Day 369 of Sheltering In

Thursday. I was supposed to have an appointment with the orthopedic doctor today. Get this:

I got no call to confirm my appointment Wednesday. 

I called this morning to say I didn’t get the call and wanted to confirm.

I was told that I didn’t respond to the automated call so they canceled my appointment!

Who did they call?

It wasn’t me, or my wife.

I really wasn’t in the mood to go today, but I would have gone had they not canceled.

I was told by my insurance I didn’t need a referral for a therapist, what with the pandemic and people really needing one. Apparently they lied. I got a denial letter for the first visit yesterday. I called and was told I needed a referral, and they said it wouldn’t be a problem, as soon as they got it, they’d pay the claim. I contacted my PCP who did the referral right away and told me they might not pay it. So maybe I’ve been lied to again by my insurance?

I have a ton of paperwork to do for other things and my printer decided to ignore my print requests. Grr!

While I’m trying to handle that, my wife is fielding calls from her brother and Dad. They live in the same house, can’t they coordinate or let each other know? They were calling about the same thing. Something is going on over there Saturday and her Dad wants her over there. I had PT scheduled, so I had to cancel it because we only have the Buick for transportation. I haven’t parted with the Pilot yet, but you can’t steer it, so it can’t be driven. My wife wanted to go Sunday so I wouldn’t have to cancel. Nope. I promised my therapist that I will have MY Sunday this week. I am under way too much stress to skip MY Sunday for the 3rd or 4th week in a row. I did have big plans for Sunday (1st date anniversary), but I’m a professional procrastinator and have not gotten anything done that I could have done in advance. Also, either my wife is playing, or she doesn’t remember what Sunday is. I told her we would have to go to her Dad’s Saturday and I said we already had plans on Sunday. If she doesn’t remember, then Sunday is just a day.

Somehow my daughter has ingratiated herself with a new staff member who drove her to my house to get her meds from me tonight. Yay!!! I love my daughter! She’s a smooth talker just like her Mom. Lol!

I think I may have found a good book for my wife to read about my kids’ illnesses. 

Weekends at Bellevue- 9 years on the night shift at the psych ER

So far it is stirring up old memories, which I’m not fond of, but if it’s doing that, then it should be a good introduction to what I have gone through since 1997 with the kid’s dad, then my daughter, then my son.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 368 of Sheltering In

Wednesday. Late yesterday afternoon my wife and I were scrambling trying to get appointments for the vaccine for her and my son. They got appointments for the 30th in J town, back to back. So happy they were able to get appointments so close. 

I barely got through PT today. I had a new to me physical therapist today. He is from India and we talked about the vaccine and how getting one in India is so much easier. There is a single website for the entire country. You sign up, you get a token, then you can go to any site administering the vaccine that has it in stock and wait in line. No appointment needed. He says it’s so much more organized, you don’t have to be of a certain age or have underlying conditions. You sign up, get a token, and go get vaccinated. There is just too much bureaucracy here.

I still feel blah since I got the vaccine. The muscle pain in the arm I got the injection in, is almost gone. I’m tired, but I think it’s lack of sleep. It’s difficult when you have arm pain on the right side and knee pain on the left. I was constantly changing positions. The good thing is that the arm pain is barely there now, so I should sleep well tonight. I was also nauseous today, but I’m chalking it up to IBS. Usually I just get abdominal pain when I have a flare up, and I rarely get nauseous. I guess I just got lucky today.

Supposed to have a doctor appointment Thursday, but they didn’t confirm it. I’m kind of hoping it’s canceled. I will have to call in the morning to find out. I just don’t have the energy. I know they will X-ray my knee, so I’m dreading that. I’ve got a ton of PT visits approved and I would rather do that. No way do I want surgery. Besides, what are they going to do about the sprained LCL? Nothing beyond what I’m already doing. Surgery would be for the meniscus tear. I’ve been told by 2 doctors that it’s a minor tear, so I’m holding on to that.

Here’s a funny. A cousin of my wife’s started sending me messages on Messenger. Clearly she thought she was messaging someone else. She was typing so fast it was hard to get across her error. She was nice about it and we had a nice chat. I haven’t really talked to her since our wedding. What with my surgery, my wife’s surgery, her cousin’s health problems, and the pandemic it’s been impossible to make the trip to Indiana. Hopefully after our family gets vaccinated and the waiting period passes we can have a visit there.

My daughter is so annoying about her home visit. I told her I would have to check with my wife. I know she wants to plan a visit to her Dad’s, so I do need to confer with her about what dates the home visit will be. Oh, and it’s her birthday in Easter. As if I didn’t know!

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 360-367 of Sheltering In

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. PT Wednesday and Thursday. That was brutal. This week is chock full of fun appointments. COVID-19 vaccine Monday in Hodgkins (I was trying everything and could not get any appointments closer. It wasn’t that bad a drive.) Tuesday therapist, then PT 3 days (including Saturday) and orthopedic doctor.

