The Best time

I had the best time yesterday.   I left here a little after 10 and headed to Killingworth.  Unfortunately some trucker from Unifirst was being obnoxious by blowing his horn at me.  Admittedly I wasn’t speeding but I may have slid into his lane inadvertently.  Not my finest moment.

It was just about then when I realized I could get the phone map to play through over the Bluetooth and I didn’t have to hold the phone or keep looking over at it.  Then again the phone was going wonky throughout the day so a few of the aps didn’t work for me.  Like the map my walk and my pedometer wigged out on me too.

The route to the farm was becoming familiar as it was close to my Nephew Jr. and his family’s home.  There were plenty of hills and beautiful homes. 

 I arrived to the farm shortly before the agreed time.  G, and a few others were waiting.  Eventually others arrived and we began walking around the pond.  There were little garden set ups along the path and they were adorable.  I took a few pictures of that and the giant Chess board and we walked through gardens and it was just a lot of fun.  When we finished walking around some of the ladies went into the small shop that had the various items infused with lavender.  When they were finished we went to our cars and headed to Niantic.

At this point the phone was continuing to have a hissy fit and making me frustrated.  The route from the farm to Niantic was the most rural and beautiful area ever.  While I was admiring the beauty around I was becoming increasing worried because the gas was low and there was no gas station that I could see for miles.  Not even on route 9 and or 95.  The last service area is Madison CT.  I did find a station about 5 minutes before going into Niantic and I was relieved.

AS I drove down Main Street I could see the ladies all waiting in front of the Candy shop.  I ended up parking in the credit union parking lot across the street.  It was busy even though it was post pandemic.  We waited a little longer and then began the walk along the board walk.  Everything was beautiful.  There were people on the beach, in the boats.  WE could even see the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford.  I don’t know how long it took us to get to the end and then walk over to the side where it would take us downtown.  We had to wait for one person who had trouble walking.  I felt bad for her because I have been there.  We eventually lost her by the time we got to Dad’s Restaurant.  I guess it’s a popular restaurant.  I got a seafood salad sandwich (didn’t eat the bread) but most of us sat on the edge of someone’s front yard. 

A few of the ladies had to leave early and so many of us headed back towards our car.  By the time we got to the candy shop it was JackieB, G, and I and eventually G’s hubby joined us and we talked for another hour or so after we had ice cream.  I think it was five by the time I headed home and was hoping to find a place for coffee because by then I was tired.  I got Coffee in Branford because the Madison rest stop didn’t have a drive through. 

It was about 6 when I got home and the cats were indignant.   I fed them, finished my coffee, called Liz and then started dinner, and started separating some of the meat I got on Friday.  I was impressed that I actually pushed through the exhaustion to do it.  I cleaned up the kitchen and just about 9 came upstairs to listen to the Saturday night radio program.

Unfortunately I didn’t really sleep because of the coffee and the lots of things on my mind.

Today was equally beautiful.  I got up fed the critters, and decided to sleep again and then decided to prep more food that I didn’t finish last night and then cook a roast.  The chicken is still waiting in the fridge and that will be tomorrow’s project.

I finished the laundry and straighten up the kitchen and then decided to call Dave. 

We spent two hours talking about stuff.  He was asking me questions about the diet and nutrition and I tried to explain how and what AW believes in.  He was asking me about prices for Personal training and I really couldn’t answer him.  He didn’t understand why I didn’t just cook the stuff when I needed it.  Because by the time I want to eat it could go bad.

The rest of the day I flaked.  I had one of the pork patties I made yesterday and watched TV.  I slept or got on the computer late in the day.

This week is bulk pick up so I put some stuff out.  I think they are picking it up on Thursday I hope.  I was going to put more out but it’s the old Cuisinart and it has sharp blades.  I may just take it to the transfer station this week.

Liz was asking me about the lawn service I use now so I gave her the information last night and texted her morning to see if she got but never replied.  I really wish she would acknowledge it.  They came while I was at the meetup. 

 I don’t believe it…Tiger spent some time sleeping next to me tonight.  Maybe it’s the treat I gave her earlier today.  Let’s just hope I don’t find another hairball like I did when I came home yesterday.  I think Sky ate the ribbon from something and it was on the ledge in the back room.

I did manage to fend off male pen pals again.  I am reviewing the potential pen pal list I have.  I am waiting to hear from the most recent ones.  I updated the pen pal blog as well.

Dear Mom 10/20/2014

Dear Mom,

    It was a chilly and frosty morning and it didn’t    get any warmer than 60 today.  The rest of the week promises rain.  

    I had every intention of getting up at 5:30 this morning but after getting an early morning text message from Jim at 4 in the morning I saw no reason to get up that early.  I stayed in bed until 6.  I did get ready for work and was out the door a little after 7.  The things I had planned on doing can wait until I get home.

Work was good.  Mail volume was late and light.  It allowed me to work on the re-address mail for most of it.  We had an in-house retirement party for Gloria O.  Her dinner is next week.

I sent out the reminder yesterday for the 4th District this week.  We are having it at the Headquarters and so far its been six responses-out of twenty-five.

