Rainy Monday

Woke up to the sound of rain, this morning!  We are definitely having a wet winter, this year!  A blessing, since we need the rain.  Hopefully, the rain will be accompanied by snow in the mountains, as well, because it is the depth of the snow pack (which melts over the summer to provide us with water) that determines if we have drought restrictions this summer or not.

I called the gastroenterologist's office this morning and confirmed my appointment.  They had been the ones to call me, earlier, to say that my insurance had been inactivated and they couldn't get authorization.  The insurance sent me a letter of authorization in the mail, last week, but the doctor's office phone line was busy each time I tried to call.  This morning, however, I was able to get through and confirm the appointment that was scheduled for noon, today.

Then, I called my primary care doctor's office regarding one of my other prescriptions.  I noticed, last night, that I was out of refills and I had forgotten to mention it to her when I went on Friday.  I tried calling the pharmacy to check if they had received a new prescription authorization, but it was closed by then.  Doctor wasn't in today, but the office took a message.  I called the pharmacy, after that, just to double check if they had received the authorization - well, yes, they had received it, but they need to special order the medication.  They will do that, today.  I really don't know why they sit on these things, at times, but, I am partially to blame for not realizing that I was out of refills, earlier.

Dancer greeted me with a meow this morning when I woke up!  Oh, I was so happy!  He even allowed me to pick him up and hug him!  Just for a minute, you understand, because it is really beneath his dignity to be picked up and hugged by Mummy (only Little Bless is allowed to do that with impunity), and he declined the spoon of canned tuna I offered him, but he curled up on the piano stool, next to me, for awhile as I responded to blog comments, etc.

Then, it was time to get ready to go to the doctor's.  Cousin P called as I was about to leave, so I told her I'll call her back, later.   I left home in good time, anticipating a clogged freeway due to the rain, but was pleasantly surprised to find the traffic flowing smoothly until it got closer to downtown.  But, I didn't need to go all the way to downtown for today's appointment, so I was early to the appointment.  Which gave me a little time to sit in the waiting area and read my prayer book. 

I was called in at noon, weighed, blood pressure checked, etc.  My pressure was "good" - low enough not to require this morning's medication, but not so low as to cause concern.  Maybe all my prayers for good health are taking effect?

This was a follow-up appointment with the doctor who performed the colonoscopy in August. He had asked me to stop taking the iron supplements for 1 month prior to this visit as he wanted to check my blood iron levels.  If they are OK, then, that is good news; if they are not OK, then, they might have to do further tests, which involves swallowing something with a camera at the end of it, to check my small intestines!  He described it as being a "pain in the a--" (his words, not mine).  Oh, lovely!  Let's just hope that I have good iron levels!  Sigh.

They did the blood tests before I left the clinic; I am to go back in two weeks' to find out the results. 

It was still raining when I drove home and, this time, the roads were clogged and some of the intersections were flooded! 

I came home and had lunch.  Then, replied to concerned texts from my daughter and cousin N (she and her mother, Aunt C, had both called and left messages at home, as well). 

There was also a text from the pharmacy saying my prescription was ready!  It was the one I had inquired about, this morning.  So, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription. 

But, I didn't go to the grocery store.  I just wanted to come home and not be out driving in the rain.  I might grocery shop, tomorrow afternoon, if it isn't raining too hard (according to the forecast, we are supposed to have rain, all week!)

After I came home, I did the dishes, cleaned out the fridge, cleaned Dancer's litter box, and took the big trash cans to the curb for pick up, tomorrow morning.  By then, the rain had become more of a drizzle.

When I was in the kitchen, putting away dishes, Dancer meowed at me!  I interpreted it to mean that he was asking for tuna!  So, I opened a new can of tuna and gave him a spoonful on his newly washed china plate and...he ate it all!  I gave him a second spoonful, as well, and he ate that, too!  Well, now!  That's more like our Dancer!

Recovering on the Sofa!

