Day 81 of Sheltering In

Tuesday. Never got a callback from care coordinator today. I answered every unknown call. I got Health Insurance Scam, home security system, car warranty scam. I got a call that most definitely was not BCBS. I don’t think they cold call to sign people up. I don’t know what the company was for home security, but we have that taken care of, and it’s likely a scam anyway. Car warranty, definitely a scam because my extended warranty barely started, so it’s not about to expire. I hate having to answer scam calls because I’m expecting a call from someone unknown, from somewhere unknown.

Ortho PA appointment today. Both shoulders, but they won’t look at both in a single appointment. I thought it was body part, and that’s why I have an appointment for my knee next week. The x-ray tech did not disappoint. My worst arm was moved in ways a well arm never is manipulated, and bonus, she had to do 8 times instead of 3 because they came out too dark and had to be redone. Grrr.

My daughter had a televisit with our PCP because she has been having asthma attacks too frequently. Staff refuses to allow her to use her Nebulizer. She is supposed to use it 4 times a day when her asthma is bad. Dr is faxing the office tomorrow to get them to follow his orders and take her for x-rays and testing. His tech conference called me with my daughter and said that he may need to call over there. Also, she needs a chest x-ray and something else, but staff refuse to take her and if I do it she will have to stay at my house for 2 weeks. Oh, bonus, dr wants her to get tested for the coronavirus. I get it, he wants to rule it out before he started treating her, probably for bronchitis. If staff hears she has to get tested they will isolate her again. #%$&@ Grr! 

My wife and son aren’t getting along, I don’t need my daughter thrown into that mix. Especially since she’s having issues breathing. I am so stressed from intervening, it’s no wonder why my IBS is acting up. I get she is in pain. She usually stays home all the time so I don’t know why she won’t take her medication.

Funnel cloud sighting, warning until 8pm. It better move along and skip where I live. I cannot handle another tornado causing damage to my home again. I just got the freezers filled with food the end of last month. If I lose that food, I will lose it. 2007 tornado whipped through our backyard knocking out power for more than 4 days, and a lot of damage done to my house, garage, and sheds. 

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 80 of Sheltering In

Monday. Laundromat day. Then I was on the phone with my new health insurance. I have an appointment at an out of network doctor (I’ve been seeing over 10 years) Wednesday. The insurance needs to do coordination of care paperwork to allow me to continue seeing this doctor until I find another. I got transferred several times and ended up being told someone from that department would call me. Apparently this is rocket science. Grrr. 

I’ve been sick with IBS issues for the last 5 days. My  stress level is high.

Brother-in-law was over. Guess what? He didn’t mow the backyard. He did something with my Eucalyptus bushes. I’m hoping he didn’t do a hack job. I wanted them trimmed heavily. I did not want it cut off at ground level. I’ll go take a look Tuesday. Anybody want any eucalyptus? I’ve got a large supply.

Tuesday I go to the orthopedic doctor for my shoulders. I am not looking forward to it. I know they are going to aggravate both shoulders and the tendons all the way to the wrist. Not my first rodeo, I know how the tech manipulates my arms to get the x-rays. Then the PA will test strength and range of motion. 

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 76, 77, 79 of Sheltering In

Friday, Saturday, Sunday. The days just all run together.

Protest in J Town Friday. It was actually quite near my daughter’s group home, so I was not going near there. My brother in law came over to do the front lawn. FIVE hours and it looks like it hasn’t been cut for 2 weeks. Dang it all! Lower the deck, I don’t give a shirt if it gets scalped, I actually prefer it because sometimes we get so much rain it grows too fast. Scalp the front and side and it should take an hour and a half with the walk behind mower. If the rider was working it would take a half hour. If the rider were working I’d mow the damn lawns myself. Front and side yards look like shirt because they look like they need to be mowed right after he does it!

Saturday my brother in law came over to mow the back yard. Mmm, not so much. He bought ANOTHER gas weed whacker and played with that for at least 5 hours. Back yard is still not done, trees are not trimmed (he promised that several years ago). My electric chainsaw works just fine, but he wants to buy a larger gas chainsaw. It’s not necessary, but if it will get him to trim the darn trees, then do it already! It’s his money he’s spending, not mine. 

