Covid?

Rick is sick. I googled symptoms of Covid for those who have been vaccinated.

• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle Pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea

To name just a few. He has all of them. He did not wear a mask on two trips this week. Both trips were on the same day. He went to Lowes and Walmart. Why does he do this? He has a wife with a suppressed immune system, this will only hurt me.

Oh, to say I'm angry is an understatement.

Thursday he went to donate platelets. (long story) He got there and he felt fine but they said he had a fever of 99 but was still okay. His blood pressure was high that day for some reason (2 cups of coffee before going?) So he could not donate. So he came home. I mentioned covid and he laughed it off. I said, "please tell me Richard you wore a mask Wed when you went to Lowes and Walmart. He hesitated. I knew then he did not. I told him to not even try to lie to me I know you didn't. He agreed.

Friday he was sick! Test says negative. He slept for 18 hours out of 24. 

Saturday (today) he took the other test we had and it says negative. 

I still think it's covid. This is exactly how my friends went down.

But he won't go get a real accurate test at urgent care or ER. Too damn stubborn.

I am trying to stay away from him but it's almost impossible. He is watching TV right now in the living room and I'm in my office with a splitting headache praying I don't get this. I am so angry at him right now!

In other news...

**Have you all seen that commercial with the two bunnies waiting on their Chewy Box to arrive? In the end when that bunny says, "Hold me Leo" I crack up every time. I think I need to get a life.

**I am getting emails after I comment on blogs like this - 

Message blocked

Your message to xxxxxxxxxxx has been blocked. See technical details below for more information.

I blocked off the email address to this person's blog but they are all the same and I get these after all my comments. What the hell is that about? I do go back and I see it was posted unless they have a moderation thing going on then I don't know. **A neighbor came over to bring me back a bowl we gave her some food from our garden. She saw the bookcases flanking the fireplace and admired Ricks's work. She saw something on the bookshelf. It is a piece we picked up at an art fair. She thought it was funny. It was right after our little trip canoeing down the Allegheny with friends. We both at the same time reached for it at the art show and laughed. It was so much like the weekend we had just had. We knew we had to buy it. We did not run ashore on a rock but it was pretty damn close. It really was a fun weekend. Good memories.  **My headache is now so bad I have to stop. I need some Tylenol.  If he gave me this - why I'm gonna... Well, you can watch the Dateline episode.

Garbage Day?

Wednesday morning I walked into the kitchen to make my coffee.

I'm standing & just staring at my coffee maker making coffee. 

Rick wasn't in the house, I saw the note that he was out on his walk. 

I saw the garbage was not taken out. Hmm...isn't today Thursday? 

Damn did we miss garbage day again?

Just as that thought crossed my mind my Big Guy came walking into the kitchen. He says, "Good Morning." 

I don't wish to talk yet but I have to ask since I saw the garbage in the house, "What day is it Rick?" 
Without missing a beat he tells me, "Why it's naked Wednesday"

Okay, that made me laugh. 

"It's not garbage day? "

"No, Margaret why do you ask me and then think I"m wrong? It's Naked Wednesday, I'm certain!" 

He is taking off his shirt, which is stuck to him because it was not quite 8:15a and it's already 83 degrees and he was sweaty.

He is now throwing his clothes into the washer and stands there naked and tells me to get with the program. He expects me to be naked when he gets out of the shower.  He walks into the shower laughing. He amuses only himself.

 

Geez, I hadn't even had one sip of coffee yet, this was too much for me. 

All I wanted to know is if the garbage had to go out.  

Got Water?

I got a bill for my water and it stated I had over paid so I had a +3.10 credit. That was my full bill as of July 1. 

Imagine my surprise when a man showed up today and turned us off. Honest to goodness the shit keeps hitting the fan. Because I went to bed at 6am I did not hear anyone come to our door and ring a bell if they even did. 

Rick was out for his morning walk. I woke up at 8:30am and went to the kitchen to make coffee. Saw Rick's note telling me he was out walking.

The Keurig had water in it already. So I did not notice anything. 

I even went to the bathroom and flushed and noticed nothing. Guess the tank had enough to take a flushing.

Rick walked into the house with a sign that was put on our door saying they turned off our water for non payment. Of course as Rick does he hands it to me to handle. I told him, NO, you handle it for a change. Geez. 

It's becoming a big pet peeve lately that I must do all things in the house. You don't work anymore buddy - this is not my job!

Rick called them and they said well if you didn't pay that happens. 

He explains the credit and said I can email you a copy of the bill with this info printed in big bold letters if you'd like. She puts him on hold. 

She comes back and says,"Oops, wrong person. We will have it turned on by 5pm today." 

"5pm? It's 9am, you are telling me that is the best you can do for a home that YOU turned off by mistake?"

Are we living under a big fat black cloud?  If I hadn't paid I get it. 

But I had a $3.10 credit for heaven's sake, not even a bill.  

