Sunday, June 28, 2009
Kinda Busy Here….. Move Along
Bright and early Monday morning, I report to the Endoscopy Center to have a colonoscopy exam.
This is part of a routine physical, and covered by health insurance
the preps began a few days ago,
no aspirin or NSAIDS,
no vitamins with iron
Foods List says 2 days prior
nothing red or orange,
no seeds or nuts or skins or pulp
One day prior to appointment
At 6am begin diet of only Clear Liquids
At 3pm, I took 4 pills of a stool softener
At 5pm, Miralax mixed with half gallon Gatorade
Drink a glassful every 15 minutes until gone
Continue Clear Liquid Diet
At Midnight, nothing else by mouth
Husband says he has a book to study while in the Waiting Room
I’ll see ya on the other side of Monday
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Movie found while looking for something else
this morning I went out to get a haircut
and I asked for it to be really short for two reasons
1) our current heat wave of 94ºF
2) I’m having a medical procedure done next week when I have to go under anesthesia and I don’t want anybody to have trouble moving me around and worrying about my hair sticking out from under the cap
Years ago I decided the best way to ride out a heat wave is to stay inside where the air conditioning we pay so much for will get used, and today is one of those times.
this afternoon, I’m indoors watching
a rented dvd title Snow Cake starring Sigourney Weaver,
and iffen I didn’t know otherwise, I might be thinking she actually has high functioning autism, which proves what a fine actress she is.
I picked this movie up thinking I might find it interesting, given my line of work being in classrooms full of kids with Special Needs. Every so often, a person should take some sort of small chance, and at $1.75, this was quite a find for some good viewing.
There’s much more to it than what I say here, but the plot is a guy stops off in a small town to deliver a package to the mother of a young woman who died in a car accident, then ends up staying awhile to help with the funeral arrangements.
the part that made me laugh knowingly was in the Deleted Scenes with the title Actually, she’s my Wife.
So if you are in the mood for a people-to-people story, this one is a great way to while away a couple hours.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Reading the other section of the newspaper
This morning’s paper has an announcement that a movie star couple are able to welcome twin baby girls into their family.
The main reason I am interested is the babies were born to a surrogate mother, in the same hospital in eastern Ohio where I was born and later worked my clinicals for LPN training.
Some connections and feelings are going strong still….
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, June 22, 2009
Well, it could be important
Another morning
of playing the “waiting for a phone call” game.
so I’m at the computer reading comics after checking in on the blogs of my Bookmarks
Already have 2 loads of laundry out on the clothesline, and the dishwasher is doing its thing, which means I cain’t use the shower right now anyway, so I might as well be waiting.
All over the place, because yesterday was the greeting card and sports equipment bonanza called Father’s Day, I’m reading some good tributes for Dads.
Since both our Dads and even some uncles and other mentors are long gone, I’m not feeling the need to write so much.
My usual memory list of yearnings tends to come up during the Fall, when the air is crisp and the black walnuts are falling from the trees, scattered over the ground and putting stains on my shoes, and it seems like my dad’s voice is calling on the wind.
Well, the phone rang, but it was the dentist office with a reminder about an appt for teeth cleaning. At least I did not have to scurry across the room to pick up.
ah, just finished with the right doctor’s office
Geo can be worked in at 2:45 this afternoon
the dishwasher has clicked over to the drying cycle
which frees up the hot water flow
Nearly Noon, and I’m just now ready for the shower
I live a very coddled lifestyle 
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, June 20, 2009
First Cross done in awhile
silver cross crocheted Friday
this one is going to a fella whose dad passed on last Spring, but I never did get around to sending a card
the first Father’s Day is the hardest
it has been more than a year since I tried to work a cross, and this task reminded why I had to let it go before
my hands were feeling a bit cramped by the end, even though I took frequent rest time
the center square was pulled out to begin again 4 times
I had 3 arms done, but they did not look quite proper
so I looked again at the instructions and found the *blah-blah* repeat x 3 which I had missed first reading
this finale does have one error in it on the 4th aka long point because I cut and fastened off
when I should have turned and worked the first stitch of the picot edging
otherwise, the cross is fine, worthy of sentiments
then today after breakfast:
the classified ad said there would be a BIG SALE at the church up the street
so with a few coins in my pocket and $dollars in my wallet, I decided to go see what bargains I could find
I arrived just as a man in his mid-20s, same age as my sons, was painting a sign saying
EVERYTHING HALF PRICE!!
which is great because I like doing some looking more than the paying
I found a neat little lap table with a cushion behind it, which I have been thinking about buying one for the time when the Concerts on the Quad happen.
