Day 20, 21 of Sheltering In

Stayed home Thursday. Friday I went shopping with my son and got items for a care package to porch drop to my daughter. Very, very long day. I got up at 7:10am which for me is the crack of dawn. I can’t remember when I last got up that early. 

Got a letter regarding my prescription insurance. It was good news, however, I have about 10 plans to look at and decide which is best for me. Not looking forward to that research.

When my son went in to pick up prescriptions for the family the pharmacist (that helped find the bridge program) mentioned she’d been trying to get sidewalk chalk for her young children. I had to run over to the cake store for my daughter’s free mini cake. Dollar Tree was nearly next door, so I dropped my son off with some cash and gave him instructions on what to get. I told him to get 2 packs of sidewalk chalk. Everyone in our community and surrounding communities are doing chalk art on their driveways and sidewalks. Encouragement, positive energy. She seemed so frazzled because she couldn’t find chalk anywhere and when her shift ended everything would be closed and she probably works all day Saturday. It was only $1, but her kids were looking forward to making chalk art for Easter, I can do $1. I even tipped the cake girl because it was curb service. 

It may not seem like a big deal, but my son followed my instructions and was walking out with the chalk when I circled back for him. It is a big deal. He has issues with focus and following instructions. I gave him the money like it was no big deal, locate them, buy them. He dropped off 1 to the pharmacist, and 1 put in my daughter’s care package. I’m not being lazy. Having him do things like pickup prescriptions or find something and pay for it at a store are steps to being more independent. These are things he has to learn. Since my daughter got her job I’ve been having her shop with me, coaching her in healthy choices, teaching her to read labels, pick the item with the best price per unit, and showing her how to use her bank card. (My son shops with me also, but he has a harder time with the labels and getting the best price.) Before the Coronavirus lockdown when my daughter worked she did a little grocery shopping after work, before her ride came...on her own. She shops on her own!

The consequences for the nutjob are on the back burner. For whatever reason, 3 group homes are on total lockdown. Meaning staff does not come and go. Staff sleeps over for 30 days and cannot leave. Either these houses have clients with the Coronavirus, or, they are doing a practice run in case they do have a home with a client that is infected. My daughter got the intel on this, and had a staff member inadvertently confirm it when she told the clients she wouldn’t be at their house for 30 days. My daughter follows her out and asks if she’s working one of the homes on total lockdown. The reply was yes. 

Wondering how that works. The staff is basically working 24/7/30 because they can’t leave and no other staff can go in. How do they pay them? Do they get hazard pay?

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 17, 18, 19 of Sheltering In

The days are all running together. 

Day 17 I stayed off the phone, gathered documents  and just chilled. My sister went back to her day job. Apparently the sewing department was making masks last week. She sent me a photo.

That’s way too big, wrong fabric, and just wrong! It is supposed to fit tightly at the nose, cheeks, chin and it’s supposed to be 100% cotton. That looks like fleece or sweatshirt material. (Actually, it kind of looks like a bra cup, D, maybe?) My sister says the sewing department is making different ones. I sent her a photo of what mine look like. Mine have a pipe cleaner sewn into the top so it can be pinched to fit snuggly, and 3 pleats so it can be pulled down to get a snug fit below the chin.

Hopefully they will make them properly. (She works at a flag company, so they have an entire floor of people sewing flags.)

Day 18 I was on the phone and Internet most of the day. My wonderful, fabulous, go the extra mile pharmacist found a bridge program so I could get my insulin for $3.90 and a pain med for $1.30. She said the program is month to month, so if it takes longer for my paperwork to get processed, I can do it again next month. By early evening I was having serious back pain and spasms. I ended up having pain meds and a nap with multiple ice packs and a late dinner. 

