My little corner of the world will never be quite the same. At 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2013, David Curtis Sweeney, my Daddy, succumbed to an aggressive case of lymphoma. We'd received the diagnosis on Thursday evening and hasn't really had time to absorb the enormity of it all before he was gone.
For Daddy's sake, I'm glad he didn't linger. He passed peacefully with Mom holding his left hand and me holding his right. When my turn comes, I hope I'm lucky enough to be wrapped in a comforting blanket of love like the one that surrounded Daddy when he slipped away.
I want to write more about him, and I will. As Mom puts it, "He had a good life, and we had a lot of fun." There are stories to tell, and I will tell them.
But not just yet. First I need to heal a bit more. But the stories will be told soon, I promise. Not today, but soon.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Friday, December 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Things for Which I'm Thankful
It's been over a month since my last update. It's been a very busy time; Daddy has really had a rough time in the past few weeks.
On October 28 he had a radiofrequency ablation performed. It seemed to take care of the extreme nerve pain he'd been suffering in his lower back, but the injection sites were very painful and didn't seem to be improving.
On November 7 I took him to the doctor who treats his rheumatoid arthritis (a regular follow-up for his RA). When Daddy told the doctor that he was still having injection site pain, he asked if Dad was still taking his pain meds as prescribed for his RA. Actually, it had been having such a bad effect on him (drowsy, weak, apathetic) that Mom had weaned him down to half his regular dose. The doctor insisted that he be given the full dose as prescribed.
So, Mom gave him the full dose that day; the following morning he couldn't even transfer himself from the couch to a wheelchair. He fell in the floor, and Mom and I couldn't lift him; he was dead weight. We had to call in friends to help us get him back on the couch. What a nightmare!
On the following Friday (November 15), he and Mom had a lab appointment to have their blood work done for an upcoming regular checkup with their primary care physicians. I took them to the lab (and then to another doctor's appointment for a small skin cancer on Daddy's nose), then we took him back home. He got back on the couch, exhausted, and said he'd take a nap while Mom and I went to run a few quick errands.
When we returned from our rounds, we ate a Chinese take-out lunch and rested a few moments. I planned to come back the next morning to help Mom with cleaning their dog's enclosure and such, so I said I'd go on home and do a bit of household drudgery.
As I reached the end of their driveway, I heard Mom shout my name. I stopped the car and she ran up to the window. Dad's primary care physician had called and said that his lab work showed that he was extremely anemic and to get him to the ER as quickly as possible.
The next three days were a blur of tests and transfusions. We learned that his hemoglobin was down to 7.1 (should be 12). They gave him a total of 3 pints of blood over that weekend. He went through periods of confusion which was really frightening for us all.
Mom stayed at the hospital with him at night; I came home and fell into bed each night then was up and out the door early each morning to go back to the hospital
An EGD revealed that his stomach lining was very irritated (probably from pain meds he's been taking for the past year), he had a hiatal hernia (which we already knew about), he had a small polyp in the top of his small intestine (which didn't seem to be an item for concern), and a couple of spider veins in the small intestine that were probably the source of the blood loss. The gastroenterologist said that he wanted to do a colonoscopy as soon as Daddy's stronger, but that he didn't want to do it while he was so weak.
On Monday afternoon (November 18), they moved him from the hospital to a rehabilitation center. Because of all the inactivity in the past year due to the back pain, his back, arms, and legs had become so weak that he couldn't walk properly any more.
For several days he didn't seem to be making much progress; I feared that he'd simply given up. Then suddenly yesterday was a better day. He'd done well in his physical therapy session and his appetite finally perked up. I'm hopeful that this is the turnaround we've been anticipating.
So Thanksgiving is going to be different in my little world this year. Instead of the usual overabundance of home-cooked goodies, Mom and I will go to the rehabilitation center to have turkey and dressing with Daddy there. Even so, there are many things for which I'm thankful. I have a loving family, good friends, good health, and a sometimes-slightly-insane cat to keep me company. I have a comfortable apartment where I feel cozy and safe. I have my knitting to keep me centered and sane. I have a gorgeous grandson in Australia who likes to laugh with me on Skype.
And Daddy's slowly getting better. Yes, I'm thankful for all these things and a host of other things too numerous to list.
Sometimes life is tough, but there's always something in our lives that deserves a little gratitude. I hope that you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and take a moment from the turkey and football to give a bit of thanks!
On October 28 he had a radiofrequency ablation performed. It seemed to take care of the extreme nerve pain he'd been suffering in his lower back, but the injection sites were very painful and didn't seem to be improving.
On November 7 I took him to the doctor who treats his rheumatoid arthritis (a regular follow-up for his RA). When Daddy told the doctor that he was still having injection site pain, he asked if Dad was still taking his pain meds as prescribed for his RA. Actually, it had been having such a bad effect on him (drowsy, weak, apathetic) that Mom had weaned him down to half his regular dose. The doctor insisted that he be given the full dose as prescribed.
So, Mom gave him the full dose that day; the following morning he couldn't even transfer himself from the couch to a wheelchair. He fell in the floor, and Mom and I couldn't lift him; he was dead weight. We had to call in friends to help us get him back on the couch. What a nightmare!
On the following Friday (November 15), he and Mom had a lab appointment to have their blood work done for an upcoming regular checkup with their primary care physicians. I took them to the lab (and then to another doctor's appointment for a small skin cancer on Daddy's nose), then we took him back home. He got back on the couch, exhausted, and said he'd take a nap while Mom and I went to run a few quick errands.
When we returned from our rounds, we ate a Chinese take-out lunch and rested a few moments. I planned to come back the next morning to help Mom with cleaning their dog's enclosure and such, so I said I'd go on home and do a bit of household drudgery.
As I reached the end of their driveway, I heard Mom shout my name. I stopped the car and she ran up to the window. Dad's primary care physician had called and said that his lab work showed that he was extremely anemic and to get him to the ER as quickly as possible.
The next three days were a blur of tests and transfusions. We learned that his hemoglobin was down to 7.1 (should be 12). They gave him a total of 3 pints of blood over that weekend. He went through periods of confusion which was really frightening for us all.
Mom stayed at the hospital with him at night; I came home and fell into bed each night then was up and out the door early each morning to go back to the hospital
An EGD revealed that his stomach lining was very irritated (probably from pain meds he's been taking for the past year), he had a hiatal hernia (which we already knew about), he had a small polyp in the top of his small intestine (which didn't seem to be an item for concern), and a couple of spider veins in the small intestine that were probably the source of the blood loss. The gastroenterologist said that he wanted to do a colonoscopy as soon as Daddy's stronger, but that he didn't want to do it while he was so weak.
On Monday afternoon (November 18), they moved him from the hospital to a rehabilitation center. Because of all the inactivity in the past year due to the back pain, his back, arms, and legs had become so weak that he couldn't walk properly any more.