It will be easy to carry along with my Yarn bag and folding chair, and I will use it with my peg loom.
onto my pile I added a couple children’s books which I will read myself then pass along to a kid, a pre-school wooden puzzle for the church nursery, a little carrying case where I will store small yarn balls
and a child’s t-shirt, with the idea that I will re-cycle it and sew a t-shirt tote bag as I read about in a tutorial at Frugal Living
I walk over to the table to pay. It seems that the teenage members of the Youth Group and the Youth Minister (that fella who painted the sign) are in charge of the proceedings.
In the back of my mind is the tally for my goodies will be about $3.00, so paying half price will be easy with just the coins in my pocket.
However, each item price had to be carefully noted in a spiral notebook on different pages, 50% deducted by calculator, that price written beside the first, and also written on a bit of paper, then all the prices from that paper entered into the calculator before I was told that my final total was $1.77. Which means that one of the 50¢ items did not remember the half price.
I opened my wallet after all, handed over 2 singles and mentioned she could keep the change. Which seemed to cause a bit of confusion because the Youth Sponsor had to tell her to write the extra 33¢ on the very first page of the notebook under General Fund Donations.
I asked why it had taken so long to make a sale? (while in my head I’m thinking these poor youngsters have no idea how to do arithmetic problems)
He pulled me aside from the check-out table and explained that the kids are working for a trip out of state and each needs to earn a certain amount of money to be able to go, so they brought in the stuff for the sale and get credit for each item.
I nodded, and said I’m a parent, so I understand.
As I was leaving, I was thinking that puts way too much pressure on the kids who have stuff of little value to carry in and sell.
Where was the teamwork? the sense of everybody in the group gets to go? What about the kid who only brought in a couple t-shirts he had outgrown, yet worked hard and carried all the trash out to the dumpster?
Well, it’s not the church I attend, and I did give a few cents over the requested amount which went into the General Fund.
I just hope the Youth Group has a time to live in memory.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Gotta Weighs to Go
the Treadmill display reads
Distance .25 Time 10:04
heh heh….my 40 minute mile
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dang Phone Machines! the hat looks good
when trying to take a picture of a knitted lady’s hat
grab the snow shovel still resting behind the front door
lean it against the porch railing in between downpours
drape the hat over the handle
and hope tired hands cooperate with the camera buttons
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Autumn Print 4-ply acrylic yarn
it fits me fine, but it will go to a charity need
the picture there? well, it’s what I did Monday
Husband went back to the job, and I wanted to stick close to home but not too busy, just in case he called for a ride or sumthin.
Yes, I’m still working with cotton granny squares, but I realized I had not knitted a loom hat in about a month, nor had I worked with acrylic yarn in that time.
When I am trying to work with my Planner Book, I like to be sitting down with the paper book open on a shelf in front of me, the big phone on the wall with the receiver against my ear, and numbers for the automated system on the phone itself, right where I can read ‘em and hear the beep to show I pressed hard enough.
Having the number pad on the same part as the earpiece does not work for me, the motions repeating *up to the ear to listen, down to the proper distance and adjust bi-focals to see the correct button* make me lose concentration and tire out my wrist.
I cannot understand how folks use those itty-bitty cell phones or personal assistant devices or online calendars or whatever they are called, with the teeny screen which I cain’t read in sunlight. Mine comes out only when necessary, which I consider a long distance aka free minutes call to my mother, and even then I’m sitting all comfortable on the porch steps, not waiting at the take-out window for supper.
