Monday!

I have today off. It's so nice to have a weekday off--it's like a "snow day" except of course there's no snow here. No particular plans, but I do have things to get caught up on: this blog, the check book/finances, laundry, etc. And play time--there's an classic Clark Gable movie on TCM at 10. I might indulge myself....

Yesterday was so beautiful--it was actually quite hot. Up to 83 here, and 90 in Orlando. Hot (and sunny)  enough here for three days in a row that the pool was finally able to reach 80 degrees. We got in and enjoyed it so much!  We have missed being able to get in a lot--last time was 4 months ago. With the solar panels this makes a big difference. 

Interestingly a lender recently told J that with the solar panels heating the pool, and the upgraded electric, and AC and new roof, and the remodeled stuff he has done, we could easily get $140K for it.  Part of me is thrilled, and part of me doesn't believe it for a minute.  I love the idea, considering we bought it for 80K just three years ago, but: I look at the kitchen and shake my head. Yes it's huge, but it's really in need of updating. Same with the bathrooms.  And those are not getting done anytime soon.

Still, it really doesn't matter, as we are quite happy here, and not leaving. At some point we will redo the counter tops in the kitchen, but since a rough estimate was about $2000 that means it will wait. It's certainly not a priority. It's just a cosmetic thing--everything works just fine.

This weekend my brother and SIL were here in town, and we finally got that delayed dinner and celebration at DJ's. Saturday was another lovely day-- it was sunny, and hot/warm, and it was fantastic to see them. BIL's 60th birthday is officially today, but we had an early party that evening. Lots of catching up and photos, exchanging news, etc. 

MissS is moving out this coming weekend so there were congratulations all around, and excitement, and talk about her new job. She's excited and anxious, and we're so proud of her. I'm so thrilled she is going to be right across the street from Sis; it couldn't be a more perfect location as far as safety and familiarity goes. She will still have Family close by,  and she will be on the beach.

At work last week things were fine. The only downside was my damn headache. I had that thing for days. Nothing I tried was helping-- heat, massage, ice, Excedrin,  deep breathing, massive amounts of water, the muscle relaxer every night. I finally contacted my primary care and asked for a refill of the big gun medication because I was going through them quicker than I expected.  I had an upcoming appt with my neuro (this week) and was going to be discussing an increase in the dose of my preventive med but until then I needed help.

She said since I had a neuro, that the neuro should be managing my headache meds. That was odd because she hadn't said that before this, but whatever. I then contacted the neuro office, and went through the story again, and bless her,  instead of waiting to discuss the increase she just had me go ahead and increase right away. 

Plus she gave me an extremely generous amount of my big gun meds. Phew--no more hoarding these like gold and debating on if the headache is "bad enough" to justify spending one on the headache. I'm so relieved. 

So now when I see her this week I can discuss the side effects I'm noticing. They aren't major, but they are definite: ringing in my ears, and a frequent inability to find words.  J said he hadn't noticed the latter, but MissS said she had. Hmm. 

The headache intensity has lessened, although it's still there, nagging, always in the background.  Friday at work (which is always a crazy and  insane day anyway if both docs are in) I noticed the headache was bad until the afternoon when one of the docs left. Sometimes I can think of it as extreme pressure in my head instead of headache. I don't know. Sometimes it's definite Pain.

Last week's pain was along those occipital grooves, steadily, no matter how much pressure I applied, hoping to break whatever hold they had on those nerves. It was miserable.

My doc at work does occipital groove nerve blocks: I sometimes wonder if I should ask him to do that for me. Something to think about.

On another subject: MissS and J got started on attempting the taxes online last Monday, but got as far as the IRA questions and had to stop. We are missing a form (which is needed due to Vantage forcing a change from one kind of account to another), and we can't go any further. That form should be arriving this week. Our appt with the TaxAide people is March 9, so we will just have to wait until then. Frustrating. I don't think we will owe anything,though. I'm seeing horror stories about people who suddenly have horrendous tax bills, and it's scary. 