In my very early 20s' my roommate and I mailed the gas company a check made out to the electric company and vice versa to buy us time so we weren't shut off. (I was making a whooping $4.25/hr) Each company called and told us what we had done (as if we didn't know) and that bought us just enough time.  

But this time it's not that type of situation, it's just another cluster @#$%! that happened.

Does anyone do their job correctly anymore? More importantly does anyone care about doing a good job anymore?

Needless to say our water was back on by noon. But when Rick asked about the compensation for the inconvenience he was told no, there isn't any sir. I then heard Rick said, "Well I want some kind of compensation for this inconvenience that I did not deserve because we were not a non payment customer. I had places to go today, I would like to shower"  

No was the answer. And what can we do? They don't care. He got a bit testy with them but I don't think that helped us in any way. 

After he hung up he said, "I hate people."

Get in line buddy.

We had plans today. But not bathing or brushing ones teeth was not an option before we went somewhere. This is when bottled water would have come in handy. 

In other news, we got Starz for free for 2 weeks or something like that. 

We decided to watch the show Shining Vale with Courtney Cox, Greg Kinnear and Mira Sorvino. My, my it's an odd show. Rick really enjoyed it. 

I watched while reading my phone or dozing off and on. It was a bit scary.

I was able to catch up if needed it wasn't a big deal. 

The synopsis from google is this : A dysfunctional family moves from the city to a small town after Patricia "Pat" Phelps, a former "wild child" who became famous through writing a raunchy female empowerment novel, is caught cheating on her husband. In an attempt to rebuild their family, they move into a house where terrible atrocities have taken place. Nobody seems to suspect anything odd except for Pat, who is convinced she is either depressed or possessed. But soon, the demons haunting the family's new home begin to appear much more real.

Have any of your seen this? Rick binged it in 2 days and season 2 is underway now but there is no way we can do another subscription service.  Remember when TV was free? $12.99 here, $19.99 there and man it is adding up so I told him it was being canceled after our free trial unless we cancel one of the others like apple, hulu, prime, discovery and netflix. 

No he said. He saw the issue, nothing else really on the channel. 

Although I did watch Gaslit and I highly recommend every one watch this great piece of history and great acting by Sean Penn etc. That was all there was. 

Maybe next year when the new season starts streaming Rick can try with his name for a 7 day free trial or some such thing and then download the entire season to watch it again. I don't much care. It was okay but not my cup of tea. 

I will say that this show was more proof I am old because if my children were anything like her children I would cry. They were horrific brats and the fat one was a lazy kid who never went outside and you know the pasty fat kid who lives on video games, junk food and virtual reality, just not reality. You know like the average white kid who is a shooter of innocent people at a parade. That was the son.

The daughter was an attention seeking tramp. 

Oh boy wouldn't that be fun. She said things to her mom like Fuck you Mom!  Of course there were no consequences. She barely wore clothes. 

While I know it's a movie, it reflects today's morals and the way that age group lives and talks. Truthfully it makes me sad. That is one thing about being older I don't mind. I don't like this naked disrepectful generation of entitled brats and dying is more appealing to me than being around them.

My birth mom slapped me across the face once for sassing her. 

Oooh and I was being the snarky girl I am today so I sort of get it.

I remember when it happened where I was standing but for the life of me I don't recall what I said. I recall thinking as I said it I shouldn't say this too.

But I was 12 and I guess I was testing and boy did I learn from that!

My mom would have had a heart attack & died if I ever said Fuck you to her!  I wouldn't be grounded I'd have been killed! 

She had another daughter to spare. HA HA

I got grounded once for the entire summer by my father because I got high/smoked pot in 1970 with my cousin while visiting her in Cleveland. 

(my mom had died at this point)  

Yes, June, July and August I was not to leave my yard and I couldn't talk on the phone. No one could come in our yard and visit me either. It was a long lonely summer.  Can you imagine telling my father Fuck you and storming out of the house after being grounded? 

Oh yea, I'd have never met any of you!

😁

Rain, Videos and A Bowl.

Hope you all had a nice 4th. I don't think America deserved a birthday party but that's just me of course. 

Ours was quiet if you don't count the hillbilly neighbors shooting off their fireworks.  I had to laugh when I saw a meme that said to buy your fireworks from the guy with one eye and 3 fingers - he has the best ones!  Good point!

My trip to the lake on Thursday did not go as planned.

It rained, it poured, trees fell, lightning struck, and skies lit up.  

Apparently putting my toes in the sand and laying in a lawn chair wasn't to be for me. It was a good idea, maybe this week. 

As I told Rick, the year I'm having I'm just glad lighting did not hit our house or me!

It was so overcast all morning and we decided, who cares, I'm sitting somewhere else, let's go. We packed up the car. We were about 5 minutes from the lake when the skies opened. We just began to laugh. We drove to the parking lot and sat there watching all the people scurry to their cars. 

I said maybe it'll be quick and we can go as soon as it stops. 

