Sunday

Our past week in extreme brevity: J's left wrist injection, starting the placement of fencing by cementing fence posts in ground, Roger Moore died  😪 , tornado watch on Tuesday which turned into a "severe" thunderstorm warning, "mandatory staff meeting" Wednesday at which only me and one other coworker were present (!), after-work yoga session at the house presented by Sis who then stayed for dinner,  had house insurance raised to cover the cost of any future hurricane damage to the enclosure, me off work Friday through today, pool enclosure people arrived early Thursday morning and had the whole thing completed including clean-up by about 7pm that night, ordered wedding presents to be delivered for my friend,  bought a shed and the rest of the fence wood on Saturday, getting ready for travel next weekend, Memorial Day pool party here with Sis and BIL and BIL's daughter. Whew.

The injection went very well. He drove himself over, got the injection (which didn't hurt more than you would expect a needle to hurt--despite rumors to the contrary), and, bandaged up and swollen, drove himself home.  I made dinner that night, and by the next day the swelling had gone down enough for him to resume most of his daily activities. It gave him so much relief from the wrist pain that he was in tears that next morning from sheer gratitude.

He has to be careful still not to overdo (ha!) , but he is very pleased with the results. Hopefully the effect will last. These cortisone injections are what my Dr does at work but of course he injects either the neck or the spine;  in the Q&A ahead of time he is always careful to say this is not a guarantee, nor does it mean any benefit will last--it's a treatment  for a condition which has no cure. So I know better to think this injection will last, but it would be nice for him to live fairly pain free.

The tornado watch was something new for me-- apparently it is unusual here but not unheard of. I just don't remember them. It just meant conditions were ripe atmospherically for a tornado to develop.  Later there was a thunderstorm warning/watch for the same reason. We did see some rain and heard some thunder, but this area in general didn't get the rain we really need.

After work Wednesday Sis came over and we got caught up with each other's news, and did also have a  wonderful yoga session. She stayed for dinner, and I really like those nights, because J makes vegan food. He is slowly getting used to doing so, and  it's actually quite good and quite filling.

At the pool party/Memorial Day celebration yesterday, I made a new recipe myself, a Marrakesh vegetable curry. I love curry, and this was so easy. It came out very well, served over  brown rice.  J made burritos for the meat eaters, and Sis brought a salad. It was a great afternoon; just floating in the pool, which has a gorgeous new enclosure.

Those repair people came Thursday, and told J they'd been working 7 days a week since the hurricane. I can see why. They did excellent work, and they did more than the bid was submitted for; they replaced all the screening, and then sandblasted or power washed the remaining structure pieces, in addition to building and installing new structure pieces for the center part.

These first three are from Thursday, while the work was going on; done by just three men.

These last two photos are different views, taken yesterday. We think it looks even better than when we moved in. It actually looks brand new. This company did an awesome job. We are just thrilled.  You can also see how much more sun we get now, than before Matthew.

 We never used to be able to see any neighbors, nor that apartment complex on the other side. J will be putting 12 feet of fencing leading towards the house from the two back corners, on each side. That should help with some privacy issues.

J also called the insurance company and had them raise the coverage to $15,000 for the enclosure, instead of the paltry $5,000 we had when we bought the house, and when the hurricane hit. If we had known then what we know now....  This increase is costing us a big fat $30 more a year. Sigh. Oh how I wish we'd known!!    Still, it was a lesson we needed to learn, and now we have the enclosure looking brand new.

Today is going to be a quiet day for me. J is already out working on the fence! It's supposed to be 92 degrees today, and I can't work outside for very long in that heat--and especially because of the mosquitoes. I have bites all over my legs. Since I will be wearing a nice dress this coming weekend, I need to make sure my legs don't get bitten up any more.

I will be making sure I have the correct clothes for the trip today. We ordered the happy couple a shepherd's hook kind of bird feeder stand, and a separate bird feeder to go with it. I know they are bird watchers, and I think this is the best thing. I was looking for something  unique to FL, but am having trouble with ideas. Neither is a fan of chocolate so that's out. I'm flying so it can't be something impossible to pack, and then I would need to wrap it up there in the hotel room. Maybe I can find a little extra something in the airport gift shop.

I leave here at the crack of dawn Saturday morning, and then they or a friend of theirs will pick me up in Philly, take me to the hotel so I can change clothes, and then bring me to the church. I will be at the wedding dinner of course, and then someone can bring me to the hotel after the festivities.

Sunday morning I pack up, and join them for a church service and brunch, before I go back to the airport. I won't get home until 9 that night, and then it's back to work Monday. A whirlwind weekend for sure.