For several days he didn't seem to be making much progress; I feared that he'd simply given up. Then suddenly yesterday was a better day. He'd done well in his physical therapy session and his appetite finally perked up. I'm hopeful that this is the turnaround we've been anticipating.
So Thanksgiving is going to be different in my little world this year. Instead of the usual overabundance of home-cooked goodies, Mom and I will go to the rehabilitation center to have turkey and dressing with Daddy there. Even so, there are many things for which I'm thankful. I have a loving family, good friends, good health, and a sometimes-slightly-insane cat to keep me company. I have a comfortable apartment where I feel cozy and safe. I have my knitting to keep me centered and sane. I have a gorgeous grandson in Australia who likes to laugh with me on Skype.
And Daddy's slowly getting better. Yes, I'm thankful for all these things and a host of other things too numerous to list.
Sometimes life is tough, but there's always something in our lives that deserves a little gratitude. I hope that you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and take a moment from the turkey and football to give a bit of thanks!
Thursday, September 05, 2013
An Uninterrupted Lunch, Please
It's been pretty busy in my little corner of the world lately. So, I decided that instead of waiting until I get home and try to find a few minutes for a quick blog post that I'd take my lunch break at the office to make an entry. My office door is closed (and locked), my lunch is spread out on the desk (wheat crackers and hummus), and Pandora is quietly playing in the background (James Horner radio, one of my favorites). Now let's just hope that no one taps on the door or rings my phone for the next few minutes. I can ignore both, but I just hope I have an uninterrupted lunch break today.
My Dad's back is still giving him grief, and now we're dealing with a pain management center to try to get him back on his feet again. He's just worn out with feeling so much pain all the time, and I can't blame him a bit. Been there, done that, y'know? I was very fortunate that back surgery helped my problem. Dad's not been so lucky, I'm afraid. We're hopeful that the procedure he's going through next will be the answer. Keep your fingers crossed!
Lately I've spent any free time with Tilly TabbyCat and my knitting....and trying to keep Tilly out of my knitting. *LOL* For those of you interested in knitting, I'll post more about that on my knitting blog (see link to the right) after I get home tonight, hopefully.
Amazingly, I still don't miss having TV cable service. Sometimes I still miss TiVo, though. I really need to look into some way to have DVR capability without subscribing to a service. All I need is a way to set up to record at a certain time on a certain date. I don't need the search and TV listing service. I don't get enough channels now for that to be a big deal to me. If anyone has any suggestions, drop me an e-mail, okay? And keep in mind that although I've been computing forever, I'm still a novice in a lot of areas. *LOL*
Well, I'd better get back to work now. Isn't it amazing how quickly a 30-minute lunch break can zip by?
Have a great evening, everyone.
My Dad's back is still giving him grief, and now we're dealing with a pain management center to try to get him back on his feet again. He's just worn out with feeling so much pain all the time, and I can't blame him a bit. Been there, done that, y'know? I was very fortunate that back surgery helped my problem. Dad's not been so lucky, I'm afraid. We're hopeful that the procedure he's going through next will be the answer. Keep your fingers crossed!
Lately I've spent any free time with Tilly TabbyCat and my knitting....and trying to keep Tilly out of my knitting. *LOL* For those of you interested in knitting, I'll post more about that on my knitting blog (see link to the right) after I get home tonight, hopefully.
Amazingly, I still don't miss having TV cable service. Sometimes I still miss TiVo, though. I really need to look into some way to have DVR capability without subscribing to a service. All I need is a way to set up to record at a certain time on a certain date. I don't need the search and TV listing service. I don't get enough channels now for that to be a big deal to me. If anyone has any suggestions, drop me an e-mail, okay? And keep in mind that although I've been computing forever, I'm still a novice in a lot of areas. *LOL*
Well, I'd better get back to work now. Isn't it amazing how quickly a 30-minute lunch break can zip by?
Have a great evening, everyone.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Another New Toy
You've probaby noticed that I've not been blogging much lately....I blame my Kindle Fire. It's terrific for Facebooking, web surfing, playing games, Skype, etc., but I'm not fond of long text entries using the onscreen keyboard. It works fine, mind you, but I'm unbelievably slow using it.
So, I bought myself a bluetooth keyboard which arrived by UPS just a few minute ago. Hooray! Now I can type again! *LOL*
Therefore, you may be hearing from me more often. Not that you've been missing much. Life is as usual with one happy exception: Tilly has made herself quite at home in my life, and we've become bosom buddies. The little cat who seemed standoffish in the beginning has become a very affectionate little companion.
This evening I'm having some back pain (overextended it Saturday night putting some things away in the closet like a dunce), so I'll make this a quick entry. More later when I'm a bit more comfortable.
Aren't new toys the BEST? :-)
So, I bought myself a bluetooth keyboard which arrived by UPS just a few minute ago. Hooray! Now I can type again! *LOL*
Therefore, you may be hearing from me more often. Not that you've been missing much. Life is as usual with one happy exception: Tilly has made herself quite at home in my life, and we've become bosom buddies. The little cat who seemed standoffish in the beginning has become a very affectionate little companion.
This evening I'm having some back pain (overextended it Saturday night putting some things away in the closet like a dunce), so I'll make this a quick entry. More later when I'm a bit more comfortable.
Aren't new toys the BEST? :-)
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Not the Flu, But Still No Fun
I'd been sick all weekend....fever, chills, body aches, headache, general yuckiness. I was still too sick to go to work yesterday. This morning I went in for just a few hours to get one task completed and pick up some work to take home in case a predicted snowstorm actually hits us tonight.
By the time I left the office I felt so crummy that I went by the local urgent care center. I was running a fever, so they tested me for flu. It wasn't the flu, thank goodness, but I do have a bad sinus infection. Antibiotics for me. *bleah*
I went by the drugstore to pick up my medication, came home, and climbed into the recliner with knitting and watched TiVo all afternoon, catching up on stuff I hadn't felt like watching earlier. It's raining now.....a lovely dreary steady rain. Makes me feel all cozy and safe in my little corner of the world.
And so, I'm going to take my medicine, sip some hot soothing tea, and call it a night fairly early this evening.
Here's hoping you're all well and safe on this rainy Tuesday.
By the time I left the office I felt so crummy that I went by the local urgent care center. I was running a fever, so they tested me for flu. It wasn't the flu, thank goodness, but I do have a bad sinus infection. Antibiotics for me. *bleah*
I went by the drugstore to pick up my medication, came home, and climbed into the recliner with knitting and watched TiVo all afternoon, catching up on stuff I hadn't felt like watching earlier. It's raining now.....a lovely dreary steady rain. Makes me feel all cozy and safe in my little corner of the world.
And so, I'm going to take my medicine, sip some hot soothing tea, and call it a night fairly early this evening.
Here's hoping you're all well and safe on this rainy Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
It's only TUESDAY??
This has been a long week. A long, ugly week. And this is only Tuesday. *sigh*
Okay, so what's been wrong with this week?
