Family Dinner

It was held at Steve & Meg's house this evening.  As I've mentioned before, the dinners usually have a theme, and the theme for this one was  camping.  Steve set up a couple of tarps and tents, which the kids loved crawling in and out of.  If I had an RV I could park it in the space to the right.

Here is Steve at the grill.

Joe and Amy (sister):

Amy's daughter Stephanie drove up from Santa Cruz to join the group:

Jeannie with Autumn and Alyssa, and Sarah (Joe's wife) across the table:

Liam (Steve's son):

Alyssa and Keira (Joe's daughters):

No outdoor gathering is complete without a game of cornhole:

The campfire is lit and everyone enjoyed s'mores:

The moon kept an eye on us:

Click to enlarge the photos.  You won't be able to see the moon unless you enlarge the picture.  Also, for some reason the pictures seem to be too dark.  I need to practice with the camera before taking any more shots.

It was a fun gathering, as always, and gave a sneak preview of summer camping fun.  We are trying to plan a trip for June as soon as Joe gets a handle on what his schedule at the hospital will be.  He has been working a lot of weekends lately.

I think Arianna didn't show up in any of the pictures, but that's because she wasn't in one place long enough for me to get her in a photo.  The cousins all get along so well and have fun whenever they are together.

I'm hoping to walk tomorrow and get myself mentally prepared for getting back to the gym in a little over a week, when I will hit the 6 wk post-surgery mark.  I just know I will feel better when I can do something other than sit in a recliner.  The sitting around is no doubt my own fault, but I haven't felt like doing much else and still have residual pain.  I'm tired of it though, so things will start to change soon! 

Sleepless Night

I've been lying awake for the past 4 hours so I decided to get up for a while.  I have been suffering from allergies (sneezing) for a few days and have taken a Benadryl before going to bed - of course, last night I thought I could do without it and I think that is why I can't sleep.   It is 4:30 am, so I know I will be tired all day.

My son Steve came over yesterday with his little sidekick, Liam, and I spent several enjoyable hours with them.  Steve did some minor repairs around the house, and he and Liam helped me pull the grass and weeds that have grown through the plastic and gravel in the back yard.  While back there I noticed a blue bird that was trying to get away, but he was hooked on something.  It turned out he had gotten his head into some mesh netting, and when he landed in my back yard he caught the netting on a nail slightly protruding from some landscaping wood.

The man next door came out to see what was going on, and he held the bird while Steve cut the netting.  It was a tedious job because several strands of the fine netting were wrapped around the bird's neck.  Finally freed from the netting, the bird was set down and he immediately flew away.  I rarely go into the back yard and marvel at how fate worked in that bluebird's favor.

Steve and I discussed the pros and cons of my getting rid of this house and going back into an apartment.   Coincidentally, I've been thinking of that this past week, but it would be very costly for me to find the kind of rental I would want - something that is only one storey for one thing.  I remember too well my last apartment and the noise that kept me awake coming from the apartment overhead.   That would probably leave me the option of a 1 floor duplex with a neighbor on one side, and they rent for several hundred dollars more than an apartment.  A small house would be ideal but at a rent that I couldn't afford.  It's a real dilemma that could keep me awake at night, although that wasn't the problem causing tonight's insomnia.

Steve even wondered if I would consider another RV/trailer that he said I could park on an RV pad in their back yard.   I lived very comfortably in my 5th wheel, but I would never want another 5ver, or really any other kind of RV.   I certainly can't keep up with the maintenance of a mobile home that was in pretty bad shape when I got it.

I had myself a snack and wrote a blog entry, so I think I should try to get a few hours sleep before 8 am.    It is almost 8 am for readers in the east!

I definitely overdid it today

I washed three large loads in my washer and carried them one by one across the street to hang them out on the line.  Wet clothes are heavier than dry, and wet towels are much heavier than dry.  I had a full load of towels that I've put off for a few weeks.   The laundry baskets were probably over whatever limit there is on how much I should lift.  I just took an Aleve and it should help.

