Noting the Passage of Time

 Monday morning. It sure is. I rolled (almost literally) out of bed around 8am this morning. I did my medical readings. I went through my emails, and sent one to the Company, that I am ready and able to return to active status as of today. Not sure if I really feel that way, but sometimes you just have to 'do what you have to do', and I feel this is one of them. I am sure once I finish writing here, I will be on a tour of my blog reads.

Saturday was busy. Spent a good part of the day taking care of lawn work. I mowed, then worked on the sidewalk and driveway, removing grass from the cracks and such. A big guy like me, down on my knees ... needed to be done, but I am paying for it. Even with knee pads, Sunday I woke hurting in the back, knees, hips, and shoulders. Today, I already have taken a couple acetaminophen, though the aches are not quite as bad. I was not able to finish all the drive, but at least things look nicer out front. Sunday also had a couple of the Sons help get a bunch of bulk trash stuff set out by the curb. Pick up is slated to start this week (but may take two weeks to complete) and we now have a nice stack of wood from the backyard that really needed out of here. Sometimes I am surprised at the amount of stuff the in-laws had 'hoarded' here. I'm not getting on to that subject... just makes me mad.

I don't recall if I mentioned it, but my office chair broke last week. a bolt in connection the arm and chair seat had snapped, and now prevents any sort of comfortable position when trying to lean back, or use that arm (right side). I mentioned to the Wife Saturday I was needing to get out to look for a new chair, and she brought up that they had a lifetime warranty on this one. I spent a few minutes going through the files this morning and found the warranty. I will be reading through it this morning and see what I need to do to get a replacement. Hope it won't take long. It was through a local Staples chain outlet that it was bought. Might require a trip up there (a whole mile away) to pick out another style as this one my be obsolete even after just two years - or out of stock with no intention of renewing.

Went to a late birthday supper for the Youngest on Sunday evening. Oldest Son made it, but Middle Son didn't. Middle was angry at me (for reasons I won't discuss on here) and was avoiding being near me at all costs. Something he will have to work through, sigh. It was nothing fancy, just a local Country Boys dinner. That restaurant has been there for many, many years, but over the past 15 years, it has slowly started dying I think. First the quality of food, started getting worse, then the staff, then the look of the place. We had not been there for a good year or more, and it had slipped from being nearly 24-hour business to closing early on days. They used to provide coupons for return visits, and would allow a large family to use more than one 2-for-1 coupons in one setting. A reason we liked them as a family of 6. They no longer use coupons - at all. Only 1 waitress and 1 cook. I had an all-you-can-eat fish meal. The fish wasn't bad, but the tartar sauce was runny and terrible. Same with the cole slaw. Everyone did eat all they had on the plate, but I didn't ask anyone else how it tasted. Might not be going there anytim e again soon.

Welp, I guess I should go figure out this chair warranty thing, and find something to eat. Be nice if I can just go pick up a new chair and not have to wait extra time. Will find out I guess.

PeacE

In Recovery Mode

 What a trip! Got into Vegas around 1am Saturday, got checked in and crashed for about 4 hours before getting up for the day. We met up with our friends and walked to a Denny's (about 1/4 mile from the hotel) to start the day. From there it was decided we would walk the Strip a bit. Of course, mostly it depended on me, since I have the issues with my knee, hips and back, plus walking with the cane. We strolled along, stopping at some shops, stopping so they could get pictures of the buildings, etc (it was their first time to Vegas). We finally ended up at the Venetian, and their step-counter thingies said we had walked almost 4 miles. Holy moly! *I* did that much? I knew I was in trouble. The Wife and I took a Lyft back to the hotel. Wife was having a migraine starting, and I knew there was no way I could walk that distance back. Our friends ended up walking back, stopping at other shops. 

