Shaggy Dog

After grooming:

I feel better after my visit to the hairdresser's yesterday, and I think I look a little better, although it's all relative!

Update

I'm doing a little better but still lacking energy.  My sister has had some medical problems and daughter Jeannie stayed overnight with her on Monday night, and asked me to come over to be with her for a while on Tuesday.  I did and went back this morning, taking her to a doctor's appointment and returning her home.  I came back to my own house and hit the couch for a nap.

I have an appointment with my hairdresser tomorrow, and then will take Amy to an appointment of her own.  I'm doing more driving than I have the whole month.  She lives just a little farther from me than Jeannie, so it isn't too far.  I feel guilty every time I drive by the gym and am going to have to get back to it soon.

I've been thinking about quitting the blog, but don't really want to make a permanent exit.  I think I will blog less frequently and only when I have something to write about.  There's is no sense struggling to come up with a post, but  it's harder to quit than you might imagine.   And it might just be that I will start to feel better and get out and do more, and have more things to write about.

Another do-nothing day

It was cold when I woke up this morning - 39 degrees - time to get out my Lasko heater.  Once I am moving around I won't need the heater as we are looking at a high of 74 today.

Other than a quick trip to the grocery and to the doctor, I haven't been out much the whole month of October.  It's mostly a matter of self-quarantine - I know I'm not contagious but if I start coughing the general public won't be so sure of that.  So rather than alarm others, I've tried to cut down my outings to a minimum - the most people I've been around at one time was last Saturday's meeting that I attended, and the stars must have been in my corner because I didn't sniffle or cough at all the entire time.   I am ready to go back out into the"world" now, but it is not easy.

LATER:  I went outside to sweep some of the leaves that clutter my driveway - the ones that blow over from the Park's trees across the street.  I couldn't believe how quickly I started feeling the effects of allergies.  When I returned from NY one of the first things I did was to sweep up the piles of leaves in my driveway, and that started the whole thing.   I wish it would get down to below freezing some night and maybe it would clear the air.

This morning I looked through my cookbooks and the booklet that came with my breadmaking machine, plus did a search of the internet with the thought of making my own rye bread.   I have also wanted to check out a German deli/bakery about 8 miles from here, and maybe try their offerings.  But the energy just wasn't there, and I don't know where it is going to come from.  I'm planning a high protein meal this evening, so maybe tomorrow I'll feel more like venturing out.

Having watched several tv programs about identity theft I'm feeling a little paranoid.  While I keep away from social media and phones that track one's location, and I don't buy much online, I worry about the online items I do purchase.  Also, while I wouldn't think of using Facebook or Twitter, there IS this blogging world that we are so caught up in.   If you do a search of your name you will be amazed what you come up with.  I found one entry leading to my blog that was half written in the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet and half in our English alphabet, and that is not a good thing.  If anyone has an answer to the dilemma of how to limit the information that is available, I'd sure like suggestions.   Of course, Google is one of the worst offenders - I spent a lot of time trying to remove my surname from  their programs but just haven't been able to do it.

Bread making

I've mentioned in numerous previous posts that although I was lucky to be born in the great state of Kentucky, I was mostly raised across the Ohio River in Cincinnati.  When I lived there the majority of the population was of German and Irish heritage, and the German-American cuisine is still my favorite.

Lately I have been craving some good German rye bread, and have been surprised that there really isn't much of it on the grocers' shelves.  Today I bought a loaf of Orowheat dark rye and on upacking the grocery bag I opened the loaf and slathered a slice with butter.  I couldn't believe what a tasteless bread it is, and I don't know what to do with the remainder of the loaf.   I am going to get out my old recipes, make a list of ingredients I will need, and make my own rye bread.  I made some good bread, including rye and whole wheat, back in the 1970's and I hope I can do it again.  In the meantime an internet search leads to a local German deli where I will try the bread plus other special German foods.

I'm getting drowsy as I usually do this time of afternoon.  I don't know why I need a nap as I get a good night's sleep every night.  But I won't fight it off!

