Banker's Hours

 In this 'online era' we don't hear this phrase as much. Everything has gone to 24/7 access with the internet. But it was phrase I heard a bit when I was young. I always thought it mean having easy hours, 9a-5p versus having a job that was earlier or later starting/ending. Also for when it came to holidays, as the bank kept Federal holidays as well, so more days off.

I'm starting to feel, with it being that time of year, the the doctors get the same 'banker's hours'. I was on the phone yesterday trying to schedule my paracentesis appointments for November. Two weeks in the middle of the month I couldn't get my Wednesday (huh?) and actually had to use an earlier or later day. I did one each direction. The last week was fine, as was the first week. Thanksgiving and time off for the tech and u/s people...sigh. Not saying they don't deserve it, and I understand not working full staff, unless it comes to my care. Sigh. Even Mayo wants me to schedule a Zoom meeting with the psychologist for Dec. 22, which is not going to happen. I'll be lucky to get anything scheduled before mid-January.

An hour after my labs were drawn, I'm getting notes that some results are ready. I looked. Not the ones that matter. I will be watching this all day.

So now you know how boring today will be for me ....

PeacE

I'm Pickled (in a good way)

 Saturday night I took 15 minutes and made a jar of pickles. Nothing special. Just some Italian Seasoned ones, like my first attempt many months ago. They are chilling in the fridge and permeating the brine. It was two packages of the tiny cukes that RM had sent home. I haven't looked to see how many packages are left of what she sent, but I also do not want the fridge over-flowing with pickles right now (just now, otherwise it is fine). I'm anxious to try one, but will wait a couple more days. I did prep another jar a bit smaller for another batch. Maybe throw in some of the peppers and use one package of cukes. Been going through some of the pickle recipes I have saved to see if some flavor stands out I want to try. I haven't picked up any jalapenos, and I don't think I will. I do have a jar of pepperoncini maybe I'll add some of them to the mix, to warm it up a little. Ideas ....

Saturday night, all the grandkids went out to trunk or treats. The girls did in Tucson, and Doc did up here. I have pictures, but am not posting here. RM, I'll send over a few this morning, to be sure you got to see them. I guess the girls are going out Saturday for the actual holiday, but just in their neighborhood. The Wife mentioned about going down for Saturday, and coming back up later. I only have a District Aux meeting scheduled that day, and I can get out of it, so we may end up going to Tucson Saturday. Noy 100% sure just yet.

Tomorrow is an important day. I go at like 7am to Mayo to do blood and urine labs. Hopefully the numbers they are looking at have gone down, and I will make the review council on Wednesday, pass and be on the waiting list. This is all out of my hands at this point. After being told about this a few weeks ago, I reverted my diet back to what it was before to see if it was a mixture of food that caused it. Which means I haven't been doing my protein shakes in the morning (but will resume them after the test results come in). There were some other changes, too. Just trying to get the numbers back to where they were. No idea if it will help/hurt. Also, it is unusual that I do not have a Nurse or Doctor consult following the lab work as I usually do. They avoiding me? Did they screw up? Oh my mind is going 20-million different directions (my overthinking) and I need to drop it and let God handle it.

I have a paracentesis still scheduled for Wednesday. If I can get the number down to 4 or less, I'll go to every two weeks, etc. last week was 6.4L and doubling that...no. No way to go two weeks. In fact I need to schedule some more appointments today.

Now it is time to move on to the next item of the morning routine....

PeacE

No Food Shopping For A Month ...

 ... is what I told myself as we left Peoria Discount yesterday. Let's get you caught up in my drama.

Friday, as you read, my plans were changed unexpectedly. Well, the Wife and I did make it to the Discount Grocery yesterday, spent WAY too much money. As I was leaving I was telling my self that we shouldn't need any food for at least a month (aside from necessities like milk, soda, etc.) as we had all this, plus everything at home. They were good deals, though, and I left happily with many options for lunches and snacks. And juice. By the time we made it home though, I was a walking sore muscle. I hurt everywhere from mid-back and down. Too much walking I think.

I had not slept well the night before, and I really wanted to nap, but wanted to sleep last night, so stayed up. At one point, Middle Son 's partner said they were doing a trunk or treat at her work, or her church...? One of them. And had invited us along to hang out and have some time with Doc. I couldn't. I could barely walk to the bathroom. But the Wife went and got some photos. Doc was cute in his skeleton outfit. I made it to about 8:30p before I had to sleep and I feel I slept decently. Must be why I am awake at 5am.