We sat there and had some cantelope in the car. We just laughed and talked about how this just figures with my luck.

I suggested we just go home. Rick asked if I was sure. Oh, I was sure. 

By the time we were home, it had stopped but more was on its way. 

So we settled in to watch a ball game. I was okay with that except we lost. Thankfully I fell asleep before the end so I didn't have to watch the pain and agony of defeat.

I swear to God I wrote about this video below but can I find it? 

Hell, no I can not. 

***I'm blaming it on the meds. It says so in the 3 pages of side effects they give you when you pick up your meds. Yes, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you take the meds with me you won't remember if you saw it before.🤣 

Anyhoo, after watching this we actually went through our roladex of friends of both races. This applied and it made us laugh. 

I sent this to my friend whose dog is named Cocoa.  She howled at this!   

Now, just telling you her dog's name you now know her race if you watched this video.

I dare you to watch this and not think about your black and white friend's dogs' names from now on.

 

Here is a new bowl Rick made. There is a small crack in the epoxy on the inside and while it has been fixed and it won't break he can't sell it with the crack since it is still visible. I don't think you or anyone would even find it. Not on the outside, inside. But because of this, I get to keep something.

It's heavy too. 4.17lbs and it's 10 x 4. So I am using it as the best-looking fruit bowl I've ever had.                                             

                                                        BEFORE                       

                                                                AFTERS

We also did some canning of our plum tomatoes. Then I napped. LOL.

Well, that was exhausting you know. 

We received a letter from social security on Friday stating that Rick's paperwork to cancel Part B was received and he will not have part B. WHAT? 

After several hours on the phone that day, we came to realize they put Rick's ss# on another guy's form. The cover sheet was Rick's info, the man that signed it was someone different and the name she tells me is not even remotely close. Dear Lord. So she said she would expedite this up to the emergency department. They won't be back until Tuesday but maybe Wednesday. Great. Rick can't get hit by a bus until after we get this fixed.

I imagine I will spend the 5th on the phone getting frustrated with Social Security.

But I just want it rectified.

I will tell you that the first person I called was so nasty she told me this was canceled because we didn't pay. Before I could explain she went off on non-payment like I was a piece of white trash. I tried to interrupt but she got louder. When she was done she got the wrath of Sick Margaret, not Nice Peggy. 

I told her that if she would have LISTENED TO ME she would know that this had nothing to do with non-payment. I reread the letter to her. Ooh, she says, you need to speak to this person, and before I could say a thing I was on hold again waiting for someone. She could have at least said, "gee I'm sorry, let me get you to the right dept."  Oh man, people are just so damn rude today. 

Megamillion is a nice amount. 

If I win I can then tell everyone to BLANK OFF.

Man, wouldn't that be fun? Rick said, "I dare you!"  

He said, "Sick Margaret would do it, but if you aren't sick you just talk big."  

Oh yeah? Shit, he's right I don't like the thought of stooping to their level or behaving like that, but it's sure fun to think about it. 😁

*** P.S. - definition - Chemo brain is a common term used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur during and after cancer treatment. Chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment, or cognitive dysfunction.Feb 2, 2021

Thank You

Some funny things about this journey I've been on for the last 4+ months.

First I want to thank those of you hanging in there with me during this. 

I know the funny things that happen in my life that I tell you about seem to be gone. This medical journey has taken it's toll on me for certain. 

I have learned a lot about friends and family. I have learned that those who check in on you are really your friends. I have learned that if I didn't have this blog to vent, bitch, and moan I'd lose it. This is physically and most definitely mentally taking its toll. Because I can't do this anywhere else but here and with no one else. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart that some of you are still around. Not many I see by comments but some. So again, thank you very much.💓 

Some in my family as well as some acquaintances for the most part believe what I am going through is no big deal because I don't have cancer. 

They are right. I am blessed to be cancer-free. I know that! It is an enormous mass but not cancerous.

One actually said to me, "it's not like you have cancer so why do you feel so badly? Or just looking for sympathy?"  Said as if I was faking. 

Oh boy, do I wish that were the case. I explained that I still get the same side effects. And as is the case when speaking to family members I tried to change the subject.

It hurt, I wanted to cry, but I just went to another fun topic, Jan 6th trial. LOL

Now I follow 2 women on Instagram who have an organizing business. 

You may know of them from Netflix. As I understand it they are 2 friends who had this business of organizing your home. Then a celebrity saw their work on Instagram and contacted them. They did her closet. Then they did more celebrities and you can figure out the rest$$$  That got them a deal with Netflix. I could be wrong but this is what I gleaned from interviews and talk shows as well as online. So there ya go.

They now have a thriving business, a walmart line of organizational items, they may even have other outlets sell their wares as well but I don't know.  So they went from 2 friends doing what they liked to do, then getting paid for it,  then using social media and next thing you know they are wealthy, successful, and very busy entrepreneurs who employ a lot of people and all of it's positive.