After he left my son and I went to the bodega for veggies to make tabuleh. Ever since I tried the recipe from Pinterest I’m making it about every other week.  After I got back my wife went to pick up a gyros plate for my son and I to share, and I had the leftovers for lunch on Sunday. This non-chain restaurant is very generous with portions. We always order extra pita bread and extra tzatziki sauce knowing we will get 3 meals out of 1.

Sunday morning my son and I ran to Walmart to pick up what my daughter wanted, then picked up a taco plate on the way to drop them at her group home. I got there and there was a woman in a car in the driveway. My daughter told me that was their daytime staff. My daughter took her items from Walmart and her takeout, then brought her laundry down and loaded it in the Buick. Both washing machines have been out of service for 2 weeks. A repair person came midweek, but after other ladies tried them, found out they weren’t working properly. Guess who has to go to the laundromat tomorrow? I’m thrilled to have the honor! 

We stopped at The Jewel. Yes, it’s Jewel Foods (Albertsons), but we all call it The Jewel. Just went for a few items. While I was there my daughter called very upset. Nutjob was threatening my daughter, ordering my daughter to do Nutjob’s chores, threatened to throw away my daughter’s leftovers, and blocked my daughter from retrieving her leftovers to take to the 1st floor fridge so they would be safe. I asked if my daughter talked to staff. She replied no, staff was STILL in her car. I asked when that staff person started work. 9am. I asked if that person went in the house at all, she said no, she had been in her car the entire shift. I asked if she called the Team Lead. She said yes, but got no answer, same with On-Call. That was it. I had enough. I called the Team Lead and left a scathing message on her voicemail, then started typing a text to her when she called me back. Whenever she calls me back she makes like she didn’t listen to the message. She’s so fake. Anyway, I went all over everything with her. I also told her how staff had been in her car the entire shift. I asked her what her employer would think of that, paying a staff member to sit in her car. (I am not afraid to call her, the Asst Director and the Director when there are serious issues. At least 1 client in that group home requires constant supervision because she is known to run away, and self harm. If staff has to leave to pick a client up from work (none of them are working due to the lockdown), or run to the store, that 1 client must accompany the staff because she is not allowed to be home with no staff. The Team Lead said she would call that staff person as soon as she got off the phone with me, then she said she would call Nutjob and set her straight. That staff person needs to be terminated. Her entire job is making sure all the clients are safe and don’t harm themselves or others. I’m going to have my daughter text me in the morning to see if that staff person is there, and if she is in the building doing her job. If she’s there, I’m contacting the Asst Director and Director. I’m sure the Team Lead won’t even let them know about that staff member being in her car nearly her entire shift. 9am-3pm is the shift. I spoke with the Team Lead at 1:45pm. Since she called that staff person after we finished talking, that basically means that staff person worked less than an hour and 15 minutes, and jeopardized the health and well being of all the clients at my daughter’s group home for 6 hours and 45 minutes. 

After I got home I started dinner. A favorite that my wife has had a taste for, but we can’t travel for it, so I got a copycat recipe off Pinterest for La Hacienda Wet Burritos. I never had Wet Burritos before. They were  awesome, and my wife and my son loved them. Monday and Tuesday my wife will have to do dinner. Monday is laundry day and Tuesday is Orthopedic doctor for my shoulders. I can guarantee x-rays, and manipulation which is gonna hurt like hell. I have an appointment for my knee next Tuesday cuz you can never do 1 appointment for 2 body parts, even though it’s the same doctor. Whateves. It gets me out of the house. 

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Sunday Stealing-Would You Rather

Joining in the Sunday Stealing fun with Bev and the gang today.

* Would you rather work in a group or work alone?  Neither. I can’t work. But when I was I prefer working alone.

* Would you rather be stuck on an island alone or with someone who talks incessantly?  Alone! I cannot stand when someone talks incessantly.

* Would you rather be too hot or too cold? Too cold. You can always put on a sweater or a blanket, but if you’re too hot, there’s only so far you can go taking off clothes before it becomes public indecency.

* When you’re old, would you rather die before or after your spouse?  Pass.

* Would you rather have a cook or a maid?  I would want a maid.

* Would you rather be the youngest or the oldest sibling?  I’m the oldest, it’s fine.

* Would you rather get rich through hard work or through winning the lottery?  Lottery. But when I win I will keep it anonymous.