We also could not stand seeing the dogs scratching anymore, and J took them both to the vet Thursday. That was spendy, but my bonus is coming, and we decided to go ahead and do it. Anyway we have to restart them on Comfortis for a flea preventive, and they each got an injection of steroids to stop the itching, and an exam, and are otherwise healthy. The vet said they are doing great, but that most dogs here in FL do have allergies...poor babies.

So, lots happening. Much cooler weather today, so no pool time. But I'm so glad we had that taste yesterday. It was heavenly.  

We learned that the washer MissS brought from OR, which was our old washer, doesn't work.  So J dragged it out to the curb, and it will be picked up by someone who will use it for scrap metal. That means neither of the appliances worked when they were transported. SIGH.

Life is funny. Life is good.
 

Sunday night

Jeez, here I am again, late Sunday evening,  forgetting that I need to write in the blog until late in the day. This morning I woke  with a very bad headache.  J massaged my head and neck, and I drank a lot of water just waiting for my Excedrin to kick in; and when none of that helped I took a big-gun med.   

He took the dogs for their walk, while I cleaned the bathroom, and the kitty boxes, swept, mopped the living room and entry hallway,  and did the dishes, etc...

Later we went outside and worked in the yard: I re-potted a fern which was badly root-bound, and then pruned some plants, and did some weeding, and swept the pool enclosure after sweeping it free of spider webs. It was an absolutely beautiful morning.
 
MissS joined us outside and did some raking and weeding too, but got stung by some flying thing, and bitten by numerous mosquitoes, eventually fleeing inside. By then it had warmed up to 81 degrees, and I had to go in also.  I should have remembered about my blog then, but instead I decided to color and listen to music...

Later we headed to Sis' for dinner and hot-tub time. That was wonderful. MissS got to look at the inside of the apartment across the street where she might be living. 

Saturday night they'd come to our house for a birthday dinner, bringing flowers for me, and we got caught up; we hadn't  seen each other for two weeks, so it was nice. We hadn't seen BIL for longer than that,  since he'd been gone to Pakistan and gotten back safely but been sick with a bad chest cold. It was  a good evening. It always is.

Work was  tough this week. My CMA coworker had a surgery this past week and has had several post-op complications; she probably won't be back tomorrow either. So RN and I are working a heavy load! We have gotten used to working a full patient load of 14 every day with 3 of us; doing that with just 2 of us is pretty hard. The two of us go home exhausted every day, only to do it again the next day.

But Tuesday was a very nice day: it was my birthday, and so there were presents galore, and decorations at my desk including balloons and streamers, and a potluck lunch, and a yummy cake. That was the only day CoworkerCMA was at work, and I'm glad she made it. Her procedure was the next day, and we haven't seen her since.

My coworkers were more than generous: the gifts were over the top. Then I came home, unloaded the car with J's help and astonishment,  and MissS gave me the second season of Outlander on DVD, and the film of Bohemian Rhapsody on DVD, which we watched last night. Our second time seeing it. Loved it--loved it so much. Such wonderful music. I was still so full from the potluck that I really didn't eat much dinner.

J's main present to me was bumping the fireplace re-do to the top of the list (the ToDo list). He has  polished and sanded the brass grate, and then painted it a fireproof matte black as we agreed on, and re -installed it.  Next he will remove the white drywall surround and install tiles instead, and finally build a proper mantle. It's going to look so good!

Thursday was Valentine's Day; patients brought us candy, and cookies, and  cake bites, and we were allowed to wear pink or red instead of the required endless blue scrubs.  I still managed to lose half a pound at WW.

Friday was payday, so J took me to work so he could use the car to do the shopping and errands.  I did the gym twice that week, (and also went last Sunday, with MissS).  We were so low on a  lot of things --food and non food items--that it was a good thing we were caught up on other bills. 

MissS has tomorrow off since it is President's Day, so she and J might try to do the taxes. If not, then we will try next weekend. We just ran out of time this weekend.  