It looks like I will be heading to PA for Thanksgiving.  Although Jim is going to check with Ethel and see what she is doing.

I was looking at one of the mass cards I don’t recognize the name of the person and I don’t see a matching envelope.  Its frustrating because I was going to write out a thank you note.  Now that I was frustrated I didn’t get any done.

The computer (both the laptop and the other one were giving me a hard time and I could tell I was getting tired.  Things were slowing down or not moving.  There isn’t anything on the laptop except some of your files.

I am going to try and sleep but I don’t think its going to work.

Dear Mom

Dear Mom

    There was a beautiful sunrise this morning the sun was coming up bright orange while there were clouds everywhere else.   It took your breath away for sure.  Tonight will definitely be a different story.  Clouds have moved in and severe weather is being predicted for tonight along with coastal flooding.  I am expecting thunder and lightening.  Apparently many areas across the country is having bad weather.

    I felt better this morning then I did yesterday and I am able to move a little better than before as well.  By the end of the day was a different story.  My feet swollen and my legs tired.  I was still able to get up and out of chairs better and it did take time to get out of the car.  I just have to remember that I need to lay off the cheese or anything with salt but you know how I am.  I was pretty cold for most of the afternoon.  I am fine now.

My appointment with Dr. Shapiro went well.  It took about an hour all together for the tests and follow up appointment.  My next appointment will be in April of 2015.  After the appointment I called Liz to update her  and I learned some interesting things.

When I called Liz she was spring cleaning.  Cleaning, and repairing anything  that needs to be done.  When she told me the reasons I was thrilled.  She found out that Audrey and Jason may be here for Christmas this year.  Its not set in blood or stone yet but this  tentative.    She is also scheduled for knee surgery sometime soon.  I offered to be there for her but she declined.    She also wanted to make sure I wasn’t lonely and getting out with people.  I told her I was.  I went through the list of things I was doing in the next few days.

After the conversation I headed home but stopped at Lucky Dragon for pork fried rice.  I just didn’t feel like having salad.  I got a quart of it and had two servings.  I probably will bring it to work tomorrow.  I admit it wasn’t filling but I am not giving in to it.  I am also pretty comfortable in the bed already. LOL.

It is now getting to be 7 at night and it is NCIS night.  I  am definitely looking forward to tonight’s “Ducky” episode but not so much for the NOLA.  I like the cast but the episodes seem like a re-hash of the original.

The mail was uninteresting.  Mostly coupon books and promos and estate selling flyer.  I threw that one out quickly.

Well I will see you later....

Kate

Dear Friends

September 3, 2013



Dear Friends:


I hope all is well with you all.  I had a very rough start to the day and ended up having to stay home from work.  I woke up with a migraine and had a serious Dizzy spell that lasted what felt like forever.  Mom and I believe it was the food I had yesterday at the two picnics.  When the dizzy spells finally stopped I was able to sleep all day.  I did get up a few times to answer emails and make some calls and try to watch TV but I was too tired.  I couldn’t get over how quickly time passed today.  I had to cancel my volunteering at the Union office for the phone banking today too.

I wasn’t the only one who got sick.  Mom also got sick as well.  She did her own thing today and still managed to go to a Bridges Board meeting and got home just before seven.  Now she is in her pajamas and having tea and watching PBS News Hour (plug plug).

It is clear I have to make better choices for eating.  Whether it be dinners, picnics (really didn’t have to eat a second time at the second picnic), parties, and or meetings.  I don’t know what set these dizzy spells but it is all part of the lupus. 

I did  manage to have a bowl of cereal with milk and so far its stayed down. I have a huge water bottle with Crystal light peach tea in and hopefully that will reenergize me as well. 

Well I am going to crash for now.  I am going to watch NCIS and then see if I can get some sleep for the night.  As I told one of  my Pen pal Club members if I don’t get sleep tonight I will be unbearable tomorrow.  I am guessing I have a ton of mail to do

Good Night

Rushing Around

For the last couple of days I have been rushing around.  I overslept on Thursday and was caught in traffic getting off the street and coming home for the last two days.

Work has been busy but good got a lot done but as always still have lots to do.  The retirement party for Hyacinth was wonderful saw many people I haven’t seen in a long while.  

The weather has been chilly and had more rain.  It rained a little while I was at the retirement party but I was trying to remember if it rained earlier in the day  For some reason I couldn’t.

I have also been preoccupied with some stuff here at home.  Mom has been disappointed in my housekeeping skills lately.  I have been pretty angry with her attitude and I am really tired of the crap.  I told her I am doing the best that I can and if she wants me to do something she needs to ask. I am not a mind reader despite what anyone else might think.

So while I have the house to myself for the next several hours I am  trying to get stuff done.  In some ways to prove to Mom that it can be done when she won’t be here.  As I told her it will get done not necessarily when she wants it but it will get done.

Oh where is Mom you ask?  We were invited to go down this weekend to celebrate Kristina’s HS graduation.  I told them I couldn’t come down on Friday because of the retirement party and oh what is that thing called?  Work.   Do these people even think about my commitments?  I told them I could beg off the Mexican train game session to go down but Mom says she is coming back this afternoon.  It gets me angry just thinking about it.  