I did use up two packs of the mini-cukes RM had sent and made a jar of pickles. Now, I don't make it to store in the pantry, so generally I make what I'm making and put in the fridge for a few days. Comes out pretty good. This batch I took them and made spears by cutting them in half (they so little). I did my Italian seasoned recipe and it smelled good before I put in the fridge. a couple three more days and they will be ready. I'm going to go through all the pickling recipes I saved and see what else sounds good to make, to use up some more of the cukes quickly.

Not sure if I will make church today. I am not hurting as bad as I thought I might (muscles). I will start my quiet time when I post this. I haven't been to any of my meetings online since earlier this week - just have not felt good enough, or was sleeping. I should try to do that if I am not going to church, so they know I am okay.

RM, you mentioned Tuesday evening you were going to have 2 more mystery boxes, and maybe I could swing out there and take some of it home as well (depending what all it is). I kind of doubt it. Driving t night by myself is something I avoid. Daytime is one thing... I would still plan on Friday, and if if there is more to send home for us, you could just get it to the Wife.

We did not go to the steak fry last night. The main purpose I had wanted to go was for Youngest to meet people, and see how some monies from the Aux is spent (and have a good steak dinner) but he decided he didn't feel like going (typical). So I told the Wife we didn't need to go since he didn't want to. Neither did she really. So we all just 'create your own' for dinner last night. If the Wife goes to church, I am going to try to get her to do Subway for lunch - heck, even if she doesn't go to church I'll try. I even wrote out what I wanted all ready for her.

And now I am off for some quiet time.

PeacE

A Hole In My Plans

 I went out to the car about 7:45a to head to RM's. I had made sure I had everything I needed at least three times, didn't feel like I was forgetting anything. A quick frown at the new dents in the body work thanks to the hail storm we had a few days ago, but thankful no vehicles windows were broken. They get expensive. Got into the car, and started to back up out of the drive. Something didn't feel quite right with the car. The low air indicator was on, but it had dropped in temperature the night before, so I was guessing it was just a minute adjustment, and would go away once I drove a bit.

Backed out of the drive, turned the steering and realized something was wrong. As I pulled back into the drive, I had a feeling I had a flat on the front end. Sure enough. Dead flat passenger front. It was so flat, I didn't even want to try try to air it up just to drive to Discount Tire. The Wife teased me about forgetting something (common for me) until I told her what was up. 

So I called RM and let her know I had to cancel and the why. We agreed to try perhaps this next week. There is no way I could change the tire - I am just too weak - so waited for Youngest to wake up. By noon, I realized I was going to have to wake him, but I needed a nap. So I napped for about 45 minutes, then woke him. Together we changed the tire. Nice Father/Son moment. He got a refresher on how to do it, and I got it done. I did jump in a bit to help raise the jack, and my back is reminding me today I am too old to be doing that kind of stuff.

Drove up to Discount. They couldn't find a puncture, so if that was the problem, it had gone in and came back out. Which did turn out to be the case. Yea! Free to fix! But, it was Friday afternoon 2pm, and though I knew I would need to wait at least and hour plus, it was more like 2.5 hours. But I was home by 4:30pm with a fixed tire.

I guess RM had purchased a couple 'mystery boxes' from a Farmer's market place, and ended up with quite a haul. I know I got about 7 packages of the little cukes. I have no idea what all the Wife said she ended up with, as RM just met her at her work and dropped stuff off. I think she said she got some of the broccoli, and peppers. We will go through the box today after we get home from Discount Grocery, which we are doing this morning.

Tonight is the last steak fry the Auxiliary is putting on for the year. Nov. and Dec. have too much going on, plus the Post offers meals for both of those holidays. I almost have Youngest talked into going (he's never been to the steak fry) and the Wife as well. That starts at 5pm and I will be there right at. It's first come first served until they run out of steaks.

My Brother must be desperate. His Middle Son (my Nephew) had joined the military and has his graduation at Ft. Benning, GA. So my Brother wants to be there (understandable) but he is driving, leaving next Saturday. He asked if I wanted to go. I shook my head at his text and told him I couldn't due to my medical going on. He said he figured, but would check. Desperate for sure for someone to go with him. He needs to realize that people have their lives and can't just drop what they are doing to do a road trip with him. Sigh.

Okay, I think that is enough of my drama today...

PeacE

How About a Shorty?

