what happened??

 I had today pretty much planned

    I was going to finally put away the outside lights, which have been laying in a tangle in the basement.

    But Julia got a call that a car she was interested in was at the dealership and would I want to go with her to look at it?

    Jackie said she would be fine for a couple of hours, so we went.

    Five and a half hours later, we got home.

    During that time Jackie dropped the remote from the tv and could not reach it. so she had no choice but to watch the same channel.  Could not turn it off, or change channels.

    Corki had to go to the potty and stood by the door two times before giving up and going to sleep.

    I stopped at the mobility dealer in Rockford only to discover he was out and would not be back and the person working knew nothing about the turning lift chairs for cars.

    Learned that two of the people who work at this dealership spoke French!  Neither from the same country either.  One from Haiti and one from Morocco.

    Jackie was happy to see us.  We brought food.  

    Yes, I was worried the whole time we were gone, but nothing major went wrong.  That is a good thing.

    Tomorrow I attack the lights.

Peace and Love

I think it was a hoar frost...it was pretty, whatever it is called.

Deer seem to like our yard

A close up of Covid......or a purple coneflower, whatever

I ended up buying a car Jackie could easily get into.....now, where do I put the wheelchair?

Upset?

 I watched a lot of football today

    Both teams I wanted to win lost.

    I liked SF because of the Chicago connection.  Gould was a kicker for the Bears, Grappalo went to Rolling Meadows High School, and Jimmy Ward played for NIU. 

    I liked the Chiefs because of Hahomes.  

    And I don't know/care if the names are spelled correctly.

    We had Iowa chops for supper.  Iowa chops are about 1 inch thick.  I got them at Headon's and used a recipe from on line......coat them with olive oil, sear on each sides for 2 minutes, bake in 400 degree over for 20 minutes.  Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

    I also made green beans from the garden and Julia made scalloped potatoes from a box.  It was a good meal.

    The recipe also called for heavy use of salt to give it more flavor.  But when I followed that advice last time, Jackie did not like it because it was too salty.  To be honest, it was a little too salty for me.  So I cut down on the salt this time.

    Because the chops are so big, we actually have enough for a second meal.

    Good football games, good food, and a good day in all.

    Hope everyone is well.

Peace and Love

reverse

 It's funny how life goes around

    When Julia was in high school, she would have to ask to borrow the car.

    Now that she has moved back, she still has to ask to borrow the car!

    When she was little, we cooked and did dishes.  Now she cooks for us and does the dishes.

    When Emily was little we would explain things to her about all sorts of things.  Now she explains things to us when we have questions about medications, Corki, how the internet functions, or what the hell was the password for my Apple account.

    We have changed that sucker so much, I have about 7 scratched out.  And that is since November.

    I just can't remember my user name and password for the account.  Writing it down does not seem to work, because, well, I don't always write it right.  

    I think both girls draw the line at the possibility of changing my diapers......if that day ever comes.  I hope it does not!

    I don't think I I wasted the day away (not in Margaritaville either.  In a poll recently taken, Margaritas were the most popular mixed dring in the US, followed by rum and Coke.  That's just in case you were in the mood for some useless knowledge.), but I did not do much.  Two loads of laundry and the annual museum meeting, a short nap and the first few pages of a  book I got for Christmas were all the things I managed to accomplish.

    I also made some coffee.  Yes, I made coffee.  In the coffee maker we got a long time ago.  I don't make very good coffee...it's either too weak or too strong.  This one may have been somewhere in the middle because it did not make my eyes bulge out right away.

    Now, if I can get to sleep tonight it will be a miracle.

    Friends out east, stay safe!  The worst may be over.

Peace and Love

It was an Otis day

 I sure had some ups and downs today

    I guess I should say we had some ups and downs today.

    Jackie had an appointment with the Botox Queen in Rolling Meadows.  We were a little concerned with the weather forecast, but in the end that was not a factor.

    I wheeled her out to the car at 11:45 for the 1:30 appointment.  We left a little early  because I needed gas.  In the car.

    This is how we do it:

    Roll her to the open door.  Put the brakes on the wheelchair.  She leans forward.  I hook my arms under the armpits.  She pushes,  I left and turn.  She sits on the seat.  I lift her legs into the car.   All is well.

    I don't know what happened.

    I lifted, she pushed, I turned, she missed the seat.  She slid gently to the garage floor and I went to get Julia.

    We got her under the arms and lifter her, moving her to the seat.

    Made it to the doctor's office in plenty of time.  She got her Botox injections, 7 or so in various parts of her legs, and we got ready to go.

    I opened the car door, moved the chair, put the brakes on, lifted her......and she missed the seat. I tried lifting her legs and butt, but I am not strong enough.

    So she slid to the pavement.

    Here we are in the doctor's office parking lot on a 14 degree day and she is laying on the blacktop.  No one was around. No sense going into the building, because it is an 8 story office building and I would have to leave her laying on the pavement.

    I tried getting her up, but that was no use.

    A car pulled into the next space and the driver asked  if I needed help.

    So, we tried to pick her up.  We missed the chair again.  Down onto the pavement she slid.

    We tried picking her up but the two of us were having a tough time.

    I look down and Jackie is laying on the pavement with her shirt and coat pulled up around her shoulders!  It was like she was flashing this guy, who was about the same age as me.

   She was flat on the ground, making it hard to get her shirt down over the bra.  Luckily, it's a new bra and very stylish!

    At this point I thought of calling the fire department for help. 

    But we gave it one more try.  