Day 19 I woke up with serious back pain, so today I chilled. Literally...with fresh ice packs. So supposedly on Sunday there was a meeting at my daughter’s group home about the nutjob. Lines were drawn in the sand. Monday and Tuesday those lines were erased. Why bother? The first rule, or whatever you want to call it was that if nutjob left the house or had a fall she would go back to the nursing home, never to return to the group home my daughter lives in. Second was, if nutjob bullied any client or staff, nutjob would be removed and transferred to a different group home, never to return to my daughter’s group home. So Monday nutjob ate more than 1/2 of my daughter’s full sheet birthday cake leftovers which my daughter planned on sharing with everyone. My daughter was very upset. It was her birthday cake. For cripe’s sake, my daughter can’t even celebrate with her family and this b***h does that. Nutjob has also been stealing someone’s (not my daughter’s) canned beverages. Also Monday night nutjob had a fall and bumped her head. It was heard on the first floor. Wednesday night nutjob stole the Dish remote from the living room so no one could watch television. Then my daughter and the other housemate were treated to cabinet doors being opened and slammed shut for an extended period. Needless to say absolutely nothing was done. There are new staff who don’t even do what they are supposed to do, let alone do anything to stop nutjob. Nothing was even said to the nutjob about any of her wrong doing and staff made no effort to get the Dish remote returned to the living room. So from the stress of the early evening my daughter’s IBS issues started. I talked to her briefly before we ate dinner and I could tell from her voice she was not feeling well, and not doing well.

I’ve told my daughter to keep trying to reach the director or assistant director regarding the failure to follow through with the promised consequences. If she hasn’t reached either one by late afternoon Thursday I will be sending an email. It seems to be the only way to reach them. I’m not waiting until Friday because they are always in all day meetings in Fridays and I know the weekend will not be good for any housemates if something isn’t done about nutjob by staff, team lead, or ? 

I may or may not go out Thursday. I do have my insulin and pain med to pick up. If I can wait until Friday, I will. Saturday was the only day I got away from the house. That was to porch drop my daughter’s care package and 1 gift. The other gift is apparently touring the US courtesy of Fed Ex. Package was supposed to be delivered last Thursday, then Sunday, then today. FAIL times 3! I was told by the store I ordered it from it would definitely be today. Nope! Now it’s supposed to be Thursday. I doubt it. The package came from San Bernadino, CA, then to Chicago (which is normal), stayed in Chicago Saturday, Sunday, Monday, then took a trip to Indiana, then back to Chicago today. Wtfork?

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 16 of Sheltering In

So today did not start out well. My wife’s sister called her and woke her up at 6am to scream at her saying why can’t she drop off their dad’s handicap placard at MY house. I’m surprised our whole family wasn’t woken up. First of all, my wife has terrible pain and insomnia and had just fallen asleep around 4:30am. And Second of all, this handicap placard has nothing to do with us. Her sister is too damn lazy to drop it at her dad’s house. I don’t care that MY house is on her way to work. We didn’t borrow that truck for over 4 years and have ample opportunities to drop the placard at their dad’s house well before there even was a Coronavirus or sheltering in.

Shortly after 10am our pharmacy called because my insulin would not go through my insurance. That’s because my insurance is all jacked up because of Medicare. 

So, since I spent 4.5 hours on hold with a related government agency on Friday, I’m not looking forward to being on hold all day again. I’m thinking I should wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to call. Last week I got up early Monday and had 95 callers ahead of me. My anxiety is off the deep end. I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to try calling Monday.

I need some zen. I have a sewing machine and fabric. I know I can’t sit for long, but maybe I could get some masks started, and do a little every day or so, whatever my body will tolerate without punishing me later. I feel like I need to do something, you know? 

