The Seventh Annual Royal Order of The Santa Runners....

 ...oh geez. Seven years ago, my buddy Jeff and I started the "Santa Run", well, let's say introduced it to our area of town. Over the years I have seen similar groups (but none) as fun as ours. Anyways, Jeff moved back to North Dakota back in August, and the that left me as the only one in charge of the event this year. Which I pretty much was last year as well, now that I think about it.

Several weeks ago, a couple of my pub buds had asked if I Was going to keep it going. I said I don't know. I didn't have the money to up-front rent the bus, and the whole hassle with getting enough people to show up, and get their money...to me just wasn't worth it. So these two offered up that they would cover the bus, but I needed to send the message out to the contacts.

I kinda blew it off. With my VFW stuff, and the medical going on, I just didn't take the time to sit down and do any of this Santa Run stuff. Well, it came to a head yesterday while I was at the pub. Talk about working under pressure.... In 15 minutes, I had the message with details typed out, approved, and sent. Nearly 10 have responded positively. Of course, we changed it up this year. Previously it was 'Guys Only'. But the Pub Buds want 'women' to ride with us as well, so we just combined the Mrs. Clause run (previously ran by Jeff's GF) in with ours. I tried to be a stick a bit, and say guys had to wear Santa hat, coat and pants, but the girls basically have no dress code. And my buddies just don't care.

I don't even either. I think this is the last year I am doing it. Hanging out with a bunch of drunks for 5 hours, when I can't drink...no bueno. The Oldest Son loves to go on these with me, as it was time for us to hang out, but he understands how I feel about things now, and says he won't go if I don't. One last year....no drinking. Oh boy.

It is Halloween, not that I have cared since I was like 5. Was invited to several parties being put on at some of the pubs, but I think I will pass. Not in the mood for crowds. Probably end up down at the Post. They have nothing planned. I think I need to look at the Agenda due for Tuesday and make sure I didn't miss anything.

PeacE

I'm Inked

 Usually, that means the person has some tattoos (which I do) but this time it means I ordered some more ink for my printer. I did some shopping around prior to getting low, and found some high-yield cartridges (off-brand) for my Canon. Instead of the approximate 100 pages of B&W, each cartridge is supposed to yield up to 400. I would be happy with 200 off each, as it is still a deal at the price.

I got most of my VFW stuff done yesterday. Sent out the Riders Minutes. Prepped the House Agenda, though won't send until this weekend. Had a friend with a much better printer than mine, print out 7 copies of the House Policy I amended. Tuesday I will present a physical copy and a digital copy to each Member for them to preview to be voted on in December. 

The Wife took today off (low census again) so no idea what my plans are. I can't escape to the VFW As they are closed. I may have to do something around the house....

PeacE

I'm Getting Tired ....

 ... of this liver crap. It has barely been 5 days and I am starting to feel the pressure build-up already. Seems like it comes faster and faster each time I go for a procedure. I don't know. My legs and arms have really taken a beating from drawing all this water off the body. It has just happened so fast. I noticed in the mirror this morning, my 'man boobs' are almost gone now as well. Okay, small bonus.

Still fatigued quite a bit. Shortness of breath is still there, especially depending on how I am sitting/laying. I swear all the meds do are pull the water to my middle, and stores it there. I go to the restroom, a bit more than regular was before, but not enough to drain this all off.

Needless to say, I am tired of it all.

PeacE

Even A Big Man Hurts ....

 ... and boy, was I hurting come Thursday morning. I had called last Monday to set a paracentesis appointment, and the earliest they could get me in was 10/28 (about 8 days away). I was hesitant, but had no choice. I was going to suck it up and see if I could make it through until then. 

I broke.

Wednesday night, the Wife informed me she was off work the next day due to low patient census. I was like, oookkkaaay. Well, when we got up about 8am Thursday, we looked at each other, and I mentioned I needed to go to my PCP to get a blood draw she had called and asked me to do. The Wife also needed to go to her doctor's for some bloodwork. I asked her to drive, as I was just feeling miserable, short of breath, extreme discomfort (but not real physical pain). By the time we made it to her car, I asked her to go straight to the ER instead. I couldn't take it anymore. So off we went.

