Dad's Anniversary

 

It has been thirty two years since my father died from a multitude of ailments.  Kidney disease (renal failure), Lupus related ailments, High blood pressure.  He was a man who I always loved despite his shortcoming.  His temper is something I may have inherited.  Our family has always been dysfunctional and we have all had addictions (mostly alcohol or drugs.  Mine was food).  I use it probably like everyone else comfort, sadness, boredom.  Luckily before my father died he had managed to overcome the alcoholism.  Each of us has our memories of our Dad.  I miss him and continue to wonder what it would have been like if he had survived.  Would it have been any different than it was with Mom?

This weekend has been about the condo.  Friday night I had to meet up with the Optimum tech to fix replace the All in One box.  It took a while and 2 boxes later it seems to be working.  I would later learn that others through the city did have issues the night before.  I am hoping I won’t be having any more problems with it.  Of course Optimum has sent out storm management email

I usually spend part or all of the weekends cleaning the home and I started to but then Liz and I went out to Joanne’s Fabric to get material to recover the kitchen chairs.  Unfortunately because I don’t know how to count I have to go back and get more material today.  I forgot I had 5 chairs instead of 4.  Liz was absolutely sure of it too.  We had to run some errands before coming back to the house to work on one of the chairs.  I was too tired to do anything more last night.

I did manage to get a few things at the store that I needed.  How can I have coffee without cream or sweetener?  Apparently I wasn’t the only one either.  The parking lot was full.  I am not sure if it was just normal weekend or preparations for the impending storm that is coming later today.

I also got some more cat food while I was out (the canned food) I asked the clerk recommended and she gave me some cheap stuff but apparently good stuff and I also got some more Sheba.  I got a lot but I hope they like it I actually started with Sheba and will try the other stuff eventually.  The reason I got so much is I am giving them each a full can or whatever of the food.

I really need to cat proof the cabinets.  Sky continues to get into the cabinets and hide deep in the cavernous where I have some recipe books and boxes of dishes and what not.  I am getting tired of hearing him trying to open it.  I am also tired of repeating the word no and running in and getting him out.  He also has tried to get into the bathroom cabinets too.   Tiger got in a few times but I don’t think she has done as much (either that I am delusional).

Right now Sky is buried under the blankets and sleeping nd tiger is exploring the box of shades that Liz brought over yesterday.  I went to go pet her and she walked away now she is back to sitting on the ledge. 

Rich is supposed to come over today and put up the shades for the office and the bedroom.  I don’t know what time and I am not willing to call him to find out.  Even though Liz suggested I do that I don’t want to pressure him or make him regret agreeing to help.

Oh I heard from Bob’s discount furniture yesterday.  If I understand it right they are not going to replace it but give me a gift card to make other purchases.  I will never shop there again.  This is bullshit.  I sent the email to Liz.  I am furious.  Why would I want damaged goods?   A part of me is annoyed that Liz allowed it to stay and I am damn angry that companies continue to shaft people into buying crap.  I will have to discuss it with Liz.

Well it’s still early and the store doesn’t open until 10 so I think I am going to go back to sleep for a bit.

 

 

Nothing went as I had planned

 After having a fairly uplifting day between the credit cards getting their payments and getting the paycheck pay raise things didn’t go as planned when i got home.

I got home settled in and started cooking the chicken and feeding the cats and then checking emails and learning that the DTC meeting was last night.  

I was having a hard time with connecting to zoom last night and during the meeting when Chairman Rich was speaking the sound and the interference was abominable.  LUckily it was over by 8:30 because right after that I had no internet service.  

I checked the lines and unplugged and nothing.  I had made plans to transfer all the scanning I did at work for my personal files to the laptop so I couldn't do that.  I wanted to update my budget until 9.   I finally called the Provider and for the next couple of hours we worked on it.  It was nothing on their side so now he is sending a tech this afternoon.   I hope the guy comes at 4:30 like I asked.  The guy on the phone was completely understanding, especially after I went off on him about hte service (this was the third time this month it went off).  I couldn’t check any of my apps on the phone either but I kept receiving them.  

So my plans to do a lot of cooking, organizing, cleaning all went to the sidelines.  My hope is I can do it tonight as Liz would like to get together and work on the kitchen table chairs to reupholster them this weekend.  Again it depends on our levels of activities, health, and energy.  

It's been cold the last couple of days.  When I left the office on Thursday the thermostat in my car read 28 degrees.  The sun was out and blinding me a little.  I am not sure what the temperatures were over night but apparently it must have snowed just a little because I found a light coating on my  car this morning.  It is 14 degrees in Milford now and 12 Degrees in New Haven.  

Its supposed to stay brutally cold all weekend and starting Sunday into Monday a storm.  It looks like its going to be all day which is wonderful considering I have to bring Sky to his wellness check up-yippee!

I let Liz know that the other credit card payment was posted and now that one will be finished very soon.  She also told me the shades have arrived for the guest room and bedroom so that will be all set and she will get my nephew to put them up.

I joined another site this week at Sammi’s suggestion.  this is mine.  I am still trying find my way around the site so I can’t give a review yet.