I am pretty sure Mom is discussing the ongoing plans for the future and about me (as though I am mentally incapable of taking care of myself) with Jim and I am expecting a phone call or email from him soon.  I had a phone conversation with Liz on Wednesday about stuff and that’s pretty much when I stopped writing for a couple of days.  

Liz says that Mom wants to make LIz my conservatore.  Liz says she doesn’t want to be nagging about the bills yet in the same breath she says she is going to do that anyway.  I say Like hell.  She then talked about finances and about who and how we are possibly paying for the funeral and or reception/gathering after that.  She even suggested she would help with my budget.  I declined and told her I have a budget.  Although I don’t think a list of all the spending and bills is quite enough of a budget.   They are going to be topics of the next session with Debra.

This afternoon I am going to M&R’s for our monthly Mexican Train Game session.  We are going to have a cookout/buffet style if the weather cooperates .  That will be around two.  

We are still getting flood warnings for the Housatonic River at Stevenson Dam.  Yesterday the news  reported there are concerns about it flooding.  I am not sure if my immediate area is in danger but the Housatonic is probably five miles from me (at least the lower half of it is).  It may make driving around there dicy.

Well it is getting late (I can’t believe it's after 10 already) and I still have things to do.  Apparently have emails to answer as well.  So I will close out for now.  Have a great day.

I didn't know

Yesterday Mom told me how she spent her day and one of the things she did was to go to the attorney to have her will revised.  i asked her how it was done.  She gave him information and he will make sure it will be legal and so forth.  I just looked up how to make a will and found this out about a Social Media Will.  No it isn’t what you think (at least I don’t think it is) but it is what to do with the content and access of the social media accounts once you die..  It is amazing how social media has influenced our lives.  

Work went well.  I got a lot accomplished again.  I got reminders for things that need to be done like compliance training and some other thing.  We also got a reminder to update our emergency contact now that Hurricane season has begun (June 1st).

WE had some interesting weather today.  It rained for most of the morning.  The sun came out at lunchtime and from 3:30 on it was raining and raining hard by the time I left the office.  It let up for a short time and then it started again and now I think its dome for the night.

When I got home the construction crew was still working on the road and guided me into the driveway.  They didn’t stop until close to 6.  We were in the middle of my cooking lesson still too.

TM came around 5.  We set the counter up with the recipe and the ingredients for Apricot and current Chicken..  It was from the same recipe I have linked to but we left out a few things.  Because our oven was not cooperating it took a little longer to cook.  Overall I did pretty good.  WE had basmati Rice with it as well as salad.  We ate it after TM left to do her own things.  I sent her emails thanking her again..  She will be getting more recipes for me to try as well.

The rest of the night I got more of my summer clothes out and did laundry.  It is pretty much done but I am not really up to finishing the rest of it tonight.  I have been a little achy and the muscle spasms are hurting.  I really need to get that plaquenil.

Well that ant poison must be working the tiny little ants are gone but now we have carpenter ants.  We noticed them in the last couple of days.  I am not sure if its the construction outside or its just their time again..  We usually get them for a few days then they are gone for the rest of the time but with all that’s been going on with the  construction and the weather we might have them a little longer.

Well I better get to bed.  I have another long day ahead of me tomorrow.  HOpe you have a great one.

A Lovely Afternoon

Spent a lovely afternoon at the Mercy Center to hear a friends poetry reading as well as music and art.  Each of them experienced life threatening events and learned how to deal with it through different aspects of art.  It really was a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.

The only downside was I had been sneezing and sniffling through the entire day and I just was beginning to feel miserable.  It all started before I left for bingo.  I am thinking that the pollen and the rain started it all for me.  

I left the house just after 8:30 my plans to attend an early mass went out the window and so I headed to Dunkin donuts for breakfast.  I went to the nursing home and had breakfast and then went in and hung around.  I was there before everyone came in.  AFter awhile people came in and so I spent time chatting.  Time sort of just got away from us and then we got ready for bingo.  We did start on time and finished on time.

I came directly home and Mom was multi-tasking.  She was starting to get our dinner ready for when we came home, and she was getting directions for the ride to Madison.  We also had lunch and then we took off.

As we got half way there Mom remembered she had turned the oven on (low) and left the food on the top of the stove.  We just continued to the Center.  When we got back after the program she put it in the oven and I went to the store.  We needed vegetables for the secondary dishes.

While the dinner was still cooking I took some cold medicine and slept for a while.  Unfortunately just before dinner was being served I got sick and so I had to clean everything in the bathroom. So Mom delayed dinner until I was done.

We had pot roast and it was quite delicious.  We had potatoes, and roasted vegetables and peas for dinner.  it was a great meal for a rainy afternoon.

The rest of the evening was spent watching TV including the season finale of Call the Midwife.  It had the feel of a season finale even though at the time I didn’t realize it was until I looked on the PBS site.  

I just have a few more emails to send out and drink some Chamomile tea and then I will be going to bed so that I can be up early to start the week again.

