productivity

I can be such a slacker at times, but when I'm on a roll I go with it.  Today was one of those days.  I started out by waking up slowly, just laying there and adjusting to a new day.  After that I commenced to hunting and gathering. First there was a Kroger pickup and then an oil change with me sitting in the waiting room with not one but four Spanish speaking folks.  Needless to say they don't have to worry about me spreading what they said.  I took French.  After unloading Kroger I headed to Four Points 'gentral to get what Kroger didn't have.  I splurged there and got things that I really need plus some half off leggings for Reaves.  That store is about to undergo a remodel so the shelves are pretty bare.  I got tiny colored lights to hang around for Christmas.  And a couple of skillets.  Lawd, I do love to cook.

On the drive south I noticed a new sign proclaiming it Landon Parker Hughes memorial highway.   That, took my breath away.  He was killed on that road awhile back.  There were two big blue ribbons on the sign.  Way cool.

I am so not into Halloween that I have nary a decoration.  As I head to the kitchen to make my brother some dressing ( who's the best sister ever?) I will organize and sort through what I bought .  I'm trying to get my shit together here, seriously.

Y'all watch out for ghosts and goblins ^j^

give the gift of postage

Unbeknownst to me, a stamp went to 58 cents in August and is set to go up again next year.  Now, I'm not a big stamp user because I pay most things online but there are two who don't have that and I owe them so there ya' go.  I just saw a FB ad from the USPS offering 100 forever stamps for 45 bucks.  That, is a deal and would make a great gift. I enjoy getting things quick and so far they have beat out all the other companies on delivery options.  I feel the same way about them as I do small business owners.  Don't expect people to work hard to make your company look good when you're cuttin' corners DeJoy.  Go away.  There were a lot of consequences to your cutbacks in service around election time. 

I believe in the little guy and the power that can be generated in community with others.  I still stick up for he or she 'til do us part if you are a friend indeed and in need.   Fortunately I have plenty of those folks.  I hope you are blessed as well.  I'm anxiously awaiting the Virginia governor's election soon,  From what I hear it's neck and neck and I like a tight run, that is, unless they start demanding recounts.  Boo on you.  It didn't used to be this way.  High five to you  DJT.  

That's all my knowledge today.  Be well ^j^

dopesick

I have been watching that series and even though I totally knew it was that way, it still stuns me.  All those free lunches from vendors sweetens the deal.  Yes, the doctor will see you now and smooze a bit.  It's not just pharma that does it either.  It was always fun to see what Jim Rock brought because he put a LOT of thought into and appreciated what we do as laboratorians.  I'm glad that I worked in a rural hospital.  I don't think I would have ever hung in there if the patients were just a number.  The techs still did phlebotomy when I hired on and continued to over the years.  We boiled test tubes for chemistries and read them on a spectrophotometer.  I remember one of the new doctors at the time made me cry because creatinine wasn't a stat test.  As he watched what I had to do to get a result, he gave me props and promised to support a better way to do things.  And it happened.

One of the cool things about being in the lab was the anatomic pathology piece.  I remember watching my first autopsy and will never eat liver again.  Not that I did before.  I would starve if that's all I had.....liver and onions.  We watched as Sammy put poor dude's head on a block and proceeded to dissect him like the cats we had in high school.  Each organ was weighed and recorded as a part of the cause of death.  A more timid person would have cut and run away from the smell but I was intrigued.  We had our own histology tech who mounted the specimens on slides for the pathologist to review.  We had two Cubans in a row and them a whole bunch of others.  Dr. Inclan was my favorite.  

So many people think that everybody is a nurse or doctor yet that is not true.  The person who draws your blood for labs is usually a phlebotomist.  There is all kind of tech work going on that you never think about.  Housekeeping.  Meals.  When my parents were dying I remember a housekeeper named Crystal who used to check in on us every day.  She never smiled but she was caring and that mattered a lot.  I was fortunate to still be an employee there and able to keep tabs on what was going on during breaks.  Did I ever look up their lab results?  I'll never tell.

Daddy went first after complications from three surgeries in a row and developing atelectasis.  I remember distinctly Dr. A and John Lanier telling me it was time to let go.  He was on oxygen only and struggling to breath until the morphine kicked in.  Of course it was rotated with something else but for the most part he was peaceful at the end.  Ms. Anita called me from morning rounds to let me know he was gone.  It was around 5AM.  I think I went in and did the deed with the funeral home.  Curry's is always so compassionate.  

Mama's deal was kind of the same deal.  She had multiple surgeries from osteoporosis and by chance survived that to die of a ruptured diverticulum.  After days of hard antibiotics and a rising white count we had to make the decision to go BACK to surgery which she probably would not survive.  Here comes hospice again.