Thankful Thursday 1/28/21

 1. I am thankful for my family warts and all.  BIL Nelson is returning slowly back to a semi normal health level.  He is currently doing PT as he spent time in the hospital this past month

Liz has continued to help me settle in with the condo and the financial stuff.  We did have some rough spots (at least from my view).  She is trying not to be so judgemental and controlling (at least that’s how I feel today).

2. I am thankful for my kitties.   They are loving the condo and finding new ways to entertain themselves.  They have been able to open the cabinet doors and hide in them.  Tiger seems to be returning to a good weight level.  I bring Sky to his wellness check up next week.

3. I am thankful for my job.  We got our pay raise check today.  It will definitely be helpful. Been busy at work.  We have had mice sightings. 

4. I am thankful for the house/condo.   Everything is coming along.  Liz and I put up some of the curtains we ordered recently and we have more to come (shades for the office/guest room).  The final piece of furniture is coming at the end of march.  I am also waiting on the new bed frame  for my mattress.

 

5. I am thankful for the Medical profession that keeps me on the road to good/better health.   I see Debra on Monday, but the rest of this week I have no appointments.  My Infusion is next week.  I got results of the recent blood work that I got for Dr. Sonia.  I am thinking we will discuss them at our appointment next month.

6. I am thankful for my friends.  I am really Happy that GillionC added Virtual chats to the activities for now as I am not making the in-person activities right now.  We have a special one next month on a Thursday.

The hiking with Friends has had some activities but I haven’t participated in them either.

I talk to Mama frequently and she is trying to help with the financial situation I am working on.

7. I am thankful for the organizations I belong to.  My new DTC district chairJustin has been sending out email updates a few times this month regarding fellow members but nothing overall.  

The Ladies Guild is off this month and February.  We will resume activities in March...

8. I am thankful for my neighbors.   I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to many of them.  Its been cold and I have been inside most of the time and when I see them I wave.  

I sometimes am afraid they have seen me talk to myself when I am leaving for work.  Especially if I Had a stressful time with family.

9. I am thankful for the weather. Supposed to be bitterly cold today.  Expecting another snow event by the end of the weekend.  We did have some snow midweek but there wasn't much to some.

10.  I am thankful for those who choose to protect and serve our country. Enough said.

11. I am thankful for those who are in healthcare caring for those who have been affected by this Virus.

MOnday Musings

 I thought my day was going to start wrong.  It sort of did.  First the wifi was acting wonky again.  Either that or the sites I was going to were having difficulties.  By the time I got home though they were fine.  

I also had a feeling because I allowed access to Mama that I had to reset it so I could just get on without problems.  I was aggravated because I knew something was going to happen and I just don’t like having to go through that every time.  She had asked me questions about the current payments being made on one of the chases and I knew we had talked about it.

Work went well, everyone was working on their different tasks.  I did the normal routine.  THere was a Corvid 19 working remotely class that I took and it was great.  Some of it was common sense but  there are some great tips.  We learned that the moderator’s office is in his home laundry area.  Oh and the equipment issue I mentioned yesterday was fine.

After work I headed home and fed the cats and did some odds and ends before my session with Debra.

The session basically talked about the things between Liz and I.  HOw she is trying to help but gets controlling.   Debra  reiterated that it would not be a good idea that she (Liz) is involved with the Trust because it could do harm to our relationship.

I will be sending her something Liz sent me earlier in the day.  An email that was sent to her as for informational guidance and I will send it to Debra  when I finish this.

After our session I ran to the store and went shopping and managed to get almost everything on the list.  I couldn’t get any more stew meat, or bay leaves but I totally forgot to get the stevia.  

I did get chicken, cereal, and more ground beef and other things for the recipes I am looking for that I can't find now.

When I got home I had some cereal, and tea and watched TV for a while and now I am going to bed.

The cats seem to enjoy their new beds now that they are sitting on the couch.  I am very glad about that.  I am glad Liz suggested that I put the t-shirts and the beds on the couch.  

They are also discovering ways to get into the cabinets close to the floor.  I may have told you Tiger ran into the coffee clutch cabinets over the weekend and I found Sky in the recipe cabinet.

Today is the family cousin chat

 

Later this afternoon is the long anticipated Phelan Family chat.   It’s at 4 this week.  I thought it was at the beginning of the month and was very disappointed that I got the date wrong.  I am not sure who is going to be there.  Well I do know of three people J, Sis and myself.  I hope I will be there.

The WIFI was out again and this has been happening at least once a week.  This is illegal.  The only other option is Frontier or something. It is a major complaint weekly.  I am tired of it.  Luckily it was rectified by 7:30.  I would have been pissed if I had to miss the family chat.

Before I do those I need to go grocery shopping, organize the office, and do some financial auditing of my own.

The sun is out and it is in the mid-20s it’s supposed to stay that way with some clouds.  I have discovered that when it says clouds it doesn’t necessarily mean rain clouds but the beautiful shaped clouds that you can find shapes in at times.  The next time we will have snow looks like will be Tuesday.  It also looks like we should be getting some snow showers the following week.