I did go out today

I remained on the fence until about 10 am whether or not I wanted to go anywhere today.  I really didn't feel like it,  but ended up taking a liberal dose of cough syrup and a Claritin, and drove over the Arden area and Coco's restaurant where the meeting is held in a big room reserved for large groups.  I'm glad I went but now that I'm home I am really tired, and I see a nap coming on.

I think I'm a lot better than I was but it will take some time to get my energy back.  I took the last of the Z-pack today.   Regular visits to the gym would be a good start toward energizing!

I'm totally confused - is tonight Halloween?  I thought it was the last day of October, although it would be more convenient for nearly everyone to have it on a weekend.  Since this is a 55+ neighborhood I've never had any trick or treaters, so I will just figure that no one will be around for treats.

Just - three - - steps - - to - the - - couch!
Ahhhhh!

Friday - again!

I got up at 7:30 this morning and was surprised that the temperature was 46F.  It's going up to around 80 this afternoon, which is quite a difference.  I love the colder nights we're having now.

I have a real dilemma - I was planning to attend a meeting of a group I'm interested in this Saturday (tomorrow), but I don't want to do a lot of coughing and worry those around me.  I will definitely take a spoonful of cough syrup before I go (if I go) but don't want to double up on it because it containes codeine (though I've certainly never felt the effects of codeine).

To commenter, Judy, who responded to my complaints about the GPS, I have never been a fan of atlases for maps as I normally use AAA state maps since they are larger and more detailed.  I think I will take another look at the ones you mentioned, especially DeLorme's.   I guess my problem with anything in booklet form is having to flip to a different page.  It will take an attitude change for me, I suppose.

More on Garmin

This morning I received some correspondence from Garmin urging me to try installing the updates again, but I responded that I was just finished dealing with it after spending hours yesterday trying to install.  I asked them to issue a credit for the amount of the map update.

I just received a reply from Garmin giving me the refund case number and said they have taken immediate steps to reverse the charge.  I think this is very fair of Garmin, and I appreciate their business ethic, so I decided to write a short post about it.

I am still hacking and coughing, and generally feeling miserable.  I can't go anywhere because I worry about passing something along, and I'm bored out of my mind right now.  (When I'm feeling better I might wish I had taken Garmin's suggestion to try one more time, but just can't face it right now.)



 

Old Wives' Tales

I'm testing one today.  My mom was one of the world's best for going along with the old widsom.  One of her favorite dire predictions was that I would catch pneumonia if I went outdoors with my hair wet.  So this morning I thought I would put that bunch of crap to the test - I showered and washed my hair while a load of laundry was finishing.  I then took the laundry across the street to hang it out on the line, and I did it with wet hair.  I'm feeling a little better after starting the Z-pack of antibiotics yesterday.  Temps are still in the 60's but it's warm in the sun.

My apologies to my mother as well as to the old wives and their wisdom for my attitude.  I suppose that back in the day when doctors weren't so accessible (in my mom's farm community someone would have to ride a horse or a mule to the doctor's house and hope he could help), it was up to the older women in the household to do the doctorin' in all but the most serious cases.  I think the old wives' tales can be placed in the category of "Preventive Medicine".   It wasn't always the old women but sometimes the men had their cures and treatments.  My mom broke her ankle as a little girl, and my grandpa treated it with Absorbine, his cure for just about everything, in both horses and people!

Yesterday I downloaded the update for my old GPS (I had returned the new one to Costco).  I spent all evening trying to download and install the updates but the install just kept going and going.  I quit and went through the entire process again this morning, and the same thing happened so after about 3 hrs. of fooling with it I quit.   I wrote to Garmin the problems I had and asked that they credit my card with the amount I spent on it.  In checking my card status online I see that the charge was pending and I hope Garmin just cancels the charge.   

I remember having  the same problem a few years back when I tried to update my first Garmin.  I could never get it to work and wonder if it was because I was using a MAC computer, although with the current update I downloaded the version for MAC.  It's just not worth the aggravation, and not having a smartphone I might as well forget using a GPS.

Yesterday I knew right away that Jeannie didn't want donuts after having her stitches removed.  In one place there is a big hollow space in her gum, and she is going to require numerous surgeries in the coming months, including bone grafts, so I can understand how the lure of donuts just wasn't there.  It will return, and I'll be ready!