Anyway, one of these women got breast cancer. She is journaling her experience on Instagram. Today I read her plethora of side effects and how it's getting worse because chemo is accumulative. Ah, don't I know it.

She had no pain from the breast cancer she says. She didn't even know she had it until she had a mammogram. All her issues are from the poison we know as chemo.

I read her comments and I was sad to see I've had those as well.

I am certain she will have even more because she is just about to go to round 3. The comments that others left her were telling her what she has in front of her and I really thought that was unnecessary. She's scared, she doesn't need to hear the plethora of symptoms she has in her future. She needs words of encouragement and hope. I hope she felt mine was just that because I did not mention anything about symptoms/side effects. Just hoping she has a quick recovery etc. That is all she needs to hear right now.

 

She said after chemo day she gets sick for a handful of days and then as she starts to feel like herself again it's time to do it again. Check. ✔

She is caught between being exhausted and being wired, but too damn fatigued to do anything but too restless to relax. Check✔

She talked about the taste of nickels in your mouth. Okay, she said pennies, I say it tastes like I'm sucking on nickels all the time.  Check✔

She talked about acid reflux and heartburn Check✔ (never had either before) 

She mentioned the pain in her bones. Check.✔

And those are just a couple of the things we have in common. 

She lost her hair. Thankfully I have not.

I do feel bad because I know what's coming next for her. But I sure hate others telling me. I am glad I went into this blind. 

I am blessed to not have cancer. I can't say it enough! I know it!

I wish she could say that too. 

She has very young children and she herself is young. 

Having lost a mom to breast cancer at age 13, I was older than her children. I never ever want a kid to go through that!! 

So when these mean folks say this shit to me I want to scream at them, it's still awful to go through this even without cancer. But I don't. I smile. 

To them, nothing is wrong.

And they are right to a point.

Inside I am ready to throttle them and wish they could feel this so they'd understand. But that's being a big fat baby. I don't wish to play the victim but it sure sounds like it here. Okay, you're sick, big deal, so are others Peg.

Then I think, well who cares what they think. I am seeing better every week and feeling like shit more each week. The ying and the yang.

In 54 days I will see Dr. S again. I am going to beg to not continue. I don't see how a year of chemo is going to be better for me. I also know that the depression is real and another year of this - no! 

I just read an article by an MD oncologist who said more often than not chemo kills their patients, not their cancer. Great.

I can't live like this. I am not strong enough. I want my life back. 

I'm going to be my strongest self and say I don't wish to go on like this to the doctor. I can see now. It's not great but I bet it is now 20/70 maybe 20/40 and I can live with that when all I saw before was a snowy screen. Spreading is their concern but we can monitor it. I want to give it a try and see what happens. We shall 'see.'

On my bad days, I want to just cry. I want to just be in a fetal position. 

I can't. I see Rick's face. I can't do this to him. He is a mess and that is why I keep telling him I'm okay and why I vent here. You lucky little shits.

I see how he hovers. How do I say my bones hurt, my tummy hurts, I feel sick to my stomach, I can't eat, my insides are on fire, oh my god I'm freezing. That's all in an hour...lol. Now with this damn ankle, it's not any better with his worry. It is why I plow through most days. Well, that and all this sitting around is so not good or fun. Can't focus well on deep tv and can't do much of anything because I'm so damn tired. It's crazy crazy shit. 

Rick said something to me the other day and I think he was expecting some banter. I didn't say anything but managed a smile from my horizontal position. 

He told me later that it's no fun when I am not the ballbuster he's used to giving him a hard time. (note to self, remind him when you are better that he said he misses the ballbuster, 'cause that will come back to bite him in the arse ..tee hee) 

He also said he doesn't like that laughing has slowed down in our house. 

That he knows his "gal" is in there but he wishes she could come out to play. (that one made me chuckle) 

Last night he told me he misses me. I told him I miss me too but hang in there for me. 

He said, "Of course, in sickness, and in health" Then he quickly added, "Shit, those damn vows!"

Now that made me laugh. I saw his smile. 

That smile was just what the doctor ordered!

thank you for letting me vent daily and be a big fat baby.

I mean it! Now enough woe is me.

Vacation

I figure since I must be still why not be still at the beach? 

Laying around is not a dream for me so Rick made a suggestion.

He is taking me to a nearby lake at their beaches. He said if I have to lay around why not go to the lake and put my chair in the water and get some sun. Rip the boot off and put my toes in sand and water.

I reminded him that I'm not to go in the sun for prolonged periods due to the meds burning me. He said, "wear a hat" I laughed and said, "yes, let's go!!" I'll bring my cover up if I'm getting too much sun.

So we are going to pack some fruit and drinks and head to the beach Thursday. Originally we thought we'd just go Funday Friday but realized it's a holiday weekend and we don't want to deal with crowds so we think Thursday will be less busy. We shall see. Today is very overcast and rainy so 'they' say it will be nice tomorrow, but 'they' are guessing so we shall see.