It is now just before 6.  This afternoon is almost a fog for me.  I got a call from Liz today with the news that Lawyer man has paid off my one of my credit cards and part of another card.   Liz will mail them off tomorrow and I should get confirmation in about a week.  I am supposed to show him the confirmation email when it arrives.

After that we worked on the other curtains and valences for the rooms and I am not sure when they will arrive.  Liz left around 3:30 and I got ready for the cousin chat.

I was the first to arrive, Judy and then Maura and eventually Liz.  I gave Judy a quick tour of the place and that’s just about the time Maura came in and then about quarter after Liz joined in.  I had no idea that Liz asked me for the link.  I hadn’t seen it until much later.  We talked about our family, Corvid and what we have been doing.  We were hoping some of the other cousins would join but that didn’t happen.  I did learn that siblings not on good terms seem to be throughout the family.  We are having another family chat in the next month or so.

Liz and I were talking about the cats being on the couch.  I was sharing how much I have been trying to keep them off and she said well if they are sitting on the blanekts its okay.  That’s not what she said before! J  She even suggested that I put the new beds on the couch and they would sit on them.  Well late this evening after the cousin chat one started and so I put the other one on the couch and both of them were on the beds sleeping.  So now I fully understand that it’s okay for the cats to be on the furniture as long as it’s covered.

After the chat I fed the cats and made some more turkey burgers.  I was too tired to go out shopping.  I also talked with Mama R.

WE had spoken just before Liz came about the finances she was giving me suggestions on what to do.  We spoke further on the matter about an hour ago.  I am not sure all the suggestions I am going to take.  That will have to be thought about more another day for now I am going to sleep.

This coming week should be fairly quiet:

We have another Covid19 zoom class on remote working tomorrow.  I hope my equipment is cooperating tomorrow.

Tuesday is Committee meeting.

My hope is to keep up with the eob scanning and work on the backlog refund scanning.  I hope to also reorganize my desk so it doesn’t look like there was an explosion.

I have my session with Debra tomorrow night.  Other than that I have no other appointments.

I am expecting some of the window treatments and the last remaining items for the condo to arrive this week. 

My sleeper sofa will be here later in march.

I am feeling optimistic right now.  I believe I know my goals and can achieve them.

 

 

 

Saturday Doings 1/23/2021

 

I just looked at the weather page for Milford and the temperatures read 27 degrees.  I have been looking out the window a few times since daybreak and could see the trees swaying so I would imagine it is cold outside and really I am not looking forward to going out.

Then I read it is supposed to snow this morning.   Um I see the sun shining out there.  Of course weather has a habit of changing minute to minute at times.  But I don’t see dark clouds out there.

I started housecleaning and started with the furniture blankets and dusting and cleaning the wood furniture.  As I was taking the blankets off the small recliner I noticed the clawing the cats have already done.  I can’t let them do that.  Despite the reassurances my colleagues have said.   They said it’s what they do.  I have vacuumed it and sprayed it with the repellent and hopefully trimmed it so it isn’t noticeable and I have to make a concerted effort to not allow them on it. 

I guess Tiger was spooked by the vacuum cleaner and she was heading to my bed and I went to comfort her and she ran into the coffee clutch cabinets and hid there for about 10 minutes.  I got her out as there are dishes stored there.  I sent a text to Liz and Jim telling them about it.  Neither have responded.  I can imagine Liz shaking her head saying ‘oh no no’ of course she got out and went under the covers next to her brother.  They came out when I was making lunch.

Liz sent me a message to call Bob’s to see about the info regarding the mattress.  I tried and it was so ridiculous.   I called them twice and whatever department I got they eventually hung up on me.  I wasn’t rude. I tried calling the woman who waited on us and didn’t get anywhere.  I will keep trying.  I am going to have to keep trying.

I finished the house cleaning just around 2 or 2:30.  I still have the office to do but not today.  I have the laundry still finishing up but the blankets are back on.  I have already had to take Sky off the couch.  They haven’t been on it since.  Tiger was sitting on the window ledge behind the couch and I figure it’s a safe place to be.   Sky was sleeping in the bed again and then when I was beginning to defrost the meat they came out.  He was sitting here but I think he heard the bell go off on the micro.

I made some burgers and had two for snack and I will have the other two tonight.  I just hope I don’t get sick.

I got junk mail and its under Mom’s name.  Really the woman is dead.  Well at least its mail.

I am not anxious about going grocery shopping tonight.

OH and I am over the Bernie Sanders memes invading everything.  I think its so stupid.

 

No snow yet either.

 

 

 

 

What a relief!

 

Earlier this afternoon I received a call from the Vet and Princess Tiger lily is fine.  I just have to keep feeding her more I also have to get that delightful fecal specimen and bring it to them.  They want to see her in six weeks.  That will be fine because that’s when I will be bringing her to get her nails trimmed again. I hope it will not be as expensive as it was this time. 

I still have to go through the annual checkup for Sky in two weeks   it will be the same amount I am guessing.  This makes it very easy not to send them to the vets with all this fees and cost.  No I am not planning on getting pet insurance.  It’s an expense I can’t afford ever.