I sent Valentine's Cards to each of my 4 grands, and got thank you texts from two of them.  Guess I should be grateful for that, instead of grumbling that the other two didn't say anything.  Sigh.

Well, back to work tomorrow.

Life is good, and I am so lucky. My irritations are minor, compared to some. TYG.



That's about it.





 

Sunday

A cool and windy Sunday morning so far. It's cloudy, and I don't think it's going to get much warmer than the upper 60s. It looks colder than it is because it's so dark/gloomy and grey.

J just gave the dogs their bath after taking them for their walk; he walks them twice around the neighborhood which is a total of a mile and a half. Later we'll both go to the gym. 

We might try tackling our own taxes today; J made an appt with the TaxAide people but we can't get in until mid- March. MissS insists it's quite easy to do your own online, and I do have all our papers and forms ready, I think. Otherwise it will be a quiet day, inside. 

Last Monday morning first thing before seeing patients, I did catch LadyDoc privately and apologize for not saying thanks and goodbye Friday night after the party; I had thank-you notes written for both the docs but this explanation was better done in person.  

I did also add in somewhat of a white lie which was that J was having some side effects to his new heart med. (He is having some SEs, but wasn't at the time we left...still it made a reasonable explanation for leaving. J himself suggested I tell her this.) She of course hadn't known he was having any trouble, because I normally don't share home-life things with either of the docs, but since this was a medical issue she was quite interested and wanted to know more. I told her the whole story, and she was actually able to shed some light on what was going on, and that helped me a lot. (I'd confided I was very worried about the possibility of him needing an  ablation, partly because of his age, despite his excellent physical shape in every other way. She  pointed out that the time to freak out is if the cardiac ablation doesn't help, if it comes to that point. Hmm. She is quite right. )

So I feel better having cleared the air, and  now she knows a bit more of what I'm dealing with at home. I try not to bring home issues to work, or rather I try not to let home issues affect my work, but there might come a time when I need to take some time off.  My two closest co-workers know what's going on, but no one else does, except now of course LadyDoc.

J is now mowing not only our lawn front and back, but our neighbor's, the one whose tree fell on his house.  That tree was eventually removed last year, but the neighbor, Rick, was fed up with his living situation. He has finally moved out to a safer place last month. So that house is now empty. J has taken over mowing the front lawn when he does ours because otherwise it looks completely trashy. Things grow so quickly here that it can look wildly overgrown in a matter of a few days.

The rest of the week wasn't bad at all;  a couple of days of wonderful Florida-in-winter weather, which means low 70s, low humidity, sunshine, breezy, just perfect climate.  Cool nights mean great sleeping weather. 

This week is both my birthday and Valentine's Day. At work there  will be a potluck  and presents, probably Tuesday.  Tomorrow, Monday,  LadyDoc is out of the office for some reason so it will be  a quiet day; my doc does procedures, and has no pts that I would be helping with, so I will be dealing with phone calls or just getting charts ready for the week ahead.  

Thursday is Valentine's Day, but  I don't get paid until the next day and we are broke, so we aren't doing anything special, except our regular Weight Watcher's meeting that night.  Which is fine--J writes me love notes every day in my lunch anyway, so I don't need anything else. I feel pretty well loved!

On the 25th all the docs and RNs have to take an advanced life support training all day, which they have to do every two years. So there will be no patients that day either. It means the other CMA and I and the two front office people will be twiddling our thumbs. It would be nice to have that day off, but I have already requested so much time in April I'm wondering if I should ask for more. On the other hand, I have plenty of time off available in my PTO bank.  I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask...

In my AlAnon group, in the monthly business meeting, we have been discussing off and on for three months which book to read next. It's a book discussion group, and they had just started one when I moved here almost 3 years ago; now we are nearing the end, finally.  I think it will be voted on soon, but it's certainly been a long process. Once we have decided, then I as Treasurer have to allocate enough funds to buy copies for everyone that wants their own, instead of "borrowing" a copy if one is available at the meeting each week. Right now we have a healthy balance, but rent comes due in April again, and we have certain other voluntary contributions that are made quarterly. Sometimes we have as few as 15 people at the meeting,but yesterday there were 42!  That was the most we've ever had.  I was glad I was there early enough to get "my" usual seat ...