Then when this whole nightmare (foot and eye) is over we must go to the shore. The Outer Banks are calling me. But for now this will do. I know this is our first trip to a lake or beach in 13yrs with out our water dog. It's gonna hurt.

I am taking time off until Monday. Time off you say? You don't do anything Peggy. As the Bill Murray character says in 'What About Bob?' 

I am taking a vacation from my life. 😁

If you do hit the link to watch this, the lake they are on is the lake where our lake house was. Not bad scenery, right?

Enjoy your holiday. 

*Happy Canada Day on Friday to my Canadian readers.

*Happy 4th to my US readers. Be safe.

See you after the holiday.

Not PC - Enter at Your Own Risk

Sigh! I do have a fractured ankle. The type of fracture they told me is due to tendon tear. Not much can be done for me. I have to go to Physical therapy. I have a goofy knot on my foot too. He wants me to wear my boot for stabilization. Then go back to see him in a couple weeks.

This ortho doc is not exactly the stud muffin I had up north. Up north Dr Tall,Tan and Gorgeous was, well all that!

This doctor looks more like a tall Wally Cox or Barney Fife. While I'm sure he is a great doc, I just preferred Dr.Tan,Tall and Goegeous! 

Dr. TT&G did my torn meniscus, my torn rotator cuff and labrum. Rick insisted I was hurting myself annually so I could see this man. I did not, but gee it did hurt less with him I swear. 😉

Rick had a great eye doctor who was seriously drop dead gorgeous woman of Indian descent. Her name was Dr. Myboobie. Now I know that is not the spelling but it is how you pronounce it. She wore low cut tops and boy she was stacked. He said he could see those just fine. I bet he did.  

I saw her photo and yep, she was everything he said she was. So he can not give me grief about Dr. Tan,Tall and Gorgeous.  

Why would an eye doctor wear tops like this? Unprofessional to me but she had prestigious awards, and accolades for her work.  Because each appointment she was dressed like this it was the only Dr  appointment Rick didn't mind going to.  

Then again, maybe that's the ploy, Gorgeous doctors make it hurt less. I'm in trouble then with Wally Cox. He will just have to be brilliant. This isn't Grey's Anatomy.😄

How incredibly shallow of me I know. 

😜

Ok I'm less cranky today. 😁

We did attend the art festival Friday night. It is not for us. Not the right clientele. But Rick talked to two vendors. One bought tables and charcuterie boards and did designs on them with epoxy and resin. She did not turn the wood. She told us everything we assumed the minute we got there.

But, you don't know if you don't check it out. It was free so no harm done except the walking in the ole boot.

I have a theory. Hear me out, then let me know your thoughts.

I've heard from several Dr s over the years that the majority of time when you hear a woman broke her hip when she fell it is not from the fall.

They believe the hip breaks and then they fall.

Well you may or may not know but steroids make your bones brittle and tend to cause broken bones. I was given calcium to help prevent that while on the massive dose. (You know that list of pills I take for the side effects of the pills I take)

As I told you in my post in May, I stood up from the sofa and I was about to sit right back down but my legs gave out. That has never happened before.  

Maybe it broke first when my feet hit the ground. (Remember my feet don't touch the floor when I'm sitting on the sofa) then the fall happened. It wasn't a big fall, it was right in front of a small coffee table. I hadn't even moved any more than standing and then beginning to sit down.

I really think it broke first causing the fall.

But what do I know?

I am done with steroids on the last day of June. It's this Thursday and I can not wait!! Not done with chemo yet but the steroids are almost done and they are the real devil.

When I was at the Drs having an X-ray, she didn't see a fracture. She could barely touch it without me yelping. I felt like a hypochondriac when they said nothing was found.  When I got home she called me to say that she was wrong. She felt that my pain made no sense so she reviewed the x-rays again along with the other Drs in the group. Then she called to tell me what they saw. She apologized profusely. I told her well it at least explains my pain and it's not in my head.  

The ortho she referred me to called Thursday nite to say they could get me in on Monday. To keep wearing the boot to stabilize until they see me. 

So now Rick won't let me do anything. You think it sounds nice, but it's not. He wasn't like this for the last 6 weeks and I reminded him of that but honestly he hovers like an old Italian Grandmother! Hungry? Need anything? Lemonade? Ice Water? Go out to your shop Richard and leave me alone. I had to tell him I'd call if I needed anything. Shoo!

I need to find something that keeps me moving. All this sitting and laying around is horrible. I cleaned bathrooms, kitchen, living room and put all Rick bowls, cutting boards etc in a HUGE rubber maid container. They were all over my dining room table. We were out of table space. I prepped dinner and made a dump cake. He came inside to lecture me to get off my foot. Mind you I can't eat dump cake and after he had some he said, "you could make this while sitting at the island couldn't you?"  When I said yes, I think it made him feel better. Like I would sit to make something. The goof ball. 