Later in the evening, I spoke with Aunt T, who called to check on me, and with cousin P. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- All the rain we are getting
- Safe driving in the rain
- A good visit with the doctor
- The pharmacy had my prescription ready for pick up today, itself
- Good blood pressure readings


Monday's To Do List:
- Call the doctor's office to confirm appointment - DONE
- Call the primary care doctor's office re. prescription refill - DONE
- Call the pharmacy re. prescription refill - DONE
- Go to the appointment - DONE
- Grocery shop for fresh produce
- Clean out the fridge - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Do the dishes - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Grocery shop (if not raining!)
- Do a load of laundry
- Put away the Christmas decorations!  (Yes, the tree is still up!)
- Do some housework

How was your Monday?  Did you have a good start to your week?  What are your plans for Tuesday?

Restful Sunday

Today has been a chilly, cloudy, day.  Although I generally try to open the windows and air out the house in the afternoon, today, I kept the windows closed and the heater on, all day!  January and February tend to be our coldest months.

I took it easy, today, and didn't do anything much.  I woke up with a slight headache, but, that wore off later in the day.  My blood pressure and sugar levels were good and under control for the most part; but, towards the end of the day, the blood pressure numbers climbed up a bit above what the doctor recommended they should be, so I took the first medication for it since Friday morning!  I have another doctor's appointment, tomorrow (a different doctor, the gastroenterologist, and I need to call and confirm before I go); most probably they, too, will check my pressure, so it won't be just me checking it with my little monitor.

Aunt C called in the morning and we had a nice chat.  She said she was wearing the socks I had knitted and given her, a couple of years ago, as it was a cold day.  Time to knit more socks, I think!  Neighbor T called, too, for our regular Sunday morning chat. 

Dancer is on the mend, I feel.  He has been eating his regular dry food, but has been giving a wide berth to the soft food!  He meowed at me, once, a rather small, tentative meow, when I was making my lunch, so I offered him some soft food (the dry food is available at any time, now).  He just looked at the first spoonful of "white fish and tuna pate" but didn't go near it!  I put spoon of "salmon pate", as well, on the same plate, and he sniffed at it cautiously, but decided he didn't want any of it!  The garden cats had no problem with it, though!  LOL!

Today, I am grateful for:
- A restful day
- A working heater
- Phone calls from aunt C and neighbor T
- Chatting with my daughter
- Dancer and I are both doing OK

Monday's To Do List:
- Call the doctor's office to confirm appointment
- Go to the appointment/or schedule a new one
- Grocery shop for fresh produce
- Clean out the fridge
- Take the trash cans to the curb
- Do the dishes

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for tomorrow and the upcoming week?

Another Visit to the Vet on Saturday

It poured with rain, late last night, or rather, very early this morning.  I went to bed around 12:30 a.m., but didn't fall asleep until about 1:30 a.m.  Then, around 2:30 a.m., I woke to the sound of the rain.  It had ceased around 6:00 a.m. when I woke up, again, to feed Dancer (I went back to sleep, and slept till 10:00 a.m.).  But, it began to rain again, later.  The rain stopped just before noon.

Dancer spent most of the night cuddled next to me.  He purred but didn't meow.  He refused to eat even the tuna, last night and when I gave him fresh water in his bowl, he pawed the bowl and pushed it around, sniffed at the water, but didn't drink it.  He didn't eat the tuna I gave him at 6:00 a.m., either.  But I gave him another spoon of tuna around 10:00 a.m. and he ate a little of that.  The garden cats enjoyed the tuna Dancer had refused to eat!  And Dancer looked longingly at the dry food I gave them.

I checked my blood pressure twice in the morning; once as soon as I woke up, and again, around 11:30 a.m.  The first time, it was low (but not alarmingly so); the next time, it was a little higher, but low enough not to take the medicine (my doctor had said if it was below a certain level, I didn't need to take anything).  My sugar was a little above the higher level at fasting, so I didn't have my usual morning tea.  I checked it again at 11:30 a.m. and it had come down a bit, so I had a scrambled egg and a small glass of orange juice.

Then, a little after noon, I bundled Dancer up in his carrier and took him to the vet's.  Oh, he meowed in protest, all the way!  LOL!  Well, at least now we know that he didn't lose his ability to meow!

