We haven't done one of these in awhile

I case you're wondering

Scenes like this are why I have a link to APOD on my sidebar

The music's okay, too!

...but I prefer jazz or blues

Monday updates are getting harder more difficult

Grandma Skip had an appointment with her PCP (primary care provider) yesterday (Monday).
Hence, the difficulty with updating.
By the time we got home from the appointment it was closer to Tuesday and I already provided some useless information.
About the only thing we know for sure is that to learn more she will have to see the GI specialist who did the upper endoscopy.
Even that's no guarantee we will know anything.
The earliest she can get an appointment him is in March.
That is if all the Docs can get on the same page... GI Doc's gatekeeper wants reassurance from the cardiologist that it okay to do a colonoscopy.

Anyway, we were distracted by this poster in the examining room.

hover of trout, eh

MEATOZ

Sully did a meme.
He stole it.
Others jumped on the bandwagon.
I realized it was easier than I originally thought.
Here's my contribution.
Yeah I know the title is ridiculous.

A - age: 69... yeah, really. We're exploring uncharted territory here because my head thinks we're still a teenager

B - bed size: all of the beds in our house are queens, even the convertible couch. That way the sheets are interchangeable (however, the 600 thread count always end up in the master)

C - Chore you hate: washing windows... oh come on, it's like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. You'r never done

D - Dogs (or cats): you decide

       I like both

E - essential to start my day: daylight helps a lot

F - favorite color: blue

G - gold or silver: my favorite football teams (high school, college, and professional) colors include gold

H -  house or apartment: I've tried both, without much success

I - instruments played: Kazoo (attempted trumpet at an early age)

J - job title - I was a pizza cook, a salesperson, then a store clerk and now I'm retired

K - kids: I have one who will talk to me, but GS's three are friendly

L -  live:  not much longer if I listen to my head

M - married: twice

N - never again: will I say never... or always... because there's always an exception

O - other fun fact: my brother was an only child

P - pet peeve: that thing that pops up on the TV screen saying, "The smart card has been inserted incorrectly" when nobody's touched the damn smart card since the last time the message popped up

Q - quote: it's right under the blog title...

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
~ Herm Albright

R - righty or lefty - righty, though I batted and made pizza left handed on occasion

S - siblings - stepbrother and two half sisters. Doesn't that sound lame? We're family we introduce each
other as brother or sister. The only time anyone is confused is when my brother or I tell them we were born six months apart

T - time you wake up: most days about 6:00am

U - university attended: huh? try community college

V - veggies you dislike: lima beans (well, I used to dislike them until I met Aunt Wilma)

W - what makes you run late: poor planning

X - x-rays: too many to remember (see A)

Y - yum food: dry salami

Z - zoo animal favorite: gorillas

because it beats having to

 come up with original material

What it looked like on the other side

It's risky taking photos from a moving vehicle when you're driving.
But some mornings, when there is no traffic, it's worth it.
Yesterday's shot was taken while the care was still in the driveway facing my neighbors.
This one, also taken yesterday in on the other side of town approaching the river.

The bridge has some really clever design work on it.

that would be the other

 side of the windshield

Vietnamese River Cobbler*

I had absolutely no idea about what to post.

I still don't.
The picture is what it looked like through the windshield when I went out this morning.

*it's a fish

A brief glimpse of California

Actually, they got Weed [Google Weed, CA] in the wrong place... and Kern County is more like Oklahoma.
Otherwise it's fairly accurate.

there may be a test

Change

So we're settling into a routine around here.
That means if there was such a thing as normal, it would be just that.
The operative word is if.
We don't operate like we used to around here.
We probably won't, either.
A tremendous change has occurred over the past six months.
First, we went from a two-person household having another, younger, adult move in.
We do pretty much have an open door policy for out children.
We, unfortunately, no longer have a permanent guest room.
Next, as most of you know, one of us noticed a change in their health. and did something about it.
It was a smart move because of the discovery of an issue with no symptoms.
It became apparent there was a real benefit to having a third adult at home.
We spent three months in anticipation of major surgery.
Thank goodness it wasn't a case of week to week postponements and rescheduling.
It was only rescheduled one time.
Someone got to spend almost a month in the hospital.
Somebody else stayed nearby for all but two days.
The third person was close at hand much of that time, as well.
Grandma Skip's Mustang needed a major engine overhaul.
It was in the shop for over two weeks.
The car's all better now.
GS is going to be recovering for some time.
It's a slow process.
We aren't doing much of anything the same way any more.
Spontaneous takes a lot of planning.
Meals aren't determined on the fly.
There are always two people at home when GS is here.

change isn't so bad

Did they fix the thermometer?