Now I've been on my feet and walking etc for 6 weeks. When I would say I think there is something more going on here cuz this really hurts like hell. He'd tell me it just takes time for a bad sprain to heal. Now he's acting like my father and Grandmother. 

Speaking of men. F--k the Supreme Court. Even if you think having a choice over your own body is wrong for some unfathomable reason - Just wait you're/we are going to lose more of our rights and liberties. One of em will get ya. This is all about control. 

Squat and Bend

Do you remember when Rick proclaimed he was no longer bending?

Well apparently the list has grown. I asked him why he makes such a mess when gets those big bowls out. He informed me they are on the top shelf of a lower cabinet and he can't see them so he just grabs. So then he just knocks other things over all willy nilly. I don't care for willy nilly.

I suggest he squat since heaven forbid he doesn't bend anymore.

He laughed and said, SQUAT? I don't squat!

He then informed me he no longer squats or bends.

He stated that he is now only verticaL or horizontal. 

Will you still move? I ask him. Oh sure as long as I'm Vertical or Horizontal.

Guess there's no chance of Rick breaking his ankle . 😁

You've Got To Be Kidding!

Remember the fall I had?

I wrote about it on May 8th. 

Well, it is still incredibly painful so I tried to go to urgent care but was turned away and told to make an appointment. When I went online they weren't taking any for a few weeks, or had no openings. This is an 'Urgent' care. Not very Urgent to me. 

This happened at 2 different places. So I figured, it's no big deal, just a bad sprain, let it go. But it continued to hurt like hell. The other day I walked a great deal and then I was in a lot of pain. But I'm whining so much I tried to just let it go. No big deal. 

Push through as is my motto. 

Rick convinced me to go to my primary care. I did go on Thursday. I had an X-ray and it's broken. Imagine that.

When it rains it pours. What the #$@! kind of black cloud am I under? 

Honestly if I don't laugh I'd jump off a very high bridge. 

She is sending me to an ortho. Because she is referring me she expects me to get in on Monday or Tuesday. In the mean time I am to wear a boot. Which is very nice and hot, which is awesome in summer.😝 

I think I'm going to go to my bed and not leave until this black cloud leaves!!

Or maybe go to bed with the covers over me until 2023. 

Rick and I are going to a local art show of local artisans on Friday (today) It will be a lot of walking so my boot will be on.

Life goes on. 😁

Cooler

I am a bit cranky and very warm. 

Yesterday it was a balmy 98. Our air was blowing warm air out of the vents but at first we did not notice. It was very late afternoon when we were aware of it.

At first I thought it was a hot flash, which the meds make me have. 

But no, because then Rick came inside and got incredibly warm. He went to the thermostat and saw it was 82 at that point in our home. (5p) Yuk.

As the day/nite went on it sure didn't get any better. I have short hair and my hair was wet and I was inside. 

Rick and I were picking tomatoes from the garden after dinner. He thought I was walking back to the house but, nope. I grabbed the hose and sprayed him from behind. He yelped and jumped and then turned around and said, "Do this side" 

Then he soaked me with the hose. We were like children out there laughing and spraying each other with water while fully clothed. Ooh it was cold but it felt so good.

We came inside after squeezing the water out of our clothes. When we got inside we stayed in those wet clothes for a bit and sat on beach towels It felt good since the inside of the house felt almost the same temp as outside.

I called a company that everyone on the Next Door App recommended. I knew they were closed but I thought if I left them a message maybe they will be able to come tomorrow. Rick laughed at that. "No way we will get someone that fast"

But I had to try.

This morning at 8:22am they called. We can have someone there between 12p-5p. Ok!  Then at 10a they called to say that someone canceled and could they come in 15-30 minutes. YES!

This wonderful young man came and figured it all out. This kid was someone Rick would meet on a jobsite and try to steal him to come work for him. He was professional, personable, and very knowledgeable.  When it was more (as in the problem not money) than what we thought, he explained and showed us the issue. Because we agreed to the service call/diagnostics cost he wanted us to know this part would be additional monies. We said we most certainly understood and thanked him for explaining.  He was and is a great representation of how a service professional should act. I called the company to tell them so. I also left a review naming Jonathan.

Rick and I were just so impressed by him. 

He and Rick shared a few stories about going into people's homes. They were laughing about the people who won't answer their door but will peek out the window and they called you, but won't let you in. Jonathan was shocked it happened to Rick and his men too. He said in all honesty I thought it was because I'm a man of color and on their porch. Rick said nope they did it to me and 2 of my men who were white so it's people Jonathan, they are nuts!!  Jonathan said,"For some reason that makes me feel better"

He is gone now and the air is strong and coming back. I can't wait until it's cool again in here. Tonight we are going to sleep really well.

How do people survive this heat and humidity without a/c? I am sure some have to.

I am so blessed to have it!!

How Much Ya Wanna Bet?

You have all asked about Rick selling his wares. He will be doing that eventually.