Not much else going on. Work is great, love my doc, love my home, love my family. I feel so lucky, despite concerns for my sons. And despite concerns for my country. I guess it's a matter of choosing what to focus on. Today I'm focusing on peace and serenity.



 

Sunday

Sunday morning. Kind of cool again, 63 degrees, cloudy, foggy. We had a good evening last night at Sis', with dinner of seasoned farro on her home-grown salad greens, and we'd brought some guacamole and crackers. Afterwards we sat in the hot tub for a while as it got dark. That felt so good.

The previous two nights I had been attacked by serious leg cramps throughout the night. This does not provide restorative sleep! I will sleep for a while, then a cramp will awaken me very suddenly and I have to get out of bed as quickly as possible to try to straighten it out, or walk it off,  or whatever I can to make it relax. SO  frustrating.  SO painful. They will cramp for minutes at a time.   This happened over and over and over. 
 
About halfway through the first night I remembered I had some coconut water and I started gulping that. I don't know if that helps, but I was desperate for relief, and both the docs at work recommend it for leg cramps, along with magnesium and potassium.  The cramps are so hard that even though I slept well last night for the first time, my legs are still hurting. I feel like someone has been beating on my calves with sticks. 

I'm sure the hot tub helped a lot to get some good relaxing heat on the poor muscles last night. I also took a whole muscle relaxer (instead of the half I usually take for my neck).

J gave the dogs their baths yesterday; it was the warmest day in a week and they really needed it.  They've already been out for their walk this morning.   Right now he is working on the laptop which he finally got back last Monday. Everything seems to be working well. 

The cardiologist has decided to continue him on the scary heart medication, because he has shown a dramatic improvement in one week. He feels better and  stronger, despite the side effects; those were milder than expected and passed within a few hours. And the AF is gone. Fortunately (knock on wood) he seems to be responding to this medication.

So he was on 2 pills every morning for a week, kind of as a jump start; now he is on one pill every morning. He will go back to the doc next month and have another Holter monitor for 24 hours just before that appt. They'll repeat the EKG, too. 

Last night was our "Christmas" Party.  I enjoyed the food, but the whole evening was far too long. The servers didn't take our drink order til 15 minutes after we arrived...then it was another 10 minutes before we got the drinks...then it was another 20 minutes before someone came to take our dinner orders...then it another 20 minutes before the bread came...then longer before the salad arrived...etc etc etc.  

Plus, the only options for wine were a Cabernet or a Chardonnay. Neither of which I like. It didn't occur to me until too late that I could have just bought my own drink, so I stuck with the chardonnay as the lesser of two evils.  Ugh. I ended up drinking a lot of water, instead, which is fine.  

I actually felt worse over the fact that by the time the dessert finally came, it was so late (long after 9 pm) that one of the co-workers at my table and I decided to just leave without saying thanks or goodbye to the docs.  I regretted that decision as soon as we were out of the restaurant,  but it was too late. There were plenty of people there , and I'm sure we weren't the only ones,  but it wasn't an adult or polite thing to do. Bleah. Well, I'll apologize Monday. 

It was a good week at work. I learned my doc will be out for a week in April, so I've got three more days off during that week. Something to look forward to. 

One sad bit of news: one of my friends in AlAnon is dealing with pancreatic cancer. I'd noticed she was even thinner than usual,  and didn't comment of course. But yesterday she confided in me. I was shocked, and put my arms around her, and felt how frail she was. I did not tell her this is what killed my grandmother, but I'm so sad for her. She is in AlAnon because of her son, too; we have shared tears and hope over our actively drinking sons.  I told her I would keep her in my prayers; she knows she can call me anytime.

A quiet week, really. Peaceful.That's ok with me--a good start to 2019. TYG.