Maybe it won't be such a bad week after all. Keep your fingers crossed.
Okay, so what's been wrong with this week?
- Work stuff that I'll refrain from discussing on the internet, since Big Brother may be watching (for those of you who do not understand that reference, please read the excellent book "1984" by George Orwell).
- Sinus problems that have been dragging on for weeks.
- Exhaustion caused by items 1 and 2 above.
- Nothing tastes right; probably caused by item 2 above.
- I've had a sudden attack of "I hate my hair" syndrome. Not unusual. This happens from time to time.
- I need a snow day.....really, really, REALLY need a snow day. And the best we're going to get are a few snow showers Thursday. Phooey.
- Louise has been in the hospital, but is improving and will hopefully be home very soon.
- Daddy's improving a little more each day.
- I finished knitting a scarf for Mom on Sunday.
- I learned how to crochet one of those Sashay scarves last night from a YouTube video (I've already knitted several, but hadn't learned to crochet one).
- It's been a gray, rainy day. I love gray, rainy days.
- Dessert tonight will be a pear.
- I'm close to finishing another pair of socks. I've nearly finished the heel, and the rest of it is just knitting my way up the leg until I run out of yarn. Good television knitting.
Maybe it won't be such a bad week after all. Keep your fingers crossed.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Update on Daddy
Night before last, Daddy had the worst pain he's had since injuring his back. I suspect that if he'd been taking pain meds regularly after his surgery, this wouldn't have happened. He began taking them on a regular schedule yesterday, and today he was much, much better.
I went to visit him and Mom today and had the opportunity to see his two tiny incisions. Each has one tiny stitch; if the stitches weren't there, I'd have had trouble finding the incisions! I'm always amazed by the advances in medicine.
He's still tired, of course, but his pain level seems to have subsided appreciably. I'm very grateful.
I went to visit him and Mom today and had the opportunity to see his two tiny incisions. Each has one tiny stitch; if the stitches weren't there, I'd have had trouble finding the incisions! I'm always amazed by the advances in medicine.
He's still tired, of course, but his pain level seems to have subsided appreciably. I'm very grateful.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Quite a Week
It's been a very busy, tense week in my little world. On Tuesday, Daddy finally had his long-awaited much-needed back surgery. He had a repair of a compression fracture, and all seems to have gone very well, thank goodness.
The hospital visit, though, was less than stellar. Don't get me wrong; he received excellent care. But he'd been told to arrive on the morning of his surgery at 11:00 a.m. with surgery to begin at 1:00 p.m. As usual, we arrived a little early, around 10:30 a.m. They took him back to the short-stay surgery area right away and put him in a hospital gown. Then they left him on the gurney in a curtained area until AFTER 4:00 P.M.!
Keep in mind that he'd been admitted for back surgery. Then left ON HIS BACK on a gurney for nearly SIX HOURS. Not good. He was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty before they even got him to surgery.
The procedure went beautifully, but because it was so late in the day when they finished it was decided that he should stay overnight for observation. We learned that "overnight" is a relative term. By the time he was released and we'd picked up a prescription for an antibiotic that he was given, it was 2:00 p.m. before we got him home. Nearly a full day after we expected to be able to get him home.
He was tired, irritated, and suffering from nicotine withdrawal by the time we got him out of the hospital, but luckily his pain level was not as severe as he expected.
This afternoon he was doing better, still having a little post-op pain, but much better than yesterday. I can already see an improvement in the way he holds his body, so I'm hopeful that the procedure has actually helped his problem.
What a week. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday!
The hospital visit, though, was less than stellar. Don't get me wrong; he received excellent care. But he'd been told to arrive on the morning of his surgery at 11:00 a.m. with surgery to begin at 1:00 p.m. As usual, we arrived a little early, around 10:30 a.m. They took him back to the short-stay surgery area right away and put him in a hospital gown. Then they left him on the gurney in a curtained area until AFTER 4:00 P.M.!
Keep in mind that he'd been admitted for back surgery. Then left ON HIS BACK on a gurney for nearly SIX HOURS. Not good. He was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty before they even got him to surgery.
The procedure went beautifully, but because it was so late in the day when they finished it was decided that he should stay overnight for observation. We learned that "overnight" is a relative term. By the time he was released and we'd picked up a prescription for an antibiotic that he was given, it was 2:00 p.m. before we got him home. Nearly a full day after we expected to be able to get him home.
He was tired, irritated, and suffering from nicotine withdrawal by the time we got him out of the hospital, but luckily his pain level was not as severe as he expected.
This afternoon he was doing better, still having a little post-op pain, but much better than yesterday. I can already see an improvement in the way he holds his body, so I'm hopeful that the procedure has actually helped his problem.
What a week. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday!
Saturday, February 09, 2013
A Busy Morning
I've been a slug all week. I'm still recovering from a vile sinus infection, so I've been really tired. The stress level at the office was even higher than usual this week, so that added to the fatigue. Last night I actually fell asleep in my recliner and woke just after 4:00 a.m. with a vile migraine and a fever blister. Happy Saturday. *bleah*
I had a lot of housework to do since I was too tired to do much of anything in the evenings after work this week, so I'd made myself a "To-Do" list for today. It was so long it made me tired just to READ it. So, I decided to just take each task on the list one at a time and work in 20/10 increments (20 minutes working/10 minute break). I'd just work until I ran out of steam and quit, no matter where I was on the list.
I did pretty well for about 3 hours, then just ran down. That's okay, though. I checked off several tasks, and maybe after lunch and a little nap I can check off a few more.
For now, though, a bit of knitting and Netflix sounds pretty good. :-)
My Dad finally got a surgery scheduled to repair the compression fracture in his back. He'll have surgery next Tuesday; we're very hopeful that it will help alleviate the pain he's been suffering for the past several months. Keep a good thought! The procedure is interesting, and minimally invasive, so his recovery time should be relatively short. Mom asked the PA how long it would be before Daddy could get on a treadmill, and he said probably a week or so after surgery. I asked Mom if she'd checked to see how long it would be before he could drive, but she'd forgotten that. I suspect Daddy'll be much more anxious to drive than to get on the treadmill. *LOL*
I had a lot of housework to do since I was too tired to do much of anything in the evenings after work this week, so I'd made myself a "To-Do" list for today. It was so long it made me tired just to READ it. So, I decided to just take each task on the list one at a time and work in 20/10 increments (20 minutes working/10 minute break). I'd just work until I ran out of steam and quit, no matter where I was on the list.
I did pretty well for about 3 hours, then just ran down. That's okay, though. I checked off several tasks, and maybe after lunch and a little nap I can check off a few more.