The Wife took a nap, and I went down to waste money. I sat at the bar, had some drinks, played some video poker. My buddy met and we sat and talked, drank and played for a couple hours. Then we met up with the rest of the group they were with, and headed to downtown Vegas for the Fremont St Experience. I had never been, so did not really know what to expect. It was cool with the overhead light show. But by then mu leg muscles were starting to "stiffen up" and ache. We did a Tony Roma's $11.99 Lobster and Steak dinner (the whole group) and then I pretty much said I needed to call it a night. I think it was around 11pm Vegas time (12am mine). The Wife and Lyft'ed back to the hotel, with plans to call our friends to say bye in the morning. Another night of like 4 hours sleep, and we were up, packed and ready to go. Met up, exchanged goodbyes, and we were on the road.

Sunday morning I was doing the baby-step walking because I was so sore. Even today I still taking shorter steps, but feeling a bit better than yesterday. Probably be a couple more days before it feels normal again. I've some muscle rub for the worst of it.

Not much else going on at present. Still waiting to hear from work. No plans for anything exciting as of now. Might go to the VFW later.

PeacE

Cajun Cakes

 I sincerely hope, that after reading today's post title, that you are not expecting some soft patois, or a recipe for some Down South cooking, or anything much related to that region. Nay, no Creole, crawdads, or 'Deliverance' situations. 

This morning's post comes early for me. I woke up an hour plus before I even wanted, or needed, to be up. With no apparent cause ... again. As I laid there, trying to get back to the land of Nod, the mind turned on and somehow I knew that Mr. Sandman's twinkle dust was of an inferior quality when he dispensed last night, and any possible effect it may have had was gone. I began to think about what am I going to do with an extra hour in my schedule this morning before work, and decided I should put it to use with the possibility of entertaining the one, maybe two, of you readers. So I began to think about what could I write about today.

Aging and Aches. That was going to be the title today. I'm feeling both today, and have the past few days. I mentioned on Friday about my hips (and knees, and shoulders, and back, and hands) all being achey. I narrowed the cause down to the weather - it being suddenly a bit chillier in AZ than the norm, and let's add in some barometric changes and wet weather as well. I know we always seem to need precipitation in any form here in the desert, and last year was like the 6th (I think) driest we have had in many years. But that weather has lingered through the weekend, and I know yesterday evening we had a bit more rain. This morning, it is a bit chillier than normal, or maybe it was just my impression coming from a warm bed. The phone informs me it is only about 47 degrees. My joints feel it.

The overcast and cloudy skies has made it a bit of notice for the Wife as well. Not only does she have migraines from scents (which she hasn't been able to smell much since April) but cloudy weather will kick them off as well. Most mornings she can tell how cloudy it is by how her head feels, prior to even getting out of bed. Yesterday, we both lay in bed, debating if we were going to get up and attend church that morning. I finally admitted defeat, and said I was not feeling up to it, that the aching was just not worth getting up out of bed and fighting to go sit (uncomfortably). So we basically cat-napped a couple hours more.

Back to this morning... By the time I got around about there, laying in bed, mentally noting what I was going to say, and how, that the urge to do the morning absolutions made itself known. Yeah. That 'back to sleep' thing was NOT happening.

So here I sit, waiting for the acetaminophen and daily allergy pill (that doesn't seem to work) to kick in, and trying to figure out if there is anything more to add today. Not really. But I did say something wrong earlier. Once I typed that line, this video stuck out in my head... Enjoy. 

PeacE

Aches, Pains, Cold , and Goals

 It has been mentioned here before, about how achy I get in the joints, especially since it has finally started turning a bit more to the chilly side here in AZ. According to my phone, 10 minutes ago it was 40 degrees, which I consider slightly chill. I definitely would put on a light jacket to go outside. The bad knee has been acting worse than normal... of course, I "popped" something in it last weekend. It was weird. Often my knees pop - like popping knuckles - when I stand after sitting for awhile, but this time it was different. I was putting on shoes and socks, had my foot up on the opposite knee, and leaned forward slightly. Suddenly there was a "pop" noise and a sharp pain on the backside of the knee. My first thought was the knee had finally broken/given way...or a bone separated from the joint. Those thoughts turned to possibly a tendon tear/rip. I asked the Wife what she thought (her being a PT) and she could not determine any damage. I was walking on it, with only a small reminder of the pain when I twist/turn the lower leg in a certain direction. Still giving me issues this morning, but not as bad as earlier in the week, so I am guessing it is healing, or my body is just adjusting to it.