Meanwhile J will be working on the fence all week, and then will tackle the shed. It's one of those shed kits you buy with everything packed tightly inside:  7 foot long cardboard box, 5 inches in depth, and 3 feet wide. Somehow everything is inside this!   It's metal, identical to the one we lost in the hurricane, 8'x10'. I'm worried about how to help with this, as it's not something he can do alone. I'm hoping J will ask Kevin, his young grandson, to come over on the weekend and help him. But I don't want J to be hurt or offended if I suggest that. Hmm.

My sons will turn 31 on June 5. It's incredible to believe.  One son has developed quite a belly, which I'm sure is due to the beer. This same son has a new job (I think in addition to the hours at the fast food place), also in a fast foot place but apparently better quality, a new "healthy" pizza chain out in Oregon. I hope it works out. He is supporting his first two kids by two moms, and also helping to support the newest child. I can't say I "approve" but then it's not my place to judge. He's doing the best he can, and I can support that effort.

(The second child's mom is now engaged, and planning on a wedding. Her fiance is incredibly supportive and loving, and adores Layla too. Lauren and he have been friends for many years, and it developed into a romance over the past several months. I'm so excited and happy for her, and hope someday to meet him. I don't know whether he will officially adopt Layla, and therefore my son wouldn't be required to send support...but that's something Lauren and he will have to work out. She is an amazing young woman.)

My other son requested help financially since his hours were cut.

This is something I struggled with at first,  but after talking about it at my AlAnon meeting, I realized I would be uncomfortable sending money. I know damn well where that money would go, and I don't want any part of supporting that. So I will send a birthday card, and get  something else sent for his birthday. Sorry, kiddo.  Originally he had asked me for some river sandals, so that's what I will look for on Amazon.They aren't too spendy, either.

Almost 10am. I need to go help J before it's just too miserable outside. I already have a headache, but thank god we have AC, and the pool!! I will be spending more time there today, for sure.

Thank you, God. (And thank you, Dad!)

Sunday

It's wonderful weather. Not terribly hot but bright though cloudy, and unfortunately no chance of rain today.  But the pool temp is at 82 now, and it has been heavenly climbing in   after work this week.

J this week got his upper denture repaired for $150, instead of replacing the whole thing. Yay for saving money!  He has also dug the holes needed for the back yard fence panels he'll be building--- from the leftover fencing which the hurricane destroyed. That will save a chunk, as each of the panels, even the cheapest ones, start at around $33 for a 6 foot panel. We only need four, and I think that will really help to block the views---not our view mind you, but the view that the neighbors might have into our own yard.  He sold the repaired lawn mower too, and all of that helps.

Then he paid a handyman neighbor to help him re-do the front porch, re-cementing, filling in and then  smoothing out the cracks. It's a light gray color, very nice. With our 3 $5 hanging baskets of flowers obtained from Home Depot, the front porch is done. It looks nice...

He was working on spreading the mulch along the fencing, but turned just in time to see a rather large grey/black snake disappearing back into Rick's yard, slithering across our own walkway along the house. Hmm. Wonder where it came from. Not sure what kind it is either, but J seems very concerned that it could be a water moccasin.

Those usually hang around water. But on the local news the past couple of weeks there have been stories alerting people to be on the watch for them in areas they don't normally inhabit, because they are searching for water. I find it hard to believe it would be interested in a chlorine pool...but who knows.  Kind of disconcerting.  After next weekend I will be less worried, because the pool enclosure will be done. In the meantime we are in the yard quite a lot. J has taken to carrying around a big stick, just in case.

In cheerier news, we definitely have a mockingbird nesting in the bougainvillea outside the bedroom. I couldn't figure out what the odd little scraping sounds were.  I've been hearing it for a number of weeks. Suddenly it occurred to me--it's two baby birds!  It's not a "cheeping" sound at all which is why I was confused.

 What cleared it up was when Fiona was wandering around out in front, and the mockingbirds were shrieking their heads off, and even flapping down to just a few feet in front  of her, warning her. I can't see the nest, but it's very close to our bedroom window. So cool.

The scrubs the Dr ordered arrived earlier this week, and the Dr presented them to us at her own birthday party, after she'd opened all her  presents. It was such a nice thing to do. She gave RN and me the same color and style, but mine has  a 3/4 length sleeve. It nicely covers the tat on my upper forearm. (This means I don't have to wear that freakin' extra  "athletic sleeve" on the days I wear this top.)