For now, though, a bit of knitting and Netflix sounds pretty good. :-)
My Dad finally got a surgery scheduled to repair the compression fracture in his back. He'll have surgery next Tuesday; we're very hopeful that it will help alleviate the pain he's been suffering for the past several months. Keep a good thought! The procedure is interesting, and minimally invasive, so his recovery time should be relatively short. Mom asked the PA how long it would be before Daddy could get on a treadmill, and he said probably a week or so after surgery. I asked Mom if she'd checked to see how long it would be before he could drive, but she'd forgotten that. I suspect Daddy'll be much more anxious to drive than to get on the treadmill. *LOL*
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sinus Headaches Suck....Just Sayin'
About this time last week I awoke with a miserable sinus headache. Over the course of the next few days it never went away. It sometimes lessened in intensity, but sometimes it triggered a migraine. My regular migraine medication (Maxalt) would help the migraine, but the sinus headache remained.
Yesterday it was more intense than it had been previously. Feeling truly crappy, I dragged myself to the office. As the day wore on, I felt worse and worse. Finally, at 3:00 pm I gave up and turned in a sick leave request for the remaining 90 minutes of my workday.
I drove to my neighborhood Walgreen's and purchased over-the-counter sinus medication and nasal spray. When I got home, I checked in with Mom and Dad, took a dose of the sinus medicine, sprayed my nose, nibbled a few crackers, and went immediately to bed.
I slept for a few hours, then awoke for awhile in the middle of the night. (Just in case you wondered, there's not much to watch on TV in the middle of the night.) I finally dozed off again and slept until 5:00 this morning.
I'm feeling a bit better. The headache has subsided, but I feel a little dragged out this morning. Several area school systems are on an altered schedule or closed today because of weather conditions. Oh, how I wish we were on a delay.....I really dread getting out in that cold breeze this morning!
Okay, enough whining.....time to get in the shower and prepare to face the day!
Yesterday it was more intense than it had been previously. Feeling truly crappy, I dragged myself to the office. As the day wore on, I felt worse and worse. Finally, at 3:00 pm I gave up and turned in a sick leave request for the remaining 90 minutes of my workday.
I drove to my neighborhood Walgreen's and purchased over-the-counter sinus medication and nasal spray. When I got home, I checked in with Mom and Dad, took a dose of the sinus medicine, sprayed my nose, nibbled a few crackers, and went immediately to bed.
I slept for a few hours, then awoke for awhile in the middle of the night. (Just in case you wondered, there's not much to watch on TV in the middle of the night.) I finally dozed off again and slept until 5:00 this morning.
I'm feeling a bit better. The headache has subsided, but I feel a little dragged out this morning. Several area school systems are on an altered schedule or closed today because of weather conditions. Oh, how I wish we were on a delay.....I really dread getting out in that cold breeze this morning!
Okay, enough whining.....time to get in the shower and prepare to face the day!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ever Have One of Those Weeks?
I've been trying to get rid of a headache since last Friday. Well, the truth is that I'd probably had it for a day or two before that, but I've become so accustomed to having a mild sinus headache that I don't even notice it until it's gone. Winter sucks.
Yesterday I thought I'd finally shaken the headache. I wasn't WELL, but I was much better. Then, wouldn't you know it, I got behind a school bus on my street, and the diesel fumes touched off my headache again.
Today it's dull.....bearable but just irritating. And first thing this morning I had to go have blood drawn for my regular checkup next week. I have a dime-sized bruise on the inside of my elbow to prove it. *ick*
When I got to the office I found out there'd been a minor disaster. Nothing that can't be fixed, but bothersome none the less. The rest of the day turned out to be a series of minor irritants. A bit like a swarm of tiny gnats on a warm summer evening.
This may turn into an evening that involves taking a long, relaxing shower, sipping a hot mug o' tea, and slipping into bed early with my Kindle.
Oh, yes, that sounds quite lovely. The best thing to do with a crummy day is to end it. Good evening, all, and I'm hoping for a better tomorrow! :-)
Yesterday I thought I'd finally shaken the headache. I wasn't WELL, but I was much better. Then, wouldn't you know it, I got behind a school bus on my street, and the diesel fumes touched off my headache again.
Today it's dull.....bearable but just irritating. And first thing this morning I had to go have blood drawn for my regular checkup next week. I have a dime-sized bruise on the inside of my elbow to prove it. *ick*
When I got to the office I found out there'd been a minor disaster. Nothing that can't be fixed, but bothersome none the less. The rest of the day turned out to be a series of minor irritants. A bit like a swarm of tiny gnats on a warm summer evening.
This may turn into an evening that involves taking a long, relaxing shower, sipping a hot mug o' tea, and slipping into bed early with my Kindle.
Oh, yes, that sounds quite lovely. The best thing to do with a crummy day is to end it. Good evening, all, and I'm hoping for a better tomorrow! :-)
Friday, September 07, 2012
TGIF
Yes, I know it was a short work week because of Labor Day, but still.....TGIF. I had taken Thursday and Friday off last week, so I had a 5-day weekend, but still....TGIF.
I returned to work on Tuesday, rested (no headaches for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!!) and resolved to have a good, productive week. I was determined to meet the oncoming stressors with calm reserve and deal with them one at a time, refusing to be overwhelmed. My good intentions lasted until about 8:45 that morning.
By yesterday afternoon, my migraine was so severe that I had to leave a couple of hours early. Luckily it was cloudy yesterday; I don't think I could have driven myself home if the sun had been out. I was violently ill by the time I got home and could barely call Mom and Dad to let them know I'd arrived home safely. I took my migraine medication, crawled into bed and slept for two hours.
When I woke up, the medication had worked its magic. I wasn't well yet, but my head was numb. Sometimes numb is enough to get me through. I'd been too sick to eat lunch, so I steamed a potato for supper. I called Mom again to let her and Daddy know that I was feeling better, then ate my potato in the recliner while watching a show I'd TiVo'd earlier in the week.
At 7:30 I felt the heachache creeping back in, so I took another Maxalt and went back to bed. At one point (still pretty early in the evening), my downstairs neighbors woke me with a VERY loud television in their bedroom. I stuck in my foam earplugs and went back to sleep. I woke at 4:00 this morning, finished a book I'd been reading, ate a bit of breakfast, and logged into Facebook to see what's going on in my friends' worlds.
Now it's time to shower and dress and face another day at the office.
I'd rather have a root canal.
I returned to work on Tuesday, rested (no headaches for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!!) and resolved to have a good, productive week. I was determined to meet the oncoming stressors with calm reserve and deal with them one at a time, refusing to be overwhelmed. My good intentions lasted until about 8:45 that morning.
By yesterday afternoon, my migraine was so severe that I had to leave a couple of hours early. Luckily it was cloudy yesterday; I don't think I could have driven myself home if the sun had been out. I was violently ill by the time I got home and could barely call Mom and Dad to let them know I'd arrived home safely. I took my migraine medication, crawled into bed and slept for two hours.