* Would you rather have a 10-hour dinner with a headstrong politician from an opposing party, or attend a 10-hour concert for a music group you detest?  Shoot me! I would take the 10 hour concert. I’ve already attended at least that many. Between the horrible plays, and a Mannheim Steamroller concert, I’m certain I have the stamina. Lol! With the current political climate, I would not want to go there.

* Would you rather be an Olympic gold medalist or a Nobel Peace Prize winner?  This has been asked and answered recently.

* Would you rather have a desk job or an outdoor job?  Being in the Midwest, an outdoor job would not be pleasant. Besides, been there, done that. My first job was outdoor.

* Would you rather live at the top of a tall NYC apartment building or at the top of a mountain?  I would pick a NYC apartment. But only if it had great views. I kind of miss the city.

* Would you rather have Rambo or The Terminator on your side?  The Terminator. Just because I like to hear Ahhhhnold talk. I’m sure it would get old fast, but don’t care for Rambo.

* Would you rather be proposed to in private or in front of family and friends?  I don't have either and I’m married. I’ve already proposed.

* Would you rather have to sew all your clothes or grow your own food?  Grow my own food. 

* Would you rather hear the good news or the bad news first?  The bad news. Because it’s all uphill.

* Would you rather be your own boss or work for someone else?  Considering my last place of work, I would definitely want to be the boss.

* Would you rather have nosy neighbors or noisy neighbors?  I’ve had noisy neighbors all my life. I’ve learned to tune them out, mostly. I think all neighbors have been nosy at some time. 

* Would you rather be on a survival reality show or dating game show? Neither.

* Would you rather be too busy or be bored?  Bored, because...I think I’m rather  good at it.

* Would you rather watch the big game at home or live at the stadium.  Stadium.

* Would you rather spend the day with your favorite athlete or you favorite movie star?  I don’t have a favorite athlete. Favorite movie star? Do they have to be living? If not, then Katherine Hepburn. I always found her fascinating. Living...Helen Mirren. Also find her fascinating. 

* Would you rather live where it is constantly winter or where it is constantly summer?  I would prefer constant Fall. But that isn’t a choice, so...winter.

* Would you rather travel the US and see the sights in a motor home or by plane?  Motor home.

* Would you rather be a little late or way too early? Way too early. Nothing wrong with getting some quality people watching while I wait.

* Would you rather have an unlimited gift certificate to a restaurant or a clothing store?  Restaurant. I shop online.

* Would you rather date someone you met online or go on a blind date?  Online has been very very good to me. 

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 75 of Sheltering In

Thursday. The protest here was organized by 3 recent high school graduates. It was peaceful. The area set aside for counter-protesters was empty.

Many stores closed as a precaution, however it doesn’t seem like there were any problems.

I stayed home all day. My daughter had other plans. She wanted to send me shopping for her and pickup takeout. As soon as I heard about the protest I told her I wasn’t leaving the house. She knew in advance, but tried anyway.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Days 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 of Sheltering In

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I don’t even know what day it is.

I’ve been preoccupied with the protests, rioting. and looting happening all around me.

I don’t even remember what I did on Saturday.

Sunday my son and I went to Jewel. I usually don’t shop there because they are the most expensive grocery, behind Mariano’s. What is with my wife! Every single time I go to a grocery store I ask before I leave if there is something we need to add to my list, or something she wants. ‘No....I can’t think of anything.’ I tell her to text me if she thinks of a anything. Every single time I am either waiting in line at the checkout, or I just finished paying, or we are on our way to the car, in the car, or driving home. One time she texted me additional items when I pulled into my driveway. 

Sunday was weird. Protests in surrounding areas, looting, a ridonkulous amount of reports of suspicious vehicles with black occupants. Different vehicles, number of people in the car. My wife and I were listening on a scanner app on our iPhones. 

Residents in J Town are calling for removal of their mayor who was involved in an altercation with a young black man. The mayor grabbed him and pulled him over to a group of police who then started to beat the snot out of him. The guy was lying on the pavement and didn’t appear to be resisting arrest. They punched his torso area repeatedly. Then the young man’s brother walked up and they threw him on the ground and started to beat the snot out of him. Both young men were hospitalized. I don’t care what that young man said to the mayor, or maybe he didn’t say anything, and the mayor grabs him, throws him to the ground and lets the cops beat him and then his brother. That was not appropriate behavior on the part of the mayor or the police officers.