Once into the ER, I told the Doctor on duty I only needed a paracentesis - that i had one scheduled for 10/28, but the discomfort was bad enough, I was told to go to the ER to have it done. They were trying to talk me into CT Scans, and chest x-rays. I literally argued with the doctor about it. Finally about 1pm or so, I got the procedure done (9.5 Liters removed = 28.56 Lbs.). The doctor commented after I returned to the ER, he was glad I argued with him, as what I was saying was what was needed, not all the extra tests (he had gone and looked at my record).

First stop was for some food for the Wife, and a large vanilla shake for me. Still not big on the food idea (been slim eating for the past few days). Got home and I did my 'dry weight' which came out to 290.8 (I ain't embarrassed - I'm losing weight!). I piddled around the grabbed my "work bag" and headed to the Post. Up there I completed the minutes from our last Riders meeting. Home by 9pm, and zonked out.

Today I am still tender in the abdomen area. Seems to take a couple days for the organs and tubes to readjust to where they are supposed to be when not being forced around by extreme pressure from a fluid. Taco night here at the Post, but not sure if I will try to eat or not. Truthfully I am not feeling it right now. Of course I am at the Post again! I did complete the Agenda for the House Comm, finished some final marks on the Policy we are voting on next month, and updated my Calendar of Events file I use for my minutes/agendas (Post events, Rider Events, Aux events - I specialize each as needed).

Now I am done with all that. Waiting to hear back from a friend to print out the copies I need for the policy to vote on it, as there are some pages with colored highlights. They'll get back to me later tonight I am sure, and they will do it for me.

Tomorrow is the crap-show I am calling the VFWRG 1433 White Tanks first Ride event. Since our Director went psycho and made executive decisions without membership knowledge or voting, I have no idea how many will be there. It was supposed to be our first ride for just our chapter - to get to know each other's riding style, etc. But the Director changed all that, including donating to a charity that in my opinion is worthless as horseshit. I remind him every time he brings up the ride (I say things like "That wasn't approved or voted on" and similar stuff. I think he is getting mad at me). I am not going on the ride due to other major issues I have the Director is trying to pull (re: alcohol) and have District meetings that morning anyways.

So that's the week so far. I rescheduled Tuesday's appointment out another week or two. Next Bloodwork is for the Kidney Doc on 11/6. Yee haw.

PeacE

The Weekly Weekend Recap....

... almost sounds like a parody TV show SNL or someone would do....

Friday I did end up at the Post, until about 7:30p or so. I still wasn't feeling good, even though I finally got the correct meds for the Diabetes (or die-a-beat-us as Wilford Brimley says). I was hoping over the next couple days things would be better .... but let's not jump ahead of my boring recap.

Saturday I was up at the crack of dawn (literally) as I had to pee (again). Popped the pills, waited 30 minutes, and did my readings. Normal (for me). Then I was off to the Post again to assist with the Inventory we need to complete each month. Afterwards, I headed home (about 11'ish), got the Wife up and moving, then headed to the car dealership. Wrote the check, waited about 45 minutes for them to detail/gas the new(er) car. The Wife and had a good talk just sitting there waiting, and we worked out some details about the medical bills that are starting to arrive from my stay back in September, as well as some bloodwork done after that. A few other topics got worked out - well I say worked out, as I feel I was the one trying to figure it all out myself, instead of asking for help. I truly was starting to feel overwhelmed, and that's not counting my volunteer work I do. Back home for short stop, then went up to the Post to "relax". Stayed for the Queen drawing (pot is over $2k) but didn't win anything. By then I was really starting to feel bad again - nausea, abdominal pressure, fatigue, tiredness, achiness. Home it was straight to bed.