I think everyone knows how I feel about technological devices.  If I want something new I might try it out, and I may or may not want to be bothered with it.  I don't think everything new is necessarily more productive - many people have 4 or 5 devices such as phones, iPads, tablets, etc., and there are always new upgrades for one of them.  I'm no longer willing to get caught up in that trap.   I agree with Barbara that it is necessary to keep our minds sharp by learning new things - in my case it is learning subjects in the scientific and astronomical field, history both ancient on up to more recent times, and questioning and keeping an open mind about EVERYTHING in the Universe!  I'm an avid reader, which helps.

I wore myself out taking my laundry off the line and folding it, and then carrying it all back and putting things away.  I had to take a nap!

Hopeful

I'm hopeful that things will start looking up again.  I took Jeannie to her appointment this morning, but she declined donuts today.  Another time.

I returned the Garmin GPS to Costco.  I believe it has all the features of my old GPS but they just put new labels on everything, and it takes more steps to get to what I am looking for.  It may work better for someone who is used to i-Phones and Apps, but I'm not going to waste brainpower trying to figure it out.  I'm wondering if a hand-held GPS might be a better idea for me.  I may just do as I usually do for a long trip, and that is to map it out and print it in Mapquest.  It's a time consuming process to force Mapquest to map my preferences in traveling, i.e., no interstate travel.  But in the end I get what I want and have fun in the planning process.

I took another look at my old GPS and it says no maps are available.  Plugging it into my computer, Garmin informs me that I can buy the map set.  When I last updated this GPS it was for "lifetime" maps, and I don't know if I want to give them any more money for what I already purchased.

After the trip to Costco to return the GPS and a trip to Walmart Optical to pick up my new eyeglass lens, I was still early for my doctor's appointment but went in anyway.  They told me they would call me when an examining room was available.  I didn't wait over two minutes until the nurse came to get me - I lost about 3# since last week - and put me in a room to wait for the doctor.  I thought I'd be there for a while because it was still half an hour until my appointment, but he walked in the door just a few minutes later.  I left with a prescription for the Z-Pack antibiotic.  I sure hope to get over this cough very soon as I think it keeps getting worse.  

I like this doctor and may decide to select him as my primary care physician.

 I came home and decided to make myself a protein shake, and included an extra scoop of ice cream!  Got to get those pounds back, although I don't know if it is worth it to have to be obsessed with keeping my weight at a level higher than is comfortable for me to take in calories.  It must be just as bad as having to worry about going over your calorie level and gaining weight.  I look and feel so much better with the extra pounds so I hate to go back to looking anorexic.

The cooler weather - in the 70's - is just great although it's hot in the sun!

Back to the doctor

I'm trying to keep up with blog reading, but am not commenting as much as I usually try to do.  

It's after 3:00 pm and I'm still in pajamas, and doubt I'll get dressed today.  I called to try to get an appointment with the same doctor I saw last week for the allergy symptoms but he is all booked up tomorrow and I didn't want to wait an extra day.

I'm coughing my insides out and just feel awful.  The cough syrup helps but I know it doesn't cure anything, and i'm thinking I probably now have bronchitis.  I went back to bed in the middle of the morning and slept a couple of hours.  I don't think I have a fever, but I'm using the "Dr. Mom" method since I don't have a thermometer.  Nah, I don't have a fever.

So tomorrow I'm going to drive Jeannie to the dentist at 11:20 to get her stitches removed, and I need to be at the Med center by 2:30 for my appointment.  I hope there is enough time in there to stop for donuts.

Easy Saturday

I had no plans for today but went to the farmer's market early and was back home in no time.  I shopped at my favorite of the stalls and didn't feel like walking around, so I just got what I needed and came back home.

Jeannie came over to visit and reviewed the bios of the new doctors I will choose from - we agreed the one I saw last time is fine, although I will have to be straight up with him and reach an agreement about tests for the sake of testing.

Before Jeannie arrived I wrote him a message on the  UCD Med's system, mentioning that in some ways I was doing better but that I'm worried about the cough I still have.  With my experience the last 2 years of bronchitis and pneumonia I am worried that this cough will turn for the worse, so I want to see him again soon.