Anyway, we are just sitting here on the couch quietly.  They are sleeping and I am surfing the net and trying to figure out what’s on tonight.  TVguide.com site did a major overhaul and is completely useless.  I thought I had it figured out but now I am not sure.

The only interesting thing on tonight seems to be X-men 3 the Last stand but I saw it last week. I guess I could just listen to my Friday night radio programs and fall asleep..

I managed to do laundry and that’s almost done. I had these big plans to clean the condo and that fell flat.

Busy Week

 At least it feels like it's been a busy week.  We had a four day work week this week because of the Martin Luther King Jr Birthday.  We are caught up (for now) on the EOB scanning.  AC has been trying to catch up on all her work from her extended vacation.  I have been able to work on the refund scanning backlog for the last couple of days.  I finished a box that was started back in late 2020.  

The mail has been surprisingly low volume and DG/shadow has been able to do it.  I learned this week she is retiring in October.  I am not sure how I feel about that.  She has been here since she was 19.  We have worked in this office (or department) through all of its renamings since 1990.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  I am going to have to get her something.

We also got word from both the union and HR this week that our yearly raise is happening.  It will be in next week’s pay stub.  I have no idea what I will be getting after all the deductions (I am not about to figure it out because I am not good with that) but it will be very good with the debt and a cushion.  I hope. It means I need to readjust the budget-again.

We have been getting covid19 updates regularly.  At least I think we are.  There is always something in the inbox from the Administration.  I am still trying to figure out when I am supposed to be going.  Although I do see notifications that people 75 and older go right now.  I will wait for either a reminder from the hospital or the providers will ask.

We also got news of Drs, moving to new positions, retiring, and of course passing away.  I don’t think  I heard of the most recent one but there are still many people I haven’t met or have been introduced to yet and I am here almost 30 years.

Things at home.  Well let’s see I still get aggravated and or annoyed a lot with Sis.  She came over with our cousins blankets to cover the new furniture.  It took about 20 and she commented she could see the litter on the small recliner.   It was fuzz.  

Then we took a few moments to relax and she mentioned the incident on the Anchor Beach-Woodmont group from last weekend.  She did admit that FB has its moments and she wanted to know what happened.   I said one did give me a hard time but a friend of mine came to my defense.  The other woman and I were fine.  I told her I had received an email like most if not all the people in the borough.  SHe threw out her patented  “Did it have to be said by you” crap.  I look back at as:  Speak only when spoken to?  

Then we worked on getting valances and curtains for the windows.  Apparently it didn't go through at first so I let her know later and she took care of it.  I am not sure when they are coming.  She also said next week the other blinds are coming sometime too.  She wants me to look for the other rooms too.  We did focus on the kitchen.

I admit she was helpful with the mattress delivery (that came earlier than scheduled).  It is annoying that that happened.  THen the guy texts me back saying he stopped for food. Excuse me?  I made my sister rush over to the condo so she could be there and now you are going for food?  The box spring had a tear in it so they took a picture and hopefully will replace it.  THe mattress doesn’t fit the bed frame so we had to order a new one with a headboard.  Liz did that last night.  Even that was an exercise in futility.  Now she is saying oh you really don’t need a headboard.  Considering the one you were showing me was $125? The bed frame I saw was almost $89.    It may have been all innocent in her eyes but to me she wasn’t listening and trying to control.  Oh and they will be here Wednesday.

She did also notice the cats on the furniture and she asked if I sprayed it again.  She also told me that one of them (I am thinking it was Tiger) was inside the Box Mattress/foundation mattress etc) and scared the shit out of the delivery guy.  

So I got home around 3:30 relaxed for a bit and treated the kitties.  Eventually putting the tiger into the crate with little to no problems.  Even taking her out a little early to hold her and comfort her.  She was literally rolling around in the crate (the collapsable one.  We took off just around 4:30 for the Vet.  I called in and they came to take her.

It seemed like forever as they called me and said she is very underweight and I was feeling guilty (we noticed she was underweight).  I was hoping nothing else was wrong with her and they were reassuring that after the bloodwork results come in the next couple of days.

They recommended a few things.  Foodwise separated them at feeding time. I started that when I got home.  Semi successful, and feed her more than I have been (like a full can of the wet food) and more of the dry.

I also had checked with them earlier in the day about the nail trimming (liz wanted me to learn how to do it) and they recommended that every six weeks for a fee of $18 that I come in and have THEM do it.  Liz asked me if I could afford it and I said yeah.  I know I couldn’t do it.

In the end the whole thing cost about $300 plus.  I was shocked.  Even though they have a Vaccination program called Vax4Life.   It would be $125 once and it lasts for the entire life of the pet.  I can’t do that.  Its going to be the same amount for Sky next month.

I spent most of the night hovering over her.  Holding her, cuddling with her and allowing them to sit/sleep on the couch.  I even had her sleep with me and I just couldn’t sleep (the coffee didn’t help either).