Sunday - had to be at the Post for a Celebration of Life for the partner of one of my pals. Overall it was a nice event. They had been together for 44 years, and that was a fact I had not known. Afterwards, I stayed and embarrassingly watched Washington lose to the Cowboys. Again, I was not feeling well most of today either, and when I got home I had made a couple decisions. Even though it has hardly over a week since the last one, I am scheduling a paracentesis for Wednesday/Thursday this week. The pressure is getting bad again, and faster this time. Over the last few days I have noticed how much thinner my arms and legs are - Wife says from the pills pulling water. I am starting to look like the old man I feel I am.

So tomorrow is a To-Do list day for me. Need to get the newer vehicle on the insurance. Set the paracentesis appointment. Work on the medical bills, pay what we are able at this time. Then it is on to the dreaded volunteer stuff that I need to get done. Riders meeting is Tuesday night, and I am pretty much prepared for it, but need to go through the agenda and make sure I have any additional info/papers for the Director so I will be able to keep him on track through the meeting. Otherwise, this guy will go off on tangents that have nothing to do with our purpose. Then it will be prepping the Agenda for the House Comm, which meets the first Tuesday of November. I also need to go through the Post events calendar, my calendar, Auxiliary calendars, to compile my file on events. I tag these on each meeting I Secretary for, and try to edit out events that don't pertain to a group particularly (i.e.. Rider stuff for Riders, etc.). This helps keep everyone informed of events going on at the Post, through the Post, what needs volunteers to help, and so on.

Sounds like a busy Monday. I was going to try to knock out some of the file stuff tonight, but I felt so bad when I got home, I stripped down and just laid on the bed, as it is the most comfortable position when there is this much abdominal pressure. I even told the Wife I was being lazy and avoiding doing stuff I know needs to be done. She told me it was okay. For some reason she has been worried about me lately. I mean, that I know of, I ain't dying tomorrow...well... that's not in my control anyways.

So start your week off well ... I'll be here "supposedly working".

PeacE

This Week Has Been a Bummer...

 Not much of anything happened this last week week. It seems I am pretty much caught up and now am waiting for additional Dr appointments, or bloodwork dates. Tuesday I had our regular VFW Aux meeting, followed by like 3 impromptu meetings - one of the Riders had questions, then he had some more, then some more. I finally had to tell him to come to the Riders meeting next week, and we can take care of the rest.

Wednesday and Thursday I spent a good portion of the days in bed. I don't know what it was, but I just wasn't feeling "good". I had been "fighting" with my insurance for a few days over my diabetic medication. They had put a hold on it, and I ran out last Sunday. I still had a lower dosage one in my drawer, so was taking double it, to compensate. Maybe it wasn't enough? Either way, finally got the problem fixed and picked up the regular 'script yesterday. Today I am back on the regular meds, so let's see if I feel better.

The check from the insurance company showed up finally Tuesday evening. Into the bank it went Wednesday, and tomorrow afternoon we will be at the dealership to finish up on the Wife's vehicle. Then Monday I'll be on the phone with the insurance agent to get coverage on it, and drop the old one.

Last night, the Youngest and I decided on Barros Pizza, and it hit the spot. I had picked up a 2-L of Starry, the lemon-lime soda that I hadn't tried, and it just added to how good the pizza was. I was thinking of getting out to the Dollar Tree to see if they have any Starry, and get some. Might head out to RM's to drop off the crockpot I borrowed. Might go to Peoria Discount Grocery, to pick up some cranberry juice (my current drink is cran and ice water). Then I might end at the Post. Many mights in a day....

PeacE

Another Boring Weekend Recap ....

 Friday went pretty well. The Youngest and I started around 11am to make up a couple batches of his potato soup. We added a bit more, turning it into a loaded back potato soup. Got it all into the crockpot, and I headed on down to the post. I got there about 2pm, and went ahead and plugged it in on low, to let it cook for about three hours (though it was already about half-cooked). About 5pm, when the dinner started, I put in some sharp cheddar and stirred it in. RM And PT made it up for the dinner, and shortly after them the Brother and his Wife showed up. They weren't invited, per se, by us, but they are members there as well. Thankfully they didn't stay terribly long after eating, and I still got a little time to catch up with RM - not so much PT, because I had to repeat seemingly everything said to him...sigh. I know he is into his years, but it is frustrating - imagine how RM feels with this going on everyday (amongst the other stupid things he asks).... Overall the meal went well, sales were good, and the Youngest got many compliments on his soup, though most didn't know he made it, nor that I brought it.