Jeannie said she wanted to go to Target and I readily agreed to go as I'm squeezing the very last of the toothpaste tubes!  We weren't there long and it was nice to get out.  Fortunately I didn't cough a whole lot during the time we were there.

She suggested we could go to Costco tomorrow which I need to do, but I'm still a little hesitant to be around the kids.  I have never felt like I was contagious but was strictly suffering from allergies, however  this is definitely settling into my chest and it worries me.

But I'm not the only one with medical issues - Jeannie's dental surgery is still giving her a lot of pain, and she's only gone through the first part of what is needed.   Her next appointment is this coming Tuesday and I insisted I would take her.  I think the visit is just for the doctor to check the healing process (which has been slow going), but I still want to drive her and be there when she's ready to go home.  I'm not sayin' we'll stop at the donut shop or anything, but it's right on the way home!

It's 7 pm and I haven't even thought about eating dinner yet.  I'm glad I have soup that I can just quickly heat up. 

 

Not much to do

Actually I have a lot to do but can't really do much of it.  I've mentioned before that my house sits in sort of a wind tunnel.   When the wind blows I get the big leaves from the trees across the street, and they are especially piled up in my driveway.  When I got back from New York one of the first things I did was to sweep most of the leaves up, and I later thought I may have gotten my allergic reaction to those leaves, so I've never gone back out to sweep them again.

The wind also blows dust and dirt on my entire property, especially noticeable on the windows and screens - another possible source of my allergies.  I really need to wash both the windows and screens while the weather is still clear and mild, but first I'd have to sweep the leaves in the driveway!  (To take the screens close to the water source.)  So I sit indoors and don't do much of anything, and it's all piling up.

I'm feeling a little better but still have the congestion and cough, so I don't go anywhere.  When I get the call that the new lens for my glasses is in I will head over to Walmart Optical.   I'm getting low on a lot of supplies but sure don't feel like shopping, so I'm stretching everything to the limit.  

I am a "saver" which is unfortunate in that things stack up in my house that should be thrown away.  I keep paper, and I know a lot of it can be discarded or shredded, and I think that is going to be my first line of attack in cleaning up my house.   Why do I need old medical records that I printed out, when they are available to me online or else so old as to be useless?   The same goes for bank statements; cell phone bills, etc.  I still get the paper statements although they are available online.  (I don't want my entire life to be online, and that is why I still get the paper statements.  Also, I can open up an envelope and view my statement without having to enter a username and password!)  I guess I'm a true packrat!

I made a big pot of vegetable beef soup last night but had lost my appetite by the time it was finished.   I had a lot of vegetables in the fridge that I was able to use, so now I can buy more at the farmers' market tomorrow!  I'll have to freeze some of that soup because I'll never be able to eat it all before it spoils.  I'd rather have it fresh than frozen and thawed out, but it will do fine for future quick meals when I don't feel like cooking.  I wonder why dinner is so difficult for me - both in the preparation as well as the eating.  I just lose my appetite after 2 or 3 pm, and while I can sometimes snack, I just don't enjoy a meal in the evening.  I've tried switching "dinner" to the middle of the day but it doesn't work since I usually stretch my breakfast out during the morning.  

The biggest question is:  why do I worry about it?   Other than the fact that I need all the calories I can get I can't think of an answer to that question.

I was really hoping to get in a quick camping trip this fall but I doesn't look like that is going to happen. 

I will survive

I think I will eventually see some good days, but not quite yet.  The nasal spray is working very well, and my throat is feeling much better.

An internet search on ragweed pollen indicated that in 2013 Sacramento led the nation in ragweed allergies, and so far in 2014 it is running a close second.  That was news to me because I didn't realize ragweed was also in the west.  It sure was always a problem in Cincinnati when I lived there.  Fortunately I've never had allergies to much of anything that I know of, until this year.  If I begin to experience the same thing next year at this time I will head north for a while.  I have winter clothing that is too warm for Sacramento but would be perfect in Idaho or Montana!