Apparently, he has an infection from the tooth extraction!  The vet said that, usually, if several teeth are extracted, then, they routinely administer an antibiotic.  But, with Dancer, since only one tooth was extracted, and since they are being told not to administer antibiotics as routinely due to the prevalence of antibiotics-resistant bacteria, she hadn't given him an antibiotic, automatically.  Well, it turns out that, maybe, she should have!  Because poor Dancer has red, infected gums and some streaks of white, too, which was a sign of infection, she said.  She said I did the right thing in bringing him in for a check up.

She gave him an injection of antibiotics - she said they could give him an oral antibiotic, that it was cheaper, but the injection was faster acting.  I opted for the injection, which cost $85.00.  At least, there were no other charges, such as a fee for the office visit, as it was a follow up visit.  She checked his temperature and it was normal.  She checked his weight and he has lost 1/2 lb. since his last visit, which was last week!  The vet assured me that he should feel better by Monday, but I am to bring him in, again, next Friday, as well.  She also said that it was OK to give him his dry food, as I said he is missing it.

He protested a bit on the way home, too, but not too much.  Then, as soon as I got home, I gave him a little dry food and, oh, he was a happy kitty!  He meowed once when I opened a new bag of food for him, to show his approval!  "Thank you, Mummy!"  "You are quite welcome, Dancer; enjoy!"

"Nom, nom, nom"

I rested a bit, after we came home.  I lay on the sofa in the living room and read one of my library books.  Dancer came by a couple of times for cuddles, although he didn't meow.  But, that's OK; I now know that he's probably feeling some pain and discomfort from the infection.

At 5:30 p.m., I checked my pressure, again - the numbers were good; not too low, but still below what the doctor said it should be when I should take my medicines.  I checked my sugar and it was low;  I debated whether to have my tea, but decided to eat an early dinner, instead.  Dinner was eaten at 6:00 p.m., which is practically unheard of, for me!

Today, I am grateful for:
- I was able to take Dancer to the vet for a check up
- Antibiotics to help him get over the infection
- The rain for the garden
- Phone calls from family and friends
- Being able to monitor my pressure, etc.


Saturday's to do list:
- Take Dancer to see the vet - DONE
- Dishes - Not yet

I haven't done the dishes at the time of writing this post.  I should probably go ahead and do that.

I haven't made a to do list for tomorrow.  There is plenty to do, but I might just take it easy, tomorrow, and see how I feel. 

How was your day?  What are your plans for tomorrow?

The Cat's Meow and Other Happenings

Dancer is not meowing!  He is usually fairly vocal, often answering me with a meow when I talk to him, but he's giving me the "silent treatment".  I think he's displeased with me because I won't give him his regular dry food.  He doesn't beg for it, but will sit by the laundry room door where I keep it, and look at me, silently, reproachfully, balefully.  He normally "talks" to the garden cats - sort of chirps at them - but he watches them silently, now, without a sound.  Yesterday, he refused to eat his canned cat food - even the pate.  He just sniffed at it and walked away!  I left it out for him but he wouldn't eat it, at all.  Finally, I opened a can of regular tuna and he ate some of that!  Today, too, all he ate was a little tuna.  And, he spends most of his time sleeping.  He used to sleep a lot, anyway, but very often, he'd wake up, walk around, meow at me, or sleep in the same room where I am.  Now, he's avoiding me, sleeping under the table or sofa in the other room.  I called the vet's clinic and the vet agrees that this is not normal behavior.  I have an appointment to take him in for a check up, tomorrow (Saturday) at noon.  Oh, he's going to love me!  I wonder if he'll meow during the car ride?

I woke up, yesterday morning, feeling exactly how I felt, just before I fainted in the bathroom, three years ago!  Clammy.  The phrase, "in a cold sweat" comes to mind.  I took the phone with me when I went to the bathroom and afterwards, I checked my blood pressure.  It was very low.  Afterwards, I began to feel better, but, I didn't take my morning blood pressure medication and I didn't visit my aunt as I had wanted to, as I didn't know if I should drive.  I called her and explained the situation to her and we agreed I should visit her when everything was OK.  I rested and checked my pressure a couple of times; each time, it was better, not quite as low as it had been in the morning, but I didn't take any of my medications, except for what I take for the cancer. I didn't bother to call the doctor's office because I already had an appointment scheduled for this afternoon.

