Is This All There Is?

The Funeral

2009-06-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had our Memorial for John. It was a lovely service and after the proceedings, I was able to bring John home in a beautiful rosewood box. It gives me great comfort to know that he is here with me.

Many people turned out for the funeral, including lots of John's workmates and many of our friends. We were also fortunate that John's son, Eric, was able to make the trip from Colorado to be with us. What a special visit that was.

We were also happy to see John's sister who travelled over from Tucson and she was joined by other Dominican sisters who have known John since he was a baby. We were so grateful for their presence.

I would like to thank everyone who helped in giving John a good "send-off" - with a special thanks to Susan who drove from San Diego and was of great assistance with kitchen duties! Love you girl!

I must now rest - and cry - and try to carry on.

I will not be writing this blog again. Maybe - when I have healed - I will start another blog - but for now just know that I love and appreciate each and every one of you you have given me support as John and I travelled down this long road.

An Everlasting Memorial has been posted on the web at: www.mem.com

The Last Journey

2009-06-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

It was a gruelling 3 hours at the mortuary yesterday - but I think I have got things organized the way that John would have wanted them.

John will be cremated - probably on Monday. His memorial service will be on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 1 p.m. It will be a celebration and a remembrance of John's life. The service will be at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Mortuary on Arlington Avenue in Riverside, California. In lieu of flowers, we are asking that donations be made to The American Cancer Society in the name of John Bridenbecker.

We will be holding a wake - an Irish wake for his Irish roots - on Monday evening June 8, 2009. The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m at Applebees Restaurant on Limonite Ave, Mira Loma, California. We look forward to meeting with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to chat about the good times that we have known with John and to raise a toast to him.

The picture was taken many moons ago at Virginia Beach, Virginia. John loved the sea.

The Bravest Man I Have Ever Known

2009-06-04T06:09:00.000-07:00

My husband was the bravest man that I have ever known. Oh, he was terrified of heights and would not go swimming in the ocean for fear that a shark would swallow him whole - BUT - he battled the horrible disease of prostate cancer for almost seven years with guts and dignity and more bravery than I could ever muster.

For over six long years he took everything that the medical community could throw at him and yet he carried on with his life and with his work without a complaint about his illness.

He had a radical prostatectomy when first diagnosed - but the cancer cells were already in his lymph glands and he knew from that day that this dreadful disease would kill him

He had many, many sessions of chemotherapy - some lasting as long as 8 hours - but after one day of rest, he would be back up at 3:00 a.m. and driving 40 miles to his office.

He endured years of female hormone treatments that made him terribly ill with hot flashes and blood pressure problems but he never complained - rather, he often remarked on how hard it must be for women to go through menopause and how he wished that he could have understood my 'hot thingies' earlier

He had two sessions of radiation treatment. The first session comprised of one treatment every day for five days a week for a total of six weeks. He arranged to have the treatments late in the afternoon so that he could go to work in the morning. He never missed one day of work during that time.

After the prostate cancer had metastasized into bone cancer and he became paralyzed, he arranged to work from home and up until 2 weeks ago he could be found bashing away on his computer at 5 a.m.

He was kind - He was generous - He was brave.

I posted this picture because this is the way I shall always remember my handsome, funny, clever Mr. Indi.

The End

2009-06-04T02:48:00.000-07:00

My darling John left me at 12:15 a.m this morning. The last two days were such a struggle for both of us - but now he is free of pain and I am free of worry.
He will be forever in my heart.
Thanks for all the kind messages - will write more later today.
xxxxxxxxxx

When Will It Come?

2009-06-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

I am taking five minutes off - I have been sitting next to my darling husband all day as he fights. He will not go gentle into that goodnight - Dylan Thomas.
I can do nothing now except hold him and love him and wait until he finds the peace that he deserves.
He is so afraid - and I want to help him get past that fear. It is all so cruel.

Another Update

2009-06-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

John is still hanging on - although it does appear that his organs are shutting down. He has become quite swollen and while the nurse prescribed Lasix for water retention, it doesn't seem to be doing much good. He is very confused and tried to get out of bed yesterday. So, I can no longer leave the house without someone to watch over him. He hasn't eaten anything but a slice of toast in the last 2 days. The nurse said not to force the issue.

No sleep last night - I hope I can get a little rest this afternoon.

Thanks for all the kind wishes - Love you all.

A Little Update

2009-06-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

After a terrible day, John seemed to come around last evening and was more or less "with us" for a couple of hours. He ate a little dinner and went back to his drowsy state at about 8.pm.

He is sleeping this morning and has been on oxygen all night. I changed him and made him tea at 3:30 a.m but the tea has not been drunk. The nurse will be here at 8 - I'm not sure what today will bring.

Getting Ready

2009-05-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it is the morphine that is causing Mr. Indi to go off the deep end - OR - has the cancer reached his brain? Either way, he has become almost incoherent and is starting to hallucinate. It is very scary.

I feel that he is beginning to walk through that last door.

Please don't call today. I have turned the phone off and will be sitting with John. I don't want to talk.

The picture was taken last August at the Mission at San Gabriel. Mr. Indi is holding the flower for me as I snap.

In The Pink!

2009-05-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

This picture is one that I took yesterday of a beautiful pink flowering tree that is growing just down the road from my house. It is a huge tree and really stands out in the neighborhood. I posted a pic of the same tree last year - on a forum - I think. And, some kind lady in Oz or NZ gave me the name but I didn't write it down so am now back in the dark! But, it is still as lovely as ever.

The sprinkler man and his sprinkler helper came and got everything working up to snuff. They changed 4 of the anti-syphon valves and adjusted everything else. The sprinkler man assures me that, within two weeks, my lawn will be lush and green and void of any brown areas. Hahaha! Silly man! Mr. Indi and I have been here for 21 years trying to make the lawn lush and green - my flabber will be gasted if the sprinkler man can perform this miracle!

Well, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets and now move on to the final of the NBA Championship - I send my heartfelt condolences to my Denver buddy (psssst - the BEST team won!) I personally don't give a rat's bum about basketball and the sooner it is over the better. Then we can get down to the serious business of watching baseball - while drinking beer! Plus we have some serious tennis coming up and I bet it will look super on my big screen telly.

Both me and him had a terrible night and I shall probably be a grumpy old woman all day today. I lay awake most of the night - listening - listening - listening. I was expecting to hear the oxygen machine go on at any moment - but it didn't - just the cranking noise as he raised and lowered his bed. Trying to get comfy - I s'pose. The grey weather will not improve my mood either. It has been very gloomy for a couple of days and yesterday, we even had a few claps of thunder. Most strange.

Oh well - I'll soldier on. Here comes another day at the coal face!

Thump-Thump...Thump-Thump

2009-05-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

The oxygen machine is helping Mr. Indi feel better - but it sure gets on my nerves! When I first had it running, I could hear this thump-thump and I was certain that it was the teenagers next door playing basketball in the back yard - (Basketball fever is in abundance in LA - it's the Lakers versus the Denver Nuggets in the semis - AND ask me if I care!)

So, it's a good thing that I didn't hop around the fence and tell the kids to knock it off with the thump-thump because when I bent over to give Mr. Indi a big sloppy kiss from another member of his fan club, I realized it was the oxygen machine - beating like a heart - or a basketball!

The pill man eventually showed up - at 4:30 in the afternoon and - guess what! He brought the same WRONG pills as he brought before! Arggg! I called the pharmacy and the silly moo on the other end of the phone told me that they sent the wrong ones (again) because they don't have any of the right ones! Oh - OK! Makes sense - NOT! I have now been to our local drug store and purchased the correct pills. How difficult can it be?

As I said, his Lordship is feeling better since he has been having oxygen but his confusion is not any better. This morning, for instance, he asked me to take his temperature so that they can release him from the hospital! Errrrr!

I got the garage door fixed yesterday. The poor old thing is about 18 years old and has been limping along for a couple of years - the motor finally seized up a few weeks ago and the rollers came off one of the rails last week. We couldn't get the door to close all the way - and while I'm not worried about burglars (there's nothing here worth having!) I didn't want a skunk or possum getting in the garage and setting up house. Anyhow, this nice garage door man fiddled about - tweaked this and that - sprayed everything with WD-40 - and VIOLA! It works. He did say that it is nearing the end of its life - Boo-Hoo - but he will help me keep it going for as long as he can. A new garage door and motor will cost about $1,200 - Horrors!

Today, the sprinkler man is coming - more money down the drain! or onto the lawn - as the case may be! But, I must get these jobs done because, as I discovered last week, I don't know diddly-squat about sprinkler systems (or garage doors!) Cor! I do miss Mr. Indi's handyman talents.

Today's pic is of a daisy. I took the pic on macro and then played around with the effects in PSP. I like it.

Shoveling it Against the Tide!

2009-05-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

First, a big hug and thank you to my buddy who drove up from San Diego to see us on Monday. It was a nice visit xxxxxx

Yesterday, Mr. Indi had a bit of a nasty spell of breathlessness and gave me quite a scare. I think it may have been an anxiety attack so I gave him a Valium and that did seem to help. I called the nurse and she said she would order oxygen ASAP. The oxygen man showed up at about 4 p.m. which I suppose is as S as P - considering.

The oxygen machine is a new fangled device that actually takes in the air from the room and filters it and pumps out the oxygen into the tubing and up the nose - the man couldn't tell me what happened to the other gases - nitrogen, etc. I imagine they are being pumped into my bedroom! I am to hook his Lordship up to the oxygen whenever he starts to feel short of breath.

So, I was up and at it early this morning because I had an appointment to go and get my spiky hair re-spiked. Mr. Indi seemed OK but a bit sleepy so I gave him breakfast and before I left, I put a note on the door for "The Woman What Does" for her to start skivvying and have a look in on his Regal Highness - I would be back in less than an hour. As it happened, Nursie stopped by at about the same time as "Her What Does" and Mr. Indi had another attack of labored breathing! Argggggggghhhh! Nursie didn't give him a Valium - she gave him a big dose of morphine and put him on the oxygen machine. So, by the time I got back from having the lawnmower run over my head, Mr. Indi was out of it! And, I mean gone - whacked out - deep in the Land of Nod. It is now noon and he still can't keep his eyes open for more than 2 minutes at a time. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz!

I think that things are not going to get any better. When Blanca came at 10 a.m. to give him his bath (It's been like Grand Central Station here this morning!) she noticed that his feet are getting very swollen and a couple of his toes are purple - not a good sign. Oh dear! What to do - what to do? I can see where the morphine provides great comfort for the patient - but it makes me a nervous wreck. I need to go to the drug store - and the gas station, but am afraid to leave the house while Mr. Indi is out of it.

There is another reason why I can't leave the house - Grrrrrr! I'm waiting for the "pill man" (The hospice pharmacy delivery person) He came the other day and brought the wrong type of laxative - he assured me that it was a good sub for the usual laxative that Mr. Indi uses. WELL, I beg to bloody well differ! It was sooooooooooooooooo good that we went through 10 diapers in one day! ARGGGGG. So - he is supposed to be bringing the right poopy pills out today. But when? I called the pharmacy and asked for an ETA but they couldn't tell me because the poopy pill man could not be reached by radio! Grrrrr. Probably sitting in a bar somewhere drinking his lunch - or maybe he had to use the bathroom! Haha - serve him right!

The pic is of a beautiful hollyhock growing in my next door neighbors weed patch that she calls a garden.

Flowers and Thoughts

2009-05-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

I know that you must leave me

And I dread that coming day

But I want you to be peaceful

And rest without pain and fear

To lie in that bed for endless hours

And be a prisoner of that dreadful disease

That has crawled up your back

And into the very life giving marrow of your spine

Is a cruelty that is not deserved

I want to scoop you up in my arms

And take you for a ride

To see the waves breaking on the beach

Or the flowers blooming in the park

But it won't happen

You will take your drugs and sleep tonight

I will lie and listen to you breath

And hope that tonight is not the night

When you must leave

And A Good Time Was........

2009-05-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

We had a little get together for Mr. Indi's birthday and he really enjoyed himself. I managed to get him out of bed using the Hoya lift - even though I had the sling all wonky and he had one leg dangling in mid-air and the other leg stuck up under his chin - and safely into the wheelchair. It was a special treat for him to be able to sit in the living room for a couple of hours because he usually gets chronic back pain after about 15 minutes of sitting upright - but this time he stayed pain free for most of the time and was able to enjoy his visitors.

His friend from work bought him six bottles of Russian beer! Real Russian beer. The beer is numbered from 0 to 5 - 0 being non-alcohol to 5 being a bit like vodka! I tried a few sips myself and found it to be a bit like swamp water - but, I suppose if we ever run out of brewskis, the Russian brew will do! He also received the most fabulous chocolate covered strawberries that I have ever seen - 6 of them dipped in dark chocolate and 6 dipped in white chocolate. I feel like this is cruel and unusual punishment as people ought to know that I can't eat the rotten things!

After a couple of hours of too much merriment, I was able to get him back in the bed - even though the sling was still wonky and stuck halfway up his bum! He sure was glad to be able to lie down and enjoy a nice cup of tea with apple pie and ice cream - Yummy.

I think he had a nice day and today will be wearing one of the super comic book tee shirts that he got as a pressie. I think Batman would be good for a holiday Monday!

My next post will be a poem that I wrote the other night.

For Judy xxxx

2009-05-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

My pal, Judy, is a Brummie - and, therefore she gets her own page on my blog!

I took the picture this afternoon at our little park just down the road from my house - you can see my van in the parking lot. This particular jacaranda tree is a young one and the blooms are a bit small - I will try and take some better pics in the near future. Down in the next town, they have some very mature jacarandas and the whole streets are lined with purple trees - an amazing sight! Of course, there are those people who complain about the fact that the trees shed their blossoms and make a mess on the sidewalk. Those people need to get a life!

Now, to answer your questions re: San Fran in September. Well, I worked in San Fran for 6 years and I have to say that September and October are the best times of the year. The morning fog burns off very early and the days are beautiful. The temps are usually between 65F and 75F (18C to 23 C) although I have known it be much warmer. Bring a jacket because it can get chilly in the evening. San Fran is a very free and easy city - so there is no dress code! Wear what you like - jeans, shorts, skirts - whatever.

Now, where to go and what to visit - EVERYTHING. Fisherman's Wharf is great - very tourista but wonderful seafood and a great atmosphere. Take a cruise on the bay - cheap and fun. Go across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito - so pretty and with a fantastic view of the city (San Fran is one of the most beautiful cities in the world) Go to the top of the Bank of America building - 52 floors up! Ride a cable car down California St. Fabulous. Go to John Muir Woods and walk among the redwood trees - heaven.

What to wear for the wedding - whatever you want. Not too many people wear hats to weddings in California - although I have seen it done. If you have a nice titfer - wear it! For a day time wedding wear a pretty dress or nice 2 piece suit - for an evening affair wear a cocktail dress - even full length is OK. We don't have all the silly rules that they have in the UK - before 5 this and after 5 that - blah blah! LOL!

If you have some time left over - hop on a plane and come to Los Angeles and see us. Air fares are dead cheap right now. We have a spare couch or two - and lots of Baileys and a few bottles of beer. I would love the company!

I hope you like the picture.

Love and hugs xxxxxxx

p.s. Mr. Indi is very loopy today - I want some of what he is taking! Hahaha!

I'm Not Waving - I'm Drowning!

2009-05-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't recognize the title of my blog today - It's part of a poem by Stevie Smith - and that is how I feel! Some days, the pressure and responsibility of taking care of a very sick husband becomes overwhelming - but - then I face another day and find the strength to carry on. (I'm not trying to be a martyr - I'm just telling you how it is. Maybe one day, I will run out of strength and things will change.)

Since he has been taking the anti-b's for his urinary tract infection, he has really started to go loopy! I think it must be the mixture of all of the drugs together. At 9 o'clock this morning, he sounded like a bloke who had been on the tiles all night! He was talking such a load of nonsense and laughing at such silly things! Oh, dear! He has also started to lose more of his motor movements and has trouble eating a bowl of cereal because of the shaking in his hands. Makes me want to cry.

He has developed a very nasty sore on his bum from sitting on the bed pan. I think I will have to go and buy a stainless steel one - the plastic one is just too hard. Anyway, Blanca came today and told him - NO MORE BEDPAN! - that sore could turn horrible. So it is now a matter of diapers and bum wipes. Ah! Such is life.

But - today wasn't all bad. We finally sorted out the big mess we have had with our mortgage company. We sent a payment in too early and they applied it to the previous month. They then charged us a late charge for the month that we had sent the payment in for! Grrrrr! What a bloody performance! But, it is now all sorted and hopefully our next statement will be correct.

The weather has been lovely - and the cactii are blooming. I snapped these two yesterday morning - I LOVE the pink ones - so delicate. Tomorrow, I shall go to the park and take some shots of the jacaranda trees for my friend, Judy. They are just coming into bloom and the purple hue is delicious!

FRUIT TREE!

2009-05-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post - I have been very busy today - things to do - people to meet.

Mr. Indi had a nice birthday - he LOVES his Da Vinci book - and has spent quite a bit of time looking at some of the incredible drawings. Da Vinci was an amazing man.

I had to go to the docs today - but in having a chat with her, I have received some good advice - including - what has happened, has happened - and what is going to happen is inevitable - move on. I'm going to try and stick to that - although taking care of my dying husband of 27 years ain't easy!

The picture is of a lovely creation of fresh fruit from a store called - Edible Creations. It was sent to Mr. Indi from my son and his wife - and I must say that the fruit is absolutely delish. What a lovely idea - an edible bouquet! It is full of melon and grapes and strawberries and pineapple - and all so yummy.

Kathy stopped by with a bouquet of birthday balloons for his Lordship and she helped me water the back yard - we also tried to fix the sprinklers but we don't have a clue what we are doing! I'm going to have to call a sprinkler expert - now! where do I find one?

Thank you to everyone for their birthday wishes for John.

xxxxxx

And Another Year Bites The Dust!

2009-05-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today is John's 59th birthday and I hope you all like his card as much as he did - I would say that he wet his pants laughing BUT that isn't exactly true! He filled up his bag laughing!

We have nothing planned today - except for a visit from his older brother. Big bro will bring lunch for the two of them and I will get the chance to either sit in the garden and try to read my book (I fall asleep after 2 pages every night!) or go to the park with my camera and snap the jacaranda trees. We will have a little gathering on Sunday afternoon and anyone and everyone is invited to stop by for apple pie and ice cream - the front door will be open.

I had a terrible night due to Mr. Indi and his fiddling about. He dropped his backscratcher on the floor at 12:30 a.m. and then I could hear him messing about with his claw grabber gizmo trying to pick it up. I should have got out of my nice comfy bed and gone and retrieved it for him but then I thought - that will teach him not to have the backscratcher in the bed! But, I regretted my decision because, ten minutes later, after he had grabbed the bloody backscratcher - he went to turn the lamp out on the side table and knocked it onto the floor! ARGGGG! I dived out of bed - ran into his room and gave him a right going over. After that - silence!