Not in a good place anxiety-wise. The thing with my sister in law started this. I’m high risk and finding out she may show up at MY house just set it off. It’s to the point I don’t want to leave the house to go to the pharmacy and the grocery store. Really the only thing we need is a ham for Easter, milk and bread. I keep thinking it’s 2 weeks away. It’s not. Then I think, why bother? My daughter can’t be here. I’m just not feelin’ the holiday. I feel like maybe when the quarantine (whatever you call it) is no longer necessary we should celebrate my daughter’s birthday the first weekend post quarantined, then the weekend later, celebrate Easter.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Sunday Stealing: Gratitude

Hi! Your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcomes you 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!

Stolen from Gratitude Journal on Pinterest

1. Name a highlight of your day. Seeing my daughter’s face light up when we pulled into the driveway of her group home on her birthday Saturday. She was waiting on the porch. When we parked she went back in the house so we could drop off her birthday gift and care package on her porch. No visitors allowed, but we can porch drop packages.

2. What made you smile today? Seeing my daughter’s face when she opened her birthday gift. We had to stay on the driveway and watch at a distance. Her gift was a Nikki Cross t-shirt (WWE Wrestling). [This thought just came to me. In a couple years when I look at any post from Coronavirus time U.S., will it seem odd to basically be on quarantine this time of the year? Or will it be the new normal? I’m praying it will seem odd.]

3. What made you laugh today? Probably something to do with dropping off my daughter’s care package.

4. Recall a time when you needed encouragement. I’m sure there were times, I can’t think of them now.

5. What is a luxury you are thankful for? Television and streaming services.

6. Favorite childhood memory?  So many. If I had to pick, it would be sitting on the couch with my Mom, her teaching me embroidery and talking. And talking. I miss that the most, talking to my Mom. My Mom passed away 36 years ago this June.

7. Favorite song–and why? I can’t think of one now.

8. Where is your favorite place?  Why? I have 2. Key West, the drive from Orlando to Key West. The beautiful scenery. Camping with my wife in Galena. It was only 1 night and it started out rushing to put up the tent in a torrential rain storm. In the morning we woke up to a beautiful rainbow and hot air balloons over the lake.

9. What is your favorite scent? Lilacs. My Mom had Lilac bushes in the backyard. I have them surrounding my front porch and I can’t wait for them to bloom.

10. What is your favorite topic to talk about? I enjoy talking about just about anything. I don’t get the opportunity to talk much to anyone outside my immediate family. Not just now because of the Coronavirus. For years I’ve had no friends. I don’t even chat with any social media friends. I sort of have friends now. My wife and I are couple friends with an older couple. We had been meeting them for coffee once or twice a month. Outside of coffee we don’t really hear from each other. We usually end up talking solely to the person in front of us. The husband is usually in front of me and I’m afraid the last time we met for coffee I wayyy over monopolized the conversation. I really hate that I do that. 

11. What do you like doing so much that you lose track of time? Hmm? 

12. If you had 5 minutes and the whole world was forced to listen, what would you say? The Emperor Has No Clothes. That is all.

13. Whose life do you envy the most, and why? I don’t really envy a particular person’s life. Like I don’t envy Oprah Winfrey (do I really need to include “Winfrey”? How many Oprah’s do we know?) I don’t envy Ellen. I would say what I envy is more wealth and lifestyle. Not incredible wealth, just enough to live comfortably (not excessive or enough to buy designer everything), in a nice home with extra bedrooms and space for a rec room, a She Shed. Able to handle unexpected expenses without panic and juggling. And have a nice vacation twice a year. (A lot of years to make up for.) Enough to have a camper. (Like tour buses, but not that large, what are those called?) Enough to be able to manage my family’s medical expenses and my pet’s veterinary expenses. Enough money put away for retirement. Enough to not have to pinch every penny and calculate the price per ounce on every grocery item.

14. What would you different with your education if you got a chance to start over? This is obvious. I would have completed my Bachelor’s Degree at De Paul, or just gone to UWM after high school and get it then. My entire working life I struggled because while I had the experience, I did not have a Bachelor’s Degree.