Some people just live to be the first to have the newest gadget and be showing me how easy it is to use, all while I am trying to work on something else a whole lot more fun to be doing.
I’m thinking of this because I need to be here near the phone, Planner Book in hand, waiting for a medical office to call me back to set up an appointment for a colonoscopy. Already this morning, I have made 4 calls and received 5, plus the look-up I did on the Internet to find a provider within our insurance network so it will get paid for.
weel now, I have typed myself out so I’ll have us get on with the rest of the day
Mine will become easier when I get an important appointment set up, and hope I can find a driver available at the same time.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
update almost Noon, but the gal called me back and we made an appointment for early morning Monday 29 June
I won’t say I can hardly wait, but I will be glad to learn a few things I’ve been concerned for
Monday, June 15, 2009
Cash in Hand Still Works Wonders
In the ongoing saga of Husband’s ailments,
he still has a white tongue, attributed to Thrush.
Apparently last week’s *swish and swallow* stuff did not work well enough, so I called the surgical office. Doctor T himself called back to say that he was just leaving, and the symptoms should probably actually be looked at, being that so much time has passed, so he recommended the Walk-In Care Clinic.
over there, Geo got weighed in and temp take within 10 minutes, the doctor 10 minutes after that.
And sho nuff, white tongue means Thrush.
I asked for an actual written prescription, cuz the last time they used a fax, it was 4 hours before I could pick up at the pharmacy.
The explanation I got from the Pharm Tech is that the doctor has to get pre-arranged authorization for payment using a different drug within such a short time for the same affliction.
And this evening would follow that—the doctor himself had to get the insurance to comply.
So I asked how much if we do an end run around insurance?
Cash payment for generic would be about $14
if we wait for insurance, name brand, co-pay would be $18
and it would be 24 hours for pick up, IF the doctor had called by then
Fifteen minutes later, Geo handed over a $10 and a $5 for the little white bag with 8 precious pills in it
Green bills are still welcome at the pharmacy
Please, oh President Obama, help this mess get easier!
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Newly Found Author
It’s Noon, so I came over to read
the new Writer’s Almanac poem (a link in my sidebar) and was introduced to Ilene Beckerman, author who had her first work published at age 60.
Now I will go see if I want to purchase any of her books.
I suspect I might….
~~love and Huggs, Diane
When Oatmeal is for Breakfast
Long ago when oldest son Joey was in First Grade, we had a little ritual in the morning before he met his buddy at the corner so they could walk to school.
I would cook oatmeal on the stove, add raisins and brown sugar. He would sit on the little rug by the kitchen door to put on his socks and shoes. I never quite understood why he would get dressed all the rest in his room, then come to that rug to finish, and to watch me puttering around the kitchen making his breakfast.
It did not seem like much at the time, but in the years after, when his brothers were also getting ready and my daycare kids were being dropped off, well, that one year with only one kid was quite peaceful and routine in memory.
This morning, Husband is back to work. He asked me to cook some oatmeal whilst he got his backpack ready to go.
He doesn’t want raisins yet (the skins might irritate his innards) and his preferred sugar is Raw Cane, but a near scene in the same kitchen will also be a good record when I’m old with nothing more than memories.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Shopping and Folding have Made My Day
This week brought some birthday bucks which were burning a hole in my pocket.
First on the list was slippers. Partly described in my comment at M C, on Saturday, I went to the store which promised the proper brand name I had grown up with.
It is difficult to describe to a chirrup younger than my son exactly what I mean by slippers. Definitely not the wall she led me to, which had row after row of scuffs (the kind of footwear without heel support or warmth).
At least there was something to choose from, at other stores I was told that slippers are a Holiday Seasonal Item.
At long last, after she grew bored with a non-sale, on my own, I found a row near the floor of actual slippers,
which have cloth going over the top of my foot, along the sides, and blessed be, covering the heel.
Also stopped to look at socks (4 pair), because a nearby red sign said 25% off, and socks are my second weakness (after yarn) when it comes to shopping. Still, the receipt showed my purchase total was a little more than $30, so I got fine bargains.