The weather forecast was for rain at about 5 am this morning, so before I went to bed I moved the coffee table away from the area with the leaky ceiling.  So far, so good.  No leaks that I can see, but of course it didn't rain for all that long - maybe a couple hours off and on.  The next three days will be in the mid 70's which is a relief to me after all the hot weather.  I guess we can expect some temps in the 80's and 90's now and then, but I can deal with that as long as 70's are the norm.

I have kept myself isolated at home the past few days because I wasn't really certain that I didn't have anything contagious.  After reading up on allergies and their symptoms I can feel certain I am "only" suffering from the allergies and not anything I could spread to others.  So this morning I plan to go to the library.  It will be nice to get out of the house, although I sort of dread coming into contact with whatever is in the air.  I've even closed some of my windows, including the kitchen and those over my bed.  I love sleeping in a cool (cold) room with a good breeze blowing over me, but I'll forgo it for now.

Well, I got myself dressed and am ready to go out this morning.  I'm soooo excited!   You know something has been missing in my life when I'm excited to be driving to the library!  I think human contact is what I've been missing.

UPDATE:
I used my new GPS to drive to the library.  I don't think I like it at all - had trouble setting my home address, and where are the "Favorites"???  Now they have an icon for "Apps" (which I think is a ridiculous word to begin with).  But Apps doesn't have the familiar choices, or maybe I just can't find them.  I like being able to search for Parks & Recreation (great for finding soccer fields), and other types of locations.  Apps has a totally different set of choices, none of which look like Favorites to me.  I'll take a further look at it before I return it.

When the going gets tough . . . .

. . . . the tough get ice cream!   I just finished off a half gallon of ice cream that should have lasted me at least 3 more days.  It felt good on my throat.

No change in the allergy symptoms, and I sure am tired of it!

WHAT A BUMMER!

After months of feeling increasingly better I now feel like crap.   Hopefully this will only last a few more days and I can get back to life again.   The wind is blowing today and I'm not sure if it is blowing more allergens and pollen towards me, or if it is trying to blow them away.  

At least I can sleep at night.  When the doctor asked me what I was taking I mentioned Benadryl at night, and he smiled and said "So you can sleep!"

I recorded a lot of TV programs while I was in NY and have been slowly whittling the list down.  I like them because I can fast forward through the absolutely insane commercials.   I recorded mostly science and history programs, and while most are fairly good, there are some that I delete after just a few minutes of watching them.

I have three - yes 3 - days' worth of dishes in the sink!   When I'll get around to them I'm not sure.  I'm determined to cook something for dinner tonight so I'll probably have to wash dishes before I do anything else.   My mother would be appalled!   It hasn't really bothered me though. 


 

Sneezing and sniffling

I am in plumb pitiful condition.  Sneezing enough to shake up my brain, eyes watering and itching, and a whole bunch of other allergy symptoms.  I got the Rx for the nasal spray filled, and I think it is the same as I had been prescribed when I lived in N. Virginia, back in the 1990's.  Then, they only gave me enough for 30 days and it sure worked like a charm, but the good effects didn't last.  This prescription doesn't indicate any time limit, but I'll only know that when I try to refill it.

I like the doctor I saw although he is pretty young.  Not that there is anything wrong with being young, as long as they can be objective about what older folks experience and what they might need.  I'll have to "interview" him the next time I see him to find out if we might be compatible.  There are certain things I believe in, and lots of things I don't, so we can start out by discussing the things "I don't".  Sounds reasonable to me.  (Don'ts include tests for the sake of tests -- and the billing dept.)

Another doctor whose bio they gave me is a homeopathic medicine doctor, which appeals to me very much.  I'm going to see what Jeannie thinks and since she's been with me to see many doctors I think she knows what I want and don't want in a primary care physician.

 Time for lunch - and I wish I had an appetite.  The doctor's scale yesterday showed almost a pound less than the scale at the gym last time I went.  That could just be a normal variation related to time of day, what I was wearing, and calibration of the scales.  I will do just about anything to keep my weight, although I have to find a substitute for some of the sweets I'm eating.  They are addicting for one thing and lack the proper nutrution for another.