15. What would you do with your life if you had no fear? I can’t even imagine a life with no fear. I have terrible anxiety. About my health, my kids, my wife, my finances, my home. This has gone on for so long I don’t know how to answer this question.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 15 of Sheltering In

So today was my daughter’s birthday. Around 1pm we drove over to her group home to drop off on the porch  a care package of treats, craft supplies and 1 of her gifts. (The other is still in route.) We watched her open it from the driveway.

That’s a Nikki Cross T-shirt. (WWE Wrestler.) I think she maybe liked it. Lol! It cheered her up. 

After we got home we watched a movie on Netflix, Molly Bloom, and several shows about bands on Tubi. Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and we started to watch Rush. Now I’m letting my son watch a Star Wars movie. The Empire Strikes Back. I only know because I just asked. Not a fan of Star Wars. Never got into any of the movies. So I’m taking one for the team...again! This is the 2nd Star Wars movie I’ve had to watch in a week. I’d get him back by making him watch Golden Girls or Designing Women, but I don’t care for those either. Lol!

Apparently my sister went back to work at her 2nd job at a major grocery store. She works the service desk or they have her cashier when they don’t have enough cashiers. Still coughing. I’ve said it many times, and I’m saying it again, I cannot believe she is my biological sister and I cannot believe we were raised by the same parents.

My wife has the same problem. Her youngest sister decided she was dropping off their dad’s handicap placard in my mailbox. Multiple issues with that. 

1. You can’t put items that aren’t mail in a mailbox.

2. I was never asked if this was ok.

3. Why isn’t she dropping it off to her dad at his house? It’s HIS, not mine, or my wife’s. We have nothing to do with any of this.

4. Besides the fact that she is not welcome here to bring the placard, why must it be Sunday? She borrowed his truck several years ago and has had it, and the placard the entire time.

5. Her sister works at a gas station, takes no precautions against the Coronavirus, and would likely wear the same work clothes she wore to work today (not laundered) when she came here tomorrow.

6. Her younger sister told my wife that she needed to disinfect it for their dad to pick it up. Wtfork? See, she won’t even disinfect it and wants my wife to disinfect it. Hell to the no! 

7. I am high risk. If that thing comes on MY property their dad is going to have to order a replacement cuz imma have a bonfire wherever it lands. I told my wife this already.

Anyone reading this can call me whatever they want, say I am being ridiculous. Is it? I don’t care! She is not putting me or my family at risk. Also, their dad is high risk so why is she doing this now? 

Why am I freaking out over this? Because a coworker of my brother in law, who had at least one of the same risk factors I have, got infected with the Coronavirus and died this past week. For the past 3 days, every time I hear about a Coronavirus death in our county, the person was my age or younger and had at least 1 of the risk factors I have.

All this boils down to is that this matter has nothing to do with my family and I was never asked if my property could be used as a drop off and pick up point.

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Happy 27th Birthday to my daughter

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020

Day 13 & 14 of Sheltering In

Day 13 & 14 cuz in lockdown (sheltering in, whateves) all the days start running together. Not necessarily in a good way.

Thursday I spent 4.5 hours on hold with a government agency. Yes, 4.5 hours. Then I find out if I would have clicked a button, instead of first logging in (made sense to me)I could have skipped the phone call entirely. Now I have to scan every conceivable identification, documents you could think of and upload them. Driver’s license or State ID, voter registration card, for everyone with you. Then government insurance card, letter, marriage certificate to prove relationship, then birth certificate to prove relationship for children. Then a ton of other documents. I gathered quite a bit after I went online to fill out the form.

Thursday we sang Happy Early Birthday and for our encore Babs version of “Ave Maria” (just because my daughter mentioned it) which did not go particularly well since it was our first time singing it together. 

Friday we sang Happy Early Birthday and for our encore a song from Westside Story, same thing. 

Friday on the phone with my daughter was hard. She kept saying she wanted us to come to her party at her group home. 😢

Lola’s Diner cc.  2008-2020