Since that store was just acrost the street from the craft store, I definitely had to stop in. My New Year’s resolution about zero yarn purchases did nothing except have me feel guilty about making it in the first place.
As it happens, yes, I did buy stickers, yet I did not buy yarn. I’m busy with yarn already in the bin, and sewing together granny squares.
I was amazed at the lovely selection since the re-organized shelf spaces.
This morning’s advert in the paper tells me why there was such a plentiful supply of yarn—there is a most wonderful Dollar sale going on. The week ahead may find me there again.
Also ordered a book, which arrived on time. Desperately Seeking Humor written by Virginia Minick, who has a real job as a Substitute Teacher, so I figured it would be alright with me and my job. Some of the stories are fine, others seem like she is trying too hard to turn in something by deadline. And some of the situations should have been much more of a teachable moment.
On the other hand, she often mentions Erma Bombeck, which reminded me of a time when I was in Study Hall as a Junior in high school and reading Erma’s book with the word ‘cherries’ in the title. I might have chuckled a bit under my breath, which is not supposed to happen in the sacred silence of Study Hall.
The guy across the table, someone I had known since Fifth grade, reached over and pushed upward on my book so he could read the title and author. Just then the bell rang the end of the period, so he walked out with me, saying he did not understand why I would be reading that saying, “Shoot, my MOTHER is reading that book!!” I replied that it is really funny, and his mother has good sense.
He reached up and rubbed the back of my hair to show he was just teasing and moseyed off down the hall. A year and a half later, he and I would end up sitting next to each other at graduation ceremony.
so anyway, I’m halfway through this book and haven’t felt the need to cast it away, so I guess it was a worthy purchase as Used, Good Condition
Today, my tummy symptoms have subsided a bit, and while I’m feeling better, I folded towels.
This is always a major undertaking, I tend to wait until the linen closet in the bathroom has bare shelves before I empty out the 4 baskets full and waiting in the corner of the laundry room. One pile is still teetering on the coffee table, yearning to get stuffed into the dark and dreary space until the next shower allows it to see the light of day and hung on a hook again.
Chris came by to use his computer. I asked him if he would finish off the strawberries since I have no more shortcake to dump them on. He seemed quite pleased to help out, putting them on some vanilla ice cream.
And now he’s off on his bicycle, helmet and headlight in place, away in the dark back to his rental house.
Gonna go, cat between me and screen.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, June 12, 2009
Two Folks Who are Feeling Our Age
Husband got a good check-up at the doctor on Thursday morning. It was a month since the surgery, and he had been done with antibiotics for only 24 hours, but the doc said all is coming along with good progress.
He is allowed back to the job on Monday, with a chauffeur for awhile, with a weight limit for lifting, and fewer hours than full time, but today’s visit to the building today told us he is needed and there will be reasonable accommodations.
We also made a side trip to L0we’s, the “property owner” store.
What we needed was a hand-held weed-eater and extension cord, ant poison, and pump jug. I also tucked in a plastic chair to put on the front porch so I can sit down while I’m waiting for the mail carrier to come by. It was not expensive so I will leave it out there, but not worry about it being in the elements or visible from the street.
the excursion just about wore out the recovering guy
so he took a nap while I watched my game show
for longer than a week, I’ve also been feeling a bit poorly in my tummy. After looking up Irritable Bowel Syndrome and diverticulosis symptoms on WebMD, I’ve added fiber supplement, taken a laxative twice in a week, enjoyed glassfuls of grape juice. My last trip to the bathroom caused spasms and dizziness so that I had to rest on the bed for 15 minutes.
a call to the family doctor resulted in an order for a colonoscopy, which I was told would be put on a schedule in another part of the building
a return call today said there is not an opening until August 01, but when I mentioned my uncomfortable feeling, the clerk said she would make a note for the family doctor to give an order for a more urgent appointment
it being Friday, I don’t hold high hopes
even with health insurance, there is still a wait time
On the day after my birthday, I finally got to watch my (on the shelf since) Mother’s Day gift, which was a dvd of Driving Miss Daisy. While doing so, I sewed together a nine patch of the cotton granny squares. I wish I could figure a way to use the yarn needle without having a tray/table in front of me, but the stitches just don’t look routine enough when I work on my lap. I guess I’m too particular, but if I want to do it right, I gotta take the time.