When I woke up, the medication had worked its magic. I wasn't well yet, but my head was numb. Sometimes numb is enough to get me through. I'd been too sick to eat lunch, so I steamed a potato for supper. I called Mom again to let her and Daddy know that I was feeling better, then ate my potato in the recliner while watching a show I'd TiVo'd earlier in the week.
At 7:30 I felt the heachache creeping back in, so I took another Maxalt and went back to bed. At one point (still pretty early in the evening), my downstairs neighbors woke me with a VERY loud television in their bedroom. I stuck in my foam earplugs and went back to sleep. I woke at 4:00 this morning, finished a book I'd been reading, ate a bit of breakfast, and logged into Facebook to see what's going on in my friends' worlds.
Now it's time to shower and dress and face another day at the office.
I'd rather have a root canal.
Monday, August 20, 2012
A Good Week Off
I was off work last week and was actually afraid to post anything about it in fear of jinxing myself! My time off lately has been few, far between, and an invitation for disaster.
As it turned out, I had a good week. I ran a few errands, visited with some folks, and got some much needed rest.
One piece of excellent news is that I had a 3-month follow-up visit with my orthopedic doctor, and he said my leg is healing beautifully and that I don't need to come back to see him again. *cautious happy dance*
The only day that I felt unwell was on Friday (coincidentally my birthday); I had a sinus headache that day, but felt well enough to read a book. A whole book. In ONE DAY. I can't remember that last time I was able to do that. Such fun!
I also managed to get a lot of knitting done on my nearly-finished sweater jacket. I just need to knit a few more rows around the neck and hide the ends on it, and I'm done!
I expected today to be rough at the office since I'd been off a week, and it was as I expected. *bleah* But the good news is that I survived my Monday, managed to get through it without a migraine, and am happily piled up in my recliner with a take-out dinner waiting for me to finish this entry.
Have a great week, everyone!
As it turned out, I had a good week. I ran a few errands, visited with some folks, and got some much needed rest.
One piece of excellent news is that I had a 3-month follow-up visit with my orthopedic doctor, and he said my leg is healing beautifully and that I don't need to come back to see him again. *cautious happy dance*
The only day that I felt unwell was on Friday (coincidentally my birthday); I had a sinus headache that day, but felt well enough to read a book. A whole book. In ONE DAY. I can't remember that last time I was able to do that. Such fun!
I also managed to get a lot of knitting done on my nearly-finished sweater jacket. I just need to knit a few more rows around the neck and hide the ends on it, and I'm done!
I expected today to be rough at the office since I'd been off a week, and it was as I expected. *bleah* But the good news is that I survived my Monday, managed to get through it without a migraine, and am happily piled up in my recliner with a take-out dinner waiting for me to finish this entry.
Have a great week, everyone!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Some Fridays Are Better Than Others
I only had to work a half-day today, which was good. I woke up this morning with an upset tummy and a nagging headache, which was bad.
On my way to work this morning, I heard "These Days" by the Foo Fighters on the radio, which was good. Traffic was really terrible, which was bad.
My morning at work was relatively quiet, which was good. My headache got worse, which was bad.
On the way home, I stopped at Cracker Barrel to pick up a take-out lunch I'd called in from the office before I left, which was good. When I got there they couldn't find my order and I had to wait for them to fix it, which was bad.
I made another stop on the way home at Office Depot and found a nice little laptop stand at a reasonable price, which was good. My headache continued to get worse, which was bad.
My last stop on the way home was at the post office, where I picked up a package containing my new laptop docking station, which was good. Traffic downtown was really, really heavy, which was bad.
When I arrived home, my take-out lunch was still warm, which was good. My headache was so bad by then that I was fairly nauseous, which was bad.
After lunch I hooked up the docking station, and it worked like a dream, which was good. Right now I'm in the recliner with the laptop hooked into my large monitor, keying this entry on a wireless keyboard, all of which is good.
Yup, the good outweighs the bad. It's a good, good Friday.
Hope yours is good, too!
On my way to work this morning, I heard "These Days" by the Foo Fighters on the radio, which was good. Traffic was really terrible, which was bad.
My morning at work was relatively quiet, which was good. My headache got worse, which was bad.
On the way home, I stopped at Cracker Barrel to pick up a take-out lunch I'd called in from the office before I left, which was good. When I got there they couldn't find my order and I had to wait for them to fix it, which was bad.
I made another stop on the way home at Office Depot and found a nice little laptop stand at a reasonable price, which was good. My headache continued to get worse, which was bad.
My last stop on the way home was at the post office, where I picked up a package containing my new laptop docking station, which was good. Traffic downtown was really, really heavy, which was bad.
When I arrived home, my take-out lunch was still warm, which was good. My headache was so bad by then that I was fairly nauseous, which was bad.
After lunch I hooked up the docking station, and it worked like a dream, which was good. Right now I'm in the recliner with the laptop hooked into my large monitor, keying this entry on a wireless keyboard, all of which is good.
Yup, the good outweighs the bad. It's a good, good Friday.
Hope yours is good, too!
Friday, March 16, 2012
It's Been a Good Day
It's race weekend in my little corner of the world. For those of you who don't happen to live in a town with a NASCAR track, let me tell you that race weekend changes the way things go in your town.
Bristol is a very popular track on the NASCAR circuit; it's a short track, and that makes for interesting racing. There are a lot of fans who prefer short track races, and Bristol always draws a good crowd.
Having said that, I will mention that we don't get the sell-out crowds we used to get. Times are hard, and the state of finances in the nation have taken a toll on ticket sales. Still, there are lots and lots of extra people in town this week, and it's interesting trying to get around right now.
I was off work yesterday and today; I had some compensatory time that I needed to take before it expired. I lost most of yesterday to a round of some sort of crud that made me headachy and mildly nauseous. I thought at first it might have been allergies, since everything around here has burst into bloom with the unseasonably warm weather. It didn't feel like allergies, though; it felt viral. *YUCK*
But this morning I awoke feeling much better, thank goodness. I met a friend for lunch at the Mellow Mushroom. It was my first visit there, and I highly recommend it. I had a calzone that was just wonderful.
After lunch I went to Best Buy in search of a laptop docking station. Why do I even try to look for something there? I've been in there three different times now and have never found a single solitary thing I was looking for! Oh, well. I'll go ahead and order one online like I thought I'd do in the first place. Then I went to Target to pick up a few things; as usual, I found a lot more things that I actually needed, but got some good buys all the same. After I left there, I went to Sugar Hollow to look over their campground. I still want to go to Grindstone, but thought it would be good to take a look at a campground nearer home in case I needed it. I then made a quick stop by the bank to pick up a little money.
As I was leaving the bank, I witnessed a car accident. There's nothing as sickening as that horrible crunch of metal hitting metal. Without going into too much detail, one vehicle hit another in the driver's door. The driver who was hit in the door appeared to be unconscious. I felt very helpless, but saw that others were coming to his aid, so I left. Such a terrible thing! I certainly hope he wasn't badly injured. There was nothing about it on the local news this evening, so I hope that's a good sign.