It looks like it.

I liked it better when the Sun was shining.
But, I do understand we need the rain (and snow in the mountains).

just south of San Simeon on California Hwy 1

Old photo of a view that doesn't get old.

I'm about ready for another road trip.
I am also fairly certain that will have to wait.
It's something for which to look forward.

small steps

One more thing

I forgot something about the weekend activities.

I could have posted a larger image.
But then there could have been a misunderstanding.
What was important was watching it at home with Grandma Skip.

yes, the image will find its way onto the sidebar

Here it is Monday again

So Friday had enough stuff going on to last a month....  and everyone survived.
If I was to say it was the worst day, I'd be lying.
It doesn't even come close.
In fact it's hardly a bump in the road.
That's why I can laugh.

So GS had a full day on Friday.
We kicked her out of bed at 7:15 and made her get ready to go to Sac.
She had to sit up all day... instead of having a lie down.
On top of that she was interrogated by two RNs, a PA and an MD.
It was determined her incisions are all well healed... on to of that, none have given her any issues.
It has also been determined she is not allowed to lose any more weight.
That's on her.
The good news is her appetite seems to have improved.

More good news is she appears to be taking charge of her own recovery.
What I mean is more is happening with less urging from us and healthcare folks.

Mrs Cuz will understand this photo more than others...

...and this photo will put it in context.






No, I don't know why the duck is looking up behind the TV.

ask Suzy
she brought the duck

We need a new motto

A few years ago a local writer, who has since moved to Albuquerque [do you really need me to tell what state?] , opined that the local motto is we'll turn in front of you.
He was talking, of course, about drivers who approach from a side road, street or other encroachment, look directly at your approaching vehicle, even making eye contact, and pull directly in front, causing you to swerve or brake hard to avoid colliding with them.
 Over the past several months I have had many opportunities to observe this is no longer a local phenomenon.
It has spread statewide, possibly even further.
In fact it has become so ubiquitous that traffic signals no longer hinder this behavior.
There are a number of other traffic issues that come to mind, as well... misused and disused turn signals come to mind.
Anyhow, I got that off my chest.
I'm thinking seriously that folks no longer care much about anything but getting there first.
Maybe the new motto should be...

The rules of the road are for sissies

he moved to Santa Cruz before that

Hahahahahaha! (cont'd)

Let's back up for a minute...
When the DG (Lions District Governor) called me I wasn't entirely prepared to have the conversation about repairing the disposal.
Heck, I wasn't quite prepared to talk about repairing anything, because stuff was still turning up broken.
So I said I would call him back as soon as I sorted some things out.... like would anyone be here.

After determining that GS's daughter would be home I called the DG back on my cell phone.
That's where I have his number most easily accessible.
About 30 seconds after he answered the call, while I was explaining more about the situation, my cell phone died and the call was lost.
Fortunately there just happened to be a District Directory immediately at hand so I was able to redial on the home phone.
It's good to have a backup.

Okay... so where were we?
Driving away from the house on the way to Sacramento about 15 minutes later than originally planned.
That means we were ahead of schedule because I try to always plan to leave at least a half hour before it is absolutely necessary.
I also try to allow three hours for the trip even though it usually takes less than two and a half hours.
We got to Sacramento without incident...
...at 11:00am for an 11:45 appointment.
I killed some time by pulling into a parking spot and calling home to find out what was happening.
The furnace guy found the problem right away and fixed it without any difficulty or parts.
The supply duct from the air handler had come free so the attic was being heated instead of the house.
He reconnected it and added a couple of screws so it wouldn't happen again.
Then he only charged for a half hour labor instead of the diagnostic fee.
Cross that off the list.

DG was still  repairing replacing the disposal... wanted to know what we wanted to do with the old one.
I was tempted to ask if he knew anyone who needed an anchor for a boat.
It has been disposed of..

Then we drove on to the doctor's offices, taking the scenic route because we had lots of time and they charge by the half hour to park.
Have I mentioned just how cheap frugal I am?

First stop is the surgeons office.
Amy, the RN/scheduler stopped in for a second, said hello and left some papers. 
Doc "S" is a really busy fellow so a Nurse Practitioner/Physicians Assistant handled the duties of checking the healing and other post-surgical processes. 
She answered a number of questions we didn't even know we had and explained that GS is about as far along as can be expected after the two month delay for the surgery that didn't exactly enhance her condition.
She spent as much time as we wanted and offered some dietary and procedural suggestions.