Monday was phone call day. Calling to verify my orthopedic doctor takes my insurance, then finding I need referrals. So the receptionist canceled both of my appointments. Target store barricaded their entrance.

They closed early on Monday and didn’t open on Tuesday.

Monday night was scary. More listening to the scanner app. Either Sunday or Monday we locked up the house early and set the alarm, closed the blinds and drapes and kept the lights off. From somewhere close by, we hear popping noises. I said fireworks while protesting? My wife said, no, those are gunshots. It was like a bad horror movie from the ‘60’s.

Tuesday I ran to the newest CVS here because the one in Target was closed for the day. I ran out of one of my diabetes medications so I had to have it transferred. My referral was approved and new appointments for my knee and shoulders were made. 

Wednesday called the CVS in Target early to ask when they would have ALL my prescriptions filled. New insurance, I can get them all filled on 1 day and I’ll have less trips to CVS! And except for my pain medication and insulin pens, all were 90 day prescriptions. (I had to get a new glucose meter. I just got a new one last year. It didn’t cost me anything, the point is, that it’s wasteful. I was able to pass on my previous meters and supplies to my sister because she is too cheap to buy them and her insurance is crappy.

Dreading Thursday. There is a protest scheduled in The Commons. It’s less than 2 miles from my house. We will be locked down all day and not leaving. Friday J Town is having a protest very near my daughter’s group home, and it’s on our usual route to go there. So, no porch drop on Friday.

My daughter is having a rough time. Nutjob housemate is off her nut, waking up the 2nd floor at 2am screaming and pounding on doors. I told my daughter “headphones”. She can listen to music or a movie in her portable DVD player. Drown out the Nutjob. It does no good for her to report it to staff because they won’t do anything about it. We’ve been using FaceTime more. I can see in her face the stress, the depression. It’s all because Nutjob is acting up. 

Oh, in case you didn’t notice the time this was posted...I have insomnia. For days I have been up until 3 or 4am. 🥱

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Sunday Stealing: Conversation Starters

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Bev Sykes of the blog “Funny the World” is your host.This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves! 

Stolen from: Two Drifters

Right, on with the questions, provided, as always, by Bev at Sunday Stealing.

1. What do you think is the greatest television show of all time?

How about two?

• “Modern Family”
• “Madam Secretary”

2. Would you rather win a Nobel Prize or an Academy Award?

Unless one comes with money, I don’t need to win either. I don’t think either fit with who I am. I don’t have the knowledge or ideas for physics, literature, chemistry, medicine, peace, and economics. Academy Award? I’m not drawn to the limelight. I hide from it. I don’t see myself as an actor, producer, director, maybe a writer.

3. What one food would you banish from this earth if you could?

I would banish super hot, hot sauce. What is the point of them? To prove how tough you are?

4. What’s the scariest story you’ve ever heard?

I don’t know that I’ve heard it yet. I hope I don’t hear it November 3rd.

5. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

I met Rosie O’Donnell at a Michael’s book signing. Several times I met Folk-Rock singer and songwriter, Melissa Ferrick. I met Green Bay Packer, Bart Starr and Miss America 1973, Terry Anne Meeuwsen, at Southridge Mall.

6. What’s something you’ve done that most people wouldn’t know or guess about you?

I moved from WI to IL because the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” drew me there. Before moving I had quite a few Ferris Day’s. Actually some people who know me, know about it.

7. You’re strapped in a rocket ship about to go to the moon. Are you thrilled? Or terrified?

If the rocket ship is about to go to the moon, then I’d be terrified. I’m afraid of heights.

8. What is the correct way for toilet paper to sit on the holder?

Tail behind. Makes it less likely my cats will unroll it.

9. Talk about a mistake you made, or something you regret.

The last job I had. When you interview for a job and the people interviewing you (each separately for the same job) and they all repeatedly say “we are like family”. RUN! Run away as fast as you can. These people were awful. Homophobic, rude. They tried so hard to fire me because they didn’t like that I was gay. That was the bottom line, they did try to discredit my work to have a legitimate reason to fire me. I was called disgusting. I was screamed at repeatedly. When I tried to report it to my manager, I was screamed at by them too. I’m no longer there. 