Many people are not aware that when hospice becomes involved you continue comfort measures but do not monitor closely.  One set of vitals per shift.  Minimal intervention and lots of pain relief for a peaceful passing over.  They don't starve or die of thirst.  It is a gradual shutting down of the body when there is no quality of life.  And family members have to make that call.  It's tough but was easy for us when we saw how they were suffering.  

There are two women in charge of my healthcare DPA, both of whom love me and each other.  It's in my wallet and goes everywhere I do except I have to change a phone number.  This is what you do if you want your wishes to be respected.  I don't want to go to a nursing home with a feeding tube.  My advocates know that.  I trust them to let me go when the time comes.

I know, morbid right! On the sunny side it's gonna' rain for two days and the crops will be delayed yet again.  Whoever heard of shelling corn in November!

Peace and grace ^j^

civil liberty

There seems to be a little tiff going on with our city council about allowing food trucks which are fully licensed and inspected to do business in Dyersburg.  These are small business type folks who have put their heart and soul into startups during a very tough year.  Why would a thriving city not want that?  The answer is clear to me:  politics.  You think they're an eyesore?  Don't go there.  You want good food at a reasonable price?  By all means support them.  One of my mentors is a man who had a vision way beyond his time and created The Mill Workspace.  Since Bill Haslam was governor, Chris has done everything in his power to develop the love of creating your own business and having a co-working space suitable for meetings or small offices.  

He has helped to develop the lower end of Mill Street by introducing Buff City Soap, next to Pennington Seed and Supply.  There is a small boutique on the corner and an upscale thrift store across the street.   There is a restaurant and a lot of legal offices on the square with another boutique located across the court house.  This is what runs America, not Chinese imports.  The Farmer's Market and Forked Deer river trail are all easily accessible from  this intersection.  On the east side of the square there is a nutrition bar and an empty hardware store with a nice little sitting area in between.  That was built when there was a dream.  

One of the biggest draws in Dyer County was the Boss Hoss rally.  For some reason the powers that be decided that it was "too much trouble" so the owner packed his show up and moved to Paris.  Now they get the revenue.  I know a lot of this is motivated by supposedly well meaning people.  The Dyer County Community Cancer Fund still does their thing by the courthouse.  Politicians stand in line to be seen there and shake hands.  It's legacy.  My daddy and Joe Wood used to fry taters and onions for that thing every year,  Jeff Jones took their places ;)

Much of Dyer county is a food desert.  There are a few grocery stores out on the North highway but nothing between the downtown Burg to Halls.  Man, if I had the money I'd put one out about a mile past my house close to the airport.  A real store there would kick the 'gentral's ass.  If you would like that opportunity....call me.  I'll be the greeter.

I've gone around the Medicare world twice and decided to stick with what I have and find a sugardaddy to pay for ostomy supplies.  Drugs and co-pays are reasonable.  I haven't been in the hospital since Medicare kicked in but I'm assuming I'm responsible for the 20% that B doesn't cover.  What is wrong with this picture y'all?  I'm an old freakin' lady on a limited income.  

And don't EVEN get me started on the fact that insurance pays nothing on preventive therapy like MFR.  FSA will reimburse you if you happen to have one.  It's time for my mammo and pap smear so here's to Breast Cancer Awareness month.  It'll probably be December before I can get an appointment.

Y'all be blessed ^j^

middle city

If you don't know your way around Dyer county you won't notice this tiny community close to the tracks on the way to Finley.  It's kind of a sketchy place, if you know what I mean.  MC is just across the river from my house and they love to shoot guns around sunset.  I've called the law twice and they said sorry mam, we can't help you.  It's legal.  Oscar and I were chilling on the back porch when it started and he crawled up on me shaking.  He's still scared, all stuck up under my feet at the desk.  He was cold and scared.  I hate guns.  I would shoot my eye out.

I do agree that we should all have the right to concealed carry, properly trained and licensed but that ain't what's happening.  It's just this huge black market for repeating AR style weapons that pisses me off.  Go the gun show!  Don't show your ID or registration to carry this firearm.  Yet even people who are supposed to be credible do things like load a prop gun with live rounds.  But that's on the production company and it sounds like safety standards were not being followed.

I got a surprise Lauren visit today that warmed my heart and did a mama some good.  Reaves was due for a checkup today but shit happened and she went to school.  ABCDEFG!