My son Steve switched cars with me yesterday in order to move some things to their new house.  He left me with his car, which is keyless.  Dont'cha know I couldn't get the damn thing started this morning when I wanted to get my Rx?  I didn't think to press on the brake.  I asked Steve what the advantages of keyless are, and he gave me some reasonable examples.  However, I hope I never have to go that route and I don't have a problem in the world with carrying my key on the chain with gym membership card, the fob for locking, unlocking, and panic button.  To be truthful, I never had a problem with using an old fashioned car key to lock and unlock the doors, but I'm hopelessly approaching "too old to be driving" status.  Actually I'm just a cantankerous old woman :-)

Walmart

Every time I walk into a Walmart I realize why I don't like it.  This morning I went to visit the Optical Department to see about getting a new left lens for my eyeglasses.  My eye surgeon recommended it on my last visit but New York took precedence, so I decided today was the day.

No problem in the Optical Department, but then I wanted to get a couple of small items, like a nail clipper, etc.  I pulled out a cart but the wheels wouldn't roll.  Would you believe the next three carts had the same problem.  Finally I found one that rolled, but as I started down the aisle I heard a BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM!   I left that cart pretty quick and figured I could carry what little I was going to buy there.  I have to go back for my new lens on the 20th, but I won't shop, that's for sure.

I went to the UCD Med Clinic in my area to see about my sore throat and whatever else is wrong with my head.  I walked in but they didn't have an appointment available until 4pm this afternoon.  That's fine with me.  I also picked up the bio's of several doctors to choose one I'd like to have for my doctor.  The one I've been seeing has resigned (I heard it through the grapevine).   I think she might have cancer and I feel really bad for her - she's young and has kids at home.  I just hope she can find remission.  I would like to find a doctor closer to my home and with free parking.

 Thanks to Sandra for reminding me that a salt water gargle will help my sore throat.  It actually has given me some relief.  My throat has never been the same since the two ERCP procedures that were done on me last winter, before gall bladder surgery.  Mostly I get a tickling sensation, but now I have a sore throat along with other allergy symptoms.  I decided it's time to take action before I find myself in the hospital again, as I have the past two years.

Have you ever found a recipe that sounded so good you just had to try it?  I've been searching for recipes that are easy to make, require just a few ingredients, and would make decent leftovers.  I found a chicken broccoli casserole recipe that only required a few other ingredients and had it for supper last night.  I thought it was pretty awful, but then I heated some of it for my lunch today.  I ate it even though it has gone from awful to disgusting, and the rest of it will end up being thrown out.  I absolutely HATE to waste food, but this is going to be an exception!  I need something sweet now to get rid of the taste of the terrible casserole!

I'm Under the Weather

I don't feel all that well and even considered going to an Urgent Care office today to get some help.  I suffer with sinus and allergies, and while in NY my eyes were itchy.  I don't know the culprit but I remember ragweed being a problem in the fall when I lived in Cincinnati.  My eyes still bother me from time to time since I'm back in CA, plus all the other allergy symptoms I usually experience, the worst being a sore throat.   I bought throat lozenges yesterday but they leave such an awful taste that I don't think I'll continue them.

I heard from the grapevine that my primary care physician has resigned, which is why I  considered the Urgent Care.  I think she has serious health concerns and I hope she can overcome them, but now I don't know what to do if and when I need a doctor.  Maybe if I'm careful I won't need one!

The mobile home park is sealing the streets this week, and today is the day for my street.  It looks like I'm stuck at home so I couldn't see a doctor if I wanted to.    I took a low dose aspirin this morning which helps a little with the throat.  I was taking low dose aspirin every day until one morning I got sick and tired of my arms and hands looking battered, so now I take a tablet a couple of times a week.  I bought throat lozenges yesterday but they leave such an awful taste that I don't think I'll continue along that line.

On the way to Jeannie's house I stopped by the city's best donut shop yesterday morning and picked up a box of 1 dozen assorted donuts.   I ate 3 glazed donuts and could have probably made quick work of a few more, but I left some for Donald and the girls.  Jeannie had two of them herself.  I was so happy to see her up and looking well the day after her surgery.  She had not taken Percoset since the previous evening (day of surgery) and hopes to be able to do without it from now on.  She was having some discomfort, but seems to be on the road to recovery.