I was a little rattled after seeing that and decided I needed to get out of the car for a few minutes. I pulled into the parking lot at Sam's Club and went in for a little while to walk off my shakes. I wound up finding a few items I needed, so the stop served two purposes. In a short while I felt much more settled, so I drove home using the back roads and avoiding all the extra traffic.
I'm always glad to be home, but home looked especially good this afternoon. Except for witnessing the accident, it's been a good day.
I hope your day has been good, too!
Bristol is a very popular track on the NASCAR circuit; it's a short track, and that makes for interesting racing. There are a lot of fans who prefer short track races, and Bristol always draws a good crowd.
Having said that, I will mention that we don't get the sell-out crowds we used to get. Times are hard, and the state of finances in the nation have taken a toll on ticket sales. Still, there are lots and lots of extra people in town this week, and it's interesting trying to get around right now.
I was off work yesterday and today; I had some compensatory time that I needed to take before it expired. I lost most of yesterday to a round of some sort of crud that made me headachy and mildly nauseous. I thought at first it might have been allergies, since everything around here has burst into bloom with the unseasonably warm weather. It didn't feel like allergies, though; it felt viral. *YUCK*
But this morning I awoke feeling much better, thank goodness. I met a friend for lunch at the Mellow Mushroom. It was my first visit there, and I highly recommend it. I had a calzone that was just wonderful.
After lunch I went to Best Buy in search of a laptop docking station. Why do I even try to look for something there? I've been in there three different times now and have never found a single solitary thing I was looking for! Oh, well. I'll go ahead and order one online like I thought I'd do in the first place. Then I went to Target to pick up a few things; as usual, I found a lot more things that I actually needed, but got some good buys all the same. After I left there, I went to Sugar Hollow to look over their campground. I still want to go to Grindstone, but thought it would be good to take a look at a campground nearer home in case I needed it. I then made a quick stop by the bank to pick up a little money.
As I was leaving the bank, I witnessed a car accident. There's nothing as sickening as that horrible crunch of metal hitting metal. Without going into too much detail, one vehicle hit another in the driver's door. The driver who was hit in the door appeared to be unconscious. I felt very helpless, but saw that others were coming to his aid, so I left. Such a terrible thing! I certainly hope he wasn't badly injured. There was nothing about it on the local news this evening, so I hope that's a good sign.
I was a little rattled after seeing that and decided I needed to get out of the car for a few minutes. I pulled into the parking lot at Sam's Club and went in for a little while to walk off my shakes. I wound up finding a few items I needed, so the stop served two purposes. In a short while I felt much more settled, so I drove home using the back roads and avoiding all the extra traffic.
I'm always glad to be home, but home looked especially good this afternoon. Except for witnessing the accident, it's been a good day.
I hope your day has been good, too!
Monday, January 09, 2012
Difficult Times
We've lost a member of the family. My first cousin Tim had fought a valiant battle against esophageal cancer, but lost his battle last Thursday afternoon. Everyone who knew him remarked that he was one of the kindest people they'd ever known.
Tim was two years younger than me and was the first family member in my generation to pass away. I'm very sad that he wasn't able to beat the cancer, but very glad that he's no longer in pain.
I have to say, difficult times like these really make you rethink what's important in life. Hug someone you love. You never know how many opportunities you might have to let them know how you feel.
Tim was two years younger than me and was the first family member in my generation to pass away. I'm very sad that he wasn't able to beat the cancer, but very glad that he's no longer in pain.
I have to say, difficult times like these really make you rethink what's important in life. Hug someone you love. You never know how many opportunities you might have to let them know how you feel.
Friday, December 16, 2011
A Long Short Week
I took the last of my "take or lose" days on Monday and Tuesday this week. Even though I had those two days off, it was a busy, busy time! I sang the last three concerts of this season with the Madrigals on Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, and Tuesday evening. So much fun! These are talented ladies, and it has truly been a joy to perform with them this season.
On Monday I went to lunch with a good friend. We met at Fatz; it was my first visit there, and I had a delicious reuben. Sometimes it's hard to get a good reuben, but this one was really well done. We enjoyed a good meal and a really good visit.
After lunch I had a dental appointment to have a tooth filled. It had been a very long time since I'd had to have a tooth filled, so I'd forgotten how very numb I get when I have a filling. My WHOLE HEAD got numb! And I developed a lisp that rivaled Sylvester the Cat! I commented that I was really glad I didn't have to sing that evening because "Good King Wenceslas" would have been really messy with that lisp! *LOL*
So, after a busy few days off I returned to the office and had an unbelievably busy three days. Tonight it's raining; I'm all cozy in my apartment, watching the lights on my Christmas tree, watching "Criminal Minds" on A&E, sipping a Diet Coke and feeling drowsy. I'm tired, but very glad to be home and relaxing.
Not a bad start to the weekend. I hope you all have a good weekend, too.
On Monday I went to lunch with a good friend. We met at Fatz; it was my first visit there, and I had a delicious reuben. Sometimes it's hard to get a good reuben, but this one was really well done. We enjoyed a good meal and a really good visit.
After lunch I had a dental appointment to have a tooth filled. It had been a very long time since I'd had to have a tooth filled, so I'd forgotten how very numb I get when I have a filling. My WHOLE HEAD got numb! And I developed a lisp that rivaled Sylvester the Cat! I commented that I was really glad I didn't have to sing that evening because "Good King Wenceslas" would have been really messy with that lisp! *LOL*
So, after a busy few days off I returned to the office and had an unbelievably busy three days. Tonight it's raining; I'm all cozy in my apartment, watching the lights on my Christmas tree, watching "Criminal Minds" on A&E, sipping a Diet Coke and feeling drowsy. I'm tired, but very glad to be home and relaxing.
Not a bad start to the weekend. I hope you all have a good weekend, too.
Monday, October 17, 2011
My Week Off
Well, my week off didn't work out quite like I'd planned. I mentioned in my last post that I was going to visit Mom and Dad on Sunday. I did, and Mom was not feeling well at all, bless her heart. She had some kind of upper respiratory illness going on that eventually turned into bronchitis that required some steroids and antibiotics to get her cleared up. She was feeling so bad that she napped a lot during my visit, but I was just glad to see her get some rest.
On Monday, I went to the park as I'd planned and spent a lovely afternoon looking around in the nature center and walking the lakeside trail. I walked until I needed a little rest, then sat on a bench and knitted while enjoying the fallish temperatures and the beautiful fall colors.
On Tuesday I woke up sick. I'd caught Mom's "bug" and just felt miserable. So, from Monday afternoon until this morning I didn't set foot across my threshold. Never cranked the car. Didn't even venture out onto my deck!
Stupid virus.
The good news is that Mom's much better, and I felt well enough to return to the office today. My brief illness (and I wasn't nearly as sick as poor Mom) gave me the opportunity to pile up in the recliner, sip hot tea, knit, and watch a lot of things I'd accumulated on TiVo.