It's been a beautiful day but all of the sudden I got cold - it's the Delta Breeze that comes up from the San Francisco Bay (or one of the bays in that area) all the way to Sacramento.  It can be horribly hot during the day, but by 7 pm I  can't even  sit outdoors.  I won't complain about it because it makes Sacramento summers a little more tolerable.  I just closed some doors and windows, put on warm pj's and a robe.  How will I be able to eat my ice cream tonight and not get cold all over again.

There is something I want to write about in my blog, but I never remember what it is until after I publish.  That is so annoying.

I've been toying with the idea of trying to revisit some of the National Parks I missed last year due to the govt. shutdown.  I'm not sure if I can afford it this year, but I'm afraid to wait too long and not be able to do it at all.  It's a lot of driving for just one person, although I've always been able to drive long distances.  I'm tired of doing it by myself though.   If I decide to try it I will wait until after Labor Day to avoid some of the crowds.   This is just me thinking and dreaming, and might or might not turn into reality.  When I don't dream any more, I will know I'm done for!

I kind of like being able to record something on TV  to watch later on.  That way, if I'm watching something interesting but need to do something else or go out, I can just record it and watch later.   Fast forwarding through commercials is a real positive as well.   You'd think I find a lot to watch on TV, but mostly episodes of Animal Cops-Houston.  I've also been watching a lot of history programs about WW II lately.   I was only 4 on V-E day, and 5 on V-J day, and had no clue about war.  My parents evidently went to the trouble to keep it from me, but I probably wasn't interested in radio news to begin with.  Kids today couldn't be fooled.   It's sad to think we have likely been at war somewhere in the world for most of the time since WW-II.

 

Late yesterday afternoon Jeannie called and asked if I wanted to have dinner at their house - Donald was making enchiladas, rice, refried beans, guacamole, etc., all from scratch.  I hadn't felt well most of the day but I wasn't about to refuse a good enchilada and the chance to dine with family, so I went.  The food was great, and I even had a beer.  The beer tasted weird for the first couple of sips but then I was back to normal.  The days are definitely getting longer and I was able to drive home before dark.

I think I can tell an improvement in my eyesight since the eye surgeon removed the suture, although nothing can change aging eyes in the long run.  I believe he said the suture was causing an astigmatism.  (I'm not sure if I am using the proper word, but probably only eye specialists who read my blog would know the difference right away.)

Today I cancelled appointments to see the vascular surgeon and get an echocardiogram - appointments that were made for me this time last year when I had the same.  I have been stressing out about this during the past year and finally decided I would cancel.  The Dr. was rude and insensitive and continually tried to push a statin drug.  I agreed to try Lipitor but discontinued it somewhere in my travels last year, because of the side effects.  The side effects disappeared very soon after I quit taking the meds.   At the visit last year, the Dr. continually laughed and ridiculed me about how I had caused all my problems by my smoking for years, as if I didn't realize that.  (I finally called him on that.)  Oh, he was a great commedian, and brought his own audience into the room -  a team of about 5 drs., interns, and such.  I'm so glad I made the decision I don't need to subject myself to that kind of behavior, especially since I'm not feeling well to begin with.

The weather is so perfect and I wish it would stay in the 70's like this year around, but in a week we will be in the 90's and I won't like it at all.  I wish I felt like doing some outside work before it gets too hot.  All the weeds I pulled up before surgery are now back in full force.

After running a couple of errands this morning I've been chilling out ever since.  I need to get out of the chair and do something!

Visit with Eye Surgeon

I'm always happier when I come out of his office than when I entered it, and today was no exception.   It was a long morning though and a crowded waiting room. 

I have been having a lot of difficulty with my vision, so after a lot of testing, eye drops to numb the eye, etc., he removed a suture that was left in from the cornea transplant.  I can tell a big difference already.  I still have one suture left in the other eye which he prefers to leave in at this time, and that's fine with me because I have complete trust in the doctor.  He said there is a risk of the suture breaking during removal, leaving a small part of it in the eye.  I don't want that if I can help it.