Hope you are all safe and healthy.  Let's try to stay that way ^j^

god winks

That's what Yaya calls it when somebody pays it forward like the other day at the 'gentral.  I had already shopped and checked and forgot two items so I parked my cart and got back in line.  Ahead of me was a lady with one item and ahead of us was a gentleman who offered to let her go first because he had more stuff.  She said no thank you and he made the same offer to me.  I passed as well.  When me and the lady got checked out the cashier informed us that the man had paid for both of our purchases.  He stood by the door to watch our faces and I gave him a big old bear hug.  There are good folks out there, I don't care what you say.

I've been a slacker with church lately but I showed up today and loved it like I always do. It's a beautiful day with strong winds and storms a coming tonight.  Then it will be quite chilly.  It's really about time since it's mid-October.  I have appointments this week with my pharmacist for a drug plan since I switched to plan G and with the dermatologist.  My skin is looking kinda' weird and I have a history of squamous cell and haven't been checked for awhile.  I switched from C to G because the 20% copay on part B is killing me because of ostomy supplies.  Beware to all of you looking to Medicare for your health care needs.  It's a complicated road to travel and I've only had it for a year.  

Bubba just stopped by on his CanAm and we did the trip down to the bottoms where you can see the river.  I think of my Daddy and Mr Neely every time we do that.  Everything is ready as soon as it dries out after tonight's rain

Peace out ^j^

dog rasslin'

Today was Pearl's appointment with the vet and I knew it would be ummm....strenuous. She's a 25 pound chihuahua mix who doesn't much like being poked and prodded.  Let's just say there was a muzzle involved for about 5 minutes for the worst part.  She was shaking in fear because she was out of her comfort zone of home but we managed to get through it.  She's been certified as healthy for a giant chihuahua.  

I am sitting here with a bag I've had on for 5 days and anxiously awaiting delivery of new supplies.  Last I looked at the tracking, it's still in Memphis.  It could be worse I suppose.  Nothing much gets where it's going on time anymore.  You know, labor and transportation shortage and all that.  Why are all of these things sitting at docks waiting for entry into our country?  What I hear is a lack of truck drivers.  I guess everybody is burned out.

I'm still in the processing of looking at Medigap options.  Considering what I spend yearly just for ostomy supplies, it might be worth a hundred bucks for a G.  More later.

I am reading Grisham's book "The Rooster Bar" and I love it already.  The critters are well and happy to see me when I get home.  I should definitely get Oscar to the vet but that would require some sort of knock out method the minute he jumps out of the car.  Plus it costs a LOT for what he needs.  I've tried to cut his terrier bangs and he ain't having it.  Poor thing can barely see through all that.

Reaves has a new car seat and it's perfecto.  It will transition to a booster seat when she's ready.  We have been discussing holidays and all that's involved.  She doesn't need clothes.  So fun stuff it is!  I might have to check out the new Ollie's and Marshalls.  I am so not a shopper in person.  

Forked Deer Connect restored my PC function today and it was the fault of a Windows 10 update that won't install.  Next stop is TenCom for this ancient Dell.  I hate Microsoft, BTW.  Sneaky little bastards.

Yaya came to pick more squirrel and bird food today but I passed because I got wet and allergic yesterday.  What a treat to see her two days in a row!

Keep the faith ^j^

morning! glory

Yaya came out to pull some ears for winter feeding of the critters.  We were at it for about 20 minutes and I gave up.  It was wet with dew and the terrain ain't exactly level over there.  I'm looking for easier access with minimal grass.  I noticed tiny little morning glories growing all around the stalks as if to say "but look at me!"

I have negotiated myself to death trying to get ostomy supplies and they should be here tomorrow.  I've been out for a week and I hear there is a labor and transport shortage.  Whatever.  FedEx always delivers.  I have discovered that the 'gentral brand of fiber powder ain't worth a shit.  Metamucil has gotten rid of the diarrhea that is causing ulcers,  Yay me!

Yaya brought apple fritters which just about made both of us sick because we don't eat like that anymore.  Right now I'm  cooking squash and onions to go with that chicken invention.  More later on that.  

I have a new deadline and a lot more info to add to that piece I'm working on.  I'm shooting for the Jan/Feb issue which will be full of duck hunters.  And so it goes.

Always remember who you are.  Nobody knows but you ^j^

supply chain

I am currently reading one of Grisham's novels about the whole Ponzi scheme sort of thing with student lending. I have always loved his books and Ms Joy is reading the other one that we checked out.  In a way, I feel sorry for Gordo in this one because he has the proof and there's nothing anybody can do about it. I know plenty of BS sort of people who still owe over 60K for four years.  Thank goodness they didn't have it back in my day.  