All in all, not a bad week. :-)
On Monday, I went to the park as I'd planned and spent a lovely afternoon looking around in the nature center and walking the lakeside trail. I walked until I needed a little rest, then sat on a bench and knitted while enjoying the fallish temperatures and the beautiful fall colors.
On Tuesday I woke up sick. I'd caught Mom's "bug" and just felt miserable. So, from Monday afternoon until this morning I didn't set foot across my threshold. Never cranked the car. Didn't even venture out onto my deck!
Stupid virus.
The good news is that Mom's much better, and I felt well enough to return to the office today. My brief illness (and I wasn't nearly as sick as poor Mom) gave me the opportunity to pile up in the recliner, sip hot tea, knit, and watch a lot of things I'd accumulated on TiVo.
All in all, not a bad week. :-)
Monday, August 01, 2011
I Need a Weekend
I need a weekend to get over my weekend! Friday night about 6:00 my aunt (Mom's older sister) took a particularly nasty fall in her living room, apparently hitting the bridge of her nose against the edge of a table. She's on a blood thinner, so the injury resulted in an immediate and horrific nosebleed of EPIC proportions!
The local rescue squad was summoned and they determined that she should be sent by med-flight from her home (about 2 hours' driving time away from where I live) to the hospital that's only about 3 miles from my home. When Mom called to give me the news I told her that I'd grab my things and meet her and Dad at the hospital.
We all arrived just minutes ahead of the helicopter and waited while the trauma team attempted to staunch the blood flow. They finally managed to slow it down enough to get a CT scan and some x-rays. I was dismayed to hear the doctor use the word "shattered" to describe the injury to her nose. They packed her nose to slow the bleeding, then told us that because they didn't have an ENT on call at our hospital that she would need to be transferred to another area hospital about 20 miles away.
We all went to the second hospital and waited for her to arrive by ambulance. There she received another x-ray and we got the good news that her broken nose was the only apparent broken bone. Unfortunately, we also learned that the doctor who needed to evaluate her nose wouldn't be available until the next morning (Saturday).
I said that I'd stay with her through the night since her immediate family wasn't able to make the trip to the hospital until the next day. Mom and Dad went home to get a couple of hours' sleep, and I stayed in the trauma room with my aunt until they were able to get a room for her at about 3:15 am. By the time they transported her upstairs and got her into bed, it was 3:45 am.
She'd been chatting away all night long, but when she got into a more comfortable bed, the pain medication kicked in and she fell asleep. As it always happens in a hospital, sleep is often interrupted by people drawing blood, getting vitals, etc. I didn't even try to sleep. I just sat in a chair in the room and knitted, waiting for the morning I knew would be coming all too soon. (See my knitting blog linked at the right for more about how I passed the time.)
Morning came, and Mom and Dad arrived with a delicious country ham biscuit and hot coffee from MickeyD's. I told them that the biscuit might not be the BEST thing I'd ever tasted, but it was pretty dang close! The day was spent waiting. And waiting. And waiting. My aunt (who by this time resembled a raccoon with her two black, swollen eyes) was in a great deal of pain that was relieved (or postponed) by doses of morphine. When the plastic surgeon (turns out he wasn't an ENT after all) arrived, she was so groggy from the morphine that he couldn't properly evaluate her. He said he'd have to wait until the next day to be able to check her properly.
Her grandson and husband arrived late that afternoon for a visit, so we went home to get some rest. We went back to the hospital bright and early the next morning and found that she was in a fair amount of pain because they'd weaned her off the pain meds. So the long wait began again for the plastic surgeon's return. The nurse told us that he was in surgery and that it would be at least noon before he'd be able to come perform the evaluation. Saturday afternoon it had dawned on us that part of her head pain might be a caffeine-withdrawal headache since she hadn't had any coffee or Diet Coke in 24 hours. (Like me, she enjoys her caffeine!!) As soon as they told us Sunday morning that she could have breakfast, we made sure that she got her coffee. She ate a good breakfast and it seemed to help.
When the call came to order her lunch, I made sure that she got Diet Coke. When her lunch arrived, she felt well enough to complain about the lack of salt in her food. *LOL* Around 1:00 we learned that the plastic surgeon was in a SECOND surgery and they didn't know how much longer it would be before he arrived.
It was a long afternoon; she was really tired of being in the hospital and wanted to go home. While we waited, the nurse removed her catheter (her IV was already gone by the time we'd arrived Sunday morning) and she received a bath and shampoo. This really helped her feel better, I think. I was amazed at how much her swelling and bruising had improved since just the day before.
When the surgeon finally arrived, he checked her nose, removed the packing from it and gave us instructions she should follow when she arrived home. Shortly after, we had her all packed up and ready to leave....finally!
We loaded her into Mom and Dad's Durango, and away we went to Dickenson County. Just under two hours later, we had her settled into her recliner at home, tired, still bruised, but safe and sound.
Mom had taken some OxyClean along to try to get the blood out of her living room rug, and she did a really great job with it. I did a few dishes that were in the sink and we washed some bloody towels that had been used to try to stop her bleeding before they called the rescue squad. Before long, we had her all squared away and we were ready to head back home.
We were all pretty tired by the time we got back; it was nearly 10:00 pm, and it had been a very long day. Mom checked on her today, and she said she was feeling pretty good, thank goodness.
It was a frightening experience all 'round, but thank goodness she wasn't injured more seriously! Just another reminder that we must never take good health for granted.
The local rescue squad was summoned and they determined that she should be sent by med-flight from her home (about 2 hours' driving time away from where I live) to the hospital that's only about 3 miles from my home. When Mom called to give me the news I told her that I'd grab my things and meet her and Dad at the hospital.
We all arrived just minutes ahead of the helicopter and waited while the trauma team attempted to staunch the blood flow. They finally managed to slow it down enough to get a CT scan and some x-rays. I was dismayed to hear the doctor use the word "shattered" to describe the injury to her nose. They packed her nose to slow the bleeding, then told us that because they didn't have an ENT on call at our hospital that she would need to be transferred to another area hospital about 20 miles away.
We all went to the second hospital and waited for her to arrive by ambulance. There she received another x-ray and we got the good news that her broken nose was the only apparent broken bone. Unfortunately, we also learned that the doctor who needed to evaluate her nose wouldn't be available until the next morning (Saturday).
I said that I'd stay with her through the night since her immediate family wasn't able to make the trip to the hospital until the next day. Mom and Dad went home to get a couple of hours' sleep, and I stayed in the trauma room with my aunt until they were able to get a room for her at about 3:15 am. By the time they transported her upstairs and got her into bed, it was 3:45 am.
She'd been chatting away all night long, but when she got into a more comfortable bed, the pain medication kicked in and she fell asleep. As it always happens in a hospital, sleep is often interrupted by people drawing blood, getting vitals, etc. I didn't even try to sleep. I just sat in a chair in the room and knitted, waiting for the morning I knew would be coming all too soon. (See my knitting blog linked at the right for more about how I passed the time.)