Anastasia contacted my wife to tell her that Will County had openings for COVID-19 vaccinations. Of course she called my wife, because she only calls me to belittle me and insinuate (or sometimes straight up call me) a bad Mom. Anastasia texted me a few days ago saying my son contacted her complaining about the arguments between himself and my wife. So Anastasia types in ALL CAPS types “time for group home”. I am still furious at the way she treats me (I was NOT the one who cheated and left, but she acts as though I am. I AM NOT!) I am absolutely furious at her telling me what is best for my son. It’s none of her damn business. Her and I are no longer in a relationship, we are not friends, I only tolerate or avoid her because my kids want a relationship with her and she is more reliable than their dad who pops up every few years wanting to see them (I think it’s 4 years now.) I am sick and tired of sucking it up and taking her bullshit to make my kids happy. She even had the nerve to ask to be invited for poker night at my father-in-law’s. NOT A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE IN HELL!

So I have a question. Actually I have many, but I’m just going to ask one. The 10th anniversary of our first date is approaching. How do you try to temper your expectations when you are the one who always has a plan and gives the perfect/thoughtful card/gift/celebration meal and your counterpart is maybe 1 step above last minute card/gift selection at Walgreens? 

On that note...have a great week!

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Sunday Stealing-Blog Challenge

March 18, 2021

Blog Challenge 

 

Hi! Our host is Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. 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. Cheers to all of us thieves!

From Blog Challenge

 

 

 

 

1. What was an unforgettable day in your life?

My 2nd wedding. I hired a bagpiper to play at the ceremony. (No one knew until he showed up. Everyone, including my bride to be was surprised.) He played the wedding party down from the arbor to the gazebo. My boss’s daughter sang Sarah Barellis “I Choose You” after the Reverend said a few words. Then at the end the bagpiper played a different song as we walked out. My father-in-law gave a speech where he said “You’re one of us now”. Then EVERYONE at the reception chanted “One of us. One of us.” Over and over. (None of my extended family attended.) After the meal I danced all night with my kids, mostly my son. I danced with my wife for the first dance. (This was 2 years before my car accident, so dancing was not a problem...other than I really never danced at weddings. Lol!) The dancing kept my kids occupied because they didn’t know very many people, and it kept me from ruminating about the fact that no extended family on my side attended. I only drank champagne for the toasts. The dancing kept me away from the bar. I was a bit concerned I might get drunk and stupid...cuz only my kids were there, but the dancing kept my mind off the lack of attendance.

2. What are your favorite snacks?

It used to be any chocolate, potato chips, Cheetos. Now it’s dark chocolate because it’s lower in sugar, popcorn because it’s healthier. I ate pork rinds then switched to popcorn. Now I can’t even look at a pork rind.

3. What is your biggest fashion accessory?

My favorite is my Citizen watch. It’s the man’s version (the women’s model looked silly on my wrist). My wife and I got the watches as wedding gifts to each other.

4. What is your biggest celebrity crush?

I don’t really crush on celebrities.

5. Name one hobby you would like to learn.

I would love to golf. I know how and have my own clubs and shoes. Because of my back and shoulders, and currently my torn meniscus and sprained LCL I can’t. Maybe when my knee heals I can figure out a modified swing that I can manage. Otherwise I’ll be limited to Putt Putt Golf.

6. What are your OCD habits?

I don’t like my food touching on my plate. If it touches it’s not a big deal, I’d just rather it didn’t. I also usually eat one food at a time until that food is finished, instead of varying what I eat. I also save my favorite for last.  

7. What would you like to eat if you knew it was your last meal?

Sushi.

8. Are you working on your fitness?

Seriously? There’s not much I can do because of my torn meniscus, sprained LCL, bad shoulders, and bad back. I currently go to physical therapy 3 times a week. So technically I am getting exercise. I’m also workin on my guns. 💪 I can manage some exercises with weights that don’t aggravate my shoulders.

9. What do you spend money on?

Oh shoot! I’m busted! I read a lot because I can’t seem to find anything I’d like that I haven’t seen before on the streaming services. I’ve read 80 days in a row according to the Kindle Reading Challenge. I spend a lot on Kindle Books. What’s a lot? I added up what I’ve spent since 01/01/2021. Keep in mind that I did have some Amazon gift cards...I spent $157 on Kindle books since the first of this year. (Of that amount, I spent $105 in February!) Isn’t that amount ridiculous? I added it up because I was contemplating paying for Kindle Unlimited. A couple of the authors I read don’t offer their books on Kindle Unlimited. Still, I think I’d save a lot of money even if I bought the occasional Kindle Book. No, the library is not an option because they don’t carry the genre I read.