 Going to keep this short as I need to leave in just a bit. I am headed over to RM's to visit and do an "important backup" of PT's computer to a flash drive. Then off to the Discount store...

For the past 3 weeks and some, I have been trying to do exactly what I had been doing 2 months ago - that goes as to the foods I was eating regularly and exercising routines. I am sure there are a few other things, but I don't have time to think of what they are. Either way, I am trying to mimic so the one test they are looking at will hopefully go lower again. The Wife and I debated quite a bit about where the changes came from, and even one major one was having to do with fat cells. Being opened up, it could be getting the D8/D9 from stored fat, meaning how long ago was it stored? Theory, but the more exercise, the more I burn.

So I did less exercising, and still lose weight. Sigh. I know many would love to have that going on for them, but trust me, you don't want it this way!

Welp, I need to get my reading done, and my prayer time I will do on the way to RM's.

PeacE

Whole Lotta Praying Going On!

 Yesterday was supposed to be a nice day. The Valley expected rain in the forecast off/on throughout the day, and we know the desert loves to get its water! We also got a surprise with the rain though I don't know if I should call it a present from God or not. I am sure in some ways it is - I just haven't thought it.

It hailed. No, not that little pea-sized teaser that melts within moments of touch earth. I mean IT HAILED. The Youngest and I were back in our office room, my window faces west, and at first I heard some little bits of hail - off the tin roof of the shed, then off the glass. Then it was like kids throwing rocks at windows. I truly worried about my window breaking due to the amount of hail hitting, and the sound of the force it was hitting it with.

I stepped across the house to the front door (faces east) and through the screen saw a large amount of hail just larger than golf balls, slamming everything. You could hear it hitting the metal of cars across the street! I quickly put on video to send to the Wife. After about 10 minutes, it slowly abated; hailstones growing smaller until it was just rain. From the front door I could see the front of my car and the window looked fine, as did the driver side ones. The Son's car on the street I could see the back window and passenger side, and it looked okay.

It was like, "Whew! got through that one!".

The evening rolls on, nothing eventful. Went to bed about 10:30, played a game or two, then was trying to sleep. Lucious, my black cat, was very interested in the window about our bed (odd for him). After several minutes of him tapping the glass, etc. The Wife got up to look out and see what was going on, thinking there was another cat in the side yard. As she looked, she saw a tail, actually on the outer windowsill, realizing there WAS a cat - wait. What? It was Lucious! There was a 5-6 inch hole in the glass he was going through....and another larger on higher up. Youngest and Wife got it taped and covered with cardboard, and found another window that had a hole in it, another that was cracked. Ugh. Wife had already noticed when she came that there were dents all over my and Son's car, but windows were fine. The Son's antenna cover (the little thing on the roof) had the plastic busted off.

So our worse damage is the windows. This is an older home. They were single-pane windows. For the time being, we discussed last night about using an all-weather plexiglass until we are able to afford a regular window company to come out (and do double pane at least). Wife texted Oldest Son (working night-shift at Home Depot) for ideas, etc, so will go over those this weekend.

First thing after the bathroom this morning I headed straight into my quiet time, and skipped my regular routine and went straight to prayer. Letting go of my anger, it's something I cannot change immediately, prayers for others that may have had worse damages that prevent them for work, or living conditions. 

So yeah. I like the rain. Not what it brings sometimes.

PeacE

Up Early Again ...

 ... but this time by choice. The alarm went off at 6am (as planned) and I shut it off. Then I laid there a moment, and dozed back off. I suddenly snapped awake and checked the time. 6:10a - I didn't over sleep. I had the next alarm at 7am, but I wanted time to get my measurements, etc. this morning before the Para. Getting up at 7 I would have to skip all that, and basically, dress then leave. I hate to rush.

Yesterday I went rounds with my buddies nausea, and tiredness. I did take a late nap, was up at 5pm, but still just dragged tiredly through the evening. Nausea was there off and on throughout the day. He's already awake this morning as well. I sure hope he doesn't stop by on Thanksgiving!

Numbers are good this morning. Now to get the Para drain number and see if today will be a better one or not. No other medical until Tuesday, which I am trying to keep off my mind. I have quite a few things invested in results for Tuesday, and I just don't want to get hopes up or down. I have been doing my best to let God deal with it, but I still find myself throughout the day thinking about it. Then remind myself - God's got this.

With that I am going to close out. I need to finish a couple things before I leave.

PeacE