I went to bed by 11:30 p.m., last night, and although I woke up once around 2:30 a.m. and went to the bathroom, I went back to bed and slept till 9:00 a.m.  I felt OK when I woke up, the pressure was a little low, but not what it was, yesterday.  I didn't take my pressure medication in the morning, but took it later, before I went to the doctor's because I began to feel one of the side effects of not taking it - my pulse rate increasing.  Everything was fine by the time I got to the doctor's - pressure normal, heart rate good, etc.  I had taken my blood pressure log with me as well as my pressure monitor and the doctor had me check my pressure with it while I was there.  We discussed what might be the causes of low blood pressure (possibly being dehydrated; I haven't been drinking a lot of water, recently), what to do if it happens again, and when I should call the paramedics.  I was told to monitor my pressure before I take my medications, and not to take it if it is low.  I am to continue keeping a log of my readings and bring it to my next appointment, scheduled for February.  It might be that we might need to make some additional adjustments to the dosage, etc. 

I brought up the fact that I had been feeling nauseated and threw up, once, but the doctor thought it might be a 24-hour virus or something I ate. 

Although my appointment was at 2:30 p.m., I didn't leave the clinic until 4:00 p.m.  Then, of course, I got caught to the rush hour traffic!  It was 5:30 p.m. when I got home.  I'm glad I don't have to drive in that traffic every day, anymore. 

Came home and had a cup of tea.  Friend M had come and planted a new peach tree for me - it is supposed to rain this weekend, so a good time to plant.  Hopefully, this little tree will get a good start and survive the summer heat!  We went with a 7 gallon plant, and it cost $45.00, plus another $9+ for a bag of soil amendment.

Dancer still isn't talking to me, but he came for a cuddle:

"I'm still not talking to you, though"

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to see the doctor
- Cousin P and friend R calling to check on me
- Dancer permitted a bit of a cuddle
- A new peach tree
- Chatting with my daughter

Saturday's to do list:
- Take Dancer to see the vet
- Dishes

How was your day?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Winter Roses and Other Happenings on Wednesday

Winter Rose

This rose is for those who, like my friend Bushlady, woke up to snow, this morning.   The rose bushes will be pruned, later this month, but, until then, they continue to bloom.

While I was out in the garden, I took a couple of other photos, too.

Chrysanthemum

Last October, I bought two chrysanthemum plants to keep on the altar during the prayer gathering.  Afterwards, I planted them in the garden.  The purple one died, but the yellow one survived and has a flower (there are a couple of buds forming, too).

Oranges

The photo of the oranges might be a candidate for the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt, prompt #17 Orange.  I couldn't resist picking one of the oranges and having it as a snack! 

There was a knock on my door, this morning.  It was someone contracted by the utility company to trim trees that might come in contact and interfere with the power lines!  He and his assistant needed access to the backyard to inspect the utility pole and my pine tree.

Trimming the pine tree that is growing in the backyard has been on my to do list for a long time.  (Don't you love the English language?  In what other language can "trim the tree" mean both decorating a tree with ornaments and cutting it back to prune it?   LOL.)  But, my gardener friend hasn't been able to do it. So, today's visit by the utility company contractors was a blessing!  Especially since they trimmed the pine tree at no cost to me!

They didn't trim as much off the tree as I would have liked, and I might still nag friend M to prune a bit more of the tree, but now I don't have to worry about the power lines being impacted!  I'm glad I was at home to let them have access to the backyard.

They removed all the branches they trimmed, but I broke off a couple of sprigs for this week's "winter arrangement", along with a stem of paperwhites. 

I spoke with the dentist's office, this morning.  Apparently, I still need to call the dental insurance people to request that my account be activated, as the dental office was told that my account has been terminated!  Sigh.  I'm getting a bit tired of all these phone calls, back and forth!  So, one item crossed off the to do list and another item added to it! 