We have had two rounds of thunderstorms today and I think it's over and should be mid forties by morning!  I'm going punkin' shopping in the morning so we can carve one and paint some little ones.  I don't think I've carved one since Lauren's teenage guy friends busted my creation in the road.  Asshats.  I'm hoping this year we can take in a nativity scene because....Jesus.  I have my family one somewhere and it will be out anywhere there is room.  I put my brother in charge of the tree, but that will be after the giant party that is FunkMonster out at the fairgrounds.  They will performing on November 27th at the Family Living Center.  That's the building that my mother donated her cookbook proceeds to.  From the Back Burner. 

Happy Friday y'all ^j^

 

madder than a wet hen

I must have stupid hovering over my head.  I had several things to do today one of which was picking up a print job at the UPS store.  They didn't get the email so I went out to my car to get the phone and some shyster whipped into the space next to me and spent ten minutes telling me a sob story to try to get twenty six bucks out of me.  I'll spare you the details.  After talking to Yaya it turns out this dude makes a living out of story telling to innocent folks who don't know better.  I was not one of them.  I was on the way to work and on a mission.  

We went to lunch today and you could feel the heat under that awning as we munched.  I lost my last prescription and had to pay double for a replacement.  I thought I had placed a Wallyworld order last night but somehow it didn't go through so we moved on and I made another for pickup tomorrow.  It's tricky if you don't press all the right buttons.

I went into Amazon Prime to order training wheels and some dude named Jacob had used my phone number for a trial and got a free Fire tablet out of the deal so I spent a LONG time on the phone with a Prime assistant.  Now I have to get a new debit card.  Sheesh.  Some people are jerks and ripoff artists and in my old age I can spot 'em a mile away.  Don't mess with Gaga.  

I have had my car stolen and also my information.  But, shit happens and you have to be diligent.  I check email and banking daily, more than once.  I'm visiting my sweet off the record ostomy nurse tomorrow because I've been in a lot of pain and I think it has to do with the equipment and technique, so to speak.  I have to fast in the morning so I don't spew all over the office.  Not a problem for me.  I plan on sleeping in.  

I take all these little things in stride now.  There is no peace in getting upset over stuff.  God will work it all out ^j^ 

another day in paradise

Welp...the trusty old Dell came back to life once again.  I thought she was plum dead this morning and then I noticed an extra cord laying around which is part of the hookup.  My article was due on October 15th so I got in touch with the editor to tell  him that the PC was dead and the farm owner had some revisions to make so I will miss this one.  December 15th is the next goal.  With writing talent comes patience with glitches.  I shouldn't have put it off this long, just saying.

The weather is still summery here but I think that's about to change.  I see seventies and forties coming next week.  Perfection!  Not that I'm gonna' be doing anything great and wonderful but I love me some fall weather.  I envy those who can take a fall break on the beach and be back just in time for sweater weather.  The big winds the other day knocked down a few pecans and limbs but it looks like a good crop.  Hey big man...lemme' hold a dolla'.

I hope that you are happy and grateful for the life that has been given to you.  There is only one.  Live it up and keep the faith ^j^

epic fail

I try y'all...really I do.  Like hard.  Yet it seems that I'm always a day late and a dollar short.  My personality is wired this way:  I procrastinate, have adult ADD and I am really bummed that I can't get my shit together to save my life.  I've been working on an article that pays "nothing" for abut six months.  I've done countless interviews and several rough drafts and I am evidently not meant to be a writer other than on this blog.  Hey...you take what you can get. I heard from an old blog friend today with whom I had lost touch.  

On a brighter note supper is cooked and there are two pans and a crock pot turkey breast that were meant for Thanksgiving dinner but were taking up space in my freezer.  We will have a Joyful lunch tomorrow!

It frustrates me to be so scatter brained.  My mother was an organizational wizard like my brother Bubba.  I do good just to wake up on time and get dressed for the day.  I suppose it's my time, in my "golden" years to let it all go.  It's just me though and I have to keep on keeping on or I'll be out on the curb.  Happy Columbus day and three day weekend to all you bank and federal people.  

Trying to keep the faith ^j^

you got a friend in me

I am acutely aware of the critters that surround me on a daily basis and often look to their spiritual meaning.  Today out at paradise I watched as a small woodpecker worked on two trees by the deck. According to the interwebs that's a sign of good things to come if I don't give up on my dreams.  Yesterday's flock of starlings represents communication.  I am working on both as the spirit allows.  

