Weekend Recap (Early)

 Yeah, I know it isn't noon yet on this (so far) Sunday morning. I actually slept in until about 8:30am this morning, but woke hacking and coughing so hard, I nearly blacked out. Got some mucus I could feel while coughing, down in the lungs. So I went to do my regular pill ritual, added a mucus pill, rubbed some generics Vick's on my chest and hoping for the best. Did my BP check, and was one of the lowest I have seen... 110/68. Then went on to do my glucose check and realized I used my last test strip yesterday. 'I'll just skip today' I said to myself. But I know better. I quickly perused RM's blog (had to catch up on her past two days) and decided I needed to get stuff done. I loaded up my backpack, told the Wife Love you, and headed out.

Load my backpack? Yeah. This backpack carries my laptop, my Riders slotted folder, the other slotted folder I carry my paperwork for the House Committee, the Aux (notes and handouts), and the Entertainment committee. I really should get another slotted folder and break those three out of just the one, as I notice I need more slots for the different categories (so I am able to find the information faster if needed). I also added in my glucose test kit, and my medical journal today.

So about 9am, I headed up to Walgreens and got a new package of test strips that work on my reader. Then I was off to the Post for football games. Washington plays at 10 against Atlanta. At this point we are down by 10. Sigh. Did my glucose check (good at 111). Now am enjoying a nice iced tea while I let tis randomness drop through my fingers.

Yesterday we did our day-trip to Tucson to see the Daughter and family. My little Widget has gotten so big since I saw her last (about 4 months) even though the Daughter sends pictures of them girls frequently. She is pulling herself to standing, and will stumble around hanging onto something. Widget seems to overall (while we were there) to be a happy baby, and didn't fuss much. Doodad is a regular 8 year old. Still in that stage where she doesn't wany much to do with Papaw (even if I am the one that brings her candy, or ice cream, or let's her get ice cream when we go out to eat). The Daughter's birthday is today, so we took them out to dinner last night. Went to a place called Grumpy's ( we all had ate there before, but it had been awhile) and had a good dinner. I have never had anything there that isn't good! I had a fried chicken garden salad, and shared some green chili nachos. Yes, afterwards, Doodad got her ice cream, and Papaw got a caramel apple walnut slice of pie with a huge scoop of ice cream with caramel topping. So good! Even though I only ate half the salad, and small portion of the nachos, I was stuffed. This "stuff" going on with my health has me eating much less than I used too. I even find myself even having gone a day or two without eating. Not good, but it happens. We wrapped up our visit and headed some around 10pm.

No updates on the health scene, at least since last time. Hoping to hear from the Liver Specialist in the next couple days. Even if that appointment won't be until early December probably, at least it will be scheduled. I have to 'open call' to schedule a paracentesis at the hospital anytime I feel it needs to be done, and I debated early part of the week about scheduling one. However, with the increased dosage of the medication (water pills) the pressure in my abdomen has decreased enough that I have noticed it more and more the past few days. So I am going to wait it out, and see how things go this week.

This week is seemingly a vacation week for me. For once, I have no volunteer events at the Post and no meetings. I did wrap up the agendas for meetings later this month, and need approval for one, the other I will wait until closer to the meeting time to 'wrap up'.

Guess that is about all I have today....

PeacE

Another Week Passes

 Last weekend was 'all right', even though when going to Tucson, they are usually better. Wife, I , Youngest and his girlfriend made it down there with no mishaps, and overall the day went fine. Shared some birthday gifts with Daughter, and a bag full of other "things" that Wife has picked up up to take to her. Youngest had brought his computer down, and much of the afternoon was in working on it. He was getting some upgraded parts from Daughter's old system, and I guess it entailed wiping out some hard drives, and re-installing Windows 11. I don't know, but it was a process that could take several hours. So while it did it's thing, we went to dinner.

With Dad footing the bill, I figured the Daughter would want go somewhere fairly expensive, but instead she picked this place called Grumpy's. Mostly sandwiches there, but the average cost was only about $12.99 a plate. It was fairly good, too, at least the crispy chicken BLT I had was. Back at the house, the computer finished up shortly after arriving back. I wanted to be on the way home by 10pm, as the Son's GF had to work in the morning. I think we made it out the door by 10:30pm. That was the quietest ride I have had with the GF in the car. I know I shouldn't talk about her, but she is a yipper.

Sunday morning, after a couple weeks, was finally able to meet up with a friend that we like to watch our football games together. Lately our two teams Washington and Detroit) have been playing different days/times that meeting up wasn't possible. But he came up for my game, and we have tentative plans for my 10am game this Sunday.

Today is Friday, and like most I will be headed to the Post this afternoon. Tuesday held a couple meetings, one of which I am a committee member. Somehow I volunteered myself to help run the 50/50 raffle on a couple Saturdays here in the next month - I did say I wanted to get myself more involved. This week I believe we only have the regular monthly Aux meeting for me to attend, and the 50/50 on the next Saturday. Which means I need to go this week, so I know where/how to put the tickets, collected money, etc when done, and the procedure for writing out receipt for the winner.

I feel sorta like RM in this aspect - I don't want to learn new stuff, but if I am going to help out more, I gotta.

Welp, it is still fairly a decent hour this morning, but I need to get some other things done before heading to the Post.

PeacE

I 'Quit' Work ...

 Tuesday morning was a tough one. I woke and realized that there was a problem. It hurt to sit up. It hurt to walk to the bathrrom. My lower back was definitely using my nerves to express displeasure for something... I can only figure I "slept int he wrong position" or similar, as to why it hurt so much. But I needed to get to work, so I took a couple ibuprofen (with the regular plethora of prescription pills) and sat down to the computer. For about five minutes. I didn't (couldn't) sit there long enough to log into the work system. I opted for email to the Project leaders, and explained I needed that day off due to medical issues, and that I should return the next day. I spent the rest of Tuesday, trying to relax on the bed, doing exercises from my PT after teh work comp injury years ago, and attempting to sit for longer perioods of time in the chair.

Wednesday I woke feeling better, but still not able to sit long enough to complete an 8-hour work day, even if I took several 30-minute breaks. Getting the discs in my back aligned correctly will take a few days. So again I emailed the Project Leaders, and removed myself from the current project. I also let them know I would contact HR when I was going to be available agin for other projects. Do I feel bad? Not really. I started this project being told it was only a week ling, and here we are a month and half later... add to that, this final stage was ending Friday or Monday, with Monday I needed off anyways.

Now it is Thursday, and yes, the back feels better. I'm still doing the exercises several times a day. No ibuprofen, and able to sit for more than hour now...so everything is slowly getting to where it needs to be. By Sunday, I hope it back to normal considering we are driving to Tucson, attending a concert, and driving back (about 8 hours probably in total of sitting).

The Daughter, our oldest child, will be celebrating her birthday next week. Hard to believe she is turning 31, especially considering the Youngest Son is only 16 and lives at home still. In some ways that makes me feel old, but I know that is only a mind-set. It's the body's aches and pains that make me feel old....lol!

PeacE

Years in the Making

Not only is today Friday, most everyone's favorite day of the week, but it has a bit more specialness to it as the Daughter turns 21 years of age.

Hard to believe it was that many years ago that she came along. As a parent, I understand what they mean when they say "They grow up so fast".

Yup. She growed up pretty good. She is getting ready to start clinical rotations for her schooling in Respitory  Therapy next week.

So, I am off to celebrate with her today as we head over to the DMV to get her official over 1 license. Later tonight we plan on finding someplace to go ahve a few drinks and do some karaoke.

PeacE