Yesterday, I interviewed a woman for the position of part time carer. She seems perfect and will start next Tuesday. She is an older Mexican lady who works in an elder-care facility on weekends. She is very familiar with bed pans and diapers. As my friend, Sybil said, "She's qualified in poopology." (Or words to that effect!) She also will prepare meals and do light housework. Her English is a little shaky but she understands it better than she speaks it - if you know what I mean. Anyway - we will give her a go.

Nursie spent quite a bit of time with his Lordship yesterday and at last gave in to my premise that John has a bladder infection. She called the doc's office and got the OK to order him a 7 day course of anti-b's. I can already see a difference in his wee-wee today - much clearer. I should have been a nurse - No Thanks! She also ordered him some steroid type of cream for his rash - and that seems to help as he was much more comfortable last night - except when he was knocking stuff over!

A couple of notes:

A big 'Thank You" to Anon for the link to the pictures of Reading Crem. Much appreciated.

Ta everso to Grannie for the cute B'day ecard that you sent for his Lordship - I have forwarded it to his works computer. He will get a kick out of it. xxxxx

Knock Me Down With a Feather!

2009-05-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

So, I was in the kitchen, unpacking the groceries, when I saw this Fed-Ex van pull up outside and a bloke hopped out carrying a large - very posh looking - box. Well, I wasn't expecting anything and his Lordship usually tells me if he's been spending money on the internet - so I was a bit more than flabbergasted when I saw that the box contained beautiful flowers and a lovely glass vase - see pic above!

The flowers are from my lovely friends Jan and Tony in Wales. Jan and I are in the same boat - and up Sh*ts Creek without a paddle! Tony, her handsome hubby, is disabled and requires constant care - just like Mr. Indi. So, we have lots in common but we also both have a good sense of humor - part of our coping skills require a good giggle now and again. I love you, Jan!

I took the flowers outside this morning to catch a picture of them in the early morning sun. They are stunning and the freesias smell devine. I soon bought them back into the living room though as it is already very warm and threatens to reach 100F today - Argggg!

Mr. Indi was not at all well yesterday - but looks and feels much better today. The rash on his back has started to fade and I am wondering if he had a dose of some strange lurgi! It's most odd. Anyhow, he told me that he was up in the night, sweating bullets and feeling as sick as a dog - but after an hour or so - it all faded away and he slept well for the rest of the night. Hmmm!

I spent part of yesterday afternoon, looking for a B'day present for his Lordship. He wants a book on the tinkerings of Leonardo Da Vinci (Don't ask me why!) I found the perfect book but it was very expensive and is rather large - more like a coffee table book. Anyway, I hope he likes it. If not, I shall bash him up the side of the head with it! I also got him the funniest B'day card that I have ever seen. I shall scan it and post it after he has seen it on Tuesday.

I'm off to the import store today - need tea bags and can't abide by those orange pekoe rubbish bags that they sell at the supermarket. Got to get some of my fave - Bryan's Irish Tea. Bloody lovely!

Cheesed!

2009-05-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yes - today I am cheesed beyond belief!

Mr. Indi had a terrible night - and this morning his tube from his bladder to his catheter was full of bubbles and foam. It looked as though he had hooked himself up to a keg of Budweiser! I called the hospice service and the nurse called back 2 hours later - he could have been dead - but wasn't! She had never heard of such a thing and said she would be right out to check on it.

In talking to Mr. Indi - the master tinkerer of the universe - it appears that the tube had become loose a few days ago and he had use epoxy glue to stop it from slipping! AHHHHHHH! What kind of nice gentleman (doofus) would try to fix his catheter with epoxy!

Anyhow, Nursie changed his catheter tube and his urine now looks clear - no foaming or bubbling. However - I don't think things are right and will not sleep well again tonight.

The rash is still there - and thank you Anon for your note re: morphine allergy. But, in talking to the nurse and the nurses aide - they both are sure that it is heat rash. It is quite warm here and he is lying on his back all day and causing moisture from sweat. I am coating him in calamine and baby powder - he smells like a baby's bum - and this seems to be helping. The nurse will be back on Monday and will assess the situation.

Now, another thing that has really got up my goat! On an internet board - to do with genealogy - I had asked if someone could please take a picture of the Garden of Remembrance where my daughter's ashes were strewn. I wanted the picture for her birthday - May 8th. A person offered to do this for me and asked for my email addy to send the photo. May 8th came and went - the photo never came. If you can't do it - don't offer. It causes people to cry!

I went to spend my gift card - at a major department store. I wish Mr. Indi could come with me - I cried because he can't. I found a couple of things that suited my needs and went to a cash register to pay. I stood in line for at least 15 minutes while the shop clerk tried to help some silly cow whose credit card didn't work! GRRR! I finally got cheesed off and went to another cash register and got behind another stupid cow who was trying to return goods without any tags on them! GRRRR! Altogether, I spent 30 minutes waiting in line. I left the store in a rage and got stuck in traffic on the way home. Mr. Indi got his lunch an hour late today - I didn't get anything to eat till 3:00 pm - after I had changed diapers - emptied the rubbish - put a load of stuff in the dryer - and folded a load of dry stuff.

I am tired - fed up - cheesed off! But, yesterday I made a lovely potato salad and so tonight will be an easy dinner - cold meat, potato salad and green salad with ranch dressing. YUM! No cooking.

Another pic of a yellow rose - and now I'm off to open the Bailys. And if people think I drink too much - Oh well - I also work too hard!

Well, That Won't Work!

2009-05-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would get at least a little bit of rest when the carer started work today - 4 hours to spend by myself. However - the carer couldn't come (after I called her twice) because she was having sinus problems! Oh, bloody well - I don't give a big rip about your sinus problems - in this area - at this time of the year - everybody has sinus problems. All of the acacia and jacaranda trees are starting to bloom and everybody that I know has a stuffed up schnoz and a headache. Tough! I have told her not to bother coming at all. I thought in this economy that an unemployed person would jump at the chance for a bit of dosh - I guess not.

So, it's back to square one!

The nurses aide - Blanca - has a lead that she is going to follow up for me. A lady with kids in school who is looking for the type of hours that I am offering. I hope to get a phone call later today.

Mr. Indi doesn't feel so good - and I have the awful feeling that things are going bad. He is piddling like a racehorse (when I got up this morning, the catheter bag had almost exploded!) He is terribly thirsty and has awful back spasms. He also is covered in heat rash - even though I have the A/C on. Grrrr!

Each day, he loses more of his ability to move and to help me change his diaper. And, each day - I get more and more tired - so that at some point the twain shall meet! LOL - My arms will give out at the same time his body gives out! Hey Ho! For better or worse.

A friend of mine heard about my plight with the lack of Vandermint yummy liqueur and felt sorry for me! She couldn't find it either but bought me a bottle of Orange Muscat sweet wine. It sure is yummy - much better than that stinkin' Advocaat!

Thanks to all of you for advice - NOW - let me set a few things straight.

Mr. Indi and I HATE champagne!

I can't eat strawberries because of the seeds - they might get my diverticulitis going!

Our health plan only covers 2 hospice homes - one is 45 miles to the west and the other is 50 miles to the east.

My health plan only allows me one week of respite every six months - the six months isn't up- yet.

But - I love you all for caring.

Now - I must be off to make some yummy potato salad and to BBQ a lump of dead cow!

The pic is from a lovely bunch of flowers -Pink is one of my favorite colors.

Don't Buy Advocaat!

2009-05-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday already and I just haven't had the chance to sit down for half an hour and write the blog - so this will be a catch-up post.

Mr. Indi is doing OK - although becoming more confused. He has trouble distinguishing between his dreams and reality. I guess morphine really messes with your brain - BUT it keeps the pain under control and that is the main thing. I am still averaging 5 diaper changes a day! ARGGGGG! My poor old elbows are so painful and my arthritis pills don't seem to be working as well as they did. I think I may have to up the dose - will check with my doc. Either that or drink more Baileys!

Speaking of drink - At Christmas time, I bought a bottle of a mint chocolate liqueur called Vandermint (made in Holland) It was bloody lovely and I had a nip before bed many a night. But, eventually the bottle ran dry - as they do! So, off I went to BevMo (the huge booze store) to restock my supply. Of course, they no longer carry it! So I wandered around the liqueur section looking for something else that would take my fancy. Well, I stumbled across a bottle of Advocaat - also made in Holland. It bought back so many memories of Christmas as a child. Ma and Pa ALWAYS had a bottle of Advocaat on the sideboard at Christmas. So I just had to get it. Hmmmmmmmmm! Big mistake. It is vile - tastes like 10/40 weight motor oil mixed with scrambled eggs. I shall have to palm it off on some unsuspecting soul! Hehe!

I think I shall start on a nice bottle of Sandeman port that is just sitting there on my booze cabinet - going to waste. That should give me some sweet dreams.

The cleaning lady came yesterday and Grannie will be most annoyed when she learns that I got up extra early - 4 a.m. - so that I could get some cleaning done before the cleaning lady showed up. Well, I don't want her to think I'm a slob, do I? She is a nice cleaning lady - but I never think that they clean as well as one does oneself. Still, the house looks reasonably presentable - just in case the Queen shows up.

I am going to hire the carer lady 0n a 4 week trial basis. I am hoping she will start tomorrow and come 2 days a week for 4 hours each. She has to call me back. It is most important that John is comfortable with her and at the moment he doesn't seem real crazy about anyone else looking after him. I'm not convinced that she is the right person - she's a bit too touchy, feely for me - AND, she never stops smiling! But, she does have the credentials and the references - so we will give her a go. Watch this space.

The picture is of my gnome who sits on the flower box on the front porch and welcomes people and laughs at them as they trip up the front steps.

Mother's Day - A Load of Crap!

2009-05-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Well, not because of my kids - but because I think I gave his Lordship .........WAY TOO MUCH Senakot! I spent most of the day changing diapers. T'is terribly hard on my old arms to change the diapers and sheets under a large man - but hey ho! Who said it was going to be easy? AND - when I got up at 4:30 this morning to empty his catheter bag - ARGGGGG - there was more of the same!

Life is hard - for some of us - and the rest of us just complain!

My son came to see me and give me hand. He wasn't feeling well but he did a good job of pulling out the dirty sheets from under Mr. Indi's big bum - it's easier with 2 people ! Mike also helped me with preparing drug doses and and walking up and down the hall at least one hundred times.

I wish that Mike would have been feeling better - we could have had a few drinks - but hey ho! And, I'm hoping that he is better today. I would like to have seen my granddaughters - but that didn't happen. As I said.......life's a bitch!

I had another meeting with the woman that has applied for the carer job. She is no fool (has a BS degree) - and has worked around terminal patients before. I'm not used to anyone who is so caring - open - knowledgeable - and willing to help me look after John. I cried a lot today. - Should I hire her? I don't know! I need to look after him - but I also need a little time to myself - what to do!

Each day gets harder - I dread waking up in the morning to face a diaper full of crap and a bag full of piddle! But I love John - and have to carry on.

The picture is from my Mother's Day flowers.

Mother's Day - Ker ching!

2009-05-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was always a day to look forward to when the kids were little nippers. They would bring home those lovely home made cards from school and maybe a picture made of macaroni and gold spray paint. And, they would put their arms around you and gave you a squeeze that would squash your ribs! And they would promise never to leave home because they loved you so much.

WELL, that isn't exactly the way it works out - is it?

Today, Mother's Day is the day that restaurants take their biggest till. The money rolls in all day; the card shops rack up millions of bucks, and the florists sell wilted roses for an exorbitant price. And, the kids did leave home - all grown up - with their own little nippers giving them home made cards and macaroni pictures.

I wrote this:

I am a Mom

And today is my day

A day to reflect

And a day to say

That being a Mom

Can drive you insane

But can also bring you

So much joy - that your brain

Will fill with pride

As you watch them grow

And you hold them tight

And you tuck them in - in the dark of night

And you hope that they never leave your arms

Or ever come to any harm

But, even with all the love in the world

They leave

Without a "Goodbye"

Without an "I love you."

They are gone

And being a Mom will make you cry

I think my Mother's Day will be spent, in part, at the garden center (wishing Mr. Indi could be with me) and then we shall watch a movie this afternoon.

I hope all the Moms in the world have a happy day.

Picture was taken yesterday - in the front garden. Yellow roses are my favorite.

Thanks.

2009-05-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the comments that I got for yesterday's posting about the birthday of my lovely Julie.

I didn't post them because they are too sad.

For Julie xxx

2009-05-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Julie, was born on May 8, 1961 at 8:30 in the morning. She died 35 years later.

My father's funeral was at 11:00 a.m on May 8, 1961 - I missed it!

Julie was born 7 weeks prematurely, after I had spent 14 weeks in the hospital with several complications from the pregnancy. She was a cute little bunny rabbit - weighing only 3lb 4 oz. And, although she was tiny, she had a great set of lungs!

Julie suffered from a very rare birth defect - Turner's Syndrome - which, among other things, affected her stature - she was always a tiny little doll. But, she was a happy soul who loved people and especially children and, although unable to conceive a child she did eventually give birth to her son through IVF and a donor egg. He was 7 when she died.

I will always miss her and her infectious giggle - Happy Birthday Jules xxxxxxxx

It All Stinks - But Hey Ho!

2009-05-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I think I went overboard with the Milk of Magnesia and am now paying the price.

For those of you who don't have a husband who is paralysed and incontinent - read no further. T'is not a pretty sight!

Since last evening, I have done several bedpans and diapers - I have been making a study of the merits/and or/ demerits of either. I think I would rather change the diapers. But, one must be very accurate with this method or one ends up with changing bed linen - ARGGGHHHHH! However, emptying a overflowing bedpan can present it's own set of problems. I will say no more!

Nursie came this morning - she is so nice. We have long conversations about our childhood - our favorite food - good places to eat - how to make a good martini! She is a very knowledgeable nurse! She is also kind and caring.

I'm interviewing a carer tomorrow - we will have to pay - but I am hoping that she will help me with some laundry, cooking etc. She is desperate for a job - I am desperate for some help - maybe 8 hours a week will give me a breather.

Lots of tears today. Lots of tears today!

I think I will go back to my poetry. There are so many things in my head. I must put them on paper.

The picture is one that I took this afternoon. The rose is outside of his Lordship's bedroom window.

I Got a Few Smiles - and Stares!

2009-05-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went completely round the bend and spray painted my spiky hair with day-glo orange hair color! I did it to match a pretty blouse that I bought the other day AND because I wanted to be a hip old bag! Or an old bag with a bad hip?

The result was met with mixed reviews.

When I walked into Mr. Indi's room he said, "Hmmmmm - that's different - will it wash out?"

When I went to the model shop (Mr. Indi wanted a teeny-weeny paint brush - possibly with only one sable hair!) the lad behind the counter - a pimply youth of about 17 with 4 earrings and something stuck in his nose, went into the back of the shop and I heard him telling his cohorts. "Oy, come and look at this old woman." Cheeky!

But, when I ran into my friend, Angela (who is all of about 27 years old and very up to the minute) she gasped, "WOW - that is too coooooooooooooool!"

Today, I am wearing a florescent green blouse and I do have the hair paint to match but haven't worked up the guts to do it! Maybe next week.

Several people have suggested that we have Mr. Indi's bed and all of his associated clobber moved into the living room. However, it just wouldn't be feasible in this old house. The living room is at the back of the house and the only view is the garden where I suppose his Lordship could watch the grass grow. On the the other hand, his bedroom faces the street and he can watch the comings and goings of the neighbors - the garbage men - the postman - and he can see me as I drive up the street! He likes the action! LOL. Also, the living room is at one end of the house and my bedroom is at the other end - I don't know if I would hear him if he called for me in the middle of the night. Anyway, thanks for all of the suggestions.

Along with being the head cook and bottle washer around here - I also have to keep track of all of Mr. Indi's meds - AND, he takes lots of meds. I notify the nurse when we are running low and she will place the order with the pharmacy who then deliver the drugs to the house. I gave her my order the other day - ibuprofen 400mg - and she ordered something completely different. It's a good thing I'm not on the Baileys all day! Mr. Indi would be long gone!

I just got a statement from the insurance company for Mr. Indi's home hospice. This outfit is getting over $5000 a month. WHAT! I'm doing all the bloody work! I think I should get a cut - 50% would do!

The picture is of my highly poisonous oleander - although I don't eat much of it! It's actually against the law to own oleander bushes in this town - it kills horses. But I don't have a horse so please don't call the cops!

On My Bike - And Off it!

2009-05-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I received a phone call from a person who is a volunteer with a certain charity - that I will not mention. She had heard about Mr. Indi's plight and offered to come and sit with him while I get on about my business. WELL, maybe I'm just tired or grumpy BUT - the offer to COME AND SIT WITH HIM got right up my nose.

I WANT TO SIT WITH HIM!!!!!!

If people want to volunteer - please offer to cook a meal and do all the washing up so that I can sit with my dying husband! Please offer to do some laundry or some ironing (underwear excluded!) so that I can sit with my husband. Please offer to water my garden or fertilize my potted plants so that I can sit with my husband. I am up at 4:30 each day emptying his catheter bag and from then on it is go, go, go. I finally sit with him in the evening after dinner for a little while.

Yes, there are times that I need a babysitter - if I am going to be gone from the house for longer than an hour - and I am ever grateful for that. I am also grateful to the people who do help me out with actual chores - yesterday Enrique came and washed my cars - lovely man. But please, don't offer to sit with Mr. Indi - I want to do that job!

Now that I have probably offended a few people - I'll get off my bike!

Today is Cinco De Mayo (5th of May) a big celebration in Southern California - home to many many Mexicans. Many people believe that it is Mexican Independence Day - WRONG! It is the celebration of the defeat of the French Army - by a much smaller Mexican Army - at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is also the number one excuse to go out and have a few brewskis - Dos XX being the cerveza of choice! I might indulge at lunch time!

On a very happy note - I received a lovely email from a man named Mark Mcclure who has been following my blog. He has written about me and Mr. Indi on his web page and I feel very humble. Thank you Mark - you are too kind!

http://markmccluretoday.com/light-and-shadow

Today's picture is of some flowers!

Long Ago and Far Away!

2009-05-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

T'was 48 years ago today that me dear old Dad died. So I thought that my family would like to see this picture of Ma and Pa on their wedding day. Mother never did remarry - even though she was only 37 when Pa died - not to say she didn't have a bit of the old slap and tickle! I am certain that she did! But - I'll never tell!

The weekend here was pleasant - nice weather - but a heatwave is coming on Thursday s0 I shall have to get my bikini out of storage - NOT!

My son came and helped me prune the bougainvillea - boy, what a job that was. AND, the bougainvillea has the most wicked of thorns that shredded his arms to bits! Grrr. After all our hard work, we went out for a lovely steak dinner - I was really in the mood for a lump of dead cow - Mooooooo - very rare and very tender. Yum!