Then it was across the hall to Doc "K."
His office is huge compared to the surgeon's.
GS had to fill out the paperwork for a new patient since she had never visited Doc "K" in his office before.
It seems strange being a patient of the doctor for more than two months but his office has no records because he has only seen a patient at the hospital.
After all the vitals (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight) were taken for the second time in an hour, Doc "K' came in and sized up the situation by asking GS how she was feeling and if she had any concerns.
Of course GS informed him of her desire to get to the bottom of what took her to see a doctor in the first place.
She told him the PCP (Primary Care Physician) had taken her off all but a couple of the meds prescribed at the discharge from the hospital.
He agreed that was okay so long as she was being monitored.
He and the Nurse Practitioner both want to delay a colonoscopy for at least another five to six weeks.
He offered some suggestions and told her she could eat anything she wants.
He said I can't.
We spent a good 45 minutes and were scheduled for a follow up in 3 months unless we can locate a cardio doc we like in Redding.
Then all of the paperwork can start all over again.

We were away from the office by 1:30.
I asked GS if she wanted something to eat.
She said, "A McDonalds hamburger."
It took awhile to find a Mac's.
From the drive-thru she ordered a regular burger and a chocolate milkshake.
I ordered a double cheeseburger, small fries, so she could have some, and a Coke.
We found a spot in the shade because it was warm (hot for January) and ate.
GS ate about 3/4 of the burger, which is about twice what I expected, some of the fries and, by the time we were home, she'd finished the milkshake.

It was a fairly strenuous day for her.
She hasn't sat up for such a length of time since before she went for surgery.
Friday she was up for nine hours nonstop.
Today (Saturday), showed the effects.
But her appetite, despite the bowel issues, has improved and we've learned a few things in the process.

So when I got home I tackled the the burglar alarm problem.
That's because I'd been unable to do anything but bypass the sensor in the morning.
Originally I'd thought the replacement battery was bad.
It isn't.
I just didn't bypass the sensor before I removed the old battery.
Then I'd compounded the problem by putting the cover back upside down so the anti-tamper device didn't turn off.
I fixed that.
It's amazing what can be done when there is enough time.
Then I tightened up a connection on the new disposal (thanks to the DG) and everything is hunky-dory.

GS and I were talking this evening.
She said it was really lucky this all happened Thursday to Friday, not later.
We really wouldn't want to have to have a service call for anything over the weekend and particularly this weekend with Monday being a holiday.

Oh, yeah, if I tried to tackle the disposal replacement we would still be working on it.  

it would not be so mellow around here

It looks good

But it is soooo wrong.

This is more like it....

...and still nothing to sneeze at.

still working on that "other" post

Reference point

I'm going out now, but will be back later...

...and, if I remember, will post the afternoon weather.

because it's going to take

 awhile to finish the

 story started last night

Hahahahahaha!

I have to laugh.
Today could easily have set me off.
I already mentioned the issue of the garbage disposal that was facing us this morning.
I already mentioned that we had to leave for Sac relatively early.

I woke without the alarm going off at about 6:10am and heard the furnace running.
That's not so unusual.
What is unusual is it was still running 45 minutes later and the house hadn't warmed at all.
The thermostat is set to run up to 74 degrees.
The temperature at the thermostat was still 66 degrees.
There was another challenge.

Then I heard a beep in the family room.
It was the control panel for the alarm system.
I was being notified one of the batteries for a door sensor needed replacing.
I was making a pot of coffee, a challenge when the kitchen sink is disabled, but not entirely undoable.
I got the coffee on.
The coffee maker is really fast because it has hot water already to go when a new container of water is added.
I grabbed a new battery and a chair to change out the sensor.
I forgot to bypass the sensor on the control panel.
Then I put the cover on the sensor on upside down alerting the alarm company that someone was fiddling with the system.
The phone rang after I managed to wake everyone in the house with the siren.
I explained to the alarm company what was happening and gave them the magic word that keeps them from sending cops.

It wasn't yet 8:00am so I couldn't call the heating and air folks about the furnace.
It was now 65 degrees at the thermostat.
I could feel just a little warm air blowing from the registers, but not enough to warm the house.