Morning came, and Mom and Dad arrived with a delicious country ham biscuit and hot coffee from MickeyD's. I told them that the biscuit might not be the BEST thing I'd ever tasted, but it was pretty dang close! The day was spent waiting. And waiting. And waiting. My aunt (who by this time resembled a raccoon with her two black, swollen eyes) was in a great deal of pain that was relieved (or postponed) by doses of morphine. When the plastic surgeon (turns out he wasn't an ENT after all) arrived, she was so groggy from the morphine that he couldn't properly evaluate her. He said he'd have to wait until the next day to be able to check her properly.
Her grandson and husband arrived late that afternoon for a visit, so we went home to get some rest. We went back to the hospital bright and early the next morning and found that she was in a fair amount of pain because they'd weaned her off the pain meds. So the long wait began again for the plastic surgeon's return. The nurse told us that he was in surgery and that it would be at least noon before he'd be able to come perform the evaluation. Saturday afternoon it had dawned on us that part of her head pain might be a caffeine-withdrawal headache since she hadn't had any coffee or Diet Coke in 24 hours. (Like me, she enjoys her caffeine!!) As soon as they told us Sunday morning that she could have breakfast, we made sure that she got her coffee. She ate a good breakfast and it seemed to help.
When the call came to order her lunch, I made sure that she got Diet Coke. When her lunch arrived, she felt well enough to complain about the lack of salt in her food. *LOL* Around 1:00 we learned that the plastic surgeon was in a SECOND surgery and they didn't know how much longer it would be before he arrived.
It was a long afternoon; she was really tired of being in the hospital and wanted to go home. While we waited, the nurse removed her catheter (her IV was already gone by the time we'd arrived Sunday morning) and she received a bath and shampoo. This really helped her feel better, I think. I was amazed at how much her swelling and bruising had improved since just the day before.
When the surgeon finally arrived, he checked her nose, removed the packing from it and gave us instructions she should follow when she arrived home. Shortly after, we had her all packed up and ready to leave....finally!
We loaded her into Mom and Dad's Durango, and away we went to Dickenson County. Just under two hours later, we had her settled into her recliner at home, tired, still bruised, but safe and sound.
Mom had taken some OxyClean along to try to get the blood out of her living room rug, and she did a really great job with it. I did a few dishes that were in the sink and we washed some bloody towels that had been used to try to stop her bleeding before they called the rescue squad. Before long, we had her all squared away and we were ready to head back home.
We were all pretty tired by the time we got back; it was nearly 10:00 pm, and it had been a very long day. Mom checked on her today, and she said she was feeling pretty good, thank goodness.
It was a frightening experience all 'round, but thank goodness she wasn't injured more seriously! Just another reminder that we must never take good health for granted.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Netflix and a Migraine
What's worse than a migraine, you ask? A migraine on a Friday afternoon. *ICK* I began the day with a dull headache that worsened gradually as the day wore on. By the time I got home, I felt decidedly unwell and hit the recliner with my netbook for a brief check of e-mail and a super-quick blog entry. As soon as I've entered this I'm going to take a couple of Excedrin PM and go to bed. No exaggeration.
I did want to enter a brief rant before hitting the hay. Netflix. I'm sure you've read about the upcoming rate changes on the web, but just in case you haven't, here's what's scheduled to happen on September 1. I currently subscribe to the one-DVD-at-a-time-plus-streaming plan for $9.99 a month. I don't usually get more than 3 or 4 DVD's a month, but thought this was a reasonable price to pay since I watch some of the streaming content when there's nothing on broadcast TV worth my time. My streaming is mostly old television series (Family Ties, Doctor Who, etc.), but it's been pretty neat to have it available.
Then I read on MSNBC that beginning September 1, Netflix is splitting their DVD-by-mail service from their streaming service. And here's the kicker. Each service is going to cost $7.98. EACH. With no discount if you subscribe to both. Puh-leeze. A SIXTY PERCENT INCREASE???
Keep in mind that their current streaming catalog has a very limited scope. In fact, less than it did when they first began streaming. It's mostly very old movies, very bad movies, and old television shows. It's not a bad selection if you're paying a couple of bucks a month for it, but it's certainly not worth $7.98. Not to me, at least.
As for paying $7.98 for the 3 or 4 DVD's I rent each month, I can pick those up at Redbox for $1 a night. Half what I'd be paying at the upcoming Netflix rates.
And now I will climb off my soapbox, take meds, and go try to sleep off a migraine. Hope the weekend is beginning on a happier note for all of you than it is for me!!
So, I'll wait until mid-August to see if they come to their senses and offer a better deal. If not, I'm pulling the plug. One of the reports I read online regarding the anger of current Netflix subscribers quoted a Netflix spokesman saying that the increase is only "a latte or two". Maybe so, but the $9.99 I'm currently spending for Netflix ($119.88 per year) will soon be spent for some other indulgence. But not a latte or two. I like my coffee plain and black and made at home, thank you very much.
I did want to enter a brief rant before hitting the hay. Netflix. I'm sure you've read about the upcoming rate changes on the web, but just in case you haven't, here's what's scheduled to happen on September 1. I currently subscribe to the one-DVD-at-a-time-plus-streaming plan for $9.99 a month. I don't usually get more than 3 or 4 DVD's a month, but thought this was a reasonable price to pay since I watch some of the streaming content when there's nothing on broadcast TV worth my time. My streaming is mostly old television series (Family Ties, Doctor Who, etc.), but it's been pretty neat to have it available.
Then I read on MSNBC that beginning September 1, Netflix is splitting their DVD-by-mail service from their streaming service. And here's the kicker. Each service is going to cost $7.98. EACH. With no discount if you subscribe to both. Puh-leeze. A SIXTY PERCENT INCREASE???
Keep in mind that their current streaming catalog has a very limited scope. In fact, less than it did when they first began streaming. It's mostly very old movies, very bad movies, and old television shows. It's not a bad selection if you're paying a couple of bucks a month for it, but it's certainly not worth $7.98. Not to me, at least.
As for paying $7.98 for the 3 or 4 DVD's I rent each month, I can pick those up at Redbox for $1 a night. Half what I'd be paying at the upcoming Netflix rates.
And now I will climb off my soapbox, take meds, and go try to sleep off a migraine. Hope the weekend is beginning on a happier note for all of you than it is for me!!
So, I'll wait until mid-August to see if they come to their senses and offer a better deal. If not, I'm pulling the plug. One of the reports I read online regarding the anger of current Netflix subscribers quoted a Netflix spokesman saying that the increase is only "a latte or two". Maybe so, but the $9.99 I'm currently spending for Netflix ($119.88 per year) will soon be spent for some other indulgence. But not a latte or two. I like my coffee plain and black and made at home, thank you very much.
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