I did watch Moana and Twister and of course This Old House.  I also was working with Mama on the budget things.  I had spoken to her earlier in the afternoon about some things.  She feels that there are too many people involved with the lawyer and they shouldn’t be.  She is basing this only on things I have told her about them.  

I did give her access to my credit card accounts and she is going to look them over and see if there is anything that can be rectified.  I think she is gonna call me tonight or over the weekend.

My hope is to do the weekly cleaning tonight.  I know that usually I want my Friday night to be relaxed but I want to get it done and do other things for the weekend.

I had a great virtual meetup with the Finding Friends Group.  The original Owner Lori B was there from her home in Texas.  She gave up the group many years ago so that she and her husband could travel in a Van around the country and find a place to live (they were tired of this state).  She is going to be a guest speaker in February but she will be joining us from now on when she can.  I was excited to see that Gillion has added a Virtual cocktail party every two weeks along with the in person meetup in Guilford.

The Hiking with Friends group have had a few activities this past month.  I haven’t attended, not sure I want to be in person yet.Tomorrow there is a Hike in Goodwin State Park in Hampton CT.  Maybe one day.

The weather the past week has been cold, sunny at times and cloudy at other times. We had a dusting Wednesday morning and a few flurries later on in the day.  Its supposed to be very cold this weekend and there is a forecast of snow showers for Tuesday.  I was really hoping for a major snowstorm this month or in February.  It looks like we may get one according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

Well I will close out for now...

PS: Yes I know I didn’t mention the Inauguration. I saw a little bit of it and grew tired of the fashion comments.  I still do not understand the Memes that are going through with Bernie Sanders.  .As I said to Siduri.  I am missing the point.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

 

Today is the federal holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King JR and all his accomplishments.  I recently found out that Connecticut started recognize the holiday in 1973. 

In 1990 Yale at the encouragement of the Black Students league asked them to recognize the civil rights leader.  AT first it was an hour service and subsequently it became day off for all employees and staff, and students.  I know the union is inviting us to a service at 5:30 but I am not attending (it’s via zoom) I have my session with Debra.

Liz once again asked me if I was working today.   I told her no (we had this conversation on Friday).  I was about ready to scream when she asked.  Imagining what she could be thinking and writing.  Yes I am beginning to think she is taking notes to confirm or prove to her that I am abusing the time.

I spent the late morning cleaning the bedroom, living room, and did the laundry.  I had watched TV for a little while.  I even opened the windows and unfortunately broke the ledge.

When I realized that the service appointment I made Friday didn’t take so I called this morning.  I managed to get one for 2 pm today.  At first it was going to be just the oil change but as the time went through there is a Serpentine belt.  They said it can cost $200.  There were also coolants and that’s going to cost more.  The car was finished sometime after 3 and it came to about $220.  I will have the coolants done the next time. 

Before leaving for home I got messages from Liz wanting to come by with some furniture covers to put on the furniture.  So I am going to go home and have a snack and wait for Liz.

Ya Remember when?

 

Ya remember when I wrote Friday that I was feeling better and I talked to my sister>> well that was short lived.  The headache was back and I was heading home from picking up my regular prescriptions.  I called Liz back for something I can’t remember what and we got to talking about how my niece saw the picture of the cats on the brand new furniture.

It pissed both of them off and she was angry but she didn’t sound it when she hung up.  But I was angry.  I ended up calling Mama Roberta and ranted to her about it for nearly an hour or more.  We then discussed the credit card stuff and she wanted to now the interest rates and ending dates on the statements.  She explained that if it adds up to the minimum payment that’s fine but if doesn’t (like adding more) then it could be against me.

Most of that night I was semi successful at keeping the cats off the furniture, I also ended up ordering two self-heating cat beds.  They should be here by Tuesday I think.  Liz had sent me a link for a scratching post that could be adhered to on the chair.  She wanted to know what I thought of it.  I said it would be confusing the shit out of the cats. 

On Saturday hadn’t talked much with Liz until that night.   I sent her a text about one of the kitchen chairs coming apart at the split below.  She sent me a text that she had been literally in bed with the tooth infection.  She had texted me a suggestion that maybe cover the furniture with sheets or something to allow them to sit on the chairs especially,

So we talked on the phone for about 20 minutes discussing why she got so mad at me about the furniture.  She went on to say that it was hard work going shopping, researching, pricing etc. and to get Lawyer man to agree to pay for it(btw, yes I am aware  it’s my money but…).  She feels that I will not be able to get new furniture or anything nice again if it is ruined or not taken care of.  She also did that “you also said you would change”.  This whole thing isn’t lost on me either.  She feels this also took a lot of her emotionally, physically etc.  So all the things I said in my rant I never did get to say to her. 

She says she understands I want to have the cats cuddle and that they do sit everywhere and anywhere.  She related how a friend of hers was on the computer and the cat walked right across the keyboard because she wasn’t paying attention to the cat.  Liz supposedly understands this.  