Saturday was a wait at home day. Waiting for that damn insurance check to arrive. By 1pm it hadn't shown, and headed to the Post. I stayed there until after the Queen of Hearts drawing, then went home. I was so fatigued by then, after having been on my feet more than usual the day before as well. Of course, the check did not arrive, and first thing at Dealer's hours on Sunday morning they were calling the Wife wanting to know if it came. I went to the Post for a couple hours, but there was no one there to hang out with, so came home about 3pm. Wife and I went to dinner at the buffet, and I did overeat a bit. I had (what I call) a mild-sized salad plate (salad, cucumber/onion/tomato salad, a couple pickles, some jalapenos on the greens, and a couple hard-boiled eggs), with a second plate with about 7 buffalo wings, small scoop of orange chicken on fried rice, a small scoop of kung pao chicken, and for dessert, one tiny, pre-packaged, ice milk. And I had 2 teas. But I was over-stuffed - not to the point of throwing up, but I could tell.

So tomorrow the Wife is borrowing the Youngest's car again. I suppose she will until we can get that check and get to the dealership. With her work hours, it will be difficult to do so during the week, but just to get the damn phone calls over with! When we were first there, aside from being frustrated about having to put money down to hold the vehicle for us, everything was fine. They understood our situation (waiting on the check) as I am sure they have dealt with thousands of times. But when they are calling the very next day (a Monday) to the Wife (at work) to see if the check came that day (she wouldn't know unless I told her) it is getting ridiculous. And they have called nearly every day for the last week. I told her tonight, next time to give them my number (which they have) and tell them they have to do all calls through me. So from a great experience, to one of the worst I have ever dealt with, with a car dealership. Bill Luke can cram a cuke....

So being full from dinner, I crashed out early. I don't even know what time it was. But I awoke at 11:26pm, hot and wide awake. I tried to go back to sleep to no avail, so you get this late night post. Monday will have me running to Walgreens for one of the Wife's meds. I'm meeting up with a friend also in the morning. Then it is home and stay home. I am just feeling so tired lately.

PeacE

It's a Good Hurt, Right?

 I made it to the hospital about 20 minutes before I needed to be there, and honestly, I lucked out in getting a parking spot. It wasn't as close as I would have liked, but better than many of the other 'non-options'. I emptied the pockets of knives, lighters, excess change, and headed in. A quick few minutes and they had me escorted, literally, down the hall 30 feet to the Imaging Dept., where I warmed there waiting area seat for about 40 minutes. Then it was time to make the hole in the belly.

The procedure lasted a bit longer than last time, as there was more fluid than a month ago. Yesterday they drained 13.1L (about 28.8 pounds) and I decided then and there, I wasn't waiting 4 weeks to do this again. They released me, and I swear, I was like an old man. I had to walk a bit hunched over, as all the organs in hte abdomen had no idea what this new environment was like without all that fluid. It would hurt and feel like I am stretching them apart if I stood up straight. So, you got the mental pic, hunched over old guy walk, using a cane, Oh! and let's thrown in I lost enough weight, my pants wouldn't stay up. So add in the 'holding the belt, so they don't fall' into the walk. This is where I really wish I had parked closer. I did have to take a couple rest stops on the way to the car.

I rushed home, and first thing put a new hole in the belt. It was Thursday, and I usually meet up with a buddy, so in the afternoon I headed up to the pub. I swung through Jack in the Box, got 2 Jumbo Jack burgers, and I ate both of them!! After not hardly eaten for days, it was delicious! Then treated myself to coke to drink, as I felt I deserved a reward.