The coffee was ready.
I got Grandma Skip's breakfast ready.
The phone rang.
It was the District Governor for our Lions district.
He read last night's post.
Did I want him to come and fix my garbage disposal?
When a DG asks if he can do something you don't tell him "no."
One challenge handled and am I ever grateful.

It's 8:00am and I can call the heating and air folks.
They'll dispatch a repairman immediately.
"It'll be $70 for the diagnostic and additional for any repairs."
"Fine, my stepdaughter will be here and is authorized to approve repairs."
 Second challenge accounted for.

The alarm's been silenced.
I'll deal with it when I get home.

We pack GS into the back seat of the car.
(back seat so she isn't slammed by an airbag and damaged by said airbag)
The furnace guy shows up and heads for the water heater.
I steer him to the furnace.
As I am getting into the driver seat he hollers, "where's the access to the air handler?"
I tell him and drive off, thinking this isn't good.

What now!!!

So I went out for a little over an hour at 5:30pm.
While I was out I picked up the usual Thursday night dinner.
Just about every Thursday evening I bring home a "burrito bowl."
A burrito bowl is a burrito made without a tortilla.
The darn things are enough to feed three people.
That's not what this is about.

The disposal fell out of the bottom of the kitchen sink while I was gone.
What's stupid is we'd noticed a couple of anomalies over the last two days and had chalked it up to carelessness, not a mechanical or structural thing.
We can't use the faucet or the dishwasher until a professional can get out to fix it.
It appears we will need a new disposal because the lip that holds the old one is terribly corroded and rotted through.

What makes this entire scenario really interesting is Grandma Skip and I have to leave by about 8:30am because she has appointments in Sacramento with the cardiologist, Doc "K," and the surgeon, Doc "S."
I am hoping I can actually talk to a plumber before we leave and make some arrangement for the situation to be handled while we are gone all day.

Yes, we did make it to at least 71 degrees today.

This is what we're looking at now (6:30am)...

it's probably a good

 thing GS's daughter

 is living here now

Let's start here

Come back later to see where we finish.

yeah... got nothin'

WTF Wednesday

There's really not much to say.
That's why it's so late.
Well, that and the fact that I went out this morning and caught up some more paperwork for the thrift store and the Frontier Senior Center.
Then I got some hairs cut... I had them all cut.
After that I went to the supermarket and bought some groceries.
Then I enjoyed this.

I am fairly certain they're wrong about the wind speed... or maybe it's an isolated thing.
Because I was just outside and the air was absolutely still.

•  GS and I get to drive to Sacramento on Friday to see Doc "K" and one of Doc "S's" assistants
•  I am learning a whole new group of recipes and how to fix stuff I can't hardly pronounce
•  If I don't post it is only because I am busy

 Benchmark 60 was the inspiration for the post title

Repost

From APOD...


...because it's cool hot.

Doc "B" made a few changes to GS meds.
He has some other, dietary, ideas we find to be eccentric.
But we're willing to give some of them a try... probably because there's some published research.

It's cold... up from freezing (26°)... this morning.
But it may reach 60º.
I wonder if that will melt the ice in the tub out back?

then I can dump it

Before I forget

I had a dentist appointment this morning.
Well actually it was with the hygienist.
She complimented me on the condition of my gums.
I'm glad they're in good condition because they're all that's left, except for the four implants used to anchor the lowers.

Grandma Skip sees her Primary Care Provider this afternoon.
Primary Care Provider is what they call family doctors today.
We'll call him Doc "B" because...
FYI - Doc "S" is the surgeon, his name starts with "S"
Doc "R" is the pulmonary and critical care doc, he's fun to be around.
His name begins with "R"
Doc "K" is the cardiologist and ultimately makes the discharge decision.
GS has a love-hate relationship with Doc "K," whose name begins with [I wish I knew how to put a smiley face here].

So far, since coming home, she's had a couple of phone calls (from out of town family members) and exactly two visitors... a husband and wife... other than local family and healthcare workers.

I am pleased the 49ers continue in the playoffs.
Somehow I am not nearly as excited as when the Giants won or as I've been in previous years.
I only consumed one bowl of popcorn and forgot to have a Coke.

On that note... pitchers and catchers report in 29 days.
I wonder if Suldog's gonna play another year?

Plans for the Twin Cousins Annual Birthday have been adjusted.
Originally we'd all contemplated a trip even further afield than last year.
Now we're staying closer to home but involving more people.
I'm pretty sure I've already said too much.

this has not been another Monday update

Now I remember

The other day Lime posted about how Mr. Spock, on Star Trek, used  "fascinating" as a euphemism and how it applied to her current employment.
The tale reminds me of a joke heard quite some time ago.