Didn't Snow at All today

Well  it looks like the local weather forecasters over reacted to the snow.  It did come overnight but it was not a lot.   From my fellow statesmen it would the same for them as well.   The current temperatures in Milford right now are mid 40’s  and will remain this way for the rest of the week.  That much they had said late last week.. 

I stopped at D&D this morning and there was no waiting to speak of.  I told the girl who waited on my that Kristina works at a D&D in Allingtown.  When she asked me how she likes it I said “she is 17 how do you think she likes it?”.   It cuts into her rather short visits here  and I would imagine it can be frustrating at time yet liberating because she is getting paid.

I showed up at the nursing home close to 9:30.  I went directly into the nursing home and visited with the residents and then started getting coffee.  I had to get the key from the nursing supervisor . 

WE got started late because well I am not sure why.  We had the nice woman from Christ the Redeemer provide us with Communion.  We then got to playing and we played for the entire hour.

After cleaning up I left and head to the picket line to chat with them for a bit.  They are just waiting for the Judges to sign off on the injunction that was in place.  There are things that need to be done from the top level of the union (such as make sure everything is still in place for them financially).

I  got to church late (gee what a shock).  The parking lot seemed very full to me and at first I thought it was something going on (such as a christening, baptism) but as someone suggested it was parishioners resolutions to come back to church. 

Anyway it looks like Liz was right about the Pastor deciding to close the church hall  on Sundays.  I hope I can explain it as best as possible.  The church hall is attached to the attar and if there is no room or you have children crying or in my case you are late you can slip in unobtrusively (usually) it has been used for as long as I have been attending the church (read: years and years).  Now Father Aiden is trying to save money where they can (ie heating the hall) and promoting the spirit of the liturgy.  So the early morning masses on Sunday (crack of dawn and after dawn)  that would be 7 and 8:30 the church hall will be closed.  I am thinking that in time it will be all the masses,

As I said Father Aiden is hoping to make a number of changes and he has already.  He is hoping to add  a children’s Mass to the schedule (like every other week).  I actually kind of like it. 

When I got home Mom was in her office.  Her printer has for all intensive purposes  died.  It is the hard drive.  She didn’t know it at first  but after a visit from Don and when it happened a second time and her spending a lot of time with HP it was discovered the Hard drive crapped out.  All in the middle of her paperwork.

The afternoon has been spent doing laundry and hanging the shower curtains.  I had to put them up because Mom wanted me to.  (I am sparing you the reasons behind it).  It took me a while to take them down and then when they were washing it was hard putting them up. 

I have a feeling I am going to be up late doing the laundry.  I really didn’t want to but  they are going now.  I guess I have done about 4 loads today (and some are smaller than others).

In a short while Mom and  I will be having Shrimp and Crab cakes with Rice for dinner.  It was so spooky because when she suggested I had been thinking about it earlier.  Really spooky.


I did have a great conversation with my friend Mardi.  We talked about the weather and the Flu outbreak that seems to be grabbing everyone.   We really want the snow.  Speaking of weather the temperature is supposedly at 40 degrees. 

Okay I am going to check the laundry and I will try and stop in later on before going to bed…

Whoa Breakfast and Lunch!

I didn’t get to work until after 8:30.  Joanie was here and told me there were muffins and bagels in the boardroom and we were to help ourselves.  At lunch we will be having pizza and of course Joanie told KBunko I would be here.  I chatted with Joanie once I got here and then checked in with KBunko.  

Now I am just working on a batch (for the past freaking hour) of Tricare.  I also set up my scanning spreadsheet and I was informing Joanie about Larry Hagman’s death.  She didn’t hear about it until today.

Hey it is now quarter of 12.  I have managed to scan about seven batches.  Joanie reminded me its okay it depends on lots of factors (size, preparation, problems etc).  I think we all know what else has been going on.

Weather report?  Well it was very cold and windy out this morning.  I nearly lost my hat in the middle of the street this morning.   There is no snow on the ground nor is it raining either.  There are some chances during the weekend but for now its just clouds.

I talked with Mom she was successful at getting the christmas cards she wanted sort of.  She got them at the Notre Dame HS Holiday fair.  She says she will go shopping for part of the afternoon.

I really have to do laundry when I get home.  I think there may be an NCIS marathon tonight but it could be tomorrow night’s.  

Well I have just over an hour and a half to go before I leave here so I will say see you all later.

I saw David Yesterday

I left the house later then I should but I did get to stop at the DD near the nursing home.  I chatted with the picket line and then went inside.  Shelly was there and so was Matt we chatted.  Some of the residents were getting a little rowdy and I put my foot down.  I just said if they couldn’t behave they would leave.  As the morning progressed we had six or seven games but no coin for the games.

After the games I went to church.  I  was only a few minutes late but they were just finishing prayers between the two readings.  After church I was about to call Liz (I had the gifts that Claudia sent) but I got a call from Dave.  He wanted me to accompany him to Vinny’s Garden Center and run some errands with him and then we would go to the movies later.  We agreed to meet back at the house by 1:15.

