was in pretty bad shape, so I repaired it and gave it a pretty good coat of paint, using mostly nail polish, so it would be nice and shiney, and the paint would last longer in the weather. It's not a huge set, but Barbara's other one had melted in her house fire a couple of years ago, and she missed it. She lives right on 11W, so all the world that passes by will see her witness.
I looked around while we were there, and I saw quite a few little projects that could make her home more energy-efficient and better for her and Elizabeth. Janie and I will have to go down there some day and put in a 'work day' for her.
I have been keeping a close watch on the Rutledge Topix forum. A man has announced that he will be running for sherrif, and I like what he says. There's a lot of talk about him, and a lot of it is not based on fact. He has sent me and a friend of mine a huge file of his work and many awards from his long carrer in law enforcement, and I'm very favorably impressed with him. I jump to his defense every time someone says something negative about his work. I have a friend, Oak Tree, who has also researched his background and had extensive phone contact with him, and we both have thrown our support to him. The election is not for two years, but it will take a lot of effort to defeat the 'good 'ol boy' system around here, which needs to go so badly. The present sherrif has quite a few lawsuits against his department, and several more looming. Grainger County just can't afford him anymore.
I'd say that the Renfro family will sue the pants off him for the way he treated Ruth and Sue.
He's been an expensive learning experience.
A good friend and neighbor, Muriel (Merle) Daniel, is very low. She's been sick for years, and has had the prayers and love of our community poured out to her. I talked with Creed, her husband, last week, and he cried when talking with me about her. He's a very successful lawyer here in Rutledge, and his son, Dirk, is coming right along in his father's foot steps. They're neighbors on both ends of town, the seniors living across the highway from Clairemont, and Dirk and Lori living across from Creekside. I've known them most of my adult life.
Shannon said that she saw my post about Lucy Ferguson Smith last week. She attested to the fact that Ferguson was a great instructor and a fine lady in all her conduct. She lived a good, long life, and was helpful in starting the carreers of many young people. I was gifted to know her.
I think Dorothy Myers Reynolds is not doing so well, either. Someone told me they saw her, and that she looked pretty bad. I can't imagine her not looking well and pretty. I've always thought her to be a beautiful lady with a great deal of poise and grace. She must be pretty low if she's letting her appearance slide. Her yard is kept nicely, so I guess she's pushing Ted and keeping him busy.
Our neighbor lady at Creekside, Sandra Jones, often walks over to say hello and to remind me that they are keeping me in their prayers at New Blackwell. She's a very quite lady, and rarely has company, but she's warmed up to me somewhat. She's really nice, and keeps her yard and house as neat as a pen. She's got everything decorated for Christmas, and it looks so nice. She works hard to keep things the was they should be kept.
I often wonder how Betty Pike does with her yard and house. She's getting a few years on her now, and Pa Pike is not around anymore to keep things up for her. She's a work horse, and will give all her efforts as long as she's around. She has such a nice house and yard, and keeps it so clean.
Stumpy has forgotten her litter training, and has taken to leaving little surprises all over the house. I don't know what the problem is, but she's going to have to quit that. We had another cat some years ago that we could not litter train. We finally had to make him an outside cat. I'd really like to keep Stumpy in the house, as she is so affectionate with me, and is such good company. She's really small, and I'm afraid that the other cats might pick on her if she was outside.
Steve is up now, so my computer time is over for this morning.
s
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