10. What would be the best gift I could give you?

The gift of friendship. 

11. What makes you feel better when you’re sad or stressed?

A hug from my daughter. Because of the lockdown at her group home I have not gotten a hug from her since March 22nd. The governor extended the lockdown for congregate living places until June 30, and it could be extended again. Nursing homes are considered congregate living places. Until nursing homes get the spread of the coronavirus under control, I think the order may continue.

12. What is the most romantic movie you’ve ever seen?

I have two. “When Harry Met Sally” and “Casablanca”.

13. What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?

I have had quite a few.

• Lumpy Rutherford. This was a date in my previous life. This guy told me he looked like a combo of Billy Crystal and Bruce Willis. Ah no. He looked like a grown up Lumpy Rutherford from “Leave it to Beaver”. We were going to have dinner and watch the all star game at his mom’s house...where he lived. His mom and brother were home. I didn’t know this was a “family”date. I didn’t stay long. He had my...our...entire life planned out. EVERYTHING! I feigned illness and left.
• The Canadian. She insisted on flying in for a date. We had chatted for months online and on the phone. We exchanged photos. She had wanted me to book a hotel room for her. I didn’t do it, and it was a good thing. I picked her up from the airport. She looked me up and down over and over and was really angry. Apparently she didn’t like what she saw. We exchanged photos, so that was puzzling. We went to Navy Pier, she disappeared, apparently to change her return flight. When she appeared she said she was taking a cab to the airport. I ended up driving her back. She wouldn’t talk and appeared to be really, really angry. When she got out of my car, she threw at me the flowers and teddy bear I got her.  
• The just broke up with her long term partner and shouldn’t have agreed to go on a date with me on Valentines Day girl. She shouldn’t have brought her bff on the date either. Every topic, no matter how I tried, it triggered a memory of her partner and she’d start crying uncontrollably. Her bff was there to console her. Then the “date” wouldn’t end. After dinner they wanted to go dancing at the club down the street. I feigned illness and walked home. It was a really, really long walk.

14. What is the glue that keeps couples together?

Of course there has to be love. But the glue that keeps couples together is their sense of humor. If you can both find the funny in anything, you can get through anything together.

15.  What was your first crush.

I’d rather not say. This was in my previous life. He was my 6th grade crush. At the time I was too young and stupid to know that you don’t tell a friend the name of the person who you are crushing on. By the next day at lunch it was going around the lunchroom. I was mortified.

16. When did your parents talk to you about the birds and the bees?

I don’t specifically recall a talk about the birds and bees. (Or birds and birds, or bees and bees.) I just recall the talk about Aunt Flo.

17. What is your greatest achievement?

I would like to think it was all the advocating I did for my kids when their mental illnesses struck. My daughter in particular. Her break was bad, but she eventually came back from it, went on to live in a group home, then a part time job, and very soon an apartment.

18. Were you close to your parents growing up?

I was very close to both of them. More so my Mom. I was always my Dad’s gopher when he was working on his car, or some project. I would get whatever tool he asked for and give it to him. I held the work light. Stuff like that. We really didn’t “talk” like I did with my Mom, but we were close. I was very close to my Mom. I watched her cook, clean, do laundry, and we watched the soaps together. “One Life to Live” and “General Hospital.” We talked a lot. I learned a lot about her family, a little about her growing up.

19. What was the most life-changing event you’ve ever experienced?

Having children. 

20. Have you ever had a falling out with a friend? What happened?

I had a weird falling out with my childhood bff. I was 1 year younger. When she became a sophomore and I was a freshman she told me we couldn’t be friends. Sophomores can’t be friends with freshmen. Not just at school, in the neighborhood too. This was brutal. We were friends since our parents had their homes built. Since I was 4 or 5 years old. Both my Mom and her Mom tried to intervene, but my bff was no longer my bff. Around 1995 word got to me that she had a malignant brain tumor. I was told by a neighbor that she wanted to talk. By this time I lived in Chicago and had a 1 year old and 2 year old and my husband (in my previous life) was in and out of the hospital. I had made plans to go, but couldn’t because of his hospitalization. Sadly I never made it. I was able to attend the funeral. Since the sophomores can’t be friends with freshman I have found it very difficult to make friends.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020