After the call I called Liz and made arrangements to come over for a short time.  Chris, Audrey, Jason were tehre when I got there.  They were having Thanksgiving #2 that afternoon.  I spent time with them and then came home.  

When I got home told Mom what my afternoon plans were going to be.  A short time later we got a visit from Mike and Tessa and then Dave arrived.   Mom was having a really hard time hearing everything.  Dave thought he was speaking loud enough (he was speaking too fast as usual).  I tried to explain to her but both she and Tessa were dismissive.  That just aggravated me all the more and we took off.

For the next several hours we shared our litany of family stories and things that aggravated us.  We made stops at Yankee Candle Factory in Orange, then Bob’ Store, then we decided on Supper.  We went to Puerto Villarta Restaurant  Dave had a shrimp dish and I had frjitas beef and chicken.  We had something was large Guacamole served in mini shells...We had flan for dessert.  After that we headed to the mall.

The first place we hit was Macy’s.  Dave needed to get gifts for his niece and nephew.  He bought some stuff for himself (something I gave up on convincing him not to do).  I called Mom from there. That was a mistake.  She couldn’t hear me.  The rest of the store could.

Second place we went was Hallmark store.  I got a couple of cards.  The get well card that i was supposed to pick weeks ago for JWalker, a cute Birthday card for SRoddy (I handed it to her this  morning).  After that we headed to the theater.  I waited for him while he went to Target and to the car with our stuff.

We saw Lincoln.  It was great.  IT was a lot of fun trying to identify all the actors who I have seen over teh years in various shows, movies.  I also didn’t mind the incessant number of advertisements, behind the scenes segments, and the upcoming previews.  We were finished by 9:30 and home a short time later.  

I chatted with Mom who was already in her pajamas watching TV.  She had gone out to lunch with Mike and Tessa to a Mexican Restaurant in West Haven and had hamburgers.  I told her about the movie and how things were going for his family.  I went and finished watching the last part of the NCIS marathon.  Actually I didn’t watch the last full hour of it because I was tired and I wanted to go to bed.

Right now I am finishing up Friday’s mail.  I will be starting on today’s and finishing it tomorrow.  I am planning on leaving a little before 4 for my INR check up.  Then I am picking up my plaquenil.

I called Mom because she had an early morning appointment it was for her iron infusion.  I am not sure what else (Possibly the dryer repairman)

We have a DTC meeting this week but the rest of it should be quiet. I hope

In the mean time I need to get going....

Well I am home

I left the office in plenty of time.  Traffic was not in the least bit cooperating (what a shock Phelan!).  I got to the Eye appointment on time but didn’t get in until 3:15.  I had to call IMM and cancel today’s INR reading until Monday.  I was finished by 4:30 and everything is normal and I can continue to take the plaquenil. 

After the appointment I drove to Liz’s and spent time there.  They were getting ready to come here to give Mom flowers for thanksgiving.  They were here when I got home.

Before coming home I had to run some errands (dinner rolls for tomorrow).  Mom couldn’t hear me tell her where I was and that my eyes were dilated.  I finally picked up rolls from Trader Joes (Costco had run out).  After that I went to Card smart to get holiday cards and my dinner.  I had Chinese.  After some story telling Nelson and Liz left. 

Not before I gave a tap/hit to nelson because he can’t seem to stop his incessant teasing about me and cooking.  One of these days I am really going tear him a new one.  Liz reminded him of what he does and or doesn’t do around the house and what she does and does do around the house.

Mom is continuing to cook (I offered to help) and Mom said no.  I think she is done for the night but I am not sure (it’s after 9 pm now) and I have been watching TV.

Now that my eyes are returning to normal I am tired and I am going to bed.  I have things I need to do tomorrow.  Laundry early and helping Mom the rest of the day.

You would never Know

You would never know today was Columbus Day or a federal holiday. Traffic was pretty steady for some (mine was okay). Some banks were open. I still had my regular volume of mail. There was nearly 470 pieces of mail. The rest of the time I scanned EOB’s. I did it for about an hour in the morning and then after I finished the mail. We have been given permission to work OT for every night and possibly on Saturday. I will be taking advantage of that this week. I put in an hour tonight.




We got an update from AC regarding G today. It seems that she is having a few set backs in her legs and her back. She can’t seem to stand straight or walk as well as she was hoping. I feel terrible because I haven’t called her and I don’t know when a good time is. I don’t feel comfortable doing it from work. By the time I get home I am too tired and I don’t know if or when she is sleeping.



I met with Debra and talked about the week’s events and activities. They include my aggravations, and disappointments, and happy moments (which seem to be almost invisible lately). We will be meeting at our regularly scheduled time on Friday.



After the session I stopped at Marketa on Temple Street. It is a little market/deli and I got my dinner. A steak and cheese sub w/onions, tomato, lettuce and mayo. I also got a root beer and the whole thing came to $10.40. It was still very hot when I ate it at Headquarters. I also wore it too.



As I was walking back to my car I noticed another restaurant had closed its Doors. It was the Greek Restaurant Atlas. I have only been there maybe twice. I am gathering it was too rich for anyone to get stuff there or the service was terrible. I mentioned both restaurants on my Facebook page.