Last night the Wife "found" our bathroom scale. Luckily we had the battery type it takes - those round disk ones, CR2030 or something. I got on, and said it is broken. It showed my weight as 286.2 lbs. Now last time, a few hours after my paracentesis, I was at 304. They call that a "dry" weight. So I was sure this was wrong. Youngest got on. The Wife got on, and said it was very close to the right weight for her, so I stepped on it again: 286.2 lbs. Maybe I have lost that much - after all, I had to put another notch in the belt.... But weighing myself daily, or every other day, will help me watch how much fluid may be accumulating again as well. But 286? I haven't weighed that in ....10 years or more! But I don't recommend this diet plan!

Today is Friday. We took the rental car and returned it first thing this morning. Wife is borrowing the Youngest's car for work today. Around 11am Youngest will start on his Loaded Baked Potato Soup that I am taking to the Riders Dinner tonight. I might go catch a couple hours of zzz's this morning. Here's to hoping the insurance check arrives today so we can get the Wife's newer vehicle this weekend.

PeacE

I Just Couldn't Take It Anymore ...

 ...so at 4 am I finally got up out of bed. I felt like I had been tossing and turning for hours, but I am sure it wasn't that long.

This morning I am finally having the paracentesis done. It is scheduled for 8:30a, but come early for paperwork, so 8am. But wait, the parking is atrocious at this hospital so get there like 7am to drive around for 45 mins trying to find a spot. They have valet parking at the front door, but no idea what the cost is. Might have to check that out depending on how the morning goes. I am so looking forward to a small reprieve from this abdominal pressure!

From then on, I don't know what the day holds. I regularly meet a friend on Thursday afternoons, but had texted yesterday, that it would depend on how I feel.

The Youngest and I got out yesterday and did some grocery shopping for soup makings. I think he is a little excited that I asked him to make "his" soup so I could take to share. He'd never admit though. I did take him out to lunch, as a thank you, as he has been helping out more lately around the house with my limited movement, and the whole car accident thing. We went to my favorite place, even though he chose it, Red Robin. This is how bad I am ... I could only eat one plate of salad. The pressure is that bad.

I suppose I shall start on the minutes from Tuesday's meeting when I get back home this morning. I know the Adjutant likes to have them before he completes his Agenda for the General meeting on this coming Tuesday. 

I think that is all I have for today....

PeacE

Early Post for Tomorrow ....

 So it is still Tuesday night, but I figured I need(ed) to get thoughts straightened out in my head somewhat, so be prepared to get lost in my musings....

I hadn't slept well through the night, even with all the additional sleep I took during the afternoon. I was plenty tired, but just so uncomfortable with the abdomen extended as much as it is. Really need to get that paracentesis done and soon.

Up before 8am this morning to do the pill and BP/Glucose checks, and to wait until 8am for when the medical offices tend to open. The checks were in good range. It's after 8am, so I call up the GI Doctor office. I explain that the hospital has no standing order for me to get a paracentesis (as was discussed two weeks prior) and I really needed to get one, but do not want the hassle and additional fees of having to go through the emergency department (again) just to get it done. The excuse I was given? 'Oh, we sometimes have issues with treatment orders between our office and the hospital'. What?!? Not only are your physical buildings of practice LITERALLY next door to each other, no one follows up on this stuff? What if it was a more important procedure for a patient? I'm vexed. Then I am told, 'Well, the hospital takes a day to even process our orders when we send them' - So, I interrupt, I have to wait even longer than the two days I have already had to wait to get this done?

In one word, yep. Thankfully early this afternoon I did receive a call from the hospital, the scheduling department for the paracentesis, and I was able to schedule mine for Thursday morning. Which means two more days of uncomfortableness and bad sleeping.

I followed this up by looking up a FedEx shop near the house (wow, less than a mile away!) so off I went to get the title off to the insurance to hopefully get that check this weekend to get the vehicle for the Wife. She ahs to turn in the rental Friday morning, and I think she will borrow the Youngest's car for the day to get to/from work. Really hope the check gets here fast. With my accident, it came pretty quick.