In my own defense I said to her I do understand why and I don’t want to constantly be arguing about shit. I am not doing things to appease you either.  Although, I think keeping the cats off the furniture may be construed as appeasing.   We eventually went past that conversation and talked about the dining room chair which will be gorilla glued at another time.  I also told her I got the greatest electric bill ever.  The one thing I didn’t tell her was bout the Home again membership annual renewal.  So when we hung up we came to an understanding of sorts.

The weather this weekend started off to match my mood.  It rained Friday into Saturday and most of Saturday was gray and cloudy.  I do remember seeing the sun come out midafternoon.  Right now the sun seems to be playing hide and seek behind the clouds. It’s 41 degrees and that’s as high it’s getting today. 

I spent most of Saturday doing my version of cleaning.  Just before lunch time I cleaned the bathroom.  In place like this it should take probably no more than an hour.  It took a little longer.  I stopped in between and watched TV.  I didn’t clean the kitchen until later on in the evening (right before the phone call with Liz). 

I did spent the time after lunch and before the night watching my weekend programs the cooking shows on PBS.  The Aerial America shows on Sundance.  I am not sure what else I want to do today.  I know I have to work on the office and get it organized but I want to relax.  Put off today what can be done tomorrow.

 

Feeling much Better today

 After I posted my rant yesterday I did end up calling my sister and talking to her.   I started with the furniture part first (what is coming and when).  THen we talked more about the time and using it.  I did tell her I have tried to make my appointments for after work.  Let’s just say it wasn’t confrontational and it went well. There really aren't good results if confrontational.  She says she doesn’t want to be like Mom whenever I had the sprained ankle or the blood clot where she would say “Oh she can go to work?”. But, she doesn’t want me to go the opposite.  

I do admit my weird heachache encased my entire head and I am not sure what it was.  I don’t know if it is stress or the seasonal allergies..  It was like someone had my head in a vise.  It hurt to raise my head a few times.  I was anxious to get home.  

THe afternoon I worked but I was a little cranky.  I managed to restart the routine of scanning eobs, for a few hours in the morning, do the refunds in the afternoon, and sometimes work on the readdress but that didn't happen.  

The drive home was not that bad (barely any traffic)... I stopped at the mailbox and got some mail from the credit card company confirming that I do not want phone calls or texts.  THat they will only contact me via snail mail.  I don’t mind the email alerts but the phone calls yes.

When I got to the condo I discovered I didn’t lock the door!!! I was annoyed and it didn’t help my headache any.,  You can be sure this morning when I left I double checked.. The cats greeted me in their usual way (they are hungry and feed me now meowing).

I think I ignored them for a bit so that I could start cooking the chicken that I got from big Y last sunday.  I was going to do something unusual with them instead I just seasoned them and baked them for an hour.  I even tried one even though I had cereal for dinner.  To be sure the cats got their dinner too.

I ended up going to bed early despite the cats best efforts to annoy me.  They were flipping the dish rack (the flat thing) on to the floor.  They got sprayed a few times.  Eventually they calmed down and came to bed.  iT was about then I took the meds I am supposed to take and it helped me with sleep.  I am going to have to do it again tonight.  

Since I went to bed early last night my plans to clean the house/condo went nowhere..  My hope is that I can do it tonight so I don’t have to spend the entire weekend doing..

I did have an opportunity to get online this morning before getting ready for work and I was pleased to find out there are two virtual cocktail parties for the next two months.  The one in February is being hosted by the original creator/organizer of the group Lori..  It's been a couple of years since we last met with her and she and her husband have settled in their new home. 

I also learned that one of my classmates from Linden Hall lost her father yesterday.  I don’t remember meeting him at all during my time at Linden Hall.  I can empathize with her on losing a parent.

I can’t remember the last time we actually got some rain but that’s what’s on tap for the weekend.  It's going to be in the 40s all weekend.  The beginning of next week will be partly cloudy and again in the 40’s and later in the week in the 30’s.  I thought I heard we might get snow but the way things have been going...not so sure.

This will be our last three day weekend until April (unless we get bad weather).  I am trying to figure out what I am going to do with it.  I pretty much have an idea (the office).  Relaxing.  I have a feeling Liz said to me that the curtains should be coming sometime next week.

YM will be celebrating our first anniversary of moving to 2SP.  Of course two months later we shut down because of the Pandemic.  So we haven’t really been “here, Here”.

Well I have more work to do.  

Do Me a Favor?

 Stop suggesting to me when to set my appointments.  I have enough time and certain of these things are under fmla.  To keep telling me I have been missing too much work lately is really not your concern.  Stop telling me what your former employer did when people took too much time.  Apples and Oranges.  IF you think I have taken too much time you are certainly not going to like the fact I am home on Monday.  It's Martin Luther King Day.  Oh and please don’t tell me that when you were here 40 or 50 years ago it wasn’t like that.  I know,  it's called unions.

I would also appreciate it if you would stop telling me to keep the cats off the new furniture.  I don’t mind them on it.  I do however, mind if they use it as a scratching post and I have been on them about that.  Oh and it's my place not yours. 

 I am well aware I could lose said condo if I don’t do the things I am supposed to.  I have been paying my bills.  Keep reminding me it only is  going to piss me off and throw you and whomever else is standing there out of it and shut you all out of my life.  Don’t sit there and tell people how ungrateful I am because I turned my back on your “generosity”.