Rm caught it yesterday. But I hit my Goodreads.com goal of reading at least 175 books this year. As of right now I am at 177, and I might get one more finished prior to the end of year. I have a feeling that next year that number will be lower. With me working now, the time to read has gone a bit to the side, as I try not to spend too much time out at the pubs - where I did quite a bit of reading. I just find it hard to get in the reading mode at home, where there are other distractions and requirements of my time. Maybe some century when we have gotten through the 40 years of hoarding the MIL did, and get our stuff unpacked and put away, I'll be able to create me a reading niche at home. It's nice to dream sometimes.

My sleeping has been better the past month. Most nights I can get to bed around 9pm, and sleep through 6am without too much effort. I still wake a few times during the night, but am able to roll over and go back to sleep. In fact last night, I was asleep by 10pm and slept through until 8am this morning, when the bladder decided there was no more time to be ignored. Damn bladder.

PeacE

Out with the Old and in With the New

Yesterday was the last day of six and a half years of employment with the Company. I'll miss a few people there... I'll miss some of the work I did. But now is the time for new things.

First thing this morning I contacted the new Company, and let them know I am now ready to go active with them. I am hoping to hear from them within the next couple of days. In the meantime, I sent out a handful more job applications online today as well. This is going to be my regular procedure for the next few days until I hear something from someone. Though, I really want to get on with the first Company.

Other than that, today was spent just playing around on the internet and Warcraft. Waiting for the two younger sons to get home from school. The Wife will be home in a couple hours or so. Last week while on vacation, the time spent idle like this was no big thing. Maybe it was because I was getting paid for it. Though, I have paid dearly for the time there. I found out what parts of my body are truly hurt (knees, back, shoulder) versus the regular everyday of everything hurts all over. I have only taken acetaminophen once in the past week and a half... compared to several every day.

I just noticed, the spellcheck option on here is gone.Weird.

PeacE

Slow Moving Mornings

My birthday was just shortly over a week ago. I turned 45. This morning's aches and pains, did not just suddenly appear once I hit that age marker. The arthritis and other general pains, have been present for years. Though they may be more persistent and stronger now, they are still not debilitating. Hence, me still going to work. I do admit, however, this morning found me wondering how much longer I will be able to do this much of a physical job that I do now.....

It is barely past 7am this morning, and I find myself awake and aching. The other night Preacher Tom had texted me asking about breakfast this morning. We had fallen out of our routine of them more often since I had a weirder work schedule due to vacations. I'm guessing he feels it has been awhile since we had one. Personally, I would rather the sleep-in time .... but we all do what we can.

The middle son broke the screen on his phone awhile back. Reverend Mother had given us an old phone she had, an iPhone 4s, that they no longer needed. We just had service to it turned on when we added him to the plan. No insurance on the phone, so of course he gets the screen broke. Found a repair kit online for a decent price, and it arrived the other day. I sat down after work last night, waiting for him to come home from band practice, thinking I would get it done. Not a chance in Hell. Just reading through the instructions informed me the whole process on average is 45 minutes (experienced techs) they also recommend watching the video (on YouTube at just short of 35 minutes), and then watching the video as you do the repair. No way was I doing all that at 9pm. I told him it would have to wait until Saturday.

Oh shit. That reminds me... something going on Saturday. Thankfully you could not see, but after several minutes of pondering (meaning slapping my forehead) I remembered that the Daughter and SIL are coming up this weekend. Saturday I set aside for dinner out with them.

So between the aches and pains of getting older, memory losses or shortages, Life can sometimes be good.

PeacE