In the afternoon, I went to the grocery store to buy more canned cat food.  I've discovered that Dancer only likes the soft "pate" versions; he doesn't like the "shreds" and "bits" ones, that have pieces!  He also only likes the taste of fish, not chicken, etc.  So, I returned three unopened cans of cat food that had pieces in it and bought several cans of the pate versions, four cans of "salmon pate" and four cans of "white fish and tuna".  I also bought a loaf of bread ($1.29) and some bananas (@$.59/lb = $.78) for me.  Total spent, including cat food, came to $5.08.

January grocery spending to date:
1/4: bananas = $.99
1/9: bread & bananas = $1.29 + $.78 = $2.07
Total = $3.06

After that, I went to the fabric store, as today was the last day of their sale on broadcloth and other items.  I wanted to buy two yards of white broadcloth (regular price $3.99/yard; on sale for $1.99/yard) for a set of pillowcases I want to make.  Their quilt batting was on sale, too, for 60% off, so I bought one queen size polyester quilt batting (regular price $29.99; on sale for $11.99) and one small cotton quilt batting (regular price $9.99; on sale for $3.99).  I bought them both for projects I have in mind.  I wanted to spend about $20, which is my budgeted amount for my personal allowance, as I don't have a budget for craft supplies, as such.  The cost of the items came to $19.96, but, my total came to $21.86, with sales taxes.  I figured it was okay to go over budget by less than $2.00.  Especially since I "saved" $30 by taking advantage of the sale!

Fabric Store Receipt

Later in the evening, I changed the sheets on daughter's bed and did a load of laundry. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- Roses in winter
- Oranges fresh from the tree
- The pine tree being trimmed, free of charge
- Being able to exchange the cans of cat food without any problems
- Being able to buy fabric and quilt batting on sale


Wednesday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist's office - DONE
- Go to the fabric store - DONE
- Grocery store for more cans of food for Dancer - DONE
- Start putting away the holiday decorations
- Wash daughter's bedding/remake her bed - DONE

I accomplished most of the items on my list for today.  Taking down and putting the holiday decorations away will go on tomorrow's list.

Thursday's To Do List:
- Call cousin P to see if she wants to go visit Aunt T with me
- Visit Aunt T
- Take down and put away the holiday decorations

How was your day, today?  What have you planned for Thursday?

Car Service on Tuesday

Today, I took the car in for a routine service - to have the fluids checked, tires rotated, etc., as the last service had been at the end of July.  My appointment was at 2:00 p.m.  I went prepared to wait until the car was serviced and took one of my library books to read while I waited.  However, about one hour into the wait, the service agent told me that they found that the battery was low and the rear brake pads were low, too.  Since I already had the car there, I said to go ahead and replace the items.  It took them another two hours or so to replace them!  It was almost 5:30 p.m. when the car was ready!  My total cost came to $447.89, after redeeming a $50 coupon they had sent me, in the mail.  January is proving to be a very expensive month!  However, I allocate $100 per month in my budget towards car maintenance, so, it is a budgeted expense.  I was told that my front brakes will need to be replaced in about another 10,000 miles or so.  But, since I don't drive quite as much since I retired, I figure I should be OK for at least the rest of the year! 

I had intended to go to the fabric store after the car service, but, by that time, I was feeling tired and wanted a cup of tea.  So, I came home, instead.  I might go to the fabric store, tomorrow (last day of the sale).

After I came home, I had a cup of tea, opened the windows to air the house, and watched the news.  My daughter called to give me an account of her first day back at work, saying she had a good day.  Later, she texted to say that she did 100 curl ups, which was today's abs workout!  I am supposed to do 50 crunches, but I haven't done them, yet!  Oops!

Today, I am grateful for:
- The car got serviced in good time
- I had funds set aside to pay for the service
- A sunny day
- Library books
- Daughter had a good first day back at work


Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Take the car to be serviced - DONE
- Go to the fabric store
- Call the dentist's office
- Start putting away the holiday decorations
- Wash daughter's bedding/remake her bed

I'm afraid I didn't feel like doing anything much before I took the car for a service and afterwards.  So, it wasn't a productive day, exactly.  But, the car service was a big item crossed off my To Do list, so I am glad I was able to get it done.

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Call the dentist's office
- Go to the fabric store
- Grocery store for more cans of food for Dancer
- Start putting away the holiday decorations
- Wash daughter's bedding/remake her bed

How was your day, today?  Did you have a productive day? 