Mr. Indi didn't feel so hot this weekend. He was very lethargic and didn't have much of an appetite - but he has perked up today and is feeling a little better - especially after Blanca gave him a lovely bath.

And - so starts another week.

Bob!

2009-05-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the latest occupant of our little hick town! Yes, it's BOB and he is standing outside of the latest Bob's Big Boy Burger joint that has just opened near my house. For those of you who don't already know - Bob's Big Boy is an icon of burger joints here in California and I think this is the first new Bob's to be built in years.

Mr. Indi keeps wanting me to drive over to Bob's and pick up burgers for dinner - BUT - I shan't be going near the place (other than to take pictures, of course) because the novelty hasn't worn off yet and the crowds are 20 deep waiting in line. I don't need a burger that bad!

I forgot that yesterday, May 1, was the 3 year anniversary of the day that me and him gave up the baccy! No more coffin nails! I am still very proud as we did it cold turkey - no patches - no pills - nothing but will power. And, t'weren't easy for someone who smoked 50-60 a day! I would still like a smoke once in a while but the urge soon passes. My only problem is that I have been plagued with mouth ulcers since I quite smoking and the doctor says that, while this is not uncommon, there is nothing one can do about it! Pffft!

Mr. Indi doesn't miss the cigs at all and in fact the smell of smoke makes him feel sick. So, in lieu of a smoke he has started to have a drink each night before bed - Nursie says it won't hurt him to have one. Sometimes it's a Baileys and sometimes it's a Bud - and it certainly helps him to nod off!

I had a lovely visit with beautiful granddaughter yesterday and we were able to find a very pretty necklace for her to wear to the Junior Prom tonight. She will be the Belle of the Ball, I'm sure. She did very well driving down to my house on the freeway - especially on a Friday afternoon - she only got a little bit lost and soon corrected her mistake. I don't know if I could have driven the Los Angeles freeways at 16 years of age - I still get scared - so I drive wiv me eyes closed!

Note to Grannie - No, I don't iron me knickers - but Anjo the Banjo does! Please go over and bash her up the earole!

Note to DTR - Wot yow tawkin about? Wolver'ampton's luverly in the spring! Almost as nice as Dudley!

Note to everyone - Love you all!

Hicksville!

2009-05-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Where else in the world do you have ornamental wrought iron figures on your lampposts? These are in a new little shopping arcade just down the road from my house. There are several different figures and I will post more at a later time. I think they are kinda cute. But - maybe I'm a hick!

Mr. Indi had to have his catheter changed yesterday. I stayed away from the proceedings because I didn't want to hear any crying or writhing in pain BUT instead of agonizing moans, I heard lots of laughing and giggling coming from his room! I couldn't imaging what he and Nursie were getting up to! Well, it turns out that she had inserted the catheter without using the lubricating gel. However, she is so good at it that neither Mr. Indi nor she even noticed until everything was in place! So - they were both having a good laugh about it. Well, you have to laugh at something - don't you?

When Blanca, the nurses aide who bathes his Lordship, came the other day, she caught me in the middle of doing the ironing. She could not believe that I was ironing sheets and pillow cases. she said (in her wonderful Salvadoran accent) "Oh NO - my poor mother was made to iron sheets by her grandmother in El Salvador and that is why she ran away to the United States!" Well, I wonder if she asked for political asylum - based on the cruelty of ironing sheets. I think I'm going to stop ironing mine - before I get some ideas of running away! To Bermuda!

I am going out with my granddaughter this afternoon. She is 16 and has just passed her drivers test. But, according to sources in the know - while she is a very good driver - just like her Mommy and her Nanny - she has no sense of direction. Yikes! If you never hear from me again it is because we took a wrong turn and drove off the planet!

Today is May 1 and Mr. Indi's b'day is coming up in a couple of weeks. I would like to give him a little party but don't know how to organize a parade of friends and family through his little room. I shall have to give it some thought. Any suggestions? He can only stay out of bed and in the wheelchair for about 1/2 hour at the most.

Well, off to the coal face again - I have more pillowcases to iron!

Trees - Dust - Drugs!

2009-04-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

The tree man came early in the morning and worked until 4 p.m. Boy, that is a BIG tree - but anyway it's now had a very nice trim and looks quite respectable! AND, if we keep our fingers crossed, it won't blow over when the Santa Ana winds come again.

Mr. Indi's brother came to visit him yesterday and so I made myself scarce. (They talk man talk!) The trouble is that I really don't like going out by myself all the time - and I found myself sitting in the corner of the Italian joint - crying! What a dumbo - the waiter thought I was crying about the food! I almost got a free meal out of it!

I interviewed a cleaning lady this morning. She comes highly recommended and seems really nice. She will come for 4 hours every 2 weeks. She won't be able to start until May 13th though - I guess I shall just have to live with my dust until then!

I'm falling down on the job here! I didn't keep track of Mr. Indi's morphine and he almost ran out. So - it was panic stations this morning as we got hold of his nurse and she called in an emergency order to the pharmacy. They will send the drugs out by courier this afternoon - Phew! I must start keeping a more accurate tally sheet.

I took the picture yesterday afternoon. My hibiscus is starting to look very pretty - I'm glad that something is!

Meeting Myself Coming Back!

2009-04-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'm having a terrible time sleeping - and I think it's because of my arthritis which seems to be getting worse - especially my poor old elbows. I suppose it is from pulling and pushing his Lordship about the bed all day long! Cor! It is a real struggle to get those diapers on him and shoving the bed pan under that large bum of his requires super human strength. My arms aren't so bad in the daytime but when I have been resting in bed, it's almost impossible to lift up a glass of water to get a sip! Pfft. I hate being old!

We had a lovely day on Sunday as our little granddaughter came to visit. She played with the doll houses and I took her to the park in the afternoon. The weather was lovely and she had a ball clambering all over the playground equipment. She also had no problem making friends with some of the other children in the park and was soon telling them all what to do! A born leader - that one! Her Papa really enjoyed seeing her and he loves the fact that she is so generous with her hugs!

Yesterday was manic! I did the post office - bank - drug store - grocery store - gas station. Also 4 loads of laundry and cooked BBQ ribs and fixed home made potato salad! I'm pedaling as fast as I can!

Mr Indi seems to be getting quite dippy and when the nurse came yesterday, I asked her about it. She says it's probably the morphine and it will only get worse. The other night, he swore that I had gone into his room at 1 a.m. and tucked him into bed (t'wasn't me!) So now he thinks it's a ghost who is visiting him at night. Well, as long as it is a friendly ghost, we'll be OK!

Today, I am having my 80 foot ash tree pruned - so it will be chain saws and wood chippers all day - charming! Nothing like a bit of peace and quiet is there?

The picture is one I took the other day of the inside of a cactus flower that was blooming on my patio. The flowers only last one day but they are stunning.

Catching Up!

2009-04-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

I just haven't been able to find the time to write the blog for a few days - but, as it is Sunday morning and I have nothing of any urgency to do for the next - oh six minutes! - I will try and catch my breath and do a bit of scribbling.

Mr Indi is finding the new hospital bed a little more comfortable than the previous one - also, the air mattress is a different type and is both more comfortable AND a tad quieter than the other one which sounded like a beehive gone berserk.

But, he looses a little more strength each day and now, when he sits on the side of the bed, he is unable to lift his legs back into the bed without assistance - and - let me tell you - those legs weigh a ton. He sits on the edge of the bed when he's using his computer and he is making me very nervous because he gets so close to the edge. One of these days there will be an awful THUD from the back room!

He is also losing his hand to mouth coordination and must eat with his elbow resting on the bed rail. Still, he manages to shovel it all in - especially his lunch - his favorite meal. I do tend to spoil him at lunch time and always make sure he gets a big handful of his fave snacks - those horrible Cheetos - Yuck! You can see by today's picture, I am shoving as much fruit as possible down his neck - seems to be keeping the bowels running smooth! Excuse the pun!

My hairdresser, who is a very kind lady, came to the house yesterday and cut Mr. Indi's silver locks. She wouldn't let me pay her - and said she was just happy to help. His Lordship now resembles Kenny Rogers - now if only he could sing!

The weather cooled down and is now a bit chilly - (I'm never satisfied!) but at least it has given me the chance to get out in the garden and start pulling off the dead freesias. I hope to get it finished today and then I can go to the garden center and get a few bedding plants. Summer is a'coming!

I got a note from my good friend in the beautiful state of Maine. I was so sorry to hear that she has been very ill in the hospital - but is now on the road to recovery - get well soon Mainey! Miss you.

Peace and Quiet? What's That?

2009-04-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

I am forcing myself to sit and write this as I can't seem to find more than 5 minutes in a day in which to sit at this puter! We still haven't changed our internet providers as it is turning out to be a bit more of a nosebleed than first anticipated. We really cannot be without the internet for more than one day because (even though Mr. Indi is now officially on permanent sick leave) he still works from home every day. His boss is so grateful as it seems the place is falling to bits without the magical Mr. Indi touch!

The bed move went without a hitch - except that I was completely hobbled from swinging his Lordship around in the Hoya lift for hours on end! I moved him from the bed to the wheelchair and put him in the living room but that didn't last very long because sitting upright is too painful on his spine. So, after 15 minutes of watching the big telly he needed to lie down. Next stop was "The Green Room." It's the smallest of the bedrooms and decorated with disgusting green paint and wallpaper that has been up for at least 15 years! It was a bit of a job to get the hoist around in there but I did it and managed to get him in "The Green Bed." He was happy to lie down but soon became a bit frustrated because, without a trapeze or handrails, he was unable to move about in the bed.

The first lot of bed people came at 9:30 and dismantled the original bed , stacked it up in the living room and set up their bed in the bedroom. That took about an hour - then with the help of the nurse, I made up the hospital bed with clean linen. I then used the Hoya to get him back into the wheelchair and into the other bedroom - one more trip in the Hoya, and I had him back in a hospital bed. By now my back was breaking! You will notice that the nurse who was sent to help me - helped me put a sheet on the bed! LOL. She's a nice woman but has no clue how to use a Hoya lift. Pffft!

Mr. Indi's bed sore on his bum is doing much better - I have been using a concoction of zinc ointment mixed with calamine and vitamin D - it seems to be working.

All was settled by 12 noon when the mechanic called to say that my car was ready - I had been driving Mr. Indi's hunk of junk and was having big trouble with the power steering so drove his car down and dropped it off with Sonny (the multi tattooed mechanic!) and picked up mine ($150 for a new battery and oil change) It was soon determined that Mr. Indi's car had a serious problem with the high pressure power steering line - cost $398 - ARGGGGGGGG! Anyway - it's all better now - I picked up the heap of junk yesterday afternoon and now have 2 working cars (Am not betting how long they stay that way!)

The weather has been unbearable - over 100F for 3 days. But today is supposed to be cooler - my garden will be happy about that!

I took the pic this morning - the Peace rose is growing in my front garden. My Dad's fave rose. I like it too.

Happy Kidney Day!

2009-04-19T08:30:00.001-07:00

Today's is the 13th anniversary of my son's kidney transplant! We are forever thankful to the family of the donor who were so selfless in their gift. Happy Birthday Kidney - and many, many more.

Let me Out!

2009-04-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

My Internet is up and down like a bloody yoyo - and we haven't yet changed providers - so I will type this as quick as I can - before I go POOF!

Has not been a few good days. Mr. Indi's constipation became crucial - morphine is a horrible drug when it comes to one's bowels. He was in such pain and discomfort - I just didn't know what to do - and the nurses were no help. But - I finally got him moving with shredded wheat - apples - prunes - milk of magnesia and senakot (double dose!) Yea! Of course, I then became the bed pan emptier par excellence for several hours - Oh well - I wasn't doing anything else important!

The hospice company has now insisted that we use their hospital bed as opposed to the bed that Mr. Indi is using - that came from the Home Care company. (The EXACT same type of hospital bed.) What a crock! Now - on Monday, I shall have to use the Hoya hoist and wheelchair to move his Lordship into the spare room while all this bed moving takes place. I shall then have to move him back. I'm glad he's only 230 lbs - I couldn't manage 300!

My car died this morning - What Fun! When the Auto Club came out to look at it, the verdict was that the battery is toast! It looks as though the alternator cooked it. So - I had it towed to our mechanic and they will check it out on Monday. I am guessing $800! So - for the rest of the day - grocery shopping, etc - I drove Mr. Indi's old banger which makes horrible grinding noises when you turn the steering wheel. I shall have to take that one in, too. My guess is another $800.

Last night, the people at the back of us gave a party (they have a swimming pool) - they were still going at it at 2:30 this morning. Selfish lot - or maybe I'm just jealous that I wasn't there! Either way - I am sleep deprived!

Thanks to Jan for the wonderful note - I couldn't stop laughing - and I hope you and Tony have a wonderful time in Wolverhampton - my kinda place!

The picture is of a horrible 6 inch grasshopper that was on my window screen yesterday morning. He jumped - flew - flopped - out of the way before I could chop his head off with my secateurs. But - I shall be on the lookout for him - he'd better beware! I named the picture - Let me Out - but as he was on the outside, I suppose it should be - Let Me In!

Off The Air.

2009-04-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

I may be off the air for a few hours - days - weeks! LOL. I am changing internet providers - am sick of the other lot. Don't know what my new email will be - will let you know - but I will still be available on palealepam (at) gmail (dot) com. If the switch over takes too long - I shall be taking my beautiful pink laptop to Starbucks for a nice cup of coffee and free wifi!
IPA

All About Cars - And Other Stuff.

2009-04-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

On Monday, a new handicapped placard came in the mail for Mr. Indi. When I opened the envelope, I just sat on the couch and cried. He will never drive a car again - he will probably never even be able to get into a car again. The placard is of no use.

Also on Monday, our friend, Enrique, came to visit us on his day off - this is the chap who has the English teacher who told him he would burn in hell....blah, blah, blah. (BTW - he took my advice and told her to shut up about her religion - which she has!) Enrique has recently bought a car - he used to go everywhere on his bike - and he is now enjoying himself with his new toy! He came to see if he could help me out with some chores and I asked him if he would take John's car to the car wash - (I would pay, of course) It hasn't been driven in about 8 weeks and was covered in dust and even had cobwebs growing in the wheel wells! Well, Enrique didn't want to go to the car wash - he says they are a waste of money and a hand washing is the best! I didn't argue and within an hour he had washed both Mr. Indi's and my car. What a deal! And, what a kind chap Enrique is.

Mr. Indi had a visitor yesterday and so I took the opportunity to go off for an hour and visit my friends, Marika and Cyndi. Both of them have beautiful babies who just turned one year old so I got to see lots of lovely pictures. I also had a nice lunch and a tall cold beer!

Yesterday morning, the plumber came and fixed the broken drain gizmo in the kitchen sink. It didn't take him long and I am now back in the washing up business without any leaks. That was another $150 down the drain! (Get it?)

Mr Indi is not feeling too well - mainly because he is constipated from the morphine again. One of his nurses suggested that I make him a cocktail that they call "The Bomb!" 4 oz of warm prune juice mixed with 2 oz of Milk of Magnesia. I think not! I would be afraid that the ensuing explosion would severely damage the neighborhood! Still, I must get things moving today - I shall start with Shredded Wheat and raisins.

Do you like the picture of my new car? Ha Ha! I have seen it a few times around and about here. I don't know how they get away with driving it on the street. I don't think that it is street legal - but it sure is fun!

No Easter Egg! Boo Hoo!

2009-04-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Oh well, I didn't need an Easter Egg anyway - I already have a cupboard full of sweeties and yesterday, Mr. Indi's Russian buddy came to visit him and bought me another HUGE box of those delicious dark chocolates from Russia. He also bought me a bottle of desert wine from Moldavia (his home state.) He says that the wine is a traditional accompaniment to the dark chocolate. Them Russians know what they are doing! I told Mr. Indi that for dinner tonight we shall be having chocolate and wine!

Our Easter was very quiet. I went out with my camera for an hour while Mr. Indi was visiting with his work buddy and sharing all the dirt and office gossip. I didn't find much to snap - the California poppies are all blooming along the freeway but there is no place to stop and photograph them - grrr! I did get a couple of Day Lily pics - and some of that wonderful purple ice plant that is opening up all over the neighborhood - but nothing spectacular.

My day was ruined when, as I was going to make dinner, I discovered a big leak coming from under the kitchen sink. I opened the cupboard door and there was 1/2 inch of water in the cupboard - ARGGG! I emptied out all of the cleansers and stuff and mopped it all out. I then began the task of trouble shooting - with Mr. Indi shouting instructions from down the hall! Talk about the blind leading the blind! Anyway - it's a problem with a gasket and I don't have the tools, knowledge, desire or time to fix it. So, this morning I called my plumbing buddy but he can't come out until tomorrow morning. So - I have taken the interim step of shoving a bucket under the sink! Looking on the bright side - that cupboard needed cleaning out anyway!

On Saturday, my son and DIL bought over lots of drinking water in the big 2.5 gallon jugs. I can't possibly lift them and my back is still messed up so I was thankful for the favor. They also gave me the lovely orchid that is in the pic. I love orchids and am hoping my little plant in the family room will soon sprout as it did at about this time last year.

Mr. Indi has now begun to take the necessary steps to give up working from home and go onto disability. He is just unable to keep up with the deadlines and gets rather forgetful because of the morphine. So, tis better for him, I think, to be able to relax and not worry about month-end reports, etc. They have already picked a replacement and Mr. Indi has been trying to guide him through the requirements of the job - but the replacement is happy to let Mr. Indi do the work - Pffft! He needs to give it up and take his sick pay - for which he has worked so hard.

Thanks for all of the suggestions regarding Mr. Indi's bum. Yes, he does have an air mattress (provided by hospice) and yes, he does have a doughnut to sit on - and yes, I think praying for his bum is a good idea - can't hurt! I will look into the other remedies.

A quick "Thanks" to Jan for the pic of the bunny wabbits - they are adorable. Also, a quick "Happy Holidays" to Sybil who is in Cyprus - lucky old thing you xxxxx - and, as always lots of hugs to my special friend in Colorado xxxxxxxx - and big sloppy kisses to the rest of you xxxxxx.

T'aint fair!

2009-04-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

BUT - nobody ever said that it would be fair!

We had a terrible night last night - poor Mr. Indi's bowels started to move - at about 10:30 pm - while I was fast asleep - Argggg! I was awoken by this horrible yell - "Oy - I need you!" I spent the next hour and a half putting him on the pan - taking him off the pan - putting him on the pan again. We went through about 300 yards of lavatory paper Pfft! Do you know the price of lavatory paper?

I finally got into my bed at 12:00 - and was so happy to rest my poor old back which I have put out by carrying heavy grocery bags. Or maybe it's getting those diapers on Mr. Indi's big old bum! Pfft!