  

Nurse Gypsy Reporting

I stayed at Jeannie's house last night so I could be up early and have her to the dentist office at 7:10.  We were there for about two hours, then went to Kaiser Permanente to get her pain med Rx filled.  For certain drugs they now require the doctor/dentist to write it out on special paper forms, and it has to be brought into the pharmacy to be filled, as opposed to calling it in.  Finally, they require a consultation with a pharmacist before releasing the medicine to you.  I went through it all and we were on our way - Jeannie dozing off now and then - in a sort of half sleep state.  She was hungry and suggested that we go to La Bou so she could get a bowl of soup, and of course I would never pass up the opportunity to get their BLT on a croissant.  We were both happy with our lunch and she brought some of the soup home with her.  

I think the pain med does relieve most of the pain, but for the most part it makes you drowsy so you sleep through the worst of it.  For myself, I went for the next strongest narcotic after my surgeries earlier this year.   I used to be able to tolerate pain much better than I do now, but I hope I never have to take any of that stuff again because of the side effects.

 I'm going home this afternoon but will come back tomorrow morning, stopping at the donut shop on the way.   Jeannie seems to be craving donuts and I wouldn't mind having a couple myself!

Back to the gym

I had a good workout today and now I'm exhausted.  I went with Jeannie and Donald; restrained myself from rushing to the ladies' room to step on the scale until after my workout.  127!!!!!  If I could lose this belly I've developed since surgery I would probably weigh about 122.

Jeannie is having dental surgery early  Tuesday morning and I will be driving her.  I'm glad I can do something for her in return for all she's done for me, although I'm sorry she has to go through dental surgery.  She will be given a total anesthetic, and they gave her Valium to take an hour before her appointment.  I told her my experience with Valium has been very positive - I really have never been able to feel any effects from it, but just feel calm, which is what I need before dental work as I get so apprehensive about it.

I will be going to bed early tonight, for sure.   I'm hoping the gym workouts will give me some energy.

  

Just sitting around on Saturday

I woke up about 4 a.m. and got my binoculars to look out the window to see the stars.  Without turning on the light I picked up a notebook and pencil and drew circles from left to right to represent the bright stars I saw - when I looked at the drawing this morning I think I need to try it again but with a flashlight!  I found a starchart and was able to tentatively identify the stars I was looking at, and I hope to get a more definitive answer by tomorrow morning.  I should just go outside and sit in a chair for an hour or so but I hate to take a chance on falling asleep in my back yard!  I would love to live somewhere I had a better view of the night skies, but that hasn't happened since Ireland.  I should probably try to find a local amateur stargazers' group to join.

I went to the farmers' mkt this morning, and did a few little things around the house today, but mainly I just vegetated.  I was under the impression that it was easier to travel from east to west than from west to east, but I must have it backwards.   I'm still having a terrible time adjusting.  It couldn't be my age having anything to do with it, could it?

I ordered a new Garmin GPS from Costco Online and hope to get it early next week.  I haven't been able to get the old one to work.  I normally only use it when traveling - not because I need it for directions, but mostly because I can see the speed I'm going and track the miles to my destination.   All models seem to be proud of the fact that street names are used, which is fine if you are traveling around a city, but useless on the highway.   My old Garmin would still be referring to a street name when I was 100 miles past the town and the road reverted back to the route number.   I hope the new one has an option to use route numbers where available, but I doubt if it will.

I certainly hope I'm getting closer to normal by tomorrow.  I've caught up on sleep so I don't know why I'm still feeling like I'm in another world.

I'm still jet lagged

I hope I get back to normal soon because I feel like my brain is somewhere else!  

I woke up at around 5 a.m. and was surprised to see all the light coming through my bedroom window, which faces south.  There were a number of very bright stars/planets, and I think one of the ones on my left (east?) might have been Jupiter.  I can't find a star chart to see what else may be out there.  I also saw three faint stars (Orion's belt?) that I'm not sure about.  What surprised me most is that there is light pollution in the area which limits what can be seen in the sky, although Rancho Cordova where I live has always been more amenable to star gazing than other cities.   If a reader has a clue to the heavenly bodies that I'm seeing, I'd love to hear from you.