I don’t remember what time I got to Campaign Headquarters but the first thing I did was make sure I turned off my headlights. I went in and chatted with M^T for a few moments and got to eat dinner. I made phone calls until quarter of 8. I got to see the first family of Milford (Mayor Ben Blake and his always cute son Carter). They were picking up more lawn signs. It was good to see them as always.



It was nearly 8 when I got home. Mom was watching TV and already had her dinner. I told her about the OT opportunity and that I will be taking it for the entire week as well as Saturday (if it is offered).



I had to send some emails to the 4th District members and again I had problems with one of them. I sent an email to the person and hopefully it will be resolved soon. I received a response from one other person so I am expecting more later.



I heard from one of the new woman’s club members. She will go and get some supplies for the meeting. I have yet to call JWalker, Roberta, and JanetR but it is now too late and I am too tired.



Now that it is 10 I think I will try and get some sleep. I am starting to fade quickly. I was going to try and stay up long enough to watch HTLJ but I just can’t. The spirit is willing but the Body hit the sack an hour ago.



I hope your Columbus Day was a pleasant one!

stayed over night

Morning everyone! I ended up staying the night over at SIL’s. It was her first full night alone in the house. The student/boarder who had been troublesome left and my niece went back to the city. We were clearing out stuff (she was looking for forms for potential places to live). She tells me there are a few places she is looking at to rent. Most of them were in New Haven. We ate a late night supper and then went to bed.




This morning we had breakfast and I have been home an hour. Mom was up and doing her morning ritual. I got cleaned up and have been doing laundry.



My plans for the day are not really firmed up maybe get things straightened up and vacuum the room. Do some errands. I will probably go to church this afternoon. Tomorrow is a full day.



I called the Nursing home again this morning to see what the status of the “quarantine” was and again Natalie has not returned my call. I probably could call the main number but I left a message on the answering machine so there should be no need to keep calling. I am really irritated by this. If I don’t hear from her then I am going with the plans of not going.



I have the canvassing to do for Chris Murphy tomorrow at 10. Then I am going to the wake and then go to E’s house to keep her company until the new boarder arrives. Something Mom pointed out makes a lot of sense. The kids don’t want male boarders there yet the new boarder is a male. You need to maintain consistency.



Well I am going to go will see you all later…

The rest of my day

As I sit here trying to decompress from Manic Monday I can actually say it was a pretty good day. There were over three hundred pieces of mail from the Post office and very little had to be sent back. There were a few things that have to be readdressed but that can be done tomorrow. I still have to finish the pile of lockbox and then sort and deliver but again that can be done tomorrow as I plan on getting into work early.




Today I did a phone survey/interview from a fellow co-worker Kelly P who works in Registration. It was a five question survey on how to make the work place better. I mentioned not having bulk mailings such as the CT medical society (or things of that nature sent to the office but the MD’s homes). When changes are implanted and asked to be relayed to staff members it should be done. I also made mention that peoples attitudes need to be looked at. I let a few people know including Elia V who is a union steward/organizer. She said not to worry about what was said as I was giving an opinion.



I had a late lunch today and I decided I would have the Angus Cheeseburger and it was delicious. The fries were really crispy and of course the avocados made it really good. I had two sodas (cream soda). Even though I had that late my dinner was still at 5 as I was hungry. It was sweet Onion Teriyaki Chicken from Subway. I ate it before starting the calls.



I managed to leave the office before 4 and got to the car shortly after that. I was surprised I made it to Internal Medicine by 25 after 4. The INR/Coumadin check time was quick. The vitals were good and the Coumadin level was higher than it really should be. I was still thrilled with it. I go back next Monday same time.



After that I went to subway for my dinner and then to headquarters. M&T were there and some people that I met last week. I even got to see some fellow DTC folks and some who had resigned from that as well. Tonight’s phone session was a little annoying (I know who wants to get political phone calls during their dinner time). Some of these people were downright rude. I worked the phones until 7:15. My phone battery was low so while it was charging I borrowed both M&T’s. Mom called TM to find out where we were but someone told her it was Gloria’s. I personally think she misunderstood or didn’t hear it correctly. She ended up going to Bridges for her meeting.



When I got home I had some ice cream and channel surfed for a bit. I was so not interested in what was on. Nothing at all interested me in this so I came upstairs and have been on line for the most part.



Now I am going to bed… have a great night.

A good night to stay home

Well got a late call from Debra asking to move the appointment time back to 4:30 as she was running late. That was great because I could stay a few more moments to work on some of the bad addresses from Friday. I still have today’s to work on. I was so happy to have the daily work done. All that I need to do is the lobby mail tomorrow and the readdress mail.




The session went well. I told her all the stuff that went on the past week within five minutes of sitting down. I then said okay it was good talking see you next week. A little spiel from NCIS (yeah I have it on the brain). I was really tired but managed to talk about the week a little more detail. We talked about woman stuff, my headache experience yesterday. We talked about the plans for the next week and the weekend. I told her about the birthday dinner we are having for Mom and Bob. She asked if Jim and the kids were coming up and I didn’t know. We got the discussion of periods. She wanted to know when I got mine (I explained the problems I had been having this weekend). I have a feeling I may have told her that story a couple of times over the years.