On Thursday, I was talking to the pharmacist in our local grocery store - we were discussing bed sores - particularly Mr. Indi's bum sores. He said that there is no real cure - the problem is that our skin gets thin and does not repair itself as we get old. The joys of reaching the "Golden Age" Arggggg!

So, today is a long and sad day - I wish he could get out of bed and join me for a trip to the craft store - he needs paints and stuff for his modeling - but I will have to go and guess what it is that he needs. It is more than sad - for a 58 year old man, who has worked so hard all his life, to be a prisoner in a bed - unable to control his bodily functions - it stinks! (Argggg!)

Happy Easter Bunny to all of those who believe in him - I do! I'm hoping he leaves me a chocolate egg! Yumm!

The pic is one of the blossoms on my flowering cherry tree - I think it's a pretty good shot.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

As all of you know - I am not a religious person - but I always remember Good Friday- although not for the right reasons!

When I was working for a large company, they let us have 3 hours of paid time off - from noon till 3 p.m. on Good Friday - so that we might attend religious services. Of the approximately 50-60 workers in our building - all but 2 or 3 took advantage of this generous offer and left the building at 5 minutes to 12 and scurried down to the nearest church. We all piled in and sat in the last rows of pews - making sure that we were seen by the pastor and local parishioners. Once the service was under way - and the religious ceremony began in earnest, we all crept out of the back door and moved on to "The Church of the Holy Pizza and a Pint"!

Many glasses of suds were consumed and the pepperoni pizza filled our guts. We all arrived back at the office at 3 p.m. with a general feeling of well being! And we gave thanks to the company for our 3 hours of good times.

About 5 years after I joined the company, the policy was changed. We could still take the 3 hours off on Good Friday - but it would be UNPAID and reported as an approved religious absence on our record. YIKES! The following year - I think only 6 truly religious people went to Good Friday services - the rest of us heathens had lunch in the cafeteria! Shame - I did enjoy our Good Friday get-together! And, it's amazing how money can play a part in one's faith! LOL

On to other things - the volunteer who came to watch John yesterday, while I went shopping, was wonderful - she is a very kind and loving lady - I will be calling her next week. Our friend, Enrique, came by the house too, yesterday - another kind and sweet person - he is coming again on Monday to help me with some gardening.

The weather stinks! Grrrr - cool and cloudy and the kind of day that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a blankie. But - I have too many things to do - and his Lordship needs to go back on the bloody potty again! Grrrr! If he keeps this up, it will get stuck to his bum!

I took the picture today- one of my fave geraniums.

PS - Thanks for all the emails and notes about Mr. Indi's sore bum. My friend Ann suggested something that is nasty and brown and smelly - (I hate to tell you that we already have that!) My other dear friend, suggested a balm made of cows udders - Argggg! I already have enough trouble - I don't need to wash a bum full of nipples! But, keep the suggestions coming - all are welcome - Love you all!

I Hate the Internet!

2009-04-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

I have just got my connection back after spending 2 days arguing the toss with my provider. I shall be getting a new provider within the next week - can't put up with the BS anymore!
In the meantime - I'm crossing my fingers that this connection stays up.

Things that go ........CURASH!

2009-04-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

So - there I was getting his Lordship ready for bed - putting a special goop on his bum because he has a pressure sore - OUCH! - when all of a sudden my computer (my beautiful pink Dell) fell off the portable computer table and landed on the oak floor - BANG! I was a little more than annoyed!

I was too tired to try turning it on and surveying the damage - so - I picked it up and chucked it on the dressing table and told it that it could bloody well stay there all night! Which it did.

Imagine my amazement when Mr. Indi switched it on this morning and everything worked perfectly! So - if you want a computer that will still work after you have thrown it on the floor in a temper tantrum - buy a Dell (bright pink!)

I am very excited because the weather man says that it is going to rain tonight - it doesn't take much to get me excited! But, it does mean that I won't have to drag that 200 foot hose all over God's Little Acre. Actually - it's only 1/3 of an acre.

Off to do more chores - must mail Easter Bunny cards to the prettiest girls in the world.

I took the picture yesterday - on the embankment. I love wild flowers - and didn't even notice the little bee until I loaded the card onto the computer. Isn't he sweet?

Thoughts.

2009-04-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy today - nothing unusual there - but I've also been a little bit - how can I say - scared maybe?

On Saturday, Mr. Indi had a visitor who - so I have it on good authority- is something of a psychic healer. The guy seemed nice enough and sat with Mr. Indi for quite some time and did a bit of mumbo-jumbo - praying and stuff - and talked about getting a friend of his to come to the house and use his powers as a psychic surgeon to rip out the cancer in Mr. Indi's spine. Wooow! Now, I wasn't feeling very happy about that but Mr. Indi says he'll give anything a go. Hmmmm!

I left the two of them alone as I have no interest or belief in any of that kind of stuff - but when the chap left the house, he came into the kitchen and put his hand on my back (uninvited, I may add) and started praying for me (uninvited, I may add!) He left about 5 minutes later - and, for the next 20 minutes, I had a horrible cold feeling on my back where he had touched me. Creepy. What do you think it was? I think he washed his hands in cold water (he was in the loo for quite a while) Anyway - I think it's all a load of tripe!

I have been quite sad today - probably because I am very tired - no much sleep. I feel the need to leave a message for someone. I just wanted to say that whenever you needed help - I was always there.

Mr. Indi needed a new catheter today - the old one was leaking - too small ( Hehehe! - Don't say anything!) He goes through so much. It's so hard to cope sometimes - but he keeps his spirits up - most of the time.

Tomorrow will be another busy day - a visit to the attorney - more paperwork - a call to the pension people - trying to sort out their mumbo-jumbo - and maybe, just maybe, I can get a few minutes to clean up the 900 emails on my computer!

I took the picture today - when I went to City Hall to pay the water bill. I almost fell down the embankment trying to get a good shot of these daisies. Silly old bag!

Catch of the Day!

2009-04-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's 'catch of the day' was a 230 lb whale! And a happy whale he was too!

I had to get his Lordship out of the bed because the bed fixing man came to fix the side rails on the hospital bed. Mr. Indi had pulled on the rails so much that he broke them! What a wally! Anyway, the medical supply company is very good and sent a nice young hospital bed fixer out on a Saturday morning to replace the rails. He (the bed rail fixer) was very impressed with the fact that I could get the Hoya lift out and have Mr. Indi suspended in mid-air in about 5 minutes! His company doesn't allow him to help move patients (insurance issues, I suppose) so he was a very interested spectator as I lowered my big fish into his wheelchair! He thought it quite amazing that a little thing like me could catch such a big one!

Yesterday afternoon was perfect for gardening and I am finally feeling well enough to get out the spade, fork and hoe and have a good go at the little rose garden that is outside Mr. Indi's bedroom window. I pruned all the roses back and pulled out all of that bloody alyssum that seeds itself everywhere - cursed stuff! I then added some clay soil amendment and finally gave all the roses a good dose of rose food. I let the water spray over the whole thing for at least an hour and I'm now expecting to see prize winning roses within a month! Well, at least I hope that Mr. Indi will have a pretty view from his bed.

We received the income tax paperwork from George and it seems that he had made a slight mis-calculation. Now, we don't owe the government thousands - just hundreds! Phew, that's a relief! I think! Poor old George is getting a bit long in the tooth for the complex nature of US income tax. Next year, I shall look for a new accountant - one who is under 90!

Well, Mr. Indi wants to get out of the bed again - Argggg! He wants to sit in front of the big mirror and cut his hair and have a shave. S0000000000 - Off I go to get the Hoya lift out of the spare room and sling my big whale around the room.

*Note to Lexi - Hey! A little less of the old - if you don't mind! LOL xxxxxxx

A Milestone!

2009-04-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such a busy day - but I accomplished quite a lot and went to bed feeling very proud of myself! (Big head!)

Mr. Indi wanted to get out of his bed using the Hoya lift. I had never used it by myself - but after some trepidation - I thought "What the....lets have a go!" It's a bit awkward to use as it is quite a large piece of machinery and the bedroom is not very big - so my first task was to move some of the furniture around. Next, I had to get him in the sling and attach the chords to the sling hooks on the machine. Then, with the machine locked in place, I began the slow task of pumping the hydraulic lift and getting him up in the air and clear of the bed.

Now came the scary part - turning him around and placing the wheelchair within reach of his bum. I slowly let him down and VIOLA - he was in the wheelchair. Now it was just a matter of unhooking all the straps and off he went down the hallway - anxious to see the rest of the house. He was surprised that the living room still looked the same after 8 weeks in bed. Did he think I had plastered the walls with Clive Owen posters?- or worse yet - Russell Crowe!

Getting him back in the bed, I ran into a little snag. I got him hooked up and started winching away - "Cor Struth", I thought. This thing is getting harder to pump. Then I realized that I had part of the sling wrapped around the wheelchair and was lifting both Mr. Indi AND the wheelchair! What a wally!

I went to the Wings place for lunch - I ordered myself some wings and a glass of cold beer and then I waited - and waited - and waited. It was only 11:30 and the place was almost deserted s0 I couldn't imagine what the hold up was. Finally a sweet little waitress (about 19 years old) came and asked to see my ID!!! HaHaHa! I nearly fell off my seat - I told her that I am 66 years old and just go and get my beer. She said that I could not have any beer until I showed her my driver's license - stupid girl! I asked to see the manager who told me that it was a new company policy - EVERYONE must show ID before they can have a drink! Whatever happened to common sense? I suppose I should be flattered but I was actually quite annoyed - and parched for a drink!

We had a meeting with a very nice lady yesterday afternoon who is a volunteer with the hospice company. She lives close by - about 3 miles away - and is willing to come and sit with John while I go off for more than an hour at a time. She seems very trustworthy and I think I shall ask her to come one day next week so that I can go to Riverside and spend some gift certs that have been hanging around since Christmas.

Mr. Indi wants to get out of the bed again today so I shall be having another go with the Hoya Lift - His Lordship was wondering if I could use it as a trebuchet (look it up!) but I don't think there is enough space in the bedroom to get a good fling going - however, if anyone sees him flying out of the window - you will know that it worked!

Today's picture is one that was taken by my good pal, Lexi. I think it is lovely.

One Year Ago - WOW!

2009-04-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Today it is exactly one year since I had my last radiation treatment for my throat cancer. I can't believe that those 365 days have flown by.

I am very happy to report that - as of my last check up in March - my hero, Dr. K - can see no trace of that horrible thing that was blocking my airway. He saved my life. I will be going back for my next check up in July.

The picture is of the mask that I had to wear while on the radiation table. The mask was placed over my head and bolted to the table - Arggg! The staff then left the room and I could hear that 4 foot thick door close with a CLUNK! Arggg. The radiation machine would then start it's whirring and clunking and zapping! The whole procedure only took about 5 minutes - BUT - with my head bolted to the table it seemed like 5 hours. I had treatment 5 days a week for 7 weeks and while I dreaded every day - I must say that the staff was wonderful and kind and lovely. Bless xxxxxxxx

When I graduated from radiation - yes, they gave me a graduation certificate (I suppose if you die before you are finished you don't get one!) they also presented me with my mask. I don't know what to do with it - play ice hockey, maybe!

Mr. Indi is not too bad this morning - bladder infection is on the mend. He gave me a gift certificate for Borders book store for my b'day. He has now given me a list of books that he wants me to get for him - with my gift cert! Men! LOL

I Hate Uncle Sam!

2009-04-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

So, I went to see George, the tax man, and at the end of the meeting, George determined that we have to pay Uncle Sam lots of dosh! Grrrr. We normally get a few shekels back as a refund - BUT - because I am now over 65 and receiving a pension (which I worked for over many years!) our gross income has now gone up and we must pay more to the government. What a load of old cobblers! I worked for over 30 years and now I am penalized because I get a pension. Pfffft!

As I sit it here and ponder how I'm going to pay Uncle Sam - I can't help but think of the wasters that claim to be disabled and sit at home and play computer games all day - and walk the dog and drive the car and work in the garden - it must be nice!

Oh well, mustn't be bitter - I'm a better person than they!

Mr. Indi is doing quite well today. His bladder infection is clearing up and when Claudia came this morning, all of his vitals were good. I am looking into hiring a private care agency. I really need to get some help and even though it may cost a few bob, it will be worth it to give me a few hours of relief.

The picture is one from my good friend Jan P. Jan is a wonderful lady who also takes care of an invalid husband. We are sisters in the heart. xxxxxx. And, the spring flowers are lovely.

Mrs Smith Strikes Again!

2009-03-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

When we lived in the house previous to this one - about 650 years ago - we discovered that the man who owned the house had the unfortunate experience of his mother kicking the bucket in the house while visiting him. Her name was Mrs. Smith - and - after we moved in, things would disappear - only to reappear after I had torn the house apart. I call it the Mrs. Smith phenomenon!

Well, it seems as though Mrs. Smith has followed us to this house and we are still having trouble with stuff vanishing into thin air - and reappearing - just when I am at my wits end. (Not that I have much wits left!)

This week, it is the income tax papers. I have an appointment tomorrow with George - our lovely old CPA - who is about 112 years old - but knows the IRS inside and out. I started to gather all the paper work together last week but couldn't put my hand on Mr. Indi'sW2 - The most important paper of all! Argggg! I have spent hours looking through the file cabinets - desk drawers - bedside tables - and under the bed with the dust bunnies - but NO LUCK! Finally, Mr. Indi called his work and asked for a duplicate - we filled out all the proper forms and sent in $30 in the hope that we would get the form before April 15 - the magic deadline.

So - this morning, I decided to go through the file cabinet - one more time - and - YES - there it was - the W2. That bloody Mrs. Smith has been here again! Grrr! Do you believe in ghosts? I do!

Mr. Indi has had another bladder infection and Claudia (nurse) has had to flush his bladder and change his catheter and bag (Ouch!) But his water is much nicer today! - I hear that on the shuttle they are reconstituting urine into drinking water - there's a thought!

I'm feeling a bit better - still coughing like a sailor on Woodbines! but my chest is a bit better each day. Not any bigger - but better!

The pic is one I took last week - I hope to get out with my camera in the next few days - spring is blooming and I want to catch it.

p.s. - Thank you for all of the kind messages - we love you all xxxxxx

Walking Up and Down the Hall

2009-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Walking up and down the hall

50 times a day

I do it because I know you can't

Walk down the hall to me

I hate the loneliness of the house

Now that you are in that room

That prison that keeps you from joining me

And keeps me in this gloom

I am sad and weary from that walk

But it's all worth while - to see your smile - as I make it through the door

xxxxxx

The rose is in my garden - a little out of focus!

It Goes On!

2009-03-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived another day - and I am sooooooooo grateful for all of the kind and considerate messages from friends, family, and strangers. It helps me cope - Thank You All xxxxxxx

I'm happy to say that my own health seems to be improving - so - when I got up this morning, at 5 a.m, to a nasty pancake in a diaper - I actually coped quite well. I am getting very good at the poopy bottom routine - and the hospice company has given me some spray-on poopy bottom soap stuff. It is a tremendous help - but I still have to open the bedroom window. LOL! Still, the weather has improved and there is a nice spring breeze in the air!

A social worker from the hospice company called me this morning. She asked about the ins and outs of .......well, you know what! She wanted to know if John and I have made arrangements for his funeral yet. Argggg. John believes that he will live for another year or two (fat chance!) and he is not ready to talk about his funeral. I already have the funeral arrangements in my head - but not on paper. I suppose that I should tell someone what we want - in case I get run over by a bus!

The nurse's aid (who is supposed to supply diapers) didn't have any diapers when she came last Wednesday - and now she won't be back till Monday. So - I have been to the store and got some more Depends. I'm not too happy about them as they have changed the design to suit men who have bladder control problems - not poopy problems. I suppose I could put them on backwards! That BIG bladder catcher will work for the other end!

The social worker wanted to send a pastor to talk to us - I declined the offer. John's dying - what's the point? Please don't write and tell me that you have a point.

The yellow rose is growing in my garden - I need to prune all the roses - when I get the time.

A Big Leg!

2009-03-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

I was awoken at 4 a.m. this morning by this little voice wimpering "help - help" I dived out of the bed and into Mr. Indi's room next door. There he was with one of his legs hanging over the side of the bed. This gets really scary because he is a big chap and I'm afraid that the weight of one leg could cause him to fall over the edge of the bed and that would make an almighty THUMP!

I managed to lift the leg back into bed - those dead legs are very heavy - and - at 4 in the morning - even more so! I made us a nice cup of tea and - once I had him situated - I curled up on the couch with my blankie. But, no sleep.

Mr. Indi's morphine is now impairing his speech and behaviour. I am not very happy about this as he is loopy much of the time - but the hospice people are more concerned with his pain than anything else - understandable - I suppose. But, I now feel that I have lost my husband altogether.

I had some sad news today - my lovely cousin, Jan, has breast cancer. I think they have caught it early enough - my thoughts are with her xxxxx

Not much to add - just lots of sadness.

I took the picture the other day.

Flowers From Ann

2009-03-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

This beautiful basket of flowers came yesterday - from my dear friend Ann B. in England. It's amazing how well those flowers held up during that 6000 mile flight! LOL. Thank you so much my friend and a big kiss to Jules and Holly - I love you all xxx

Each day gets a little harder. My arms are very stiff from my arthritis - it flared up badly when I got this virus. This means that trying to change blue sheets and diapers has become a bit of a nightmare - to the point that brings me to tears at times. But, I must carry on.

They (the big THEY) (the hospice care) has increased Mr. Indi's morphine to 45mg every 8 hours plus sublingual as needed. This, in conjunction with the gabapentin has made him a little bit loopy at times - I find him singing and talking to himself - and his imaginary friends - Oh dear!

Today, we had a meeting with a financial advisor that had been referred to us from Mr. Indi's work. She was a very pleasant and knowledgeable attorney from New York who advised us what would happen to Mr. Indi's pension and savings ($7.50) when he dies. It seems that I will be worth about $10 - after funeral expenses! I told him that I will save some money by floating him down the Santa Ana river on a barge - aflame! He quite liked the idea. Flaming arrows and all of that!

The weather can't seem to make up it's mind - it's not quite hot - but it's not quite cold. I am looking forward to a bit of heat - my poor old bod could use the vitamin D. I did manage to water all of my pots yesterday - some of them are very sad! (read DEAD) But, I am hoping that once this virus has gone, I will be able to have a good go with the secateurs and Miracle Grow. My philosophy with plants is grow or die - I don't care! Please yerself!

Back in the Saddle!

2009-03-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember that old song? "I'm back in the saddle again?" Well, that's how I'm feeling - although, I hope this horse doesn't buck me off! I'm still coughing and feeling a bit fragile - but I think I'm going to survive!