Trying to get this all scheduled... then I have the Riders dinner this Friday. The Youngest is making his potato soup, and we are going to flair it up and make it loaded baked potato style - add in some bacon bits maybe, some green onion shoots. Son and I need to get to the store to get ingredients, and I think we will plan on that tomorrow, since I would be making a good guess he doesn't want to get up early and sit at the hospital for my procedure (even if it is less than an hour). Cook up soup on Friday!

Oh, and I finally remembered to return the 'Traditional Cookie Plate' to RM, for me to be surprised with Christmas goodies later this year. Maybe find a raspberry cheesecake cookie recipe, as the ones at Subway are awesome.

Welp, other than Thursday, I don't have anything medical on my calendar for the rest of the month. Just three more meetings at the Post, a Dinner, and (sigh) a possible Riders breakfast at the Post on 10/26 - though, tonight I asked if the Post would like to do this one, since the Riders did the one last month. Find out next week once they vote at their meeting.

I'm finally reaching the end of the whole revising/amending the House Policy. Tonight I explained to the House members, that I had provided all the changes/additions/corrections needed according to the Post bylaws, and asked for final clarification in regards to the Inventory issue (that started all this crap). Discussion was short, and verbiage worked out quickly, that after this final adjustment, all I need are the other appendices (asked for from the Adjutant again already) and then send this out for the members to peruse and vote on next month. At least, I hope I have all the stuff by then. Waiting for other people to get me information is sometimes a pain.

I think I have bored you enough, and I think I am almost ready to go to bed just to catnap and toss and turn all night.

PeacE

What About Yesterday?

 I don't know what happened...

I went to the Gen. Surg. Consult. He said we are not going to do anything at this time. The "hernia" is the fluid in my cavity that has gotten between muscle and fascia, and is causing the hernia. Once we get the pressure down, the belly-button will drop back in and things will be fine. Then I swung out to RM's. I needed to return the collapsible cart she loaned. And I need to borrow a crockpot. On the way to the Kidney Dr's office, I Called trying to get a paracentesis scheduled, butt hey had no orders for me - so I need to call the Valley GI - they were to put in a standing order for me to get when I needed. I stopped at the Kidney Doc - seems they had sent me a bill saying my insurance didn't cover me at all - What?!? The gal there said it looked like they didn't even bill the insurance. So I made sure they had the info, and left it at that.

My next stop was a FedEx shop so I could send in the title for the totaled car. Where I thought one was, was a UPS Store. Sigh. Okay, only a couple things to fix this afternoon... I went home because I really had to pee by this point. I grabbed some Burger King along the way. I sat at home, ate most of my lunch, and then felt exhausted. I went to lay down for an hour....and woke about 7pm. And I slept off an on on the rest of the night. I still have to finish those things up this morning.

Blah today.

PeacE

Feeling Tired, of Everything

 The past couple days I have not done much of anything. Thursday I did manage to complete what I consider to, about 90% of the revisions/amendments the House wants in their policy. I emailed it to one of the members (we get along well, and like I, he actually reads these things) to look at what I had done, and see what he thought of the changes. Friday I spent the afternoon at the Post, basically doing nothing. My A came up, and said he thought it was a very good job on the Policy, and he actually liked it better now, as it included more information. Our next meeting is Tuesday, and I will be asking if there are any other changes needed before I start prepping it for approval.

Since the Wife's car has been in the repair shop, we did here from the insurance the other day. They are considering it totaled. They have given us the figure (minus deductible) of the check we will get (lower than I expected, but what can one do) once they get the title from us. I am waiting the FedEx envelope they are sending (hopefully tomorrow) to send it back. The Wife spent a good part of the day yesterday going through dealers, and whatnot looking to see "what is out there" as far as vehicles. I really hate to get my hopes up, but at one dealership, she found a 2023 Kia Sorento (same model as the Daughter drives) with only about 1500 miles on it, and so she called the dealer. Turns out, they gave her a final figure (including taxes, etc.) over the phone, and it is lower than the check we are to get. She asked about a hold on the vehicle, without money down, and they said okay, especially once she explained the whole getting the check from the insurance, etc. This morning we are going down to physically put an eye on the vehicle, and update them on the status of things. The rental car needs to be turned in this week, and I am hoping to have this new vehicle by next weekend. I know the Wife doesn't want me driving her around.