Then she was gone the rest of the week, and so we had a nice relaxed week. A couple of very sad new patients, both with terminal cancer, being referred to us for managing their pain. So sad. One of them was only 33, lung cancer. The other one had pancreatic cancer, which had been diagnosed 2 years ago. That's pretty unusual for that type of cancer--normally it's an extremely aggressive cancer. He was in his early 70s. Both the new patients had been smokers.

We made it to the gym twice again this week. J does so much physical stuff here anyway that he sometimes doesn't feel like doing the gym, too. But he wants to spend time with me, and the membership is only $10 month.  It's worth it. And he says he does feel better afterwards.

He had his ortho appt  finally. This doc said not only did he have "end stage arthritis" in both wrists, but he had also torn a couple of tendons. This doc wants to do a cortisone injection. For some reason he does these in the hospital, so once again we have to go through the long prior authorization process. To expedite this, he will see his own doc tomorrow morning to discuss it all and make plans: He's also supposed to have his annual Holter monitor done, and some labs. The new insurance, while far cheaper, requires him to go through his PCP for every. single. thing. Maddening. And slow.

The approval came in from the  bank and we were given an extremely large line of credit. Sis tells me this is the amount that the house has increased in value since we bought it. We have no need for so much, but I have to say it will be nice to have that available. With my dad's help, we should have this new enclosure paid off within a year.

Life is good, and I sure feel blessed. 

Sunday

Another Sunday where I woke with a horrendous headache.  I almost think I'm doing something wrong while sleeping, maybe sleeping with my neck positioned incorrectly? I wake up comfortable --- except for the instant realization that my head is pounding, or that there is so much pressure on the sides of my head/neck. Ugh.

So, didn't go to Pilates again.  Not sure I will resume that, but I will decide later.

Yesterday we tried to sleep-in after staying up far too late sharing in the celebration of BIL's graduation. We had all arrived at the site an hour early, which was  a good thing due to the size of that crowd. Jeez. Thankfully it was indoors, in the chapel. I usually think of a chapel as a small room, but this was huge, with beautiful stained glass windows and  huge organ.

There we ( me and J, and Bro and SIL)  met up with BIL's visiting dad, daughter, and best friend. There was no room to sit with them but we found seats along a bench/pew not far away with a great view of the stage and speakers, and later we were in the perfect place to see BIL striding across the stage to receive his diploma.

After the ceremony we all walked to the Mexican restaurant a few blocks away where Sis had reservations for a late dinner. We were joined by some dear friends of Sis and BILs, and all had a great time. BIL was very pleased we were all there--it was a complete surprise to him that we were all there for the graduation. Sis had kept it a complete secret from him, and she pulled it off. It was so late by the time that both dinner was over and she'd driven us home, that we weren't asleep until after 1. Very late for us!

Still, Saturday morning I did my AlAnon meeting, and then ran to Target for a few things, before arriving back home where we thought we had a meeting  with a nurse for my insurance physical. Somewhere the lines got crossed and she never showed up.

But the pool enclosure repair people came to take the measurements for the repairs!  It was so unusual: the rains had started by then, around 1, and it just rained steadily all afternoon til around 5. It reminded us of the Oregon rains, where it just is a soaking downpour. Desperately needed, for sure. The pool people were out there measuring, and writing things down, all in the pouring warm rain.  It's exciting!!

Thursday night a Notary arrived at 6 to review the paperwork for the line of credit we are requesting from our bank.  Felt scary to sign so many papers, but we just have to bite the bullet and do it.  In an unexpected gift, my amazing dad sent a check for half the cost of the repairs. Truly Blessed, we are. So grateful....

I learned my dr is out of the office on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend so I asked for that day off, and was notified Friday afternoon that my request was approved.   Yay! So I get to stay home and watch the second day and completion of repairs to the enclosure ...

Friday was also the last day of the week long celebration we've had at work for the annual Nurses Week. I'm not a nurse, but I'm in the back office, as the only CMA in the group of 5, and they refer to all of us as "nurses".  So every day there was something special. There was a handmade craft with each of our names using scrabble tiles and our professional designation on Monday; Tuesday  someone else made and wrapped a small variety of homemade cookies; a lunch was brought on Wednesday, and a patient brought a tray of chocolate chip cookies; Thursday was a mandatory meeting for the whole building held at lunchtime, and so lunch was provided, and in my own office someone brought brownies and shortbread; and that day also the Dr took measurements of us all and ordered each of us a new set of scrubs!  Friday was payday, and a breakfast assortment of pastries and fruit and breakfast wraps was brought in. It was hell of a week.

