Saturday, February 4, 2023

More Productive on Friday

Another Look at the Peach Tree

Friday morning, I woke up as soon as the alarms went off and fed Dancer his salmon pate, much to his delight!  Then, after having my cup of tea, I called the clinic to confirm today's appointment and to verify that they had received the dose to be injected (since not receiving it in time was the reason the visit was postponed from last week to today).  The person I spoke with confirmed the appointment and tried to check their pharmacy to see if the medicine had been received but, he couldn't speak with anyone at the pharmacy and told me he will leave a message for them to call me back; of course, they never did!  Oh, well.  I still kept my appointment.

I left the house at 12:00 noon to be at the clinic (in downtown Los Angeles) by 1:00 p.m. for the 1:15 p.m. appointment.  The freeway was congested, but, no more than usual.  I was at the clinic at 1:00 p.m. The receptionist checking me in said my appointment was for 3:15 p.m. and I said, "3:15 p.m.!  I called to confirm the time this morning and I was told it was at 1:15 p.m.!"  Then, she looked on the appointment schedule and confirmed that it was at 1:15 p.m.!  Whew!  

I waited for a few minutes to be weighed, have my pressure checked, etc., (weight hasn't changed - but, then, I hadn't expected it to, after all the holiday treats and eating take-out food in January; the pressure was good).  Then, I waited a bit longer to be seen by the nurse practitioner.  She said that the lab results and mammogram, etc., were good, the bone density scan showed some bone loss (which is why I continue to receive the injections every six months), examined me and asked how I was feeling, etc., refilled my prescription and then I was given my injection, another appointment for a follow-up visit in three months' time, the lab work requisition, and, at my request, a copy of the lab report.  It was nearly 2:30 p.m. when I left the clinic and today's parking charge was $12.00.

Then, I drove home, stopping to put gas to the car on the way back.  I didn't put gas to the car in January and I had more than a quarter, but, less than half a tank of gas.  I budget $50.00 a month for gas (I don't drive much, these days) and today's top up came to $44.55 with gas at $4.35/gal. at the cheaper station near my house.  I did notice that gas was $4.25 at a different station closer to downtown; I probably should have gassed up at that station, but, I didn't want to be late for the doctor's appointment.  I also didn't realize that gas was cheaper at that station - I'll keep that in mind the next time I go for my doctor's appointment.

It was 4:00 p.m. by the time I came home and I was getting hungry (I was still on that one cup of tea from morning; I had some crackers with me, but, I didn't eat any).  I had considered picking up a hamburger or a pizza on the way home from the doctor's appointment, but, I decided not to!  I also decided not to pick up anything from the convenience store at the gas station (they sell hot dogs, pizza, etc.)  Instead, I came home and cooked myself a hamburger!  A cheeseburger, in fact!

Homemade Cheeseburger

Just the way I like without onions or tomatoes.  I didn't have any pickles, so I used up the last bit of sweet relish I had in a small jar (cleaned out one jar from the fridge door shelves), plus Miracle Whip, ketchup, and lettuce.  Not the best picture, but, I was too hungry to try to take a better photo!  Dinner was a bowl of soup because I was too full after the hamburger for anything else!  

M was supposed to tend to the garden this evening, but, he called to say that he got delayed at another client's house and could he buy the bags of gravel tomorrow and drop them off, instead.  I said that was fine.

I relaxed a bit in the evening, after that, then, did a load of laundry, watched a movie on TV ("The King's Speech"), and chatted with friend R.  The pharmacy texted that the prescription that the oncology nurse practitioner refilled was ready to be picked up, but, I will collect it tomorrow.  

Today, I am grateful for:
- Having access to medical care
- Medical insurance
- Good lab work results
- A safe drive to and from the clinic
- The availability of gas for the car

Today's joyful activity was watching the movie.  

Plans for Saturday include picking up my medication (two visits to the pharmacy in one week!), having M bring the rest of the bags of gravel for the parkway, and maybe another load of laundry.  

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for Saturday and the weekend?

10 comments:

  1. I'm glad everything went OK at your appointment and your appointment time was correct. Petrol is not as expensive as it has been here and I'm glad you were able to stay within your budget. I think it'll be the housework this weekend nothing more exciting than that :)

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. Petrol prices have come down a little bit, here and of course, the oil companies had posted record profits for the quarter when prices at the pump were at their peak, last year! We need to find a way to make housework exciting! LOL. I hope you have a lovely weekend. :)

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  2. Your peach tree is very pretty. We had one at our old house that didn't produce many peaches, but it was beautiful when it bloomed. Glad your visit to the doctor turned out well-traffic and all.

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    1. Thank you, June. The peach tree is earning its keep as a flowering, ornamental tree! The fruits are a bonus! Yes, the doctor's appointment went well and LA traffic is notorious, isn't it? There are a couple of freeways that are always congested, no matter what time of day you are driving on them!

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  3. I'm glad you had good results from all the tests. Is the loss of bone density more than expected?
    I loved The King's Speech when I saw it, ages ago now. I like those sort of films and thought this one remained true to the story of the King's struggle.
    I had my piano lesson this morning and bought some wool on the way home so I can start my blanket. There wasn't much choice of colours so I could get the ones I'd planned but am happy with the colours I came away with. I just have to get started now! xx

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. No, I don't think the loss of bone density was more than expected, just that the scan showed a loss of density.
      I had wanted to see "The King's Speech" when it first came out, but, didn't. I read the book by the same title, instead, and enjoyed that. Then, I forgot all about it until I saw that the movie will be on the public TV channel here. I really enjoyed watching it.
      Hope your piano lesson went well and that's great that you were able to buy the wool for your blanket! I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out! :)

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  4. The peach tree is so pretty. I don't envy you driving into the big city! I'm glad the appointment worked out at the time you had been told. I've seen that movie and enjoyed it.
    I'm not too chipper today, I was up in the night again, I can't settle when it is this cold. We reached -22°F last night and I could hear the ice on the river booming! The temperature is supposed to go up to plus 32°F tomorrow. Meanwhile we have some amazing icicles hanging from the roof.

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    1. The peach tree is doing its best to brighten up the yard! The drive wasn't too bad, but, I'm glad I no longer have to drive to downtown on a daily basis! I, too, am glad that my appointment was at the time I was initially told it would be! I enjoyed the movie - I had wanted to watch it when it first came out, but, read the book, instead.
      Oh, I am sorry you couldn't sleep well due to the cold. I hope you are able to take it easy and rest, today. Maybe take a little afternoon nap? I do hope it warms up a bit for you.

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  5. I'm glad your doctor's visit went well. Your stomach must've dropped when the receptionist initially said your appointment was at 3:15!
    I always wonder if your will stop and get some sort of food on your way home from the doctor's. You definitely got the better meal making your own hamburger.
    I made some soup this morning. My version of pasta fagioli which I often make. We will have that for the next few days.

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    1. Thank you, Debra; yes, I was a bit disconcerted when I was told that the appointment time was 3:15! :D But, it worked out well.
      Oh, I was tempted to buy some food on the way home! I wanted pizza, but, if I had bought one, then, I would have gone home straight instead of going to get gas and I wanted to fill up the tank. The hamburger place is near the gas station, but, I knew I had the makings for a hamburger at home. Plus, I really want to spend as little money on eating out this month because I went over budget for that, last month, when my daughter was home!
      Oh, your soup sounds wonderful! I still have a serving of the turkey soup, leftover, but, will be making another batch of soup next week, too. :)

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