Rant over for now.

So yesterday was my infusion.  I got there just before 9 and from there it seemed like it was taking forever.  I had to go to registration, then up to the floor, and had to wait a little bit.  It was sometime after 9 when I had the vitals taken and sent to the pod was going to be in. The actual medicine needed to be prepped so It was nearly 11 when I finished (I ended up falling asleep during the infusion).  

I came home and spent the day napping and or watching NCIS and made dinner and after the late evening convo with Liz (that prompted the previous shit) I watched Star trek until about 10.  I had done some laundry and went to bed.

I had a dream. I was at the old place I drove up and saw someone working on a wood pile thinking it may have been next door Don.  Instead it was my brother.  We went inside the house. It was partially furnished and I saw the cats.  Next thing I know Tiger turned into a baby...human baby.  I could hear their voices..and I think something happened to a car.  That’s all I remember about the dream.

This morning the laptop went wonky so I waited until it was reset and checked emails and did the daily health check.  

The cats went back to sleep when I left.  Even though I said I don’t mind them on the new stuff I really hope they don’t keep clawing them while I am at work.  I will look for more of that spray/deterrent. 

I got an email this morning from Bob’s discount informing me that the next delivery The mattress for the bed and something else won’t be here until another few weeks.

Hoping for a good busy day

 I am hoping to have a good busy day.  As I am writing this the first two pieces of the furniture are arriving today  between 8:30 and 11:30.  They sent me a link to track it and I just don’t have the time.  I had arranged with Liz to wait for them.  However, I hadn’t realized she sent me texts asking me to let her know when they were coming.  The next emails were the furniture arrived, and my bill for her is now over $100.  The furniture looks great.  Liz liked them too.  I told her to stay and enjoy them.  Of course she wants me to call her and let her know what I think of it.  

My BIL is home resting and is tired.  Sis hasn’t talked with the Dr about Nel and my first reaction is ‘huh?

Since I couldn’t watch my normal programs this morning I left the news on.  I have to say it's okay.  I can watch my pbs programs and a few channels with dramas, and the normal network stuff.  At least that’s what I was expecting to do from now on but when I got home I noticed all the stations are back.  :) 

I folded some of the clothes I had in the dryer and put the rest into the dryer before going to work.  I can fold them before my session with Debra and after I send the list of bills and stuff to cheryl.  

Well I have more work to do...

This has been a crazy week.

 

This week has definitely been crazy busy for me.  Work was no big issues except I got annoyed with the zoom application because it wouldn’t let me back into a staff meeting.  I managed to do what I was supposed to and get as much as I could done with scanning. 

We didn’t have a union meeting this week which I am grateful.  The administration distributed new chairs to the staff who wanted to them on Friday.  Apparently didn’t meet to everyone’s standards.  The ones I saw looked great but I am easy to please anyone.

There is a learning webinar regarding dealing with Covid and stress I think on Monday.  That should be fun let’s hope it doesn’t get messed up on the computer.  There is another in a couple of weeks as well.

I have tried several times to write this week and each time I had put it aside or got distracted by something or another.  I can’t promise it won’t be that way next week though as a lots going on again.

AC will be returning from her extended vacation.  I can’t wait.  I really tried to get a lot done but I still had a lot of stuff to do.

Early in the week we got some of the monies due us from Lawyer man.  For some reason he has been insisting on working with my nieces on this.  He reimbursed me the monies I spent on the movers and that went into my savings and will be applied either to the credit card I did use or one of the other cards that has a high balance at this time.  I believe he reimbursed Liz for the junk movers.    He also approved monies (like $4k) for a new mattress, the new couch, and new chair, but he said he didn’t want me to get the sofa/sleeper couch because he doesn’t want people to stay with me.  So what did we do?  WE bought one anyway. 

He also made comments to my niece that my family is crazy. It was highly inappropriate for him to do that.  If I have an opportunity to say something to him I plan on it.  Debra sent him a detailed message after he reached out to her recently.  I will find out tomorrow night the results were.

Liz and I had a conversation when she came over to show me the checks. She was saying how this mismanagement of money and my behaviors abilities to take care of myself are fuel for Bob to indicate I am incompetent and therefore lose the condo.  That I need to rein in my finances (and she said she doesn’t want to know what I spent on in the past but going forward I need to be honest and not just justify “because I wanted” or perhaps “I needed it”.  She says I need to talk to Debra about the “addiction”.    I don’t like it when people tell me what I should talk or not talk about with my therapist. 

She also says that quite possibly he will be willing to pay for at least part of the debt and I would have to work on the rest.  We reviewed the interest rates and stuff a couple of times earlier or that night. 

 She also showed me how to use the mobile deposit app on the phone.  That will save me a lot of time in the future. 

When that conversation was done we talked about the furniture we looked at and decided we would order them.   So after work on Thursday we went and It took an hour and we chose the ones and starting tomorrow the new living room chair (recliner) and the sofa (which is also a recliner-I think) will be here.  The others will be here over the next few months.  March the latest.  We got my nephew to take away the sofa this morning (we asked Thursday).  We also told him what Lawyer man said and he was flabbergasted.