Next week is that same Dr's birthday, so we'll do a potluck on Wednesday. J and I went to Lowe's today and found her a beautiful purple orchid in a small pot; I hope she will enjoy it. She has a new house, and is taking an interest in outdoor landscaping, so I think this will work. The following Friday, the day before Memorial Day weekend my own doc is out, beginning his trip up north to visit his daughter, and attend a wedding of another relative.  He'll be out all that last week of May, and beginning of June, so it will be a quiet week at work for me.

J and I did two days at the gym this week. I also did the yoga app for the first time on the Kindle this week--I think it was this week. (So much has happened I lose track of time.) I think that will work, to supplement my meetings with Sis, if she can make it. I know she has a lot going on.

Monday, tomorrow, J finally has his meeting with the ortho. I bet nothing will come of it after all this time, but you never know. He also has another appt with the denturist; he was given an estimate of $800 for a new upper plate, but he will go back for them to evaluate whether they can simply repair the existing one.  That sum is quite a lot better than the other place, though. We will probably have to do this, since he needs to be able to speak and chew!

My daughter has sent a package for Mother's Day which isn't here yet, and my amazing "daughter in love" Alyssa sent a package of photos, of my darling grand-daughter Gabby and her about-to-be-step siblings. Such a wonderful gift.

Both my sons have texted "Happy Mother's Day". My husband brought in some flowers from our own gardens, and is making small roast lamb filets for dinner at my request. Expensive, but I dearly love lamb.

I'm a happy person these days...I am so lucky.

Sunday

Another peaceful, sunny Sunday. 

Jeremiah's week was much busier than mine. His partial upper bridge broke, so he saw a dentist in the area for an estimate on a repair. First they said he has a cavity, so that has to be fixed. Then the partial apparently can't be done for less than $1600, and they recommended replacing them both for a total of over $3000. Um, no.

I just happened to have a patient later that day who recommended a different place, far cheaper. She had 11 teeth pulled and full dentures made for a total of $1100.  This place  was  also given good ratings locally. He has a free estimate/ appt this coming Friday.

He finished planting the aloes. He finished painting the front of the house. He pressure- washed the walkway on the west side of the house, and also did that side of the house itself. What a difference that made--it brightened the whole shady area!

He  cut and installed the second AC vent in the kitchen, all in one day.  And, he is handling all the communication with the bank doing the line of credit process  which will enable us to have the pool enclosure repaired.  That process is scheduled for the end of the month, right before the Memorial Day weekend. Oh, it will be so nice to not look at all the broken stuff!

AND he is dealing with a life insurance sales agent who can get us $50K for $58 a month; (this would be if I died first, leaving him with the mortgage payment).  I currently have a policy for $9500 costing me $38 a month, so switching would clearly be a better idea.  (And I have a year's salary from work, which doesn't cost me a thing.)

However, that's all for him. There's nothing we can afford to help me if he dies first. But at least I can afford the mortgage payment if he goes first.

At work all I did was show up there for my usual hours, and we busted our butts all week. The doc did not listen to my suggestion--which she'd asked for ! -- to temporarily cut down on new patients,  and limit the total number each day to 12, leaving us more time to deal with the phone calls, etc.  Instead they schedule 12-14 patients per day, and expect us to still get everything done. RN and I are very worried we will inadvertently overlook something because there is so freakin' much pressure.  The one good thing is that they don't expect us to not have overtime anymore. It's unavoidable.

The days fly by, that's for sure. Most nights I can't keep my eyes open after 9.

Two days a week I still go to the gym after work, meeting J. We do our regular biking for half an hour.  This week we'll add some upper body work-out machines. 

And Sis did come to the house Wednesday night and we did a yoga session. That felt good. She stayed for dinner afterwards, and we got caught up, before she starts her busy month.

I've signed up to start the process of becoming an AlAnon correspondent with an incarcerated female. We will never know each other's last names or location, and we will be discussing Life as it relates to AlAnon.  I'm looking forward to this. It's one way of being a sort of sponsor, but I don't have to see anyone face-to-face.  Writing is easier for me.

In a few weeks I will fly up to Philly for my friend Jennie's wedding, and that brings up the dreaded wedding gift debate. I'm so bad at these ideas.  I think I will have to resort to a gift card. Not only do they have far more money than I do,  but they are combining households; they don't really need anything I could give. I feel bad giving them cash...especially when I'm forking out a lot to attend  ... but at the same time, she is a dear friend, and would be dreadfully hurt if I didn't go. She has offered to help me manage this financially, and I'm debating on whether this is allowed, whether it's acceptable. I don't know.  She's offered to help with the plane ticket, or with the cost of the hotel.

Time to bathe the dogs, and trim their hair.  I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday. Later I am making a pot roast for dinner. I can already smell how good it will be. 

TYG.