Ending the Holidays

Sunday morning was sunny and bright, after Saturday night's rain.  But, I woke up feeling rather tired.  I've been going to bed earlier, but I keep waking up every hour, or so; as a result, it is not a very restful sleep.

It was my daughter's last full day at home and I asked her if she wanted to do anything, go out to lunch, etc., but she didn't.  So, we just had a relaxed day at home.  We gave Dancer his medicines and his wet food.  He likes the wet food, but, he wants his regular dry food!  He knows I keep the bags in the laundry room, out of his reach, and he keeps pawing at the laundry room door to try to get access to them!

In the afternoon, I did some paperwork and wrote out a check to pay my natural gas bill.  Then, I set up a new budget for 2019, based on my net retirement income, after taxes and other deductions, including savings, are taken.  I made some changes to the categories and amounts and hope it works out well.

Later in the evening, I gave daughter's hair another hot oil treatment and we did the day's abs workout (she did the full 100; I did 50).  Then, she packed her suitcase and cleaned the litter box for me.  It began to rain in the evening, so the garden got a good watering.

We went to bed around 1:30 a.m.; I woke up at 2:00 a.m., feeling queasy and threw up!  I don't think it was anything I ate, however.  But I had felt nauseated on Friday (I thought it was due to being worried about Dancer) and hadn't felt exactly energetic over Saturday and most of Sunday, either. 

I've felt better, today.  In the morning, daughter and I gave Dancer his last dose of pain medication.  We spent a relaxed morning, just enjoying our last morning together.  I picked some oranges from the tree for daughter to take back with her, and gave her the salmon steaks I had cooked and frozen for her, as well as the fish rolls and a packet of cashew curry.  A little after noon, I drove my daughter to the airport, in plenty of time for her to check in to her flight.  She said the TSA agent looked at all the food she was taking and asked, "Mom?"  and daughter said, "Yes".  LOL!

When I was about to drive daughter to the airport and reached for my distance glasses that I wear while driving, one of the lenses fell out of the frame!  So, I wore the old distance glasses that I keep as a spare.  After I dropped daughter off at the airport, I drove to the optician's and had them reset the lens.  They are the new glasses; I've never had a lens come out in any of my old glasses!

After I came home, I washed the quilt I had on my bed.  I had no problem washing it in the new washing machine.  I am afraid I used the dryer to dry it!  Then, I washed all the dishes that were piled up in the sink.  I also cleaned out the fridge, emptied all the waste baskets, etc., and took the big trash can and recycling bin to the curb for pick up, tomorrow morning. 

Daughter called to say she got back to her apartment, safely.  She got back early enough to go to the dollar store to buy some fresh produce for her meals this week and do a load of laundry.  Later, she texted that she did her abs workout for today (100 toe touches - you hold your legs up in the air and do cross body crunches, trying to touch your toes with your elbows!)  I decided to skip today's exercises, using the fact that I hadn't felt well, last night, as my excuse!  Daughter said it was more of a valid reason than an excuse, so I'll go with that! 

The car service people called to remind me of my appointment, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.  Then, I played around a bit more with my new budget, until I felt happy with how I've set it up.

I will video chat with my daughter a little later; after that, I'll give Dancer a bit more food and try to have an "early" night.

Now that daughter has gone back, the holidays have come to an end.  She starts work, again, tomorrow.  I need to go back to a more regular schedule and figure out what my weekly routines will be.  There's a lot that I want to do around the house and in the garden.  Just have to make a start!

Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter had a safe flight and subway ride home
- She was home to help give Dancer all his pain medications
- The optician's office fixed the eye glasses at no cost
- I am feeling better
- The rain we received the last couple of days

Monday's accomplishments:
- Took daughter to the airport
- Got my eye glasses fixed
- Confirmed my appointment for the car service
- Did a load of laundry
- Washed the dishes
- Cleaned the fridge
- Took the trash cans out

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the trash cans in
- Take the car to be serviced
- Go to the fabric store
- Call the dentist's office
- Start putting away the holiday decorations
- Wash daughter's bedding/remake her bed

How was your Sunday and Monday?