He is working on setting up an Etsy account. 

He will also be doing a couple of other things that as they occur I will share. Right now we are trying to figure out Etsy, photos, business cards, tax info and the like. He will in time. He has a lot more things to make. Inventory you know. He is working on a coffee table right now.

Then he will do some easier things like some cutting boards because those sell easily. 

So as soon as he is selling I'll let ya'll know.

He is getting damn good though isn't he? 

The one with the expoxy (blue one) was a scrap piece of log. 

He was holding it when I went out to his shop. I asked why he was just staring at it like it was precious or something. 

He said he wanted to think about what he could do with this piece. 

Too small he said. Then he smiled and said I know - I will build this up with epoxy and because it's not level it will have movement. I had no idea what the hell he was talking about but he was giddy. And then he turned around and put it on the lathe. That was my cue to leave. 

The wood is placed into this plastic bowl and taped in place with duct tape. He mixes and pours the epoxy in the bowl around the wood. It goes of course where there is no wood. It it held in place with another plastic smaller container. The whole thing then goes into this "pot" that looks like a pressure cooker, I think he calls it a vacuum pot. I know it takes out the bubbles in the expoxy. It is a few days of work in and out of the "pot"  just to get the epoxy with no bubbles and to cure. I saw each step and I told him that watching wood porn has sure paid off and back into the house I go. I know why he is showing me this and I don't want to know so I leave.

Usually when Rick has something in the pressure pot or curing somewhere he begins to work on another piece. He got a free microwave someone was throwing out. I didn't understand why it was needed in his shop when our microwave is just a few feet inside our home. He laughed at me and said it was to dry bowls not for food. HUH?

Apparently the wood must be very dry. He weighs the wood or bowls, puts them in the microwave and weighs them again. He writes down the weight and does it again. This continues until its weight does not change, meaning it is dry. It's a whole thing I find oddly interesting. That has taken days to get the right amount of moisture out of the wood. All I know is that even a small bowl is several days of work or longer. He had me watch this man he watches on YouTube who does this for a living. The man explained how to charge for your work. 

Hours of labor, materials, etc. Sometimes a very small bowl will cost more than a larger one and I just didn't get why that would be. That is why he's been showing me what goes into them. Ah, I get it now. I don't want to because I can see I am going to get sucked into helping him in some way? 

I know that is why he is showing me so much. I've been to this rodeo before. He wants me to help with some of this. Wanna bet?  When I said as much to him, his tongue goes to the side of his mouth and he smirks and says, "Nope I don't want you to be any part of this!"

Yea sure, and I'm 5'6" tall!

Oh Margaret I don't want you to have to do anything, he says. 

We are not working together anymore, he says.

Margaret can you use your nice camera and take some photos for Etsy?

Margaret can you see about a website and designing some business card?

Hey Margaret think I ought to have a spreadsheet for abc or xyz? 

Yesterday I told him I changed my name and I wouldn't answer.

He just laughs. 

Why or why do I have to be with a creative man who can do nothing else?

Why must I be the brains and he be the talent? Argh!  (yea I laughed too when I wrote "the brains!" ) 

Monday morning as I was feeling like I got hit by the chemo stick I walked into the kitchen where he was cleaning the stove (he doesn't do this people!) wiping down the counters and I saw that he had washed dishes AND cleaned off the island. (this is major you just don't know it- Oh he does dishes but never cleans up the kitchen!)

I went over to him as he was rinsing a lid at the sink and I just gave him a big ole bear hug from behind and kissed his back. 

He says,  "so cleaning the kitchen gets me affection but building or making something from nothing doesn't?"  

I laughed and said, "the way into my pants is housework baby not bowls." and I walked away. I heard him laughing as I walked down the hall. 

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Rick spent Father's day in his workshop. I know that my Mondays and Tuesdays are difficult for me so I tried to get a lot accomplished Sunday.

Rick came in to show me the 2 I saw he was working on. I ooh'd and aah'd while in his shop and I asked him to bring the two in when he finishes.

Here is some of his work from today. 

This is spalted pecan. Yeah, I never heard of it before either but it's pretty.

Love the blue epoxy in the knot below.

Then he finished polishing the one I saw last week when it was almost done. It's a Japanese Cherry with a red epoxy rim. 

I did chores and watched/listened to the Yankees lose after 9 straight wins. It was bound to happen but...

I know that I won't be here tomorrow and maybe even Tuesday. I'll do my best and try. But I have to play it by ear right now. Those are always very bad days.

Here are some memes that I enjoyed this last week.

Oops!

ok I just had to throw this in. Who knows how long we'll be on this ride!

This is my niece and her husband. She posted this on their anniversary this week. 

I told her they look like a couple in an advertisment. I just adore these two! 

This horse makes me laugh. I love Sugar! And can you blame her?

Yes, Rick sent me this one below. Smart Ass.

