working from home

Well, I'm not actually working, just catching up with emails and whatnot.  I figured this would be a non work day and had my phone turned off only to wake up at 11:10 feeling like a million for a few hours.  My current book is The Secret Life of Bees and it's almost over.  Trying to find a comfy place to read I got BACK in the bed and gave it up because the lighting is bad in there so I moved to the couch.  Every square inch of soft is inhabited by cats and dog.  The radar shows snow but I hear ice.  

Lauren is set for a surgery that will probably be a wide open incision including a tendon graft.  My last 1099 arrived via email yesterday so filing taxes is next on my list.  I'm hearing that it will take longer and be less of a refund than in years past.  That figures.  Just my luck!  After February 28th, I will no longer receive LTD which will be a  big hit to my budget.  Reckon I'll just have to write more stories.  

Daddy always told me about how winter affects arthritis but I didn't have it then.  At sixty seven with two bum shoulders I can now relate.  There are so many things wrong with me medically I could write a book on it.  In case you haven't noticed, our healthcare system is broken.  Test results are delivered via a portal that is not easily accessed by somebody who is not computer literate.  If you are lucky enough, your practitioner will call if something is out of whack.  As a healthcare professional I can read the writing on the wall.

Y'all be warm and safe ^j^

ice ice baby

The world as we know it is officially shut down due an impending ice storm.  It looks like a tricky little thing with temps hovering in the 20s and 30s for several days and precipitation along with it.  There is very little bread in the stores but I have some because I don't eat it much.  Usually goes stale, ya' know?  If I have fresh artisan bread I usually eat the whole loaf at one time and share it with friends.  I'm craving honey brioche from Tiger Tail.

Henry Angel said goodbye to his mama for a while this evening.  She's having surgery on Thursday so there will be a recovery period.  From what she told me I gather that it was start with a knee scope and proceed from there with a possible tendon graft.  We shall see.  If weather permits, I'll show up at Tennova north in Jackson to be there when she comes out.  Everybody needs their Mama after surgery.  I remember mine being there time and time again.  

Prayers up for the whole world and you're next ^j^

foggy bottoms

The fog can lay in really heavy when the weather is thus and so and today is a doozie.  Following a week of decent weather we are about to head into more rain and or ice or both which does not interest me at all.  I guess I'm just old and jaded.  Novemblah and February are my least favorite months because of all the rain and whatnot.  SADD is for real y'all.  Even with a hefty Vitamin D supplement I am tired to the bone and having to give myself pep talks to keep going.  This afternoon is chill time with Lauren in Jackson for a day or two tying up loose ends.  I was actually sad to see her go but glad that she has the support from friends to be closer to Reaves and work and the doctors.  Surgery is on Thursday so let's all pray about that one.  She should have details following her pre-op visits tomorrow.

I lost another great friend this past week.  I was Calvin Moore's errand runner for several years going to the stores that he couldn't navigate with just one leg in a wheelchair.  He was meticulous about things in his apartment, especially the antiques and Christmas decorations.  I put the garland over the huge mirror on more than one occasion and hauled trees out of the extra bathroom.  He would come out of his "office" to direct the whole thing.  One of my jobs weekly was to go to the bank and ask for hand rolled quarters, not the minted ones.  Dude was on a wild hunt for the eagle ones.  

Lauren's cat Henry got out of the house this morning while I was getting ready for church.  He followed Rosie out and she turned up first because, of course, she's an in and outer.  Henry has been strictly a house cat for most of his life.  She finally found him and he is in training to "be more like Rosie."  After a few days of hissing and hiding they are fast friends and play like brother and sister.  They are roughly the same age.  

Church was great and I was really impressed with our youth and the way they conducted our service.  There were some tears on my part as I wandered back down memory lane to when I was on the youth council there with our first ever associate who had the wisdom to give us some kind of structure.  After church I called him, Larry Tubb, to tell him how much I appreciated his impact on my young life.  He is now 81 and serving a rural church that has about three attendees.  As blessings go, his wife Gwen is trained in ostomy care so we had a long conversation about my dilemma.  I will be on my doctor's doorstep tomorrow if I don't get a call setting me up with the prescription and referral that he promised.  Old folks with medical knowledge make persistent patients.  One of the things that I've learned over the years is to be the first patient du jour so as not to get caught up in the never ending waiting room for hours.  