After that I am off to the Post again. Washington plays at 1:25pm today, and I left half my sub sandwich there in the fridge yesterday. Figure I'll have the other half for lunch, and watch the game, then get home.

Monday is the General Surgery consult for my umbilical hernia. This will be the first "surgery" I will have had in my life. For some reason they don't count oral surgery, from when I had my wisdom teeth removed.

Welp, I did my pills, caught up with RM, and need to test my numbers. Have fun y'all!

PeacE

Not A Lot Today ...

 I took an edible last night, and boy did I sleep good! That being said, not much to enlighten you with today....

Yesterday had some phone calls. It seems I have all the doctor appointments set for whatever procedure/bloodwork/consult needed for the next little bit. The first is this Monday, with a General Surgery consult re: the umbilical hernia. Excluding them setting a surgery date, or further appointments, then nothing for a month. It is irritating a bit to see the medical process run so slowly (yet they want my money so fast). I'm still trying to find out what is actually wrong and to what degree. The best I can narrow it down to, is the liver, as the Kidney doc says everything seems to fine there.

Today I am spending the afternoon (and probably part of the evening) at the Post. At home, I don't have the table-room to spread stuff out to work on it, so am headed there to use their longer 8-ft tables. For what? Oh, I finally got the Post Bylaws, and there is quite a bit that may need re-worded or amended into the House Committee policy. I have to spread out both documents, and compare, note, decide what needs changing. Sigh. Sometimes the way things are worded, I feel like I have to be a lawyer to interpret, understand, and properly translate. I figure it is going to be a hair-pulling day. But I do hope to have this all ready for Tuesday's House meeting, and get it voted on and out of my hands.

Welp, I guess I better get started on the day ....

PeacE

Frustrated and Flustered - But Enough About Me

 Yesterday was a day that God sent my my Wife to test my patience and love. And my will power. The Wife was off work due to low census (not as many patients to see) and with needing to take care of stuff relating to the accident, she agreed. The day started off fine, I guess. I got up and was working through my morning routine, and started watching a movie. The Wife comes in and says she needs to go get her rental car. So off to Enterprise we go, and thankfully they are close to our house. Well, this was step one for me. Turns out they only have mid-size and larger, so it ends up costing us $5.00/day over what the insurance will pay (30 days x $5.00 = $150 out of pocket). I'm a little ticked about that - a ploy to get more money out of you, least that's how I feel about it.

Go back home and sit down to watch my movie once again. Now the Wife comes in and says she has to do some running around: see here PCP office for her Shingles vaccine shot, and she's been griping about getting her AZ Travelers license - you know, the one that has a star on it (really - that's the only difference) that allows one to fly from AZ. We had spent time and gotten her birth certificate awhile back, and since she was off, she wanted to get it done. So she is asking where does she go to do it and what does she need. Sigh. Go to the DMV, or one of their affiliated satellite places. Take your birth cert, one of the residential bills that has your name on it, and at the DMV it is like $79, not sure at the other places. So I get that paperwork together for her, and off she goes.

I finish my movie, and being tired of sitting here, I head up to the pub for a little reading time and water. The Wife calls. Well, they need two forms of proof of residency. I explained for her to go back home, on my desk was the stack of bills (paid thankfully) and to grab another one that has her name it, and go back. I swear, I am talking to a Kindergartner at this point. End of phone call. A little bit of time goes by, and she calls back.