After the session I walked to the car and drove home. The traffic was slow. There was evidence of earlier accidents strewn along the lane. Along with traffic going less then 50 miles an hour I could see State Troopers driving along with flashing lights.



I got home by quarter of six. Mom left me a note for dinner. The stew was enough for two people. She indicated she may have some when she gets home if she hadn’t eaten at the Bridges meeting she was attending. I had a bowl of it with potatoes and 2 slices of apple pie. I haven’t eaten anything else and that’s unusual because I would be foraging by now.



I watched a little bit of TV and checked the emails. Everything seems fine but the little computer has the “x” in the corner as though it’s not connected. I checked the modem and they seem fine. I am able to access the net.



Well got emails from Telka it looks like we are going to have our board meeting on January 29th. There is some good stuff to discuss like our budget for the upcoming year. I can’t believe it is that time again.



God I want to go to sleep but I can’t. I have to still do the minutes from Thursday. I don’t wanna….so I will do it tomorrow.

I think I may be getting my wish

The 31 year tradition is over. This may be the last one and those words came from Mom after we learned about the numbers of people who were invited and confirmed and who basically showed up.




Tessa told us she sent out 300 invitations/flyers in the mail. They were to those who were in the fourth district that were families with children in the school system, Single mothers with teenagers all that could come and meet the candidates. Of the 300 people 28 confirmed (RSVP) and said they would be here. Guess what? This was the list:



Three of our neighbors from the street came

One of my neighbor’s sisters and two friends of hers.

1 friend of Mom’s from Bridges

Six Candidates

Four other 4th District Members

Kevin Lembo the state Treasurer

One woman I didn’t recognize

My friends Mike and Roberta came in support.



Tessa was thoroughly disgusted. She says and I agree with her that the people in this town are apathetic. They are not informed and could have learned so much from today if they bothered. I also consider it The Height of Rudeness that all these people who said they would come didn’t. MAN UP and say I am not coming and Please don’t invite me next time.



Mom just went to bed. She was exhausted. Tessa and Sylvia and I tried to get her to sit down and just let us do it. I made sure I started clearing dishes as soon as they started to pile up. We had one load of dishes going and they will be finished soon but I will bring up the boxes for these dishes before I go to work tomorrow.





There is enough food here for leftovers for the next week. We had the corned beef. Chips and crackers and cheese, Two types of frittata , various salads, An Assortment of desserts, wine, soda, and apple cider.



Instead of the candidates speaking it was mingling and talking amongst them. Sylvia had expressed the concern that would be too long. Well that’s too bad. That’s part of the “meet and greet” usually.



Well we will see how it goes next year. I really hope that this is the last year for us to do this. Let some one else pick it up if necessary.



In the mean time I need to get to bed. I have a long day ahead of me. I have work. my session with Debra and my evening out with Dave.



G’Night.

The End of a Busy Weekend.

Hey everyone its the end of a busy weekend. Friday my vacation came to an end and the beginning of going back to a regular routine started on Saturday. Mom presided over a wedding here at the house and we had 20 people in our small living room. I also was having my computer reinstalled as it crashed on Friday. Today I had my bingo and then went to my sister's for a family gathering to introduce the family to the newest additions to the Rivera family.




Now I am just relaxing and keeping an eye on my computer (Mom's letting me use hers until mine is all set with updates and stuff).



I am sort of aggravated right now as somethings that bothered me today during the family gathering and during bingo have been going over in my head:



1) As a friendly gesture I was getting to know a new resident and her daughter. The daughter thought my asking her where she was from was a little "too personal". My response is to fucking grow up. (the bingo session)



2) I picked my friend Dave up to attend the family party we went to and he made fun of the way I was introducing my bil's BIL to him.



3) Through out the time I was getting nervous or anxious anytime Dave opened his mouth when ever he said "how can I say this" I would tell him nicely or carefully. I had gotten looks from my nephew to relax.



4) I was telling my mother how upset another friend of mine applied for a job and discovered someone else got the job before she felt it was properly advertised. She felt there was inappropriate handling. It annoyed me she wasn't understanding my friends view. That's probably why I haven't said anything since "T" told me about it.



6) Dave would tell people I would give him updates and not mention that particular person. He would ask who everyone was related too. I would tell him.



7) He would point out the food and ask me if I tried it. He had given Mom a piece of Flan and it really pissed me off because he has done it to me in the past. Serve food w/o asking if we wanted it or not. I looked at him and asked him to please not just do that w/o asking. When I reminded him later his response was "Well she doesn't have to eat it". If I fucking did that to anyone do you really think it would be appreciated?



8) I told Mom later about it and apologized for the fact Dave did it. She looked at me and reminded me that I said I would not be judgemental of him. She didn't mind him doing it and appreciated. She never ever understands my aggravation with Dave and always makes excuses for him.