Today vs. The 70's

Did you ride in the back like this at times? My sister and I did. The only reason our father yelled at us to get down was that he couldn't see. Nothing to do with it being dangerous for us. Nope, all about his line of sight. For some reason, I find this funny. Of course, I don't think we should do this today but when I think of all the things I know that this generation who are raising kids would have their heads explode. Drinking from a hose! OH MY!   ha ha

Reclining Work

Random items going through my head today.

Since this medical shit has started with me I have watched more TV than I have in my entire life.  Especially at the beginning of this when I was on 60mg of steroids daily and was up all night long. 
Here are two of my observations over the last 3.5 months.

• 70's clothes - Everyone is wearing all the things I wore in high school. The Today show has a woman showing new products wearing something I had worn in high school. The complete outfit!  I'm so old that my fashions from the 70s are in style again. 
• Andy Garcia was one hot stud back in the day. Now he looks like any one of my Uncles. Damn it. Anyone see this guy in When A Man Loves A Woman? OMG, that is f---able Andy!!!  Now in Father of the Bride, he's my Uncle.😪 (yea I know I've aged too but not my Andy.)
• The majority of things I see on HGTV when not major remodeling I've done before myself. I watched a couple of shows and said, "no big deal, I've done that."  "Oh, that's easy, done that many times." "Oh no, it's easier if you do this first." Yeah, I think HGTV needs to give me my own show. 
• I have also noticed that every time a Minion commercial is on my husband giggles like a little kid. How weird is that? He just loves those "critters" and their voices.

I watch Jimmy Fallon and Kimmel and Colbert a great deal when I can't sleep. Jimmy Fallon asked his viewers to send in their worst first dates. Here is a link. You don't need to read anything more than the actual text telling the story. Some are so damn funny!!

 

Yesterday Rick was in the pantry and saw the evaporated milk. He asked me what evaporated milk was exactly. I don't know and I laughed. He was standing there staring at it when I said, "if it was evaporated wouldn't it be gone Rick?"  He turned and said, "oh you're a smart ass, but that is actually a good question."  We both laughed and that was that.  I know what condensed milk is but I actually didn't know about evaporated milk except I use it in recipes. So I had to google that. Apparently, they evaporate all the water content or half of the water making the "milk" creamier and thicker than regular whole milk. So how is that different from half and half he asks me. Oh shit, I don't know! What are you doing in the pantry anyway Rick? You making me dessert?

Yesterday I got an email from my hometown newspaper. 

The email was just the obituaries from the Erie Times Paper. 

WTH was that about? I have looked at the papers obits before since it's my hometown and people die that my mom has told me about and I will go there. But to get an email? Weird. And no I have no account with them. 

I panicked and asked Rick if I was dead? So I went through the list and knew no one thank goodness but still do not understand how or why I got it. 

I found it rather creepy!

There was a man in the obits that was 90 yrs old. The photo was of him at maybe 22 at best. Really? Why do people do that? So if I have an obit I should put my good ole 25 yr old self when I was at my peak? We were laughing and then Rick said, "You have spent your life not having your picture taken. So I will have no photo to put in the paper."

 

First off buddy, no obit in the paper for me!! We've talked about this.

2nd, I have pictures, all those selfies you take of the top of my head.

He said, "Oh this is Margaret's head, she died this week."

I laughed and told him to "go for it I dare you."  That made us laugh. 

We have a lot of photos of the top of my head and I think those are perfect.  I think I look pretty good here considering we were camping and I just got up. Whatcha think? 😀

Then yesterday Rick came inside to watch his favorite show, The Price Is Right. I heard him in the living room so I went out there and he asked "Hey are you going to watch with me?"  Now honestly I could care less, but I decided I'd have a 2nd cup of coffee and watch this with him.

There was a prize that blew us away. BUT not like you'd think.

Here it is for all those who work from home. It is a Zero Gravity Desk

Since I only worked from home my entire career except when at the airport I liked being comfortable but this is ridiculous.

I had several questions.

1. How lazy are you?

2. Where do you put your water, or coffee, or beverage of choice?

3. What if you have to get up quickly to go to the bathroom? It went up but slowly, hope you don't REALLY have to go.

4. Does a catheter come w/this thing? That was both our comments sadly.

5. How can you work from that position?

6. Wouldn't you get tired of this position?

In case you can't get your butt up after being in a prone position all day or you have diarrhea and you have to get out quickly...good luck. 

I was shocked at the prices of the different models. The most expensive was 12,995 - 19,995 or as they call it, the Ultimate Workstation - I imagine there are people who like to work like this. I'd rather be at a stand-up or a walking desk over this. Rick said he wouldn't be productive working this way. I am certain I just couldn't work like that at all.  

That position for me would be for watching a video or movie, or reading only. But to work?  Not for this gal. 

Then Rick said something like an old man would say, "what if you have to write something down"  I burst out laughing and said, "No one writes things down anymore, it's all typing"  

He laughed and said, "I show my age daily now don't I?"  

Yes, we do babe.