Mr. Indi is now on Home Hospice Care. It is quite different from the Home Health Care in that they provide everything - all of his drugs, diapers, blue sheets, lotions, shampoo and everything else that is part of his comfort. We have a lady who comes to bathe him twice a week and she is really lovely. Her name is Blanca and she is from El Salvador. She and Mr. Indi get along like a house on fire and spend the entire time that she is bathing him yacking about this that and the other! He loves her.

The nurses who come to check on him are also very kind. They all are on top of his pain management and general comfort. They ordered us a Hoya lift so that I may be able to get him in and out of bed and possibly into the wheelchair for a little while (pain permitting.) I haven't tried it yet as I'm still a bit weak - but Blanca is coming tomorrow and will guide me through it.

I still don't think that I am cut out to be a nurse! Emptying the bedpan is a horrible job - changing a crappy diaper (on a 230lb man) is even worse! But - I do what I do and I know that he would do the same for me.

Now that I'm feeling a bit better, I hope to be able to get up the energy to water my garden and take care of my pots - the poor things are neglected! I do need an outlet - I spend 16-20 hours a day on patient care - my poor flowers need me!

I hope you all like the pic of Mr. Indi without a beard! LOL! The pic was taken about 8 years ago in Reading, England. We don't look the same now! I have spiky hair and he has an Albert Einstein do!

Back From the Grave!

2009-03-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I feel like I'm back from the grave! I have had a horrible virus that really knocked me for a loop. But - I am getting better and a little stronger each day. The doc said that I was on the verge of pneumonia - so I had to cut back on all of my activities - including blogging!

Mr. Indi is doing OK but I fear that he may have caught my bug - even when I have been so careful with handwashing, etc. I am hoping that he doesn't get as sick as I - it will do him in!

His paralysis has moved up to encompass his bowel and bladder. The bladder isn't a problem because he has a catheter but it's a nightmare for me to get up and have to look at a dirty diaper at 5 in the morning. Puts me right off my first cup of tea!

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages during my illness. And thank you to my family for being kind and calling almost daily. And thank you to my friend from San Diego who drove the 100 miles to see me. Love you all xxxx

No pic today - don't have the energy to look for one!

I Must be Cursed!

2009-03-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

In the past week:

I returned a new computer mouse to my son - who got it for my b'day - it didn't work

I bought a CD player for my husband that had to be returned because it didn't work

I bought an earpiece for my cell phone that had to be returned because it didn't work

The garage door broke - while it was open!

The freezer door opened itself in the middle of the night and I got up to a soaking wet - and cold - kitchen floor and half thawed out food.

My car started making chirping noises

My gardener's helper got run over by my neighbor

Mr. Indi can no longer tell when a poop is imminent

I have developed bronchitis

Where's the gun?

The pic is one I took today of some lovely blue iris - and I would like to thank my friend in Maine for her pic of blue iris too. xx

Nothing But Junk!

2009-03-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

It seems that everything that I buy lately has to be taken back because it's BROKE! Grrr! Yesterday, I bought a wrap around ear piece for my cell phone so that I would be in compliance with the stupid "hands free" cell phone law. To me, talking on the cell phone while driving is dangerous and using an ear piece doesn't make it safer! But hey ho - I need to have my cell phone with me at all times because his Lordship usually decides to have a bowel movement while I'm driving to the bank!

So, rather than face the wrath of the local sheriff, I broke down and bought an ear piece. I got it home and tried it out - it didn't work. Mr. Indi said I was doing it wrong! What? All you need to do is shove it in yer ear! So, Mr. Know-It-All tried it for himself and found that it is BROKE! Our sister sister was here and she had a go with it. It didn't work. After using the rotten thing on 3 separate cell phones we all came to the conclusion that - yes indeed - the bloody thing is BROKE! I now have to take it back to the cell phone shop and exchange it - what a pain.

I had a terrible night with very little sleep but I was out like a light when, at 2:30 a.m., Mr. Indi dropped his tele clicker on the floor and caused me to shoot out of my bed like a bullet. It seems that he was groping around trying to find his bottle of water when he knocked the darn thing on the floor. Anyway, that was the end of my beauty sleep - and it shows today! Got the uglies!

The weather is still very grey and cool - although I should not complain because it is much more comfortable than that 100F that will be here soon enough.

I took the picture of the freesias this morning. They are really coming out now.

Good News and the Other Stuff!

2009-03-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

My gardener came back early this morning to finish the job that was soooooo rudely interrupted yesterday when his helper was run over by the old bag next door! Am happy to report that, after a couple of x-rays, Carlos was deemed to be OK by the doc and released from the hospital. He is badly bruised and will be off work for a couple of weeks but no lasting injuries. I was so glad to hear that news.

Our sister sister came yesterday and had a very nice visit with her brother and I. She was very tickled with the book that I received for my b'day - called California Missions. She especially liked the photos of San Juan Bautiste and, of course, Mission San Jose - her Mother House. She will be back today and I hope she can stay with his Lordship for a while as I have to go to the English store - I have run out of Bisto - horrors! And I also could use some Walker's crisps - salt and vinegar....YUM!

As Mr. Indi looses more feeling in his lower half, he is now having lots of trouble in determining whether he needs to use the pot - or not! So, he is now in a diaper full time - and a jolly good thing too, I say! However, there is nothing quite like changing a crappy diaper on a 230 lb man at 5:30 a.m. My poor old arms are barely able to move at that hour - arthritis. Still, we managed and I did enjoy my first cup of tea even though it was a bit late!

We met with the hospice lady again the other day. I know that we shall have to go down that route but I can see that there will be some problems. It seems that when we do go with the hospice, the other agency (home health care) will be coming to pick up the hospital bed and wheelchair and the hospice people will deliver their own equipment. What a flippin' joke. The lady (nurse) who came to talk to us, didn't seem to realize that Mr. Indi is paralyzed and is unable to sit in a wheelchair for more than 15-20 mins without great pain to his spine. But, she assured me that there would be coordination between the two agencies and he would not be uncomfortable. Hmmmm! We'll see. I'm dreading it. But, we still have a few more visits from home health care before we have to switch.

While we were discussing the services offered by the hospice agency, the lady said that one of the things that Mr. Indi would enjoy would be the volunteers who can come and sit with him and play cards or board games! ARGGGGGGGG! If there is one thing that Mr. Indi is in NO mood for it's cards and board games!

Today is grey and gloomy - and so am I!

This pic is from last summer in the park at Redlands.

Some Days.........

2009-03-13T08:56:00.001-07:00

As though I wasn't stressed out enough - I looked out of the kitchen window this morning to see my gardener's helper lying on top of the large industrial lawn mower with his legs pinned under the gardener's truck. Argggg! It seems that the woman who lives next door - a 75 year old ding bat - had run over Carlos as she drove by. I just could not believe it.

Within minutes, we had a fire truck, an ambulance and 2 police officers swarming all over the place. The ambulance took Carlos to the hospital and the EMTs said that he appeared to be OK but might have a broken shoulder. The police measured everything - made marks in the road - interviewed the ding bat and had the gardener show them both of his lawnmowers. I expect they will be round here to interview me before the day is over - even though I didn't see anything.

I can't write any more - too stressed.

Our sister sister is coming later today. She sent us this lovely vase of flowers for our wedding anniversary. They are so pretty and have lasted for ages.

Watch This Space.

2009-03-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Lots going on here - things going right - things going wrong! Grrr. Will write the blog tomorrow.

Here I am!

2009-03-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

After a too short visit, Anjo is now back home - she had a good flight - a bit bumpy but aren't we all! Last I heard, she was sitting with her bum on the radiator - I, on the other hand, have had my bum in the chaise - soaking up a few rays this afternoon! I do hope you poor people get some warm weather soon.

I want to tell you all that Anjo was a great help to me. She did lots of skivvying - and didn't eat much! My fridge is cleaned out and all of those strange things on the top shelf have been rehomed - in the rubbish! The spare room has been tidied and the toilets have been plunged! She is a star!

We had another lovely birthday party at the weekend - although it was very sad. We all squeezed into Mr. Indi's room and I opened my presents there - lots of lovely stuff: a super book on the California Missions, a case of Newcastle and spotted knickers from Marks and Sparks! A great variety of great presents!

I want to thank all of the lovely family and friends who sent me birthday messages, cards and flowers. I love you all xx

Mr. Indi is weak but doing OK. He spent at least 4 hours today working from home - on his computer and on the phone. He still feels the need to work - it keeps him going. Tomorrow, we will make an appointment with the hospice lady. His Lordship has decided to go with hospice - there doesn't seem to be much in the way of alternatives. I agree with his decision - I just want him to be comfortable and free from pain.

Hi Rosie - thanks for your concern re: bed sores. The nurse (RN) came today gave his Lordship the once over. His only real problem is on his right elbow but I am keeping my eye on it - he wears elbow pads and I am using Desitin at least twice a day - he also keeps his elbows on pillows. I turn him every two hours - even though it's like moving a moose! But, he is a wonderful patient and doesn't mind when I shove him around! It's great to be in charge!

The pic is from my bookay of b'day flowers! They smell like .......er.......flowers!

Too Busy to Think!

2009-03-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

No blog today - too busy. Toilets backed up! Argg!

Have to take Anjo to LAX! Arggg!

Mr. Indi had a terrible night - must call doc re: morphine increase. Arggggggg!

The freesia is in my front garden. They always flower for my b'day.

B'day was good - especially the Newcastle!

What a Cake!

2009-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had a special anniversary luncheon and as a gift, the manager of the restaurant sent out this lovely gooey chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. It was soooooooooooo yummy!

Have not had much time for the blog. Mr. Indi gets weaker by the day - but his spirits are still good. He has lost more of the use of his legs - in fact they are now gone completely. This means that I have to push around more dead weight when changing his diaper and/or the bed linens. And - as a result, my poor old elbows are as sore as boils! It's at time like this that I wish I was 150lbs instead of a scrawny old bird! I must eat more chocolate!

We watched the movie last night and we chose the sing along version - I don't think his Lordship was amused! But he did like the scenery and thankfully the movie was not too long so I was able to tuck him in bed by 8:30.

My birthday tomorrow. Not looking forward to it. Will drink lots of Bailey's - or something.

27 Years!

2009-03-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

Today is our wedding anniversary! 27 years - Wow - it doesn't seem a day over 26!

I dug this picture out of the very old picture box! We got married in Reno, Nevada. Don't you just love the archway of artificial roses! Such class!

We were married at 8:00 p.m. and then went out on the town with our friends (and witnesses) Kathy and Charlie. I have another picture somewhere that was taken at about 2 in the morning - I have my bouquet on my head and am cross-eyed! I won't post that one!

Anjo has bought us the video of Mama Mia for a anniversary gift. Neato - we shall all watch it tonight in Mr. Indi's room.

His Lordship is doing OK today but I had a terrible night. Didn't have any Bailey's - that must be the problem! Must remember to drink Bailey's before retiring.

Yellow is Mellow!

2009-03-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

The arrangement was that the nurse would come at 5:30 p.m. to insert the catheter. So we waited - and waited - and waited and at 6:15 Mr. Indi called the home care agency to ask if the nurse was coming. Oh yes - she should be there in 15 mins. Okie Dokie.

By 7:00 p.m. Anjo and I decided to wait no longer - and to make our dinner - egg and chips. We were just in the middle of eating it, when the nurse showed up! ARGGGGGG! Do these people work in a different time dimension? So - I had to leave my lovely, yummy egg and chips and bread and butter and go with the nurse into his Lordship's room in order to help him answer a whole bunch of questions re: his meds, etc.

The nurse was nice enough but spent WAY too much time telling us how she decided to become a nurse AND what a wonderful nurse she is AND how much she cares for people because of her own experience while having children. I wanted to slap her up the side of the earole and tell her to shurrup and put the catheter in! Cor struth!

By the time she was finished - about 8:15 p.m. - my dinner was cold, Mr. Indi was off his dinner altogether, Anjo had scarfed the lot and started the washing up! I settled for a large Bailey's on the rocks and Mr. Indi just went right to sleep! We all slept well, knowing that Mr. Indi's bladder was happily emptying itself throughout the night!

Not much on the agenda today - maybe I will be able to get out for an hour with my camera. Anjo is cleaning windows and washing curtains. Mad woman!

Today's picture is part of another lovely bunch of flowers that was received last weekend.

It Hurts!

2009-03-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

Well - today lots of things hurt. The blood tests were found and the doctor would not even give us the results. His advise - hospice - because there is nothing else that can be done. Well, we knew that - but didn't want to hear it. That hurt.

Poor Mr. Indi can no longer have a good piddle without a great struggle - so when the home health nurse came this morning she examined him and determined that he has water retention and needs a catheter. She will be here later this afternoon to insert one. That hurts!

I keep Mr. Indi's urinal stuff clean by rinsing with a drop of bleach. Today, I gave him a clean urinal bottle that I had not drained properly and had a little bleach water left in the bottom of it. Unfortunately, he tipped the bottle back too far and bleached his family jewels! That hurt.

I still have great trouble with my throat and should not eat anything with sharp edges. Today, I ate crisps. That hurt!

AND, as you can see by the photo - they don't make hospital beds big enough for two people!

All around - not one of our better days!

Night of the Living!

2009-03-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

So me and Anjo went to bed last night after a long day of shopping, washing, general skivvying and cooking a delish dinner of BBQ ribs, baked spud with sour cream, tossed salad with avocado slathered in blue cheese dressing and washed down with a Baily's on the rocks.

Mr. Indi enjoyed his dinner but washed it down with a glass of water. He had spent half the afternoon on the phone trying to chase down his blood test results - which seem to have vanished into thin air - and so was very thirsty.

By 10:00 p.m. everyone is fast asleep and curled up in their blankies with their binkies. Me and Anjo in the big bed - his Lordship in the room next door in his clanking hospital bed.

10:30 - Mr. Indi starts shouting for some assistance. He has had a plumbing problem in the bed which has caused a massive overflow! I dive out of bed and spend 30 mins changing his bum and the bed.

11:30 - Back in bed and I am finally dozing off. Anjo is snoring like an old sow. I stick my elbow in her ribs.

2:45 - Alarm clock goes off - BEEP BEEP BEEP! What the? Anjo has been dusting and has set the alarm. We both dive out of the bed and (without any glasses on) peer at the buttons and dials on the clock and after pushing several buttons - it stops! Heaven!

3:05 BEEP BEEP BEEP - Argggg! It's doing it again! Anjo puts her eyeballs in and finally figures out how to stop the bloody thing.

4:00 Anjo starts clicking! I don't know where the clicking is coming from and I don't want to speculate but I shove her over onto her side and the clicking stops.

4:30 Mr. Indi starts cranking his bed up and down in order to attract my attention - he needs a cup of cha!

5:00 I lie on the couch in the living room and the neighbors dog stars barking! ARGGGGG! Where is the gun?

The End!

The good news is - I went to the docs today and my blood pressure is so good that it is dropping too low! You can't win for losing!

The picture was taken last weekend. Anjo and her BIG birthday balloon for very old women!

Dandruff in a Can!

2009-03-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

So I sprayed my hair with the gold spray - but it came out as sparkles rather than gold coloring - if you know what I mean. Anyway, it didn't look bad and, in fact, Anjo said that it looked very pretty in the sunlight. However, when she took a photo to show off my new look, it looks as though I have a very bad case of dandruff! Sparkly dandruff! Maybe I'll try the florescent green next!

Yesterday was beautiful and must have got up to at least 90F by mid-afternoon (32C) and Anjo was just loving every minute of it; lying on the chaise like a tourist at Southend-on-Sea! Mr. Indi, on the other hand, was not amused and insisted that I turn on the A/C until the bedroom felt like a meat locker and I finally had to turn it off as I was turning blue each time I ventured to the back of the house.

I had to buy a new set of walkie talkies as the other ones never did work right and ended up in the bin! The new ones have a range of 18 miles - Now, the problem is, I can't think of anyplace that is 18 miles away that I particularly want to be at! 20 miles would be much better!

Mr. Indi was very lethargic yesterday and spent most of the day resting and looking at the Sunday crossword. We didn't try to get him into the wheelchair - I was afraid that he was too weak to use the transfer board. It was his last day of Cipro and so we are hoping he will get a little more energy now that the anti-biotics are finished. I will be calling the doctors office today to find out what the news is re: the blood tests.

One of Mr. Indi's workmates came by to visit for an hour and that cheered him up. The visitor came bearing gifts! Chocolate covered apricots! I'm sure that they are very bad for his Lordship so Anjo and I will have to eat them - it's the least we can do.

The photo shows off my dandruff quite well, don't you think?

This and That and T'other!

2009-03-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well, apart from Lillian, the home health aide (bed baths and clean sheets) everyone else has run out of authorizations to visit Mr. Indi and they are abandoning ship! I think the doctor will recommend home hospice care as an alternative - but I'm not sure that his Lordship will go along with that idea. It is, after all, admitting to the fact that this is the end of the road. We shall just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, we exchanged the humongous wheelchair for the standard version but I now find it much more difficult to maneuver Mr. Indi into it as there is less bum room for him to slide on the transfer board. I'm so afraid that he will end up on the floor. Maybe we should go back to the jumbo bum sized chair! Grrr. The wheelchair people will start to think we are nuts!

Yesterday, my DIL's parents came to the house and made dinner for me and Anjo as a joint b'day gift. It was very nice too. Hungarian Goulash over egg noodles washed down with a nice red - followed by Baileys on the rocks and chocolate cake- what more can one want for? Took lots of pictures but can't post them until I find the wrinkle removing part of my photo program!

Weather is lovely - 75 to 80F. Anjo did a little sunbathing yesterday - no bikini though - we didn't want to set the neighbors dog off!

Thank you everyone for the kind comments re: me and Anjo in the garden - glad that everyone likes my spikes. Today I am spraying the tips with gold spray! OK - I know - I've lost it!

Today's pic is from a lovely bunch of flowers rec'd yesterday.

Here it is!

2009-02-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

No rude comments please!

Anjo and Moi!

Just Checking In!

2009-02-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

Me and the Banjo are doing OK - for a couple of old bags! Mr. Indi hasn't felt too well for a few days. He's very weak - although we did manage to get him in the wheelchair last night so that he could come and sit with us for dinner. Nice salmon.

The nurse came and took blood samples on Wednesday - will be interested in results - might hear something today.

In all of the excitement, I have forgotten to take my arthritis meds and am now suffering!

Weather - so-so! Temp about 65 but not much sun - so no bikini sunbathing as yet.

Finally did it! - Had my hair spiked! I love it.

No pictures - don't have time.

Will write more tomorrow.

We Are Both Old Girls Today!

2009-02-25T06:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was busy - to say the least!

Steve, the therapist was here at 7:15 to give Mr. Indi a good working over. Steve likes the early appointments as he says that most of his clients don't roll out of the sack until 9 in the morning! I told him that we are on a rather odd clock in this house. There is always someone making a cup of tea at 5 a.m.