10. What is your favorite recipe?

I cook so many different cuisines that it’s hard to pick. I do really like Char Siu. It’s the barbecued pork appetizer Chinese restaurants have. I love my Mom’s pasta sauce recipe, but I don’t really eat pasta anymore (diabetic=limit carbs). I hate zoodles. Occasionally I sub bean sprouts for pasta.

11. What is the best part of each season?

Spring-I love planning my vegetable garden, and my flower boxes. I have my son do the dirty work. I can’t wait for my Lilac bushes and Bearded Irises bloom.

Summer-Shorts season! Cargo shorts! Sure you can wear them in the Spring and Fall, but they are kind of mandatory in Summer.

Fall-The cooler weather (I love hoodie season!), and the leaves changing color.

Winter-I do enjoy the colder weather, but not really below 40°. 

12. What is a life lesson you've learned?

Making friends as an adult is nearly impossible. No one believes me when I say I have no friends. It’s actually true if you’re not counting my wife and kids. I don’t count my wife’s friends as my friends because they are not. Sure, they’re pleasant to me, but they don’t really engage me in conversation when I’m with my wife (usually sitting on our porch), and I’m not included when they go out to lunch with my wife. When this comes up my wife insists her friends are my friends too. But they are not. I wasn’t invited to the bachelorette party before our wedding. I’m a female too, why wasn’t I included? Because they don’t consider me to be their friend. I don’t work, so no work friends. At my last job my coworkers were all haters and quite nasty to me. 

13. What is your inspiration to blog?

I blog because it was something to do, and early on it was an outlet to educate people about LGBT people. (This was before gay marriage became legal.) It also was a way to educate people about mental health, and get a much needed respite when my kids were hospitalized. I also got free products and books to review and had a regular advertiser. Since Entrecard (which was a great way to get new readers) discontinued, I don't have many readers, except for Sunday Stealing. 

14. What’s inside your closet?

Clothing, shoes (sneakers, dress shoes, motorcycle boots), boxes. Cookbooks are on the shelves because I have no space elsewhere for them.

15. What can you brag about?

My daughter. She’s had over 26 hospitalizations due to her mental illness. She lives in a group home. Initially she lived on the 1st floor. After about 2 years she was moved to the 2nd floor for residents who are capable of being more independent. Before the pandemic she worked part time as a bagger at a grocery store. She initially went on medical leave because she has uncontrolled asthma. It got to be too long, so she lost her job, but was told she could reapply when it was safe for her and they’d love to have her back. She was very well liked by coworkers as well as supervisors and managers. My daughter will be moving out of the group home and moving into an apartment complex run by the same organization. It’s a brand new complex, fully completed, but they haven’t notified us when she can move in. I think they may be delaying due to the pandemic. My daughter did get a tour and can’t wait!

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 357-359 of Sheltering In

Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Saturday was laundry day at my father-in-law’s. I stayed home and puttered around all day. Sunday we were supposed to stay home, watch ITKWD on QVC, but that didn’t happen. What little of it I did see, it seemed like they were getting back to what they used to do, which was make recipes using the products they were hawking. We’ll see next time I watch if that’s the case. We ran to Meijer for items my wife needed for dinner and got a few things for my daughter. I had a prescription to drop off and it couldn’t wait.

I think I wrote awhile back about my brother-in-law in law flying to Colorado to do bus runs when the wildfires were happening. That trip got canceled. Now, he is supposed to fly to Florida to do school bus runs in Miami. He already got his permit to drive bus there. Not sure when it’s supposed to happen. Considering how the other trip got canceled last minute, it wouldn’t surprise me if it happened again.

Monday I had PT. The roads were terrible due to the snow/rain/ice.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Sunday Stealing-Ask Anything

14 March 2021

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. 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!


 

 

From Ask Anything

 

 

 

 

 

1 Do You Sleep With Your Closet Doors Open Or Closed?
Our closet doesn’t have a door. However, I put up a tension rod and hung a curtain. Makes no sense to heat or air condition a closet.

2 Do You Have Freckles? No.

3 Can You Whistle? Yes.

4 Last Song You Listened To.
The Goo Goo Dolls, “Here Is Gone”.

5 Name Something That Relaxes You. Listening to music.

6 What Sounds Are Your Favourite?
The sound of my kids laughing or talking. My cats, when they do that funny kitty-talk sound that means FEED ME. It’s cute, and much better than the kitty-talk sounds they make just before they vomit. Lol!

7 What Do You Wear To Bed?
It depends...

8 Do You Sing In The Shower? I used to always sing in the bathroom when I was a kid. The acoustics were good...and for some reason I thought no one could hear me. I stopped after my Dad said something. If anything, now I usually hum, either to a familiar song, or something I made up right then. I will sing occasionally...if I know I’m the only one on the 2nd floor (where the master bathroom is).