I must have been really hungry when I shopped at Costco yesterday.   Checking my freezer today, in addition to the 4 half gallons of ice cream, I have a box of frozen burritos, and a box of mini quiches.  I think I'll try the burrito for lunch, and tempted as I am to cook two of them, I'll just try one the first time.  If I'm still hungry, lord knows I have enough snacks and comfort food purchased since I returned home.  I opened a half gal. of ice cream last night, but didn't even make a dent in it!

When I got back I noticed my hummingbird feeder was totally empty, so yesterday I washed it out and prepared more sugar water.  The birds returned almost immediately and this morning I have enjoyed watching them at the feeder.  They can't seem to get enough of it.  While many hummingbirds migrate to South America during the winter, some of them remain in Sacramento year around.  I'm thinking about getting an additional feeder; I'd like to get a feeder for the larger birds but don't want to deal with squirrels.

I looked all over for my phone this morning - I knew I had used it since I've been home but couldn't find it anywhere.  It turned up in the pocket of my bathrobe which I had on yesterday morning which was chilly to start out.  I sure didn't need the robe this morning as it didn't seem as cold and will be going up into the 90's today.  I was hoping the 90's were a thing of the past until next summer. 

There are so many things I need to do but just don't seem to be able to move.  They will just have to wait until I'm ready.   I haven't been on a plane for the last 10 years, so it's no wonder I'm affected by the trip.

What was I thinking?

I made a trip to Costco this morning to replenish my supplies, including ice cream.  They sell a wonderful organic brand, packed 2 half gallons to a box, and that's what I wanted.  When I got home I found I had bought two boxes, 4 half gallons of ice cream!  I can barely fit the ice cream plus other frozen items I bought into my freezer!

Then, I bought a bag of dried apricots.   Later at home when I was putting things away after nibbling on a few items, I found the bag of apricots had the tear strip pulled off.  I honestly don't remember doing it, and I'm nearly certain the checker and/or the clerk who stacked the items in my cart would have noticed the opened bag.   Do I eat the apricots or don't I?  I've already tasted 2 or 3 of them so I suppose I might as well conclude that I opened the bag at home.

One afternoon back in New York, the young woman who sometimes picks up the kids from school when Mike and Sandy both have to work late, brought them home and took us all to see the house she and her husband are building.  It's in the village of Wappinger's Falls, and after seeing her house she asked if I'd like to see the Falls.  I didn't even think about the fact that there were Falls in Wappinger's Falls, and we ended up driving to see them plus around the whole village.  Both Denise and her husband grew up here, both sets of parents live nearby in the same houses they always had, and I loved the older style buildings that are kept in such beautiful condition.

The Falls are mere trickles now compared to what it will be like in spring or after heavy rains/snows.

 
And looking down from the other side of the bridge:

The Falls should be much different next spring, and I will try to get pictures when I go back in June.

This is Denise on the bridge:

Some other photos taken around town and the river:

Click on photos to enlarge.

I am so tired I hardly know what I'm doing, but I haven't had jet lag for years either.  I'm trying to catch up on blog reading and am making a little headway.  

TV is so frustrating!  I came back to find my set isn't working properly - I finally can get tv programs on it but haven't been able to access my recorded programs.  It will take more brain power than I can spare for another day or two.

Back home

I was scheduled to fly out of NY yesterday but the fire in Chicago has had a huge affect on airport traffic there.   They didn't have a space for my flight from White Plains and delayed it for several hours, causing me to miss my connection.  I was finally re-booked out of LaGuardia today and flew through Houston.   Mike had dropped me off and went home as he had to pick up the kids after school, so he called Sandy's father and asked him to drive over and get me.  They live about 20 minutes from the airport, and I stayed at their house overnight.  This morning at about 3:45 am her dad drove me to LaGuardia and I was on my way after not very much sleep last night.  It will take me a few days to catch up.    Joe picked me up at the Sacramento airport so we got a chance to get up-to-date on what's been happening.

I hope the airport sends the missing luggage out soon - I packed my meds in that bag to avoid any hassle at the security gate.  I skated through security this morning just as when I left Sacramento.  The pre-screened option for seniors is a great perk!

I'll be back when I am awake and rested!