Anjo and I did a bit of shopping and, along with my son, the infamous Mr. A, went to lunch at the Wings Place where we played the electronic trivia game. Twas good fun for an hour or so. The food was OK and the beer was very good!

Mr. Indi is getting a little stronger each day in his upper body - but losing more of the feeling and movement from the waist down. The tumors in his spine must be reaching more nerve endings. But, he was able to get into the wheelchair twice yesterday and come out into the living room - in fact he was able to join us at the dinner table - A real treat for all of us. The pressure sores on his elbows are not looking very good so we went to the sporting goods store and got some different kinds of elbow pads - unfortunately none of them will work - too tight - too hot - too uncomfortable. So, I shall have to return them today.

Tis Anjo's birthday today and I am going to take her to our favorite clothing store to buy her a birthday gift. For 12 days of each year we are the same age - although I still remind her that I'm the BIG sister!

I promised 2 pictures but could only find one that I liked. I took it last September in Redlands. Will go out today armed with a camera.

TheEagle Has Landed

2009-02-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

After a very smooth flight on a half empty jumbo - Anjo the Banjo emerged from LAX looking as fresh as a dandelion!

For those who are wondering who the heck Anjo is - No, she is not a relative named Ann Jones, No, she doesn't play the banjo (she can hardly manage to play the CD player!) She is my SISTER! Her name is Angela and she is here to help me with Mr. Indi and also provide moral support for when I go out on the town! To the supermarket, that is! Although we may have to nip in the local and see if their G&T's are as good as those in her local!

I might not have much time to blog - but will keep you all updated on his Lordship.

He has been in and out of the wheelchair a couple of times over the past few days and is getting a little stronger each day. The therapist is pleased with his progress.

No picture today - will post 2 tomorrow!

She's In The Air!

2009-02-23T05:20:00.000-08:00

And I should think her arms will be getting tired in a few more hours! I must say that the flight from London to LA is always so long - and - sooooooooo boring especially if you get that strong headwind which sometimes adds an extra half an hour onto your already sore bum or the pong of your neighbor with the foul BO! Ah! The joys of modern travel.

Yesterday was quite busy but I still didn't get everything done on my list of "Things that MUST be done before Anjo sees what a slob I am" But, at least the bed linens are all clean and the kitchen is reasonable - just don't look in the oven!

Our two beautiful granddaughters came over for a little while to visit their Papa. The little one wanted to take the doll house home - the one that we built for her older sister, many years ago. I was sad to see it go - it has so many memories - but I know that Emi will have hours of fun playing with it.

We promised Steve (the physio) that Mr. Indi would get in the wheelchair and we kept our promise. He got his bottom down the transfer board and, once in the chair, there was no stopping him! He managed to push himself down the hallway and into the living room where he watched the big tele for a little while. This gave me the chance to change his bed and tidy up his room a little. Getting him back in the bed was a bit of a struggle but we managed and after he huffed and puffed and got himself facing the right way, he was knackered!

Son and DIL also came over and bought his Lordship a really neat roll-around cart for the bedroom. It's the perfect size for holding all of his necessaries; loo roll, baby talc, hand lotion, disinfectant hand wipes, books, puzzles, magazines, pens, pencils, pills, bottles of water, cups of tea, snacks, sweeties, etc!

One of Mr. Indi's workmates also came by to visit for a little while and bought a lovely box of shortbread cookies. Yum! I had to take them away from his Lordship - he was spoiling his dinner! Passgetti and garlic toast!

Well, I have just put the rubbish bins out at the curb and the clouds are thickening and threatening - rain on the way! I hope Anjo has packed her mac!

Today's picture is one that I took at the Los Angeles County Fair. Thousands of little children from the LA School district take part in the coloring competition (5-6 year olds) and every kid gets a ribbon. Neat!

Done and Dusted!

2009-02-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

I finally feel as though I accomplished something, yesterday! And doesn't that feel fine - when you've been struggling with an issue and finally have it under control?

Some weeks ago, a nurse from the first home care agency had taken blood samples to the wrong place for analysis. I then received a bill for $384. I know that the blood tests should be covered 100% by our insurance but was getting the run around as far as how I could make that claim.

Well, after umming and arrring for a couple of weeks, I decided to pay the bill and then collect all of the paper work - scan it - send it to the insurance co and ask them to reimburse me. I don't know if it will work - it should! But, I was spending too much time and energy worrying about having that bill hanging over my head. So - it's done and, with luck, I will be reimbursed. And, if I don't gets me money back - I shall have to give up drinking Newcastle Brown! Perish the thought!

Steve, the physio came yesterday and had me practicing getting his Lordship in and out of the wheelchair. It's a bit scary as the transfer board that Mr. Indi plonks his bum on is only about 9 inches wide (Mr. Indi's bum is about 5 feet wide!) But, WE DID IT! And, we did it without Steve helping us. Getting back from the chair to the bed is a bit more awkward and Mr. Indi gets very nervous but both Steve and I told him that once he is halfway up the board, all he has to do is sling himself on the bed - even if he ends up sideways - it's OK! We went through the routine twice and Mr. Indi started to feel a bit more confident. We promised Steve that we will practice it again today. If you never hear from me again, I am buried under a wheelchair and a large man in the back bedroom!

Anjo the Banjo arrives tomorrow and I'm sorry to say that I may be meeting her in the rain. She has seen enough rain this winter in cold and wet England/Wales and is hoping for lots of lovely LA sunshine so that she can lie on the chaise in the back garden in her bikini! (Enough to lower the price of houses in the area, I should think!) Anyway, the temperature will be about 70F (21C) so I think she will enjoy that. Am so looking forward to her expertise in ironing, lavatory cleaning, vacuuming and general skivvying! Love you Anj!

I don't think I have posted this picture before - but it is a nice one for a grey and gloomy day in LA. I took the picture of the bougainvillea at the San Gabriel Mission last summer.

I Was Doing It Backwards!

2009-02-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well, Aurelia, the RN came at about 9:00 a.m to get a urine sample and you know what happened - he couldn't do it! I tried making tinkling noises and pretending to chug-a-lug a Newcastle out of the bottle - but he could only manage a dribble! Aurelia said that she only needed 10cc but one needs quite a few dribbles to make 10ccs. Grrr! Well, we finally got enough and - after Aurelia had left to take the sample down to Dr. N's office - Mr. Indi peed about 2 gallons! Bloody marvelous isn't it?

It wasn't more than an hour later that Daisy, Dr. N's nurse, called and said that they had detected massive infection in the urine and where sending it out to the lab for a culture. In the meantime, they called in a prescription to Larry's pharmacy for Cipro - a horrible, strong anti-biotic that makes you dizzy! (I speak from experience.) The drug should clear up the infection within 10 days - and, I hope, will make poor old Mr. Indi feel a bit better than he has done over the past week or so.

Weird Charles also came in the morning, to do a few exercises with his Lordship. He noted that the hospital bed was way too low and that it needed adjusting so that I don't hurt my back while changing Mr. Indi and/or his bed linens. I told him about how both Lillian and I have tried to raise the thing but it is too hard to crank the handle. Well, guess what? Charles cranked the bed up in no time at all - it seems that both Lillian and I had been turning the crank handle the wrong direction - it's supposed to go anti-clockwise! Duh! I felt like a complete prune - BUT at least the bed is now raised up and will hopefully give my poor old back a bit of rest!

I drove down to the World Market and stocked up on tea bags for the imminent arrival of Anjo the Banjo - I also picked up a few treats - Cadbury's Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Bikkies! Yummy. While down in that neck of the woods, I stopped and had lunch with my friend Di. She will be out of town for the next 2 weeks and will miss Anjo. Boo - Hoo! Still, I'm sure she will meet her in the future. Di is a very nice person and I'm sure Anjo would enjoy meeting her.

I'm getting lazy about cooking dinner each night - too much work - and so last night I got Swedish Meatballs with Noodles in a nice sauce from the frozen food department. I was surprised how good it was - and Mr. Indi scarfed the lot. I also got a loaf of freshly baked cheese and jalapeno bread. Wow! I washed it all down with a Newkie and was set for a good night's sleep!

I took the picture in August 08. I love yellow flowers - especially dahlias.

Old Lamb and a New Scarf!

2009-02-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

We only had one visitor yesterday, Miss Lillian, the nurse's aid. She came and gave Mr. Indi a lovely bath and massaged his legs with some good smelly lotion. After she was finished, he took his meds and was able to take a nice nap for a couple of hours while I did a bit of skivvying.

My lovely neighbor, Lourdes (Mrs. Jesus) did a week's worth of ironing and refused to take any money from me - but I went and got another gift certificate from the grocery store and told her to shurrup! I said that we can both help each other - I need the ironing done and she needs the money - a fair deal! Also - she has knitted me a beautiful bright red scarf. Wow! It's a stunner.

Mr. Indi has decided not to take the rest of the chemo pills - I think there are only about 5 left. He wants to build up his strength in order to get from the bed to the wheelchair and back - and the chemo is just dragging him down too much. He doesn't feel that this chemo regimen is doing him any good and will probably not continue when his next infusion is due. (Next week)

The hospital bed is not working out as well as we had hoped. I think it may be because his Lordship is 6'2" and can't seem to get comfortable even though sitting up is easier. I have tried to crank the bed frame up a few inches but can't seem to budge the blasted thing. Even Miss Lillian had a go but she only moved it about one inch!

Made a nice dinner of lamb chops (Australian) roasties, onion sauce, carrots and cabbage last night - the lamb had seen better days but Mr. Indi enjoyed the flavours and the veg are always good for him. I do hope he has a better day today - yesterday was painful and frustrating for him.

The lovely picture is of a beautiful lake in New Hampshire sent to me by my buddy, Lexi xxxx

Bubba's Special - Yummy!

2009-02-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Mr. Indi is not feeling well at all. He gave himself a Procrit injection yesterday but still seems to be getting weaker and is unable to finish his full set of exercises. The RN came for her weekly visit and will be back on Friday morning to take a urine sample - she thinks that there might be something wrong in the plumbing department - grrrrr!

Steve, the physio came in the afternoon and taught his Lordship how to get from the bed to the wheelchair by using the transfer board. Getting from the bed to the chair wasn't too bad but getting back into the bed is a bit more difficult. Steve showed me how to raise and lower the bed so that Mr. Indi wouldn't be fighting gravity as he tries to slide his bum up the transfer board and back into bed - However, I don't think Steve realizes how much my elbows hurt (bloody arthritis) and it's just too hard for me to crank the handle to raise and/or lower the bed. Will have to find a way around it.

A very nice nurse from a hospice agency came to visit and gave us lots of info about hospice care. Unfortunately, one of the services that they DON"T provide, is respite for carers. She did say she could put me in touch with some volunteers but I don't know if I want to do that. I'm a bit wary of leaving a stranger here in the house while Mr. Indi is paralyzed in bed. It's not that I've got anything that's worth more than $20 - but it's just the idea of somebody poking around in our stuff! Am I being silly?

Mr. Indi wanted some of that delicious pizza from the "We don't have glasses for you to drink your beer" joint. I drove down at about 6 p.m. and got their Bubba's Special - everything but the kitchen sink. I took my knitting and did a few rows while drinking Newcastle Brown Ale from the bottle as I waited for the pizza to cook! It didn't take long - I think about 10 rows and 1 bottle - and Mr. Indi was very pleased because it really was delish. And, I was really pleased as there was no washing up! Just chuck the pizza box in the rubbish. We must do that more often.

Since the rain stopped, the weather has been spectacular - the snow on the mountains is gorgeous and the sky has been a beautiful deep blue. I hope it stays this way so that Anjo can see it. She usually comes to visit in the summer when everything is parched and brown - including me!

The picture is one that I took last May under Newport Pier. I like poking about under piers.

Bed and Beach!

2009-02-18T06:20:00.000-08:00

A very quick post today - I'm up to my bum in alligators and somebody is draining the lake!

The hospital bed arrived and a very nice chap set it all up and showed me how to work the motorized bits. Called SIL and he came and moved his Lordship from the big bed to the hospital bed. His Lordship has to push all the buttons - up - down - round and round. Tries to pull himself up on the trapeze and BANG - trapeze drops down about 6 inches and nearly beans his Lordship! I looked at the attachment at the back of the headboard but I'm not strong enough to adjust the wingnuts - Ah well - therapist coming this afternoon - will have him look at it. Told Mr. Indi to stop playing around and sit still and watch the tele

Had to go to the oncology office to get prescrip for morphine - dropped it off at Larry's pharmacy but couldn't wait for it because Mr. Indi called to say that he was sitting in a pancake and could I hurry home. Drove home and asked his Lordship if he wanted syrup with that or lemon and sugar!

Mr. Indi's brother is coming on Monday to sit with his Lordship while I drive to LAX to get Anjo the Banjo. Hope the plane is on time - but am so looking forward to seeing her and am getting the ironing board ready for when she arrives - she'll soon get over the jet lag! (Kidding - honest!)

The picture is of the beach at New Quay in West Wales - it is so lovely. A big "Thank You" and lots of slobbery kisses to my friend Jan who sent me the picture.

Moving Day!

2009-02-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

Well, by the time I went to bed last night, I felt like I had been put through the mangle! Actually everybody who joined in with the "patient transfer and bed pushing " palaver worked so hard and I am so grateful to everyone who lent a hand - especially as it poured with rain for most of the day.

Lillian showed up at 7:30 to give his Lordship a good scrub down and wash his hair - I had forgotten to put her on the calendar! Duh - I felt like a real nincompoop - still in my pjs and watching the news with my 4th cup of tea in my hand! "What are you doing here?" "Oh nothing" she said. "Just stopping by to say Hi!" Lil is a real card! She got busy and his Lordship was sparkly clean in no time.

My son and his wife came at about 10ish and helped move some of the furniture in my bedroom in order to make room for the wheelchair to go up the side of the bed. And, of course, the more we pushed and shoved, the more dust and dead bodies we found under the bed! I really do need a maid - any volunteers?

At about 11:30 my son in law and his cousin came to move Mr. Indi from one bed to the other. I was very nervous as Mr. Indi is dead weight and unable to help move himself so I was afraid that he would end up "Kersplat" on the bedroom floor. But J and O are big strong chaps and had him out of the bed; into the wheelchair; into the other bed, all in about 5 minutes! Well done!

We soon got him all settled in with his bed pans, urinals, television and clicker, antacid pills and a box of nose blowers! All the necessities of life! He was happy as a lark. It didn't take long to strip down the other bed and stack it in the garage and while he was out there, J chopped up some fire wood for me for kindling and the washing machine was started on a marathon session.

While the bed moving was in progress, M and D drove to the medical supply store and picked up a transfer board ( a device used to move a patient to and from the wheelchair - bed - potty - etc.) and a bathtub bench which we hope Mr. Indi will be able to use one day. So, we are now a fully equipped private hospital that offers experienced bedpan emptiers, high def cable TV and a Newcastle Brown Ale with dinner. Rooms from $800 per day!

Now, some very good news - Anjo the Banjo will be arriving in Los Angeles next Monday to spend a couple of weeks helping me with a bit of skivvying! Yea! We shall also be celebrating both of our birthdays - in one place - together - for the first time in about 50 years! We were born 12 days apart - NO - not in the same year!

Today, the hospital bed will arrive. I hope they don't muck about and make me wait around all day grrrr! I have a hundred things to do - including going to get a new prescrip for more morphine. Then, once the bed is in place, I have to get his Lordship transfered again so I can have my bed back - last night was the couch! Will cross that bridge... - (I seem to be crossing a lot of bridges lately!)

I want to go to the beach but will have to put up with photos for now - today's picture was taken at Balboa in Dec 2007. Can you see the humming bird?

p.s Thanks to S for correcting my postings! Do I get a star?

I Want a Hog!

2009-02-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was quite productive. Son and his wife came over in the afternoon and he was soon able to get the two bedroom doors off their hinges. We put Mr. Indi's door out in the garage (one day this garage will burst at the seams!) but we left my door up against the wall in my bedroom as it will be put back up once we have finished with all this shuffling around.

Before our company came, I went down to a new pizza joint in the old part of town. I have been dying for some decent pizza and this new place looked promising. Well, let me tell you - the pizza was super. Lovely crust - not too much tomato sauce - yummy pepperoni. But the ambiance is less than stellar! The two big screen televisions were showing NASCAR auto racing - which I can't stand! But you have to be a NASCAR fan to qualify as a real man in this town. Also, they do not give you a glass when you order a beer. Drinking from the bottle is a city ordinance, I think! Arghh - I hate drinking beer from a bottle - but - a Newkie is a Newkie so I put up with it! Are you getting the picture that I live in Hicksville, USA!

After we got the doors down, Mr. Indi insisted that we nail up a sheet or something to cover the door hole! I think he's afraid of the boogie man! I told him that the boogie man will take one peek at the bed pans, urinals, antiseptic hand wipes, etc and run for his life. The boogie man will be more afraid of you than you are of him! His Lordship wanted to know if I was going to nail a sheet over my door hole! NO, when I have my eyes closed, I don't care who comes in my room - and besides the boogie man is under the bed - with the dust! Leave him alone!

The steaks that I got for 1/2 price were delish and, luckily, the rain held off while I did the BBQ. With some baked potoatoes and a lovely salad with avacado, it was a very good Sunday dinner washed down with a Baileys! Life was good - well, for at least a couple of hours it was good!

This morning, the rain is pouring down and it's a bit parky (40F) The rain is forecast to get worse through the day so I don't think I shall be venturing very far on my Harley-Davidson hog - pictured above! (I lie - I just dream of riding a Harley!) The picture was taken in Temecula last summer.

Just for Me! Ahhhhh!

2009-02-15T06:32:00.000-08:00

Today's picture is one that was sent to me by my friend, Sybil. The beautiful rose is called "Just For You" and I think it's gorgeous. Thank you my friend xx

Steve came at 7 a.m. yesterday and was amazed to learn that both the chair AND the hospital bed had been approved. He scratched his head and tried to figure out how this could be. I mean, he hadn't written his recommendations yet! I tried hard not to gloat.

Anyway, to give him his due, Steve got stuck in with the exercises and the first thing that he worked on was to show Mr. Indi how to get in and out of the wheelchair. Getting in wasn't so bad - he used a pillow as a sliding board (the arms of the chair are removable) but getting back in the bed was a bit of a struggle - but they did it and I could tell that Mr. Indi felt very pleased. Steve is going to find a proper sliding board at a reasonable price and should be calling me today.

Mr. Indi also got to work on the rowing and stretching exercises with the resistance band. Steve has me holding the middle of the band while Mr. Indi rows. Cor struth - I'm not sure if my elbows will hold up for long - but my buzooms may be getting bigger! Mr. Indi also did some exercises with weights to build up his triceps and to strengthen the abs. Whoooo! Mr. Indi will be looking like Charles Atlas soon!