It was at the ten year reunion of a class from a fairly exclusive girls high school the Celeste and Mary caught up with each other for the first time since graduation. Celeste went on and on about what she had been up to for the past ten years.
"My parents sent me to Italy that first summer. I visited art museums all over the country."
"That's fantastic." Replied Mary.
"Then I worked at a gallery in London." Said Celeste.
"That's fantastic."
"I met my husband there."
"That's fantastic."
"He's a Count and has an estate." "That's fantastic."
"We have two children, a boy and girl, who are absolutely brilliant."
"That's fantastic."
The conversation went on for another ten minutes or so before Celeste finally asked Mary what she'd done.
"Oh, my parents sent me to finishing school."
"What did you do there?" Celeste inquired.
"We learned to say 'fantastic' instead of 'bullshit.'"

'nuff said

I won't be posting Monday updates

I haven't been trolling other blogs nearly as much as prior to a week ago last Thursday.
That would be January 3 or, as I like to call it, New Years Day.
Yeah, I know everyone else picked a traditional day to celebrate the New Year.
Those of you who are regulars here know the story.
I won't rehash it.
I do still get around a little, but mostly I am otherwise occupied and have other priorities.
It's almost like I'm not retired.

About that title... Grandma Skip is home.
Most days it is she and I here until late afternoon when my stepdaughter gets home from work.
There is plenty to keep me occupied after GS gets up in the morning.
If there are any updates, they will probably be posted on weekends (just like this).
They will only be here if it is something momentous.

It's 11:30 am and still a brisk 42.1°F.
That's a lot warmer than it was when I went out this morning.

I  know there was something else I was supposed to remember?

someone remind me

While I have a minute

I just thought you should know the bird, a mockingbird I believe, that I was going on about back on November 27, 28 & December 3, is still up to his stunts.
Every day at some time or another he's made an appearance at the window.
He's just not quite as persistent as in the beginning.

stupid bird

MOS*

So I received an email today.
It was from an online retailer selling discounted ink & toner.
There is only one catch.

don't bother to click it

Really?
September 30, 2011?

There was something else.
I already forgot what it is.

Now I remember.
There was a visitor the other day.

would have more ...and better ...pictures but I was limited to taking them through the blinds and there were other, more important, tasks to perform.

His parting shot.











*more of the same

it means I got nothin'

Not a lot to add today

So this isn't exactly an update.
It is more like a things I've seen and a retrospective.

First things first...
Awhile back I had a little fun.
Maybe it was here, maybe commenting on another blog.
In any event, it was by making fun of someone else.
That's not too cool.
That person died on Tuesday.
What is said in the local's editorial this morning covers a lot of what this man was about.
I may have laughed at his presentation.
It was probably out of envy for his enthusiasm.
Huell Howser will be missed.

He's in the front. This was at Mono Lake.

I was cruising the usual blogs this morning.
This was the word verification on blog post that somewhat related to banking...

I'm thinking there are a lot of folks who'd like to see MRIs performed on banks?

Then I saw this...

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure baseball writers should be making those kinds of decisions.
It's not because they're biased or non-subjective.
It's because they're self-appointed.
Doesn't that make them worse than politicians?

how do you prove a negative?

Not a Monday...

Grandma Skip visits her doctor (the family practitioner) today.
Some things are not going according to plan [don't remind me what I have said about plans].
Originally we were set to drive to Sac yesterday to have the sutures (staples) removed at the surgeon's office.
The home healthcare nurse who visited Friday called Sac and got the okay to remove them here at home on Monday (yesterday).
A different home healthcare nurse visited yesterday.
She wouldn't remove the staples without a written order from the doctor.
Now we have to have the doctor remove the staples or write and order and fax it to the home healthcare HQ for the staples to come out.
GS is a little discouraged because recovery is slow.
She is... or at least seems to be... eating better (fewer carbs, more protein).
Now we have to have her exercise more so she is hungrier.
The only catch is the underlying reason why she went to the doctor back in August.
Did I mention that we never had a G.I. consult at the hospital?

this morning's view

rather post about bacon

How long's it been since we had a real bacon post?

definitely not Grandma

So what!

I the hallways of the PCU at the hospital there are places for the patients to rest during their walks.
There are pictures at these locations.
Some of them have directions for exercises.
Others have directions for life.

words to live by