    We got her up into the wheelchair.  

    Then I moved her to the door, lifted while he pushed, and she finally made it to the seat.

    I thanked him several times.  He had a young person in his car who had a wheelchair also, but she was small. Her medical problems were much worse than Jackie's, which is so sad to see in a youngster.

    He easily lifted her out of he van and strapped her into her chair, as I thanked him yet again.

    We met Jackie's sister Judy at Portillo's for lunch, but Jackie didn't eat  because at this point she was pretty worn out and sore, but not from the falls, which were actually slides down the side of the car moves.

    After a short visit, we headed home.  

    As her reward, I did stop in North Aurora for a chocolate malt for her, but even when we got home she did not have much of an appetite.

    That turning seat would have made all the difference today.  I think it is time.

Peace and Love

oh my!

It just seems to be one of those nights

    Part of me is sad, another part of me feels like a weight has been lifted off my sholders and a third part of me is conflicted.

    I told the folks at the zoo today that I would not be returning as a volunteer.

    I started in 2008, after I retired from teaching.  Every other Friday I would make the 80 mile drive to the zoo and spend the next 4 hours playing with kids.  Sometimes we would do blocks, sometimes we would have plastic animals and make zoos.  If I happened to be in the greenhouse and saw some youngsters I would show them the sensitive plant;  when you touched its leaves they would curl up, and slowly open 15 minutes later.

    There were so many creative craft projects to help youngsters with and bringing out a  guinea pig or snake was always an attention getter.

    As Jackie's ability to walk slipped away, we made some adjustments.  Someone would come in from 9-1 and be with her and help her as needed.  But it became apparent last spring that amount of help needed to be increased.  For me to go to the zoo, I would need someone to come in and stay for 8 hours.

    It becomes a cost issue.

    I'm sad about it, but I have given it lots of thought.  Sure, Julia is looking for a job, but she will find one.  Emily works.  I won't depend on them because it is not fair for them, nor would it be practical.

    So, I am sad about it but happy that I finally made the call. 

    I had a fun time over the almost 12 years I went.  I will treasure the people I became friends with and the memories I have.  Some of my favorite times were when a child would sit with me and just tell me about their pets, their lives, their dreams.  

    But I know I will miss it.  Because I have for the past 2 years....damn you, Covid!

    Hopefully I can visit this summer....and take Jackie along.

Peace and Love

time flies

Today just flew past 

    Of course, getting up at 10 did not help.  By the time both of us were showered and dressed, it was almost noon.

    The power went out twice last night.  Once about 10 while I was up.  The second time was in the middle of the night, causing Jackie to awaken me to tell me the power was out.  I politely suggested next time she wait until morning when I am not in a deep sleep.

    I did set up a little step stool to reach the top shelf of the bathroom closet, but that was all I got done.  Wait, I changed a light bulb.

    That was frustrating.  About 3 months ago I put an LED bulb in a hall fixture.  The light would work some of the time, but not all the time.  I finally decided to change the bulb.....but the bulb works in Julia's lamp, so it is not the bulb.  Maybe it just got too hot because it is enclosed?  Anyway, I put a regular bulb in the light.  I hope it works tomorrow.

    We have lots of tracks in the yard.  Deer come over from the park and browse my yard.  I tried to use plants that do not attract deer, and usually they are not a problem.  They have pawed away the snow in a couple of areas to get at the grass and may be helping themselves to my bird seed because it disappears pretty quickly.

    Corki can sense their presence at night.  She will stare and wag her tail at some invisible creature in the dark, but maybe she smells a deer.

    I don't think she can hear one because she does not hear well anymore.  That's a sure sign of aging.

    By the way, it was damn cold last night and this morning!  More to come, I hear.

    Tomorrow, the closet!

    Tonight,  the warm bed!!

Peace and Love

brrrrr......

It is dang cold

    As I start writing this, it is -2 outside, with a windchill of -16.  That is cold.

    On nights like this I think of homeless people sleeping in  tents under overpasses or bridges in the Chicago area.  I feel for them, but don't know how to help.  

    Jackie had a doctor appointment in Rolling Meadows scheduled for today, but they called this morning and cancelled due to an emergency in the office.  I was sort of thankful.

    After talking with Bob and Anita, who were in the lower 30s in Florida, I tackled my new list.

    These are short, easy things I need to do around the house.

    For example: My underwear drawer was full of underwear I don't wear.  I spent some time cleaning out the unused tighty whiteys, which created a lot of room.  This took about 10 minutes.

    My next project was to replace the door closure on a kitchen cabinet.  I figured all I had to do was unscrew the first one, use the same hole, screw the new one in.  15 minutes tops.

    I could not find a Phillips screw driver.  After I finally found one, I discovered I needed  a light, so I got my big flashlight.  That did provide the right light, so I went to find my three headed worklight.

    But it did not work.  I could not figure out how to change the batteries, so I Googled it and watched: 1, a sales video; 2, a video for a different type of flashlight; 3, the right video on how to change the batteries.

    Turns out it is pretty simple.  Except when one battery "explodes" and has to be pried out with a sharp, small instument.  

    By now the 15 minute project was nearly 30 minutes long and I still had not replaced the closure.

    Once I got the flashlight in the right spot, the correct screwdriver, and got on the floor, it was an easy fix.  Getting off the ground was the hard part!

    After 2 days, I have 3 chores crossed off my list.  That is a big deal for me.

    Tomorrow I am organizing a bathroom closet.

    That should be fun.

Peace and Love