I told Steve about Charles the Weird and his nasty little book of hate that he had given to Mr. Indi. Steve is taking the book to the office to report Charles to the Director of the Home Health Agency. I hope Charles gets the axe and takes his hate elsewhere.

I have rounded up a posse for all of the furniture removals, rearrangements, etc. My son will come today and take the bedroom doors off (otherwise the wheelchair won't fit through.) And, tomorrow, my son in law and his cousin, both nice big chaps, will come and move his Lordship from one bed to the other then take the queen bed down and move it to the garage. I will then have the chance to go over the floor in the front bedroom before the hospital bed arrives on Tuesday. Once the hospital bed is in place, I think that me and Jesus (or is it Jesus and I?) should be able to get his Lordship back into the front room. I expect that some of this pushing and shoving will be accompanied by beer drinking and blue language! Cover yer earoles!

I bought some beautiful steaks yesterday in a half-price sale and hoped that I could BBQ them today but a big rainstorm is on the way - may have to move the BBQ onto the side porch and smoke the house up! Still, it will be worth it - haven't had steak for weeks. I love a slab of dead cow!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

2009-02-14T06:11:00.001-08:00

At the end of this blog entry, I will tell you all why I hate St. Valentines's Day - but first I'll talk about yesterday and some of the good - and not so good things that happened.

Steve, the therapist came at 8o'clock but didn't get much therapy done as the three of us, Me and Him and Steve, got into a long and complicated discussion about who exactly authorizes equipment i.e. hospital beds and such. The discussion got quite heated at times, as Steve insists that he is the only one who knows how the system works and that our Dr. N isn't applying for equipment in the correct manner. I swear, some people think that they are overseeing an empire! Steve even went as far as telling us that he probably makes more money that Dr. N. Woooo! I'm impressed! NOT.

Anyway, because Mr. Indi didn't get any exercises done, Steve will be back to do a make-up session at 7 o'clock this morning. That's if he can find his way through the pea soup fog that has developed.

After doing a bit of housework, I ran down to the shops to get a few things - amongst them, a new roll of duct tape. Our local hardware store (does anyone remember when we called it the ironmongers?) is a huge jumble of stuff in a big cold drafty building and I have never been able to find anything in there without assistance. Yesterday was no exception. When I asked for duct tape, the chap explained that he had 5 or 6 different grades of tape and it would depend on what I was using it for as to what grade I needed. "Are you tarping your roof before the rain?" "Eh, not exactly," I replied. " I'm sticking a waterproof baby changing pad to the bed so that my husband doesn't wee on the sheets." "Okie dokie, then this is the one you need" he said! This chap obviously knows the 1001 uses for duct tape!

John turned on his cell phone and discovered that there were two messages from Apria (Medical Equip Co.) asking for a convenient time to deliver his wheelchair - Wooo! At least something got approved. I wonder if it was because Emperor Steve did his magic - or was it because the Lord High Doctor filled out the paper work correctly? But whatever it was - something was working because we got another call, later in the day, to say that Apria had the orders to deliver a hospital bed at the same time as the wheelchair! Woa! Hang on a minute! I was thrilled that the bed had been approved - but, as Apria will not move furniture - or patients - I now have to work out the logistics to move Mr. Indi into the other bedroom and have a couple of chaps come and take down the big queen sized bed and chuck it in the garage before the hospital bed is delivered. I have postponed the delivery date until Tuesday, which should give me enough time to round up a posse.

While I was out having lunch with my friend, Anna, Charles - the weird therapist came to give his Lordship a workout. When he left (yesterday was his last authorized visit) he gave Mr. Indi a little book to read. You'd think it would be a book about physical therapy but NO - it was some wacko nut case book about how the Jesuits are out to destroy America and they caused 9/11 and killed Abraham Lincoln and all kinds of other weirdo stuff! I was furious and will report him to his supervisor for inappropriate, unprofessional and unethical behaviour. There are some real nut jobs around! Goodbye, Charles the Weird!

When my lovely daughter died in 1997, all of her funeral arrangements were made by her husband. I was not allowed to have any input into the process. I was even asked NOT to send any flowers to the funeral home. He arranged to have her funeral on Valentines Day, 1997 and she was cremated at Reading Crematorium in Reading, Berkshire, England. Her ashes were strewn in the Garden of Remembrance and there is no marker. The Day was cold and rainy and horrible. The tears were coming down from the sky. I am 6000 miles from Julie - but if I was there, I would take her a red rose. xxxxxxx

Now, here is a coincidence - Last night I posted Julie's favorite song (We Are The Champions by Queen) on another board, in her memory. Another of my bestest friends, Annie, replied by posting Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Sarah Vaughn. And, what Annie doesn't know, is that I took the rainbow picture yesterday morning. Does Annie read my mind? Loves ya girl xxxx

Facing the Future!

2009-02-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

My consultation with Dr. N went very well - although he was quite blunt and to the point. He does not see the point of Mr. Indi carrying on with chemo when it seems as though it has reached the point where it is doing more harm than good. He also sees no point in having an MRI, only to discover that things are getting worse. In other words, he believes that Mr. Indi is now in end stage cancer and the goal should be to make him as comfortable as possible with home hospice care. I don't want to agree - but I know that what he is saying is true.

Dr. N swears that he has not denied Mr. Indi a hospital bed or wheelchair or anything else for that matter. In fact, he says that none of those requests have come through his office and, while I was standing there, he had his assistant, Daisy, get on the horn and start trying to trace down the requests. He is also making arrangements for a person from a home hospice care company to come and visit his Lordship and me so that we can make a decision regarding home care. Evidently, home hospice provides a lot more frequent help and gives respite to the primary caregiver -moi!

But, of course, once Mr. Indi goes into a hospice program, there is no more treatment for his cancer. But, as his treatment does not seem to be working any more - it seems like a logical move - although one that only Mr. Indi can make.

Regarding transportation to and from chemo and MRI etc. It seems that our insurance does not cover transportation other than in emergency situations - i.e. ambulance to the emergency room. So, I am stuck with the bill from last week's chemo and doubt that I shall get a refund - such is life!

The hospital bed has been denied by the insurance company, but Dr. N says that it is because the wording that was used, does not justify a hospital bed. He is going to make sure that the request is resubmitted using the right buzz words. That old bullcorn - you have to know how to play the system! Grrr.

I came away believing that Dr. N is trying to do what is right regarding Mr. Indi's care. But still shed a few tears.

Anyway - putting all that aside - I have not had the time to tell you all about Wednesday, Feb 11. The Day of the Toilets! (Do you remember The Day of the Triffids?) The toilet in the hallway overflowed and I had to take 10-12 clean bath towels out of the linen closet and throw them on the floor - THEN, like the bozo, brain-dead, elderly person that I am, I went and flushed the toilet in the master bedroom - ARGGGGGGG - it overflowed too! My son was here and we decided that we could find and fix the blockage - while Mr. Indi shouted obscenities at us from the bedroom. I was ready to call a plumber - at $60- per hour - when I thought I would try one last option. I went next door and got Jesus! He is an amazing chap. He would not give up, and after working with my son for over an hour with the snake and the high pressure hose - VIOLA! It was fixed. It seems that some idiot - can't imagine who! - had put some baby bum wipes down the toilet. I blamed it on our neighbor Freddie!

Today should be a fairly quiet day - HAHAHA! Steve, the therapist will be here at 8 ish but other than that nobody else is on the calendar. Maybe I will find a few minutes to tidy up my office. Don't hold your breath!

I took the picture of the orchids at the Arboretum in San Diego in 2006

Hold On To Your Hats!

2009-02-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

Blog will be late - am off at 8 to see the Big Kahoona re: John's medical care.
Will report back later.
IPA

Beeeep! Are you there?

2009-02-11T05:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I've put in a good 2 weeks of work over the last two days and must say that I think I'm getting a bit too old for this lark! And, not only that - I think that buying those darn walkie-talkies has increased my work threefold!

On Monday, my son and DIL were off work and came by to visit and help out with some chores. They also stopped at a take-out deli place and bought us lunch. Everything was really yummy and I dived into a spicy meatball sandwich:

Beep "Can you come here? I have to go on the bedpan"

"I'll be right there" - runs up the hallway.

Places bedpan under bum - washes hands - goes back to lunch table - takes one more bite of sandwich.

Beep "I think it's a false alarm. Can you come and get me off bedpan?"

"I'll be right there." Runs up hallway rolls his Lordship off bedpan - washes hands - goes back to lunch table and manages 2 more bites of meatball sarnie.

Beep. "Can you come here? I was right - I really do have to go now."

"I'll be right there." Runs up hallway and gets bedpan under bum - washes hands - sits back down to finish meatball sandwich. Sandwich cold. Opens bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale and substitutes that for the sandwich.

Beep. "I think I've finished - can you come and look?"

Run up hallway - "Where do you want me to look?"

I felt like I was looking in the oven to see if the cake was done yet!

Anyway - clean up time - rubber gloves - baby bum wipes - zinc ointment - new diaper. (I thought I gave that up 40 years ago!) Last but not least - spray most of the house with a lovely new scent - Springtime Lilac and start singing, We'll gather lilacs in the spring again and walk together down an English Lane. Son tells me to put a sock in it and opens me another Newkie.

Lunchtime is over! But my son is a funny old thing - yes, I can call him that because he will be 50 this year! Later in the afternoon, he called me from home. "Mom, can you come over? I have to take a poop" I won't repeat my response! Ha Ha!

Mr. Indi has developed a very nasty bedsores on his elbows - he has to use his elbows to move up and down in the bed. Before he left, my son, who is quite good at first aid, slathered his Lordships elbows with zinc ointment and dressed them with soft bandages. I then went down to the sporting goods place and bought a set of skateboarding elbow pads. They seem to be helping quite a bit.

Steve, one of the therapists came yesterday morning and was very surprised to find how weak Mr. Indi had become over the past few days. It may be the chemo drug that he takes each night and I'm sure that both his red and white cells are way down - but I think I will call Dr. J today and ask that he request a blood draw at home just to check out the numbers.

I got a call from a manager at the transport company who had messed us up so badly last Wednesday with our chemo transport. He grovelled a lot and promised to look into the matter and see if there was some way to make up for the inconvenience that Mr. Indi had to endure. I think a full refund would be a good place to start!

The latest on the non-existent hospital bed is - "Just because he's a paraplegic, doesn't mean he needs a hospital bed!" That is the last straw. I went completely bozo yesterday afternoon and called Dr. N's office assistant and demanded to see him to discuss this whole mess. I have an appointment at 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning and will go armed with much documentation - including the blood test bill.

It has been a very busy couple of days and the weather has been wild, too! We've had buckets of rain - the snow on the mountains is gorgeous - and it can bloody well stay there! But, it has turned very cold and today's picture is one that I took yesterday morning of the ice on the windshield of my car at 7:00 a.m.

Blog Update - We are OK

2009-02-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I missed doing the blog yesterday - am pedaling as fast as I can - promise I will write in the morning.
Me and him are still alive - just about!
Indi
xxxxx

I'm Fit as a Fiddle - Honest!

2009-02-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

This was my day yesterday:

Got up at 4:30 - watched news and wrote blog.

Emptied drier and ironed 2 sets of queen sized linens - fitted bottom sheets, tops sheets, pillowcases.

Put the last of the soiled bed linens in the washing machine.

Made Mr. Indi some toast with pomegranate jelly and a bowl of shredded wheat.

Made myself a bowl of Weetabix which I ate while putting Mr. Indi's meds together.

Had a quick wash and got dressed.

Made my bed and ran a dust -b -gone thing over the wood floors.

Gave the main bathroom a bit of a cat lick and washed the floor.

Set up Mr. Indi's wash bowl and assorted condiments for him to get cleaned up.

Changed him into a clean pair of shorts and clean tee shirt.

Tidied up his Lordships bed and set up his room in readiness for a visit from Charles, the physio.

Ironed the rest of the bed linens and a couple of tee shirts.

Washed up dishes and ran mop over kitchen floor.

Charles arrived at 10:00 a.m. and needed me to help him - I had to stand and make sure Mr. Indi didn't fall off the edge of the bed - of course if his Lordship had fallen towards me, I would have been a squashed bug!

Charles left at 11:00 and I got ready to go out to several shops.

Made up Mr. Indi a plate of crackers and cheese - bowl of mandarin oranges and some Cheerios snacks for him to munch while I was away.

Set up his room prior to my departure - urinal - bed pan - loo roll - TV clicker - Sunday papers - books.

Set off to do errands - First stop was Radio Shack were I purchased a set of walkie talkies and I managed to remember to get the batteries.

Next stop - grocery store where I managed to get a lovely piece of roast beef and some good fresh veg for dinner.

Next stop - 7 miles in opposite direction to the bed linens store for a waterproof mattress pad and a baby changing waterproof sheet - about 3 feet square to go under Mr. Indi's bum. I also got a couple of single bed sheets to put on the bed sideways - if there is a woopsie it will save me changing the whole bed! Clever, eh? One of my sister's tricks of the trade.

Next stop - Drove a little further down the road and had lunch at La Hoya. Lunch was delish but I sat opposite a booth where a woman - who was the size of a behemoth - was doing a very good impression of a pelican swallowing a whole fish - gulp, gulp, gulp. It was gross - especially as half her food had landed on her tee shirt - sized 58" bust!

But, as this was the first time I had sat down all day - I tried to enjoy myself and not look! But it was like a car accident - I couldn't help myself!

Got home at 2:30 and opened a can of beer! And lit the fire in the living room - twas freezing outside.

Made up the batter for the Yorkshire pudding.

Put the new single sheets in the washing machine.

Peeled veg - Spuds, Brussel sprouts, carrots and parsnips for dinner

Got all the garbage together - trash - recycle - garden rubbish and got the cans ready to take out to the curb but the rain came down in sheets so I sat on the porch and watched it! The rain - not the garbage!

Put beef in oven

Played on the internet for half an hour and exchanged lots of hugs and kisses with my lovely friend Deb xx

Spent next hour making dinner and it was delicious - very tender beef and Yorkies to die for!

Cleaned up kitchen

Started to get Mr. Indi ready for the night by putting the new waterproof pad under him but - guess what - ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG - more sheets to wash. He didn't even know he had done it so I am thinking that the paralysis is beginning to affect his feeling of bowel and bladder function.

I cleaned my baby with his baby wipes - put on his diaper and made up a fresh new bed.

It's bloody hard work when he is unable to move from the waist down - I have to pick up these legs that weigh about 12 tons each! But I got him situated and instead of me getting ready for bed - I was back at the washing machine!

Rain had stopped so took garbage out.

I made it to bed at 8:30 and read ONE page of my book and zonked out.

SO - if you come across a poor old woman - dead - wrapped up in a kitchen towel on the dining room table - throw me in the rubbish will ya?

The picture was taken in 2006 of that lovely miniature rose in a pot on the back patio - it was so pretty - it is now dead.

When All Else Fails - Prune Juice

2009-02-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

I know that this is not a pleasant topic for a Sunday morning but most of yesterday was taken up with Mr. Indi's bodily functions - and sometimes lack thereof!

Anyone who has every been through chemo AND is on morphine AND is also on Vicodin knows that the combination causes a massive back up in the intestinal plumbing area. Mr. Indi starts to get a bit paranoid about his lack of regularity and I try my best to remedy the situation using medications suggested by the doctor and home nurse. Senokot and Milk of Magnesia seem to work well but since Mr. Indi had chemo last Wednesday nothing was happening. Lillian, the nurses aid who came by yesterday morning, suggested prune juice - she swore that it works every time - AND boy, she was right! I ran to the shops and got a bottle of the delicious prune elixir and gave him a glass at about 10:00 a.m.

I was just leaving the house at noonish to go out on a lunch date when my cell phone rang - I hadn't pulled out of the driveway yet! The next 2 hours were taken up with stripping the bed - not once but twice! The washing machine was working overtime and my poor old back was aching. Luckily my lunch date was here to give me a hand and also the moral support that I needed! At about 2:30 we managed to dive out of the house and down to the local eatery for some munchies and delish cold beer - it never tasted so good.

By the time I got back home at about 3:30 - the intestinal crisis seemed to have passed and a good thing too - because Steve, the physical therapist showed up. He started Mr. Indi on some exercises that will strengthen his mid-section. They are not really isometric in nature - where you push against a stationary object - a wall, for example - but rather they are exercises where Mr. Indi pushes against another person who pushes back. After a few rounds with Steve, Steve showed me how to do it - using my hands to push against his Lorships shoulders. Struth, it don't 'arf make yer arms ache! I don't think it's going to do my arthritis much good! But, Steve said I did really well and would soon be looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger - to which I called Steve some less than flattering names.

The washing machine was still going at 6:00 p.m last night as I was making a delish dinner of sausage, chips, peas, baked beans and fried tomatoes. I took our dinner into Mr. Indi's room and we both started on our lovely fry up - AND then - the bloody prune juice reared it's ugly head once more! Arggggg! So, today, the washing machine will be going again and if the prune juice doesn't stop it's magic soon, I shall have to buy 6 more sets of bed linens! You just wait till I see that Lillian again - I shall tell her what I think of her and her bloody prune juice!

Today's picture is of a lovely fountain in the courtyard of the Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura, California. I took the pic in 2005

Auntie Mary Had a Canary!

2009-02-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

A lovely friend of mine has been reading the blog and the story of the canary made her think of the "skipping verses" that she sang as a kid in England while skipping rope. Most of them start with the line: Auntie Mary had a canary - but, as I don't want to lower the intellectual tone of this blog - erm, I won't repeat the rest. I just want to say that I laughed so hard it caused me to have an unfortunate accident.

Yesterday didn't start out too well - but at least it didn't get much worse! Poor Mr. Indi managed to get on the bedside potty but his legs are so paralyzed (they seem to be worse since chemo) that he got stuck and couldn't get off the pot! So, at 7:00 a.m. I was knocking on Jesus door and asking him for help. He came over immediately and between us we managed to get his Lordship back into bed. Poor thing - he was so so embarrassed - but what can one do?

At about 8:00 a.m. Jesus and his lovely wife, Lourdes, came knocking on the door with all of the ironing done and placed on hangers. What a good job Lourdes did. Not only that, she gave me a beautiful hand knitted scarf that she had made. I must take a photo of it - it's gorgeous. I asked her (through her translator husband) if she had the pattern. She replied that all of the patterns were in her head and she had learned to knit in Mexico as a little girl. Aren't people so kind and sweet?

Do you remember the dippy nurse who came to the house to draw Mr. Indi's blood last month and then lost it? Well, the blood was found and the results eventually ended up at Dr. J's office. However, this dippy nurse did not fill out the paperwork correctly and yesterday I received a bill for $345 for the blood tests from the lab! Grrrrr! This is all supposed to be covered 100% by our insurance. (Where do they find these incompetent people?) So, I spent half the afternoon on the phone with our insurance company (they were very helpful) trying to figure out the procedure that I need to follow in order to get this bill paid. It's no wonder I drink!