I'm over halfway through with The Speckled Beauty and I will be so sad to finish it.  However, I'll be sharing it with Patty first and then others who can't get enough Bragg.  Oscar is laying on a rug beside me because he never leaves my side when I'm here.  Like Speck, he is a nasty mess who rolls in all things dead and brings it in the house.  I never smell him though, unless I get real close.  I've been considering taking him to Pierce for a big fat shot and some decent grooming but he would just get dirty again.  Maybe somebody at Headlines could just get that facial hair under control.  But his shaggy body needs some cuttin' too.  I will probably be a three person job.  He will jump in the car because he loves to ride but getting him into the vet's office is a whole 'nother story.  Somebody will get bit if he's not properly handled.  Just saying.  He was abused earlier in life and ended up with me because I fed him and never hurt him and we talk.  A lot.  

I live alone so that's about it for real time communication.  The cat Al shows up when he feels like it and he gets fed too.  I have a feeling he'll be full of mice when this corn comes down.  He knows "cat people" when they come around, if you know what I mean.  One thing I know, I will never have another long haired dog in the house or on my bed.  

I heard the cicadas today after dark and can't believe they are still at it.  Saturday's temp is predicted to be 90.....lordyjesus!  It's fall y'all.  

Be blessed and call your mama ^j^

busy bees

We have bee hives out here on the farm.  The first year I barely noticed what was going on until I passed by one day and there were two guys in suits pulling trays from the hives.  They are good for the crops, so to speak.  I have followed that forward in tiny little steps over a few years and I now know how it's done.  I showed up for a photo op in Finley and got to see those trays out for the honey to be extracted from the combs.  There was a beautiful dog named Jenny who snapped a bee or two in midair and a to die for motorcycle which got moved out of my line of vision.  Practicing the photo guidelines for submission, I focused on one pic to print.  And a helluva' long story to go with it.  It's just one tiny piece of the history of this place.  Grounded on agriculture, we do corn beans and wheat.  I suppose those bees do their part somewhere in the ecosystem that is Calcutt Farms.  

I'm reading Rick's Speckled Beauty and it has helped me to understand where he was when I reached out to him as a mentor and coach.  I've had dogs like that.  Currently I have Oscar boi and he's mine 'til death do us part.  He's muddy and nasty most of the time but I don't care.  Al is not allowed in the house but sometimes he sneaks in.  I ain't having all that spraying going on up in here.  I reckon I could scramble up 200 bucks to have him fixed but that would spoil his fun.  

I've been busy as a cat chasing his tail but that's a good thing I reckon, except for the price of gas.  I got some new beauty products from Yaya and still haven't done the whole routine.  All of it is skin care which I sorely need.  I've added zinc to the daily regimen and Head and Shoulders for the stoma. 

Happy hump day kiddos ^j^

memory lane

My friend is teaching Botanical art today at the PDC which houses the Dyer County Historical Society museum.  I went there to snap a few pics to promote her work and found myself browsing.  My daddy's ag jacket is still hanging in the Jere Cooper section with his name embroidered on the front.  I took it down, touched it and felt Daddy's soul wash over me.  He was the president of his FFA chapter which was named after Mr. Cooper.  That would have been around the mid 1940s I believe.  

To say that I'm clumsy is an understatement.  Looking back through facebook memories  the other day I found where I twisted my ankle somehow and my whole foot was purple.  Then there was the time that Ellie pulled me down when I was three months post-op and just beginning to get around good.  I ended up with the most terrible bruise on my butt and had to go back to the walker for a week followed by a cane.  One night this past week I was making my way through the dark back porch to my chair and forgot that I had moved it.  I though I had the seat under my arse but fell hard with my back striking the corner of a metal table.  I was sore the next day but expected to be.  The morning after that I was stretching before I got up and felt something pop.  The pain has been horrendous since then.  I have used arnica, several NSAIDs and pain patches which helped me to function but didn't do much for the knotted up muscles and fascia.  Today I bought some Biofreeze and the relief was immediate.  Live and learn and let it heal.

I am a member of an ostomy support group.  There are newbies and long haulers and in betweeners like me and the purpose is to share what works for certain problems and situations while living with an ostomy.  I read their posts every day and most of it is very informative and supportive.  I saw a post the other day that was a definite red flag for me which was a guy who expressed his desire to use his gun on himself and be done with it.  He feels that nobody understands what it's like, and if you don't have one you certainly don't.  It pissed him off that people were telling him that things would get better.  I  hope he didn't pull the trigger.  

I have never considered suicide at all because I think about what kind of damage it would do to my family.  I have never lost the will to at least keep on trying.  I've been down and out but usually I call a friend to talk me through the valley.  

I hope that you are happy and healthy and having a fantabulous weekend ^j^