He also assured me I could get my driver's license renewed.  I haven't decided whether to renew in SD or to bite the bullet (an expensive proposition) and get everything transferred over to CA.   This state has such drama with everything and it all costs lots of money.  Where I renew my SD license plates online and get the sticker in the mail, CA requires various tests including a smog test.   Then they charge an exhorbitant amount for all your troubles.   I'm sure the D/L switch will be a nightmare as well.  If I stay with South Dakota I think I will drive to one of the small town DMV's in the western part of the state, probably in July or August. 

After all the running around and shopping on Saturday, I just vegetated yesterday.   I think I needed that.   Tomorrow will be the 4 wk point after my hernia repair, and I'm surprised at how much pain and discomfort I still have - not constant by any means, but enough to keep me from a lot of normal activities.  Supposedly I will be able to resume exercise in two more weeks and I hope that makes me feel better.

The weather is beautiful, with several sunny days in the 70's to come.  I wish I felt like working out in the yard.  I'm afraid that my laziness will become permanent. 

Go California!

It was a great day for the Ky Derby winner, California Chrome.  I thought the pre-race chatter reminded me of a football game with all the boring commentary, but when it got down to it, there were some beautiful horses in this race, especially the winner.  I had a few tears in my eyes when they played the anthem of my native state - My Old Kentucky Home.

I went shopping with Jeannie and the girls this morning as Autumn needed some new things to wear,  and it was kinda fun for me, especially since I didn't have to pay for the clothes.   I hear so many negative comments lately about JC Penney that I'd like to say the stock they carry was excellent, the prices were awesome (on sale),  and the clerks at the checkout were friendly and helpful.  

We joined up with Donald for a trip to Costco, again always a fun trip.  Back to their house and Donald's home-made pizza.  I am plumb worn out, but I hope to sleep well tonight.   I think I'll take a Benadryl since I've been sneezing all day due to the pollen in the air, so that should make me sleep better.  I took an Alleve this morning before leaving, and that helped me through the day.

That's it for me today.  G'nite.

 

Good and bad days

It seems that a good day is usually followed by a not-so-good day, and yesterday was one of those bad days.  I had an early appointment to get my hair cut and didn't have the time or appetite to eat much breakfast.  Donald dropped me off and picked me up since Jeannie was using my car while waiting for a part for hers.  On the way home I began to feel really nauseated, and napped most of the afternoon.  I never felt like eating but managed to get a little food.  The pain almost had me reaching for something to relieve it, but I made it through the day without meds.

This morning I'm feeling much better and started the day with my favorite part of breakfast.

That's bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and cherries cut up and sugared, all organic.  Then I relax with my coffee before having a big bowl of cereal.  All is well this morning.

Jeannie's car was ready late yesterday afternoon, and we went to pick it up.  I drove my car back home, the first time I've driven in a long while.   It was like I'd been driving all along even though it's been several weeks.

Today will be another day in the 90's, but tomorrow  that will drop 10 degrees and then continue downward into the 70's.  I don't want to be out in the heat of the day, for sure.

I finally started using the Record option on my uVerse service, and like it very much.  What I don't care for is the Guide - I wish they allowed it to take up more of the screen so it would be easier to read and use, as well as show more of the programming at once.   But technology isn't designed for people like me, which is pretty much ok, because I will never be addicted to technological devices to begin with.

A few weeks ago I hung a new hummingbird feeder from the porch roof where I can see it from my recliner.  It took about a week for the birds to start using it and now  there is a steady stream of the beautiful little birds.  I'd like to hang a regular bird feeder but my past luck with squirrels has been so bad I'm not sure if I want to deal with them again.   At least I wouldn't be bothered by bears!

I hope everyone has a good weekend.