I talked to S. our advocate and Mr. Indi's hospital bed is in the works - somewhere! But, it may be up to another week before it arrives. Where in the heck is it coming from? Don't they have any hospital beds in Southern California? I do despair!

Today, I am going to buy a set of walkie talkies. My computer is in the very back of the house and Mr. Indi is in the bedroom at the very front of the house. I keep thinking that I hear him calling me - Oy you - or something like that - and I'm up and down that hallway 500 times a day - Me legs are 3 inches shorter than they were a month ago. So - if I have a walkie talkie, he can dispatch his orders to me and I can say ten-four over and out! Or something like that!

To those of you who are following the canary saga - the deceased is still on the dining room table but is now in a shoe box! Funeral arrangements are pending!

The picture is one that I took in Sept 2005 when Mr. Indi was doing much better than he is now. He loves the beach and was looking for shells and stuff.

Dashing Away With a Smoothing Iron!

2009-02-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

A few months ago - on another web site that I belong to - a friend had mentioned something about ironing and another friend, mentioned the old song "Dashing Away with a Smoothing Iron" It was a song that we sang in school when I was quite little and bought back so many memories. Now, why do I mention this? Well, the pile of ironing on the spare bed was reaching up to the ceiling and Mr. Indi was running out of ironed pjs and tee shirts and I was running out of time - but it struck me that my dear Jesus wife, Lourdes, might like to earn a few bob doing the ironing - since her husband has been laid off from work and I know they need the money.

So - it's all arranged, I now have an ironing lady and if I knew the words in Spanish, I would teach her the ironing song! There is a verse for every day - and this is Friday!

'Twas on the Friday morning,

When I beheld my darling,

She looked so neat and charming,

In every high degree.

She looked so neat and mini-Oh

Ironing her linen-Oh

Dashing away with a smoothing iron,

She stole my heart away

Yesterday was not a bad day - as days go! We had visits from two nurses. First, the nurses aid who gave Mr. Indi a nice bed bath and a good rub down with moisturizer. She was a very nice, happy, jolly woman who was fascinated with Mr. Indi's doll house and baskets of dollies in his room! Next came the R.N. She will be coming once a week to check Mr. Indi's overall medical condition.

She said he was in fairly good nick considering that he had just had chemo. He had no elevated temperature but his blood pressure was a little high 147/87 - so she will keep an eye on that. She remarked on how good his skin looked and commended him on looking after himself by using lotions etc. to avoid bed sores. (Terrible things.) She also suggested that he take a multi vitamin daily - Cor struth, he already takes handfuls of pills! Well, I suppose one more won't hurt. Maybe, her family owns a vitamin factory! Me - cynical? - Nah!

Today his Lordship has to do a "poke myself in the belly with a very sharp needle" routine. His red cell count has been slipping downward so it's time to crank up the Procrit again. Arggg. Poor chap. He usually gets it all prepared himself - but now that he can no longer get out of bed, I am going to have to find out where he keeps his stash of needles and other drug paraphernalia! Yikes!

S, our lovely patient advocate, had sent me an article about a drug that is used to calm down neuropathic pain in patients with back and leg pain. It is also used for amputees that experience "phantom" pain in the amputated limb. The physio who came the other day, Steve, also suggested that Mr. Indi might benefit from the drug. It's called Gabapentin - the generic name for Neurontin. Studies show that it doesn't work for everyone who experiences shooting pains and other discomfort in the legs but both S and Steve thought it was worth a try. Of course, when I asked Dr. J for a prescription the answer was "It won't work!" Arggg. I got a bit pushy and said I wanted his Lordship to try it anyway. They hate to hear my bitching so I got the prescription! And, I am happy to report that, after just one day, Mr. Indi's legs are feeling much more comfortable! I win!

Today, I must run around and do mucho errands. I do hope I don't miss a phone call to let me know whether the canary is still on the dining room table! The pic was one that I took in May 2006 of the lovely double hibiscus in my back garden - roll on May!

Canary Update!

2009-02-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

I am not making this up!

I got a phone call from Mrs Anjo Banjo earlier today and as we were chit chatting about the snow in her part of the world and the rain in mine - I asked her if she had looked at the blog and read about the poor unfortunate demise of the canary. She started to laugh again! How disrespectful can one get? - BUT - after she told me today's instalment of "The Dead Canary" I was in hysterics too!

Apparently, after the poor dead creature was retrieved from the vacuum cleaner bag, it was wrapped in a paper kitchen towel and placed on the dining room table by the cleaning woman - who had killed it! The owner of the canary told the cleaning woman to leave it there until it could be buried in the back garden.

Mrs. Anjo arrived at work this morning to find the same dead canary (pity it wasn't a parrot!) still lying, dead as a doornail on the dining room table. She assumed that her client - a woman in her 70s and the client's partner - a chap in his 60s - had eaten dinner in the presence of the bird! Mrs. Anjo asked why the bird was still on the dining room table. Well, it seems that it is not in the cleaning woman's duties to bury dead animals, just to suck them up the vac! - Mrs. Banjo said that she sure in heck was not going to be out in the snowy garden in her wellies with a shovel burying the bloody bird - AND - the client's partner was too busy at a poetry gathering to deal with dead birds.

So, there it sits! Mr. Indi suggested that it was "Lying in State" and that this could go on for 5-6 days! I told Mrs. Banjo she should go to the pub and have a wake for the bird. Mrs. Banjo said that sooner or later, the dog would sniff it out and eat it and then the bird would be in the dog - not the vacuum cleaner - or the back garden!

You couldn't make this stuff up!

The photo is one I found on the web on a page owned by Anthony Olszewski - all about canaries.

Let's Not Talk About It.

2009-02-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

I had the feeling that it was going to be a bad day when the man from the medical transport company called me at 7:00 a.m. to say that our address did not appear on his GPS and was it a new home in an unnamed area or maybe an isolated house in a field? Er! Well, NO - actually, it is a 50 year old house that is on a 50 year old street in a town that was established in the 1870's! "Well," he said "I have an idea where you might be so will call you when I get closer!" Oh dear!

He called me back at about 7:45 and I was able to talk him through the route to my house. It seems that they had the street name spelled in a most unique manner on his orders. Mind you, fair dues - it is a bit of a peculiar name. So, that is how our day started and it was all downhill from there!

We got Mr. Indi to the chemo center at 9 o'clock on the dot but he was not feeling well and was unable to get from the wheelchair to the recliner - the strength in his arms had vaporized. This meant that he had to spend almost 3 hours hooked up to IVs while in a very uncomfortable chair. I got an office chair and sat across from him and massaged his legs for part of the time but he began to get very snippy so I took a little break and went to get a few hugs from Sharon and Cindy. I needed them.

Prior to the start of chemo we had seen Dina and got the results of the latest blood tests. The hematocrit was 28.0 - down a little from last month. The hemoglobin was 9.6 - also down. His PSA count has gone up to 100.5 and his alkaline phosphatase is up from 232 to 347. So, all of his numbers are going in the WRONG direction. Grrrr!

He was finished with chemo at noon and the nurse called for our transport - which I had pre-booked AND paid for. I won't bore you with the details but it seems that they had over-booked and after several phone calls, an ambulance finally showed up at 2:00 p.m. We got home at 2:30. To say that we were tired, fed up, cheesed off and ready for the gun, would be an understatement - but of course Mr. Indi had the worst of the deal - and all he wanted was his bed. I lay down beside him and gave him a love before I went into the garage and opened a Newcastle Brown - sat on the porch and cried!

The phone rang and it was Mrs Anjo the Banjo to tell me about the sadness in her day! It seems that when she arrived at work - she's a professional carer - her client was very upset because the house cleaner had been and, while cleaning the canary cage, had accidentally sucked the ancient canary up the vacuum cleaner. So, even though Mr. Indi had a terrible day - the bird's day was even worse! - And the client was even more upset that it was a new vacuum cleaner bag that had to be cut open - and therefore ruined - to get the deceased out! You have to feel sorry for some folks, don't ya?

Today's picture is of a stained glass window - yes it's glass, not plastic - in a pub called Sly McFly in Monterey, California. Wish we were there!

Books, Knitting, Chemo and Flowers

2009-02-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who wrote the kind (mostly) comments about Mr. Indi and his pink potty hat. Yes, he is a good sport - his philosophy being that whatever time he has left, he is going to spend as much as possible enjoying himself and having a laugh.

Another therapist came yesterday afternoon - this time to evaluate the state of his Lordship's legs. His conclusion is that he has less than 10%use of either leg. He made lots of notes and is going to recommend a hospital bed among other equipment. This is the 3rd person who has recommended a hospital bed - but still no bed. I hope they are coordinating all these recommendations but I fear that I may end up with 3 hospital beds - but then I suppose I can open a private hospital for potty people!

Both S, our patient advocate, and I are still working on the MRI approval which seems to be hung up in the great fax machine in the sky! It must have gone the same route as my pension check which showed up late this month.

Mr. A loaned his Lordship a really neat contraption made by Sony. It's a portable book reader thingy. It looks like a small book - about the size of a small paper back and you can download text from say the Gutenberg site (free books) and take the reader to bed with you - or, as is the case today, to chemo. It will hold hundreds of books and Mr. Indi has had great fun playing with it. I think he has about 6 books on it so far and right now is reading Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana.

Here is the link for the Gutenberg Project:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page?sess=25607a1aa5

Today is chemo day and our first experience with the transportation service who will be picking Mr. Indi up. I could drive along in the Medi-van but will follow along in my own car as I can run a few errands while he is doing chemo. I can also go just up the road - about 1/4 mile and see Sharon - the best hugger in the whole world! I shall take my knitting with me - and, with any luck - get to sit with his Lordship for a little while (chemo will be about 3 hours today) and get a few rows done. I am making a cute sweater for new baby, Lincoln.

Today's picture is one I took several years ago at Tamworth Castle. Tamworth is where most of my father's ancestors came from and I had hoped to find some gravestones in the churchyard - but, no luck. Most of the large headstones had been removed for safety reasons. I suppose they didn't want them to fall over and injure the dead people!

* I just looked back at my old blog entries and see that I have already posted this picture. But, that's OK - It's a nice picture - innit?

Multi-Tasking!

2009-02-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Mr. Indi decided that the bedpan that I had so kindly purchased for him, wasn't worth a darn and would be of more use as a cowboy hat than a potty! I think he quite likes it on his head, as I caught him wearing his bedpan, scrubbing his teeth and working on his computer - all at the same time!

I know that many of you will have questions about his bedroom - it may be better not to ask! Why is his room painted lilac? Why does he have a basket of hand made dollies on his night stand? Why does he use a "Round Table Pizza" cup for his toothbrush? And, what is that torture implement hanging on the headboard? Well, like any good mystery novel - the answers will become clear one day - maybe!

Yesterday was another busy day but I think we between Mr. Indi, S and me, we have got this bureaucratic elephant moving a little. I decided to book the transportation to the chemo center on Wednesday regardless of whether the insurance pays or not. It isn't that expensive ($158 for a round trip) as long as we don't have to have it every day. And, should the insurance decide to give authorization, I can fill out forms to get reimbursement. They will be here at 8:30 Wednesday morning and that is a load off my mind.

Mr. Indi received a large package in the mail that contained all the information re: his benefits program from his work - it's about 250 pages long and will require someone with a PHd in benefitology to figure out what the heck they are talking about but we will put on our cowboy hats and work on it! My first assignment was to go down to the stationary store and buy a pretty binder to put it in. Mr. Indi spent the afternoon punching holes and filing all the papers - and the bedroom is now showered with hole punchings and we still don't have a clue what it is about - but it sure looks nice!

At 11:00 a.m. a sweet lady named, Doll, showed up. She is my helper from the Home Health Care Agency. She got to work and showed me how to wash Mr. Indi's hair while he lay in the bed (without getting water everywhere.) She had obviously done it once or twice before. She also gave him a nice wash and massaged his poor legs with some moisturizing lotion. She then helped me with the bed and ran the dry mop round the floor. She will be here again today for an hour. I get her 3 times a week for one hour each time.

Our advocate, S, is working on chasing down the authorization for his Lordship's next MRI and also prodding the insurance company to pay for the transportation. She works hard on our case.

I got a call at 8:00 p.m. last night and another physical therapist will be coming at 3: 30 this afternoon to torture Mr. Indi. He'd better take the potty off his head - people will start to think we are quite mad!

Lotus Blossoms

2009-02-02T04:57:00.000-08:00

I am not going to discuss the fact that Arizona lost the Super Bowl - Who cares anyway - It's only a game and the guacamole was delicious! That's what counts!

Today's picture is one that was sent to me by dear Jan (she of the bedside potty expertise!) I think it is an absolutely beautiful picture and thank her for sharing it with me. Jan, drop me a line and let me know where it was taken, will you? xx

Yesterday was a very busy day - apart from football watching. The social worker came in the morning - a very nice lady she was, too. However, because of Mr. Indi's income and age (he's not old enough!) we won't be able to qualify for most of the State sponsored programs that help handicapped and/or disabled people. So, we shall have to rely on whatever our insurance company will approve. She did leave me several brochures of private care agencies and I will be looking into their services and cost. I noticed that one of them will provide respite care for a few hours a week - that might work out well if it's not too expensive. It would give me a break to go off and sit and knit in the park or visit my little granddaughter or drink beer - or all three at once!

Just as the social worker was getting ready to leave, the occupational therapist showed up. He was here to assess Mr. Indi's upper body strength and to teach him an exercise routine to buff up those biceps, triceps, pecs and other manly muscles! Good Luck! (I'm just kidding ) - Mr. Indi's upper body is in fairly good shape but the therapist warned that he MUST exercise 3 times a day or will begin to lose body mass and atrophy will set in.

Part of the exercise routine included warm-ups with a broom stick! NO - Not like that! But our old broom handles were too long - so once again, I was round at Jesus' house asking him to do a bit of broom handle modification. He's a good chap! The therapist was here for over an hour and gave his Lordship a good going-over. He will be sore today but onward and upward! It's not doing any good unless it hurts - so they say!

I'm not sure what is on the agenda for today - I hope to get the chance to sit at my computer and clear out my in-basket which now has 938 emails in it - and, with any luck, I will reply to some of my pals! But - I am learning that it's not much good in planning one's day - something always comes up. One can only hope that whatever comes up will be good!

Football Frenzy! Go Arizona!

2009-02-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

Mr. Indi was feeling quite good yesterday morning - I think because he had a fairly decent night's sleep. So, I decided to take a risk and leave him on his own for a couple of hours while I went on a pie run. I had used up all my English style meat pies from the British Import store and needed to stock up before I had a pie fit! And, as long as I was going for me - I thought I would pick some up for the kids too. So I did the "Grand Tour" (45 miles) to pick up several beef and mushroom - some beef and onion and a couple of steak and kidney. Although, I must say that the last time we had steak and kidney pies, I think they must have waved one kidney over the pair of them just to give the illusion! Ah well, with plenty of chips and smothered in gravy, they all taste good.

I also got some of those lovely Irish sausages and a couple of cans of Heinz curried beans - Heaven - who says we don't eat healthy!! The freezer is now bulging with carbos and processed meat!

I got a sweet email from my lovely friend Jan, whose darling husband, Tony, has been struck down with a stroke. Jan is his primary care-giver and gave me a little advice re: emptying the dreaded bedside potty. She assured me that after a couple of weeks you "don't even notice!" Huh? I suppose it must be like sticking needles into your eyeballs every day - after a couple of weeks you "don't even notice!" Love you Jan.

After making his Lordship some lunch, I foolishly went to the grocery store for a few things. I must have lost all presence of mind because today is Super Bowl Sunday and yesterday the hoards of manic football fans were in the grocery store buying up cases of beer, 12-15 New York steaks at a time, a half a dozen jumbo bags of chips (crisps)with 8 jars of salsa and cheese dip along with pretzels, 2lbs slabs of cheddar and 6 boxes of crackers - And that was just for the pre-game show! Who says there's a recession? It took me 45 mins just to get a bunch of grapes and a 1/2 gallon of milk!

At 8:00 p.m. last night, I got a phone call from a lady who introduced herself as a social worker and said she would be over to visit us between 10 and 11 this morning. A bit odd, coming out on a Sunday! But, I'm not going to complain - the sooner, the better.

Today's pic is one that I took in 2006 - once again on the Northern California coast. Can't remember the name of the beach but the local youngsters build structures from the driftwood. Interesting, yes?

Miss Annie Fernackerpan!

2009-01-31T16:34:00.000-08:00

Congratulations on passing your physical with the London Metro Plod Dept.

Well done girl - you will be the best baddie getter in the whole of the "Smoke"

Onward and upward!

One day I expect you will be Chief Inspector Annie Fannie!

You go girl!

Love

Auntie Pee

Some Days are Good!

2009-01-31T06:27:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday started off well and got even better as the day went along. How good is that, then?

Nurse Phyllis came in the morning and spent an about an hour filling out the paper work necessary for Mr. Indi's Home Health Care services - including physical therapy, occupational therapy, a social worker and (with a bit of luck) some home help for me! Yea! One of the things that she is going to strongly recommend is a hospital bed. It will make it much easier for his Lordship to sit up while eating and for me to raise and lower the bed to help him on and off his posh potty. I'm not sure about where and how I am going to store the queen size bed where Mr. Indi now resides - I will probably get Jesus to help me stack it in the garage. Nurse Phyllis promised that we should be hearing from all of the people involved with Mr. Indi's care by the middle of next week.

Nurse P made me laugh - she kept remarking on how organized and knowledgeable I am. She was amazed that I have typed up records of Mr. Indi's medications with dosages - Mr. Indi's doctors with phone and fax numbers - Times and dates of Mr. Indi's past and future appts for chemo, blood work, etc. She asked me if I want a job! HaHa! Not bloody likely! What is funny is that if she saw my little corner of the family room that I call my office, she would think a bomb had dropped on it! LOL. It looks like an explosion in a paper factory!

The next great thing that happened was a surprise email from my daughter with a little video clip of my beautiful granddaughter on the evening news giving her views on the environment! I had missed her on the news - even though it was on the channel that I usually watch - must have been making dinner. She looks just as beautiful on the tele as she does in real life.

I picked up the mail from the mailbox and there was a letter from a legal firm - Oh Oh ! What have I done now? But, I was pleasantly surprised to open it and find a check for $64. Wow - how did we deserve that? - it's enough for a few lunches! - Well, a long time ago, we had joined a class-action law suit against a certain credit card firm who had been over charging for the exchange rate on purchases made in Europe between 1997 and 2004. We had been to England on several occasions during that time frame and so we filled in the paper work and forgot all about it! Well, I guess we won the law suit and we are now $64 richer!

Today's picture was taken in 2006 when Mr. Indi and I visited the 17 mile Drive in Pacific Grove/Carmel, California. It is a stunning area of the California coastline and Linda, this picture is for you because I know you love the sea.