About the same time Liz and I were having that chat and going to the store, Cheryl contacted me and asked me what my yearly salary was and what my bills and expenses were. She said they are working on something.   I was supposed to gather those this weekend but I have been updating my budget this weekend and Friday I was too damn tired.

I had told Liz that Mama Roberta suggested I do a debit consolidation and so she said okay she reminded me to take notes.  However, I haven’t called about it yet because I want to see what Cheryl is doing.

I have been keeping in touch with Jim mostly by text. It has been nothing deep and not really discussing current situations with Lawyer Bob.  As I said to Liz I figured they have talked on the phone (yes I now realize huge stretch).  She feels he has done absolutely nothing of value other than discussions with Lawyer.  He has been working, and seeing Janis.

I talked with My Aunt Rosemary yesterday.  It was really tough.  Her short term memory is even shorter than I remember.  She did remember where I was living and I told her about the recent move.  I was not really comfortable talking about it.  I was hesitating about it.  The call was about 8 minutes long.  I have no idea how my sister or anyone else manages a 30 minute conversation with her. 

Right now Liz is staying close to home this weekend.  Nelson was admitted Friday morning to the hospital with a Blood clot but it turned out to be a clogged artery.  I don’t know when he is coming home but she hasn’t been able to see him because of Covid.  He is resting comfortably.  She has asked my cousin Donna to step in for the delivery.  Liz will let me know by the end of the day if she can.  She says that if Donna can’t do it I may have to take the day off but she really eels I take too much.  I told her I have the time.  She feels I have been taking too much time already. I don’t know how many more times I can say I have the time without saying something snarky in the end.

So I saw some doctors this week.  I saw Debra on Monday via Zoom.  It was a good session.  She told me about Lawyer Bob asking her stuff.  I told her she could reach out to him but I hope she documents everything.  In her last text to me she did send out a detailed message to him.  As I mentioned earlier I will find out tomorrow what the results were.  I hope if we have a zoom meeting and include him she lets me know because I will be really pissed.

On Wednesday I went to the hematologist and my numbers (white count and anything else) is good.  No indication of blood clots, or anemia.  That’s good because I think a day or two afterwards I felt light headed.  I left work earlier.  I did learn my co-pay went up to $30. 

I have also been having a lot of headaches lately, at least at bed time, I am discounting to the pillows still.  My sister has noticed and mentioned the light headedness I have been getting and that it might be more than I realize.

I went to the eye doctor on Friday and I learned it wasn’t scheduled for that day.  I guess they hadn’t scheduled yet.  However, the next one is in March.  I will have to put that in as soon as I can.  That’s just great.

Next week I have the cardiologist and my infusion.  I have already prepaid the cardiologist but I don’t have to pay for the infusion (covered).   It doesn’t look like I have much of anything else in the medical arena.

I had a surprise visit from Gillion C and Cyn Y from the FF meetup group last Tuesday.  They stopped by the condo while I was at work.  They left me a sweet note and text.  I would have loved to show them around but from what they saw in the windows they love it. 

That night there was a virtual cocktail party and there were about 12 of us.  Eileen was there too.  I haven’t seen Eileen since March or April when we stopped the virtual coffee talks and trivia.  She has changed much like at all.  I got to see Jackie B from work.  She looked awesome.  Stephanie was there too (she was at the beach meetups) but left because there was too much interference.  Either there was people talking in the background, or had multiple devices going.  To me that’s distracting and somewhat rude.

They also did have the Wednesday night coffee talk in Guilford but I was at the Doctor’s and got out at 5.   That was the night Liz came over I think to discuss the finances.  My hope is that once the finances are resolved and on some schedule I can start to go back to those on Wednesday. 

The hiking with Friends had some activities recently but again still trying to settle in and the finance thing is a big issue right now.

I spoke to Dave this weekend he is good.  We talked about the holidays, the situation with lawyer man, and where he is off to now. 

I did manage to speak to Mama Roberta.  She, like everyone else, agrees its not Lawyer’s man prerogative to tell me when or who I can have as guest.  I told her about the furniture that I got and I don’t think she flinched at the “new sofa” announcement.  You see the two blue couches  I did have she gave me before she left for LV few years back.

She did say she would put together steps for me to do the consolidated debt routine.  She will email me information.

The cats are settling in.  They have gotten into some mischief here and there.  One day I found Sky on top of the cabinets in the corner of the kitchen.  I have found tiger on the dresser a few times.  They a little perplexed as the couch they are usually sleeping on or sitting on with me is gone but as I mentioned a whole new one is coming tomorrow. 

They both get on the kitchen counters like they did in the old place and try to eat or drink stuff so I have learned to either put food away or in the stove or micro until I am done with them.   Sky broke the butter dish cover last week.  I can’t keep the butter out as they still try to eat it. Eww!  They both have their annual checkups in a few weeks.

Well Echoes radio show is on so I am going to listen to that for a while before I fall asleep..