Seems a repair shop called her, stated they were picking up her vehicle from the impound lot and taking it to their shop. But they needed her to come in and sign a form allowing them to look the vehicle over, and write-up an estimation for repairs to provide for the insurance company. Huh? With my accident, I never had to do that... So I called it quits on reading. Debated (seriously) about doing a shot of whiskey before I left, because I am getting frustrated that the Wife can't seem to figure out/do this on her own (as I would have had to if it were me - oh wait, I have had to do that). I go home pick her up, make sure I grab the envelope I have with the title, registration, and insurance card, plus my journal book I carry to make notes in. We have to drive over to Glendale (not terribly far) and go through downtown Glendale, which I hate: 25 mph, stoplight literally every block for like 8 blocks. No turn lanes, so you stop traffic to make a left. We get to this shop, and look over the form. I okay her to sign it. Once they get the figures to the Insurance, the Ins. will decide if it is totaled or repairable. I let them know I had left the second key in the car the day before when I cleaned it out. They double-asked if we had anything personal in it we need, I told them again, that all is in there now is trash (and a lot of it - the Wife did not do a good job of keeping her car clean).

So now I am a bit embarrassed at my Wife lack of skills in keeping the interior of her car clean (or at least not looking like the City Dump), frustrated I had to drive to this shop just to have a paper signed, I was already irritated from this morning with all the interruptions to my movie, and now, on the drive back home, the Wife starts in "Sorry I'm just a girl that doesn't know how to do anything for herself in this situation." I responded that I never once said that, nor implied that at any time. She mentions that she can tell I am a bit angry about things, and I admitted it. It is frustrating all the way around. This is different than my accident experience. My car was totaled almost immediately, because it had been t-boned, and flipped. Hers was more just front-end damage, maybe the frame isn't tweaked, and as long as there isn't extensive damage underneath from the impound lot using a fork lift to move it, it might be repairable. Which I thought she wanted. She had griped Sunday, that the vehicle depreciation value, she would have to get a "junker" now. 

Eye roll. See how I feel now? Sigh. At least she is back to work today, and I don't have to drive her to/from. Maybe a week and a few days to hear from the insurance on the vehicle status. Life can get back to my normal (not saying a lot).

I need to call that Liver Specialist's office today. I have not heard from them to set an appointment. Yesterday the Kidney doctor's office called and said all the tests they ran last week have come back completely normal. But I still need to do them again in November. My PCP office called, said they received the information about my upcoming Endoscopy (Dec 3rd) and my PCP needs to 'clear me' for it, so I have a PCP appointment the 17th (or 19th? it is written down somewhere). Also the PCP turned out the referral for a General Surgery place about the umbilical hernia I have, so I suppose I shall wait a few days and see when/if they call. 

Yesterday, I finally got the email from our Post Adjutant that had a copy of the Post Bylaws. He had mentioned to me a couple weeks ago, that since the House Committee (of which I am Secretary) was doing an Amendment to the their policy, that was some verbiage that could be changed relating from the Bylaws. So I printed and read them last night. Sigh. I am not a lawyer, and this stuff reads like legal paperwork. I see some stuff that probably should go into the House Policy, but will have to sit down at a large table and literally go side-by-side with these two documents to determine what needs to be changed, where it needs to be changed, and is it just re-worded, or actually a change. All this over one small change the House Comm wanted, just to exclude them having to participate every month in the inventory, as they want Auxiliary or General members to do it. Lazy asses. You volunteered to be on the committee, now do your job as a member. It all ain't just sitting there and saying yes/no to a vote. Besides, I am STILL trying to keep the Aux out of all this, as there is no need to mix the Aux into Post business. It just isn't really done. Yes, we mutually work together, but not being written into Post policy (or Aux policy for that matter). Sigh.

And while I am going off on my frustrations... VFW Rider Director ... enough said. This guy is literally going to make me lose it and tell him what I think about how he is trying to do this by just making decisions because that's the way he wants it to be. No, these are things the group is to vote on. No wonder the members are not attending meetings. I don't think we want to re-elect him for next year, but who else is going to step up? Sigh. 

I just looked at my actual blog page just now. Seems my Goodreads tracker is not working so well. It says 126 books read of my yearly goal of 250. It should read 231. Are these places just making lousy widgets now?

Remember a few days back that I posted that this was going to be like a vacation week for me?

PeacE