9) After my Mom left and we were talking about the wedding and our discovery that our house is small. My sister makes a joke that when Mom and I are fighting it isn't big enough. Why the hell does she have to make comments like that? There was no need for her to do that. Of course the others laughed and agreed that is basically the case in their home.




I get so damn angry over it. Now I am feeling guilty over it and she wants me to email him and thank him for giving the flan. IF she doesn't mind it then SHE should be the one to call him.

Going to Make an effort

I had decided that today I would make an effort to clean my room and do the chores that needed to be done that I have neglected. As you know when I work most Saturdays by the time I get home I am really not in the mood to do anything. Last weekend I wasn’t home long enough to do them. By the time I did get home I was sleeping. Today is no different.

Mom went to the Opera with Stella today. She left around noon and should be back by 4. She really slept in this morning. I had called around 9:30 to just touch bases with her and instead I got this really groggy sounding voice. We didn’t talk long just gave her traffic update (it wasn’t bad this morning).

Work went well got a lot of the EOB pulls done. There was one that was a Medicaid pull that I left for another day. The file itself is massive and if any of you work in the medical field dealing with insurance EOB’s and files then you will understand why. On some Medicaid EOB’s they are not in alpha order and sometimes huge-or did I mention that already?

Snow is expected some time this afternoon. It was supposed to start around 2 and of course it didn’t show up. The weather reports also say snow showers in the morning as well.

I realized today that I haven’t done my family update yet. I am going to review my blog entries and try to get one posted later on today. I usually post it to the journaling lists and the self help list as well as the two pen pal lists I moderate. Of course I will post it here as well. I am trying to figure out how to start it. That’s why I enjoy reading the previous month’s “updates” and the blog entries as I can refer to those.

Oh for some reason my cell phone has no service. When I explained it to Frank G today he seems to think it’s the sim card. It might be loose or something. So if any of you who have my number are trying to call me don’t give up…

Well on to the update entry….

I did it!

Today was very cool. I got up early and started getting ready for breakfast and the walk. Mom was having breakfast for her self and then realized she had to get ready for the birthday party. I called Liz for some directions for Mom and had a few moments to chat with Liz.

Dave came after 9 and we headed to Cracker Barrel Old Country Restaurant up by the highway and we were seated promptly and ordered our pancakes. Dave had blueberry and I had plain with cherries on top and whip cream. I had juice and coffee. We had some time to catch up on some things and we even chatted with waitress who waited on us. She was quite nice.

After we ate it was about 10 and we headed to Killingworth and to Chatfield Hallows. We arrived about 11 or so despite our not paying attention to the GPS. However it got us back to where we needed to be and we began following the huge sign that said “Chatfield Hollows” this way. We registered and chatted with the organizers Genovese Salvatore (my friend from DTC), and some other committee members and of course got a chance to talk with Tessa. We decided to walk back to the car (plenty of places to park closer but we stayed where we were)with our goodie bag filled with information and samples of food that was allergen free (gluten free as well).

As the time for the walk grew near many more people arrived. Some had large teams that were on behalf of family members who had food allergies. They were from all over the state and were so nice to talk to and learn how they had to deal with this incredible disease. It isn’t like other allergies (like pollen, and all the other known allergies) food allergies could literally kill them. If you have family members with food allergies and want to know if there are organizations in your area then The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network Walk for Food Allergy: FAAN Walk for Food Allergy . I am pretty sure there are support groups as well. We were entertained by a group called the Elwood’s from Milford. There were various corporate sponsors and of course Senator Chris Dodd and his beautiful wife were also there. They have a daughter with food allergies and they were not certain she would make to age 9.

The walk started at 1 and was about an hour along the main road and was two miles long and around the lake there. There was a beautiful water wheel and covered bridge and part of the walk was over this long walking bridge. There were other people there walking for their selves and picnics. We finished the walk about an hour later and then had a raffle. After all that we headed home. We got back to the house by 3:30.

Mom was home working on some reports for this week. She got home around 12:30 from the birthday party and she said it was wonderful. Chris my nephew (and the kids’ father) was there with a girl friend. Apparently they live in Devon together. Stephanie (the mom) had her boyfriend there as well. It was a little odd for Mom (and I think it would have been for me too) but Mom says she though Chris’s girl friend was really nice.

The rest of the afternoon I took a nap (trying to get rid of a headache I had through out the day). I am not sure why I had it but I survived it. It could have been the chilly air or what ever. I watched TV and had a late dinner.

Mom had a few phone calls from Brother Jim. He had just returned from a weekend retreat and Mom wanted him to help her with the report/speech for tomorrow night’s annual meeting. They talked about the party, his weekend and some family stuff.

This week I have two meetings and a dentist appointment and next Saturday the finance conference for Women in Hartford. I am really looking forward to that. It starts at 7:30 and lasts until 2 pm and I am going up with my friend Telka.

I probably will work OT for most of the week. I don’t think we have anything major happening except Month end activities again. This past weekend was the 200th Anniversary of the School of Medicine. They had lots of stuff going on Saturday. I hope they had a good crowd. Despite the weather (it was very windy)

Okay well it is after 9:30 and I need to get ready for bed. The headache is completely gone so I don’t expect to have any problems tonight.