9 What Books Are You Reading?
Lesbian romance novels.

10 Do You Believe In Magic?
I don’t think so. If you’re talking magic tricks, that’s all slight of hand and misdirection, not really “magic”.

11 Can You Curl Your Tongue? I don’t think so.

12 Have You Ever Caught A Butterfly?
No. I was not a kid that had pets, or caught butterflies. I tried to teach my kids how to catch lightening bugs, but there aren’t that many in the city.

13 Name One Movie That Made You Cry.
Can’t think of one now. I’ll come back and answer if I think of one.

14 Peanuts Or Sunflower Seeds? Sunflower seeds.

15 Are You A Heavy Sleeper?
Yes and no. My wife snores so loud that it sounds like I’m next to a jet aircraft. If I manage to fall asleep first, or I dare to turn up the volume on my Amazon Dot that I listen to sleep sounds on. It’s the only thing I use my Amazon Dot for, nothing else. Not even sure what else it can do besides that and maybe play Amazon Music.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021

Day 351-356 of Sheltering In

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Sunday I did not get to do my usual vegetate in front of the tv watching QVC. Instead, I made a late trip to a pop-up pantry and picked up for 2 other families and both floors at my daughter’s group home. I go late so I’m basically picking up part of the excess food that would get wasted. Technically I am definitely within their target demographic, but I like to go late so other people have the opportunity.

Monday I had PT. I went early because the older couple (we had breakfast with twice a month before the pandemic) had tax questions. If I end up preparing their taxes I won’t charge them. Because of my pain issues it won’t be a quick process. It will be several days working for short periods. Regardless, I wouldn’t feel right about charging them because they are low income, and they are my wife’s friends. Plus it makes me feel useful. 

Thursday we went over to their place and I set up my laptop and turned my WiFi hotspot on, on my iPhone. They couldn’t find their WiFi password and weren’t sure of the user ID. Funny how all the condos around them came up on my laptop and the names were all similar. We were going to wirelessly print their copies using their Epson Printer/Scanner, but they didn’t know how to use it, and never have. I have a Epson, but not the same model. Next time I’m over there I’ll look up the manual online and get it working for them. They have a MacBook that they don’t really know how to use beyond Facebook. I’ll probably setup a time with them to show them how to use it. I’ve never had a MacBook, but I did use an Apple computer when I worked at the library.

I had PT 3 times this week and Friday was brutal. M is funny. She told me I had 71 PT visits approved. She kept asking me how I got that many visits approved from the company that manages PT and other medical stuff for my health insurance. I have no idea how, and I don’t recall ever calling them. A torn meniscus and sprained LCL are not something you get over quickly with a few PT visits, but 71? I definitely don’t want surgery, so I will be going to PT for as long as I can until both injuries are resolved.

Here’s some fun stuff M told me. There is a limo service that will take you and your pals to downtown Chicago. They provide you with chips and guacamole, and a taco dinner in a box. And...margaritas! They drive you around downtown, LSD, Buckingham Fountain, etc., while you dine and drink margaritas. Sounds fun. The other thing she told me was about the Speakeasy tours. This one is a bus tour of Chicago’s Speakeasy history. Kind of like a Pub Crawl, but informative, and probably higher class joints. She also told me she’s going to The Melting Pot for fondue. She is going to the location in Naperville. I’d been to the Chicago location quite a few years ago. 

I was very close to needing bail money tonight. I took my son to a used video game/movie/music place to return some defective PSP games he bought last week. A creeper kept following too close to me in the store and was saying inappropriate things. Did he think he was funny? I wasn’t laughing. I could have responded with something just as crude, but that’s not me. Besides, the only other female in the store was a high school age clerk. Had he gotten in my face, or touched me, I would have introduced my cane to him. I was not pleased when I had to finish the purchase with a credit card. (My son went slightly over his store credit.) The guy was standing next to the machine with no room for me to scan my card. I ended up reaching over and handing my card to the employee. Ick! I felt dirty when I left. My son said he smelled alcohol on the guy and his friend. 

FYI-The day count of each post is based upon my daughter’s group home going on lockdown March 23rd, with her last day of work being March 22nd. I think everyone is basing their counts on different days depending on when shutdown events happened near them, or affected them. Several authors whose Facebook pages I follow are in the UK and they post a couple times a week and lament that they are on total lockdown. They seem to have everything opening up here, which does not make me feel comfortable. I have yet to be contacted, nor my wife or son to get the vaccine. Each of us have several co-morbidities and are in the current phase. I don’t understand it. I guess it all comes down to who you know. I don’t know anyone, so 🤷🏻‍♀️ My son has severe anxiety and I’m wondering if the increase in symptoms is a result of that. My anxiety has increased a lot due to stress. Everything is on my shoulders, everything is my responsibility or my fault. I truly want to run away. 

Kindle Reading Challenge:  I read 72 days in a row and read 24 books.  

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2021