The outdoors looks lovely this evening, so I think I’ll go outside and enjoy the weather.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A Nice Birthday for Me
Today is my birthday and everybody keeps asking if I am having a happy one.
Well, sure I am, doing the things I like to do best:
which is hook and yarn, baking, and talking with loved ones.
Hook and yarn is sewing the granny squares together for Lucas’s aphgan. The squares are tied together in 9-patch blocks, and already I have two whipstitched together.
Baking is Bisquik strawberry shortcakes, just like it says on the box, as in a previous comment at Jay’s Jammin”
Talking came when my friend Meredith delivered these
flowers from her garden and strawberries from the Farmer’s Market
and calling my Mom in Ohio and sister Darla in Arizona
not to mention taking an envelope to the blue mailbox down the street on my bicycle
it holds a by-way-of gift for a friend’s grand-daughter
Yessirree, Folks, Today was a fine day indeed.
Now, if tomorrow brings good news when Husband goes to the doctor,
I can say my own personal new year is off with a great start 
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Not Wandering too Far
Gee willikers, it’s been a whole week and then some since I thought about what to write for the blog here. A few e-mails went out, so most of the folks know what’s been going on during the between time.
late Sunday, 31 May, my spouse had to be admitted all over again at the hospital. He had an uncomfortable feeling in his tummy, inches away from the original problem yet still bothersome enough that a doctor said to go to the place where there is a CAT scan machine.
(On a weekend would be the hospital Emergency Dept)
the picture showed a blotch on the peritoneum, and the lab blood work said the white cells, aka the soldiers, count was very elevated
for more information, go to his Decrepit Old Fool place
either before or maybe after this message
Anyway, he was on the post-op floor from o’dark early Monday morning until early Wednesday afternoon with IV antibiotics drip.
the papers given to us when he was Discharged said Clear liquids diet the rest of that day, Full liquids diet for a couple days, Soft foods beginning on the weekend
Chris stayed here at the house whilst I went out to get the prescription meds and some jugs of fluids.
Nutrition drinks such as Ensure, organic carrot juice, Instant Breakfast seem to be expensive when I’m doing the regular grocery shopping, but when I know that is all my mister is allowed to pass his lips, jeepers, it goes into the cart!!
For years, I have heard the story of when George was growing up, his mom was always looking for her cup.
She is a rinse and re-use kind of gal.
This did not wear off on him.
I might find one beside the computer, one on the floor next to the leg of the couch, two on the nook table with the remains of different beverages in the bottom.
for the last few days, each time I load the dishwasher, the entire top rack is full of glasses and/or mugs
I am sooo glad to have a machine to wash the dishes.
it is running right this minute 
He sent me out of the house this morning to go to a wedding. The bride and groom look like a nice couple together, so I hope and pray their love lasts as long as they both shall live.
I don’t think I have ever been to a morning wedding before, but having such a nice lunch reception right around my usual time was a real sweet deal.
an episode of WKRP in Cincinnati is beginning
so I gotta go get some laughs
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Clearing the Chip
George and Oscar
the true meaning of cat nap
Lucas, the owner of a Master’s degree in Mathematics,
NOT marching in the ceremony (he did not for high school, nor his Bachelor’s, either)
and his Dad, three days out of the hospital
bookmarks for grads, raffle prizes, sympathy
there are 12 here
along with 5 sent to my mom
and 2 mailed away
which adds up to 19 crocheted in a month
the gal sitting next to me at Yarn Group says the size 8 hook just seems to be too small to work with very easily, but I think the finished items are so nice to give away
by the way, I have a request to make a pair of potholders for a friend because she says her daughter tried to pilfer her gift out of her kitchen, so I gotta unearth some pretty yarn
~~love and Huggs, Diane