Y'all be faithful and remember from whence you came ^j^

humble motives

I will admit to not being perfect in all ways but my motives are usually pure.  Compare and contrast that with those who do what they do to hurt others and build themselves up.  Y'all know the type.  "Look at me and what I've done!"  "Appoint me ruler of what is right and wrong!"  Jesus don't like that  y'all.  Not my Jesus, anyways.  

It's Friday and I've got a full weekend and a dirty house.  The current search is for an air mattress and all the dressings so that the surgery girl can have my comfy bed for a few days post-op.  There is a visitation tomorrow and church on Sunday.  I remember when Sundays after church were prime Reaves time.  Due to drama.drama.drama that is not the case at present.  

There was a period in my life that I hurt other people emotionally and when I knew better I did better.  Anger issues and co-dependency were heavy over me like a constant presence and I didn't realize I was doing it.  After therapy, I became less holier than thou.  It's what Jesus would do ^j^

attention to detail

I am a very careful driver and it really pisses me off when folks don't turn their headlights on at dusk, dawn, foggy days or rainy ones.  Also I really do not like those of you who (a) pass in the turnoff lane (b) do not stay a car length apart while stopped (c) don't know how to use a turn signal (idiot) (d) do not stay six cars apart when traveling the highway.  I could go on and on but people are just stupid.  Bubba learned the hard way that you can be sitting there waiting to turn, minding your business and somethings happens while you wait to go.  Like being in a four car pileup when a driver passes out. It was unfortunate for all involved, especially the last guy who rammed into them.  He was sick already and had cooked a whole week's worth of BBQ ribs for July 4th at his food truck.  So much for Bubba's "forever truck."  He got compensated.

I have a day off tomorrow to go to the doctor and see what's up with this stoma.  If I don't get some relief soon my mental health will suffer.  I might just pitch a hissy fit up in there and beg for wound care.  Do NOT underestimate this old girl.  Me and the all the critters are waiting for LP to get home from Jackson.  It's been a long day for her so she gets the bed tonight. Plus there's supper on the stove.  I'm exploring a futon with trundle at Big Lots and it looks pretty sweet.  Randy and Sandy's green one has done its' duty for many years.  And thank you!

I have no opinion this evening about anything other than it's cold and an icy mix is on the way next week.  We do NOT like ice but snow is our friend ^j^

giving

I stopped by to visit a couple of places today that I will be writing about soon.  These are places that meet people where they are like the Salvation Army and the YMCA.  I talked with both directors and introduced myself promising to schedule interviews in late spring.  I am enamored with people that volunteer to help others.  In my Pollyanna mind I always thought I would be one of them like my Mama and Daddy only it didn't work out there.  My body wore out before theirs did and I had to quit the healthcare scene at the age of 62.  And the irony?  That is one of the organizations that they gave their time too.  And also Lifeline Blood Services.  They would be so proud to see our center here in Dyersburg.  Daddy was O negative and a 10 plus gallon donor.  Back in the day he actually donated for one of my friends' daughters who was a critical care newborn.  

Prior to my surgery I was a regular at the Y doing Silver Sneakers before it was Silver and Fit.  After the surgery I tried yoga but it was just too complicated with a bag and tight clothes.  The friction of an appliance will kill you over time.  It bleeds and it hurts.  Hopefully I will get some relief on Thursday.  I am not a sissy when it comes to pain, but over time it will wear us down.  

High five to Lisa for gifting us with supper and an apple pie.  I saw both my boyfriends there but it was too cold for Joy and Francene to visit.  Whitney was there too, as usual.  We are supposed to get a whole bunch of rain tonight. I wouldn't mind some snow too.  Bubba came by to fix the running toilet today so that was today's visit.  As ornery as he is, I still love him like chicken ^j^

i hate it when that happens

Joy and I are regular Kelly fans and I saw a group on there last week that I liked but....I can't remember the name.  It's a couple of gals with great vocals and a nice band.  Their tones are slightly different but not really harmony...in between, so to speak.  Me and the temporary roomies are making it fine in spite of dueling cats.  Tomorrow Rosie and Oscar will stay outside and Henry can have the quiet house to himself.  LP will be at work and so will I.  If anybody can let me know the name of that group I'd be obliged.

I met with the editor this morning and she gave me some more ideas for stories.  Poopie still ain't right and pretty painful.  Oh to live in an area that has a real wound care ostomy nurse!  Out here in the boonies we are lost.  I depend a lot on advice from my ostomy group on FB.  Lots of different methods are presented by other ostomates.  Sometimes it's just basic skin care which is what I'm concentrating on.  

I hope Monday has been at least not HORRIBLE for y'all ^j^