Another Free Day ...

 ... sorta. I have nothing on my calendar today. I still need to get buns for tomorrow's dinner. My Brother will be grilling for us (pre-warning RM) but at least his Wife is out of town and not going to be there. I shouldn't speak badly about her, (as RM says, erase, erase, erase).

I did not hear from Mayo yesterday. I got to thinking about this week. Tuesday late afternoon, Mayo did call twice moving up a couple appointments. Are those requirements on their side of getting me on the list? If so, the second one isn't until the 24th, so it may be 2-3 weeks before it goes to the Council. I am in limbo, aside from making the appointments they schedule for me. It's in God's hands though, so whatever will be, will be. I have committed to the transplant fully, and will see it through, if the doctors still say I need it. I'm not anxious or scared, just need these 'stages' (like waiting to get on the list) to be marked so mentally I may prepare for the next hurdle. That make sense?

I think I will wait until tomorrow to get the buns. I want to be sure I will be able to take the call if it comes at whatever point today. If I do it right, I may visit with RM (minus PT) and then go to the store. Will have to check in with her to get times.

... and because I did nothing pretty much yesterday (played video games, watched Season 3 of 'Jack Ryan') I will do it again today as I didn't finish doing nothing yesterday.

PeacE

A Day of Nothing

 As part of my morning routine, I check my calendar for any appointments, events, etc. Today is the first weekday in quite awhile that it is blank. No IOP. No personal session. No appointment at Mayo. It feels a bit weird not having anything I HAVE to do.

Yesterday, at the completion of the IOP session, I received my certificate of completion, which I promptly forwarded to Mayo. This was the last deferment item that I was in control of completing, in order to get on the waiting list. The Transplant Council meets today, and I am hoping my case is up for review. I did receive two separate phone calls from Mayo yesterday afternoon. One was to schedule Bloodwork/Nurse/doctor visit (24th) and a Zoom meeting with the head psychologist (17th), so they did move those appointments up sooner. I am hoping they are able to put me on the list, and just have these two items to be completed then. I just don't know, so I am a bit ... anxious? apprehensive? nervous? ... as I wait to hear what is going on. It could be that it doesn't go to Council today, and instead have to wait until after these appointments. I just don't know. I am going off of what my Team Psyche doctor told me last week about it going to council today. Either way, fingers crossed.

I am a bit groggy this morning. I took one of my sleeping pills last night, and slept through until the alarm went off (7am) and then I rolled over and slept until about 8am. I think it is a side effect of the pill, but it is clearing up pretty fast.

VFW Riders dinner this Friday. I ended up asking my brother to come and help by doing the grilling. I never learned the "art" of it, and don't trust myself. I never made it out to the bread store, so figure I will just pick up the cheap brand at the store. It will cost versus being donated, but at this point I just don't care. The whole Riders chapter is on my crap list right now.

I suppose I should go finish my morning routine and see if RM has something up.

PeacE

A Little Bit of Good News ...

 ... goes a long way! This morning I had the Zoom meeting with the psychologist on my team. She was thrilled to see how I have changed - even in just the last 30 days. I let her know my IOP is done Tuesday and that was the last deferment item within my control. Was there anything more the hospital needed to complete (with or without me). The only outstanding item she saw, was another MRI of the Abdomen, which I explained is scheduled for Friday at 5:45pm. She said all she needs is the completion paper to show I completed the IOP, and my case will go to the Council again. There they will determine if I make the list or not, or if they want to add some more procedures/tests for whatever reason. She said if I can get the paper to her Tuesday afternoon, it could go in front of the Council on Wednesday next week. In my head, that feels quick, but everything else IS done. Hoping for good news next week.

Today was busy for me and physically tiring. I had my two Zoom appointments, and did a Zoom AA meeting in between. At 1pm I loaded up to go get stuff done out of the house. Went to the dentist office (less than a mile from my house) to get my appointment set. I had called earlier and got their AI bot answering service. I did notice to call me to schedule an appointment, in the afternoon. No text. No call. And when I pulled into the office, I saw why. Despite the phone recording saying open on Wed, Fri and Sat, but the security gate was down over the doors, and no cars were in the lot. This is at approximately 1:15p. Sigh.

Next on my list was the drugs ... *ahem* ... I mean the prescriptions. I barely made it to the window before their lunch break at Walgreens, and picked up 4 of them. Next was CVS less than a mile on T-bird from Walgreens. They had in the "special order" pills I take to help with the encephalopathy. Picked up - check.

I was a couple miles from my car wash, which was also on the way to the grocery (Frys/Kroger) so I ran the car through. I did a couple new window stickers. One is smaller and has a picture of like an AR-15 with the words "the second protects the first". The other I have had for a couple years, and just never knew where it was for my first new car (which never had stickers/decals on it) but I found it about a month ago whilst going through some older paperwork in my desk. It is from the company of the same name, that does beard products, called 'Live Bearded'. It is a head shot with only the hair silhouette showing of a beard male. Looks cool now.

Got to the grocery and spent too much time walking through the store. But I needed to get a few items for the crockpot dinner I was making tonight, and for the dinner I am making on Sunday. Of course, because I was there in person, I picked some others things we could use, and maybe want somewhat (Sodas, etc.). Got milk. Then headed home. I unloaded the car myself! There were about 10 or so bags, and they weren't exactly light - well, to me. I know I have lost some muscle mass, but today I saw I definitely need to work my arms/chest as they were tired with two loads of multiple plastic bags.

I started dinner. It was a video I had found on social media, and looked good. It has only four ingredients into a crockpot for about 3.5 - 4 hours. It's a winner! Both the Wife and Youngest said it was pretty good! Saving for future dinner reference! 

Now I am ready for bed. I did take the trash out (pick up is tomorrow morning, before I get up). I'm going to try to talk Youngest into putting away the remaining part of supper, put the crockpot thingy in the sink and fill with water - I Will wash tomorrow. Also take out the recycle for us. Our cans are not full, in case he "forgets" or just doesn't do it ... but he BETTER put up the leftovers.

And with that, I am out of here. I wrote this one tonight so RM will have something to read in the morning.

PeacE

Gotta Get It Done ....

 Today I have no appointments. Well, not really. Waiting to hear back from a place I am doing the IOP. I may have to do their Intake Admission in person, but thought she said we are able to do most of it over the phone or Zoom calls - including my sessions. For what the insurance isn't covering, I should get a steak dinner in there somewhere, too. Either way, that will get started today. Oh! I checked my calendar (thank goodness!) and I see there is a Group Zoom meeting tonight at 7pm that counts for AA and support. I'm going to try to do my meetings with them on my weeks I do not have VFW meetings. Those nights I still need to locate an online/in-person site to pick one. Have several in mind.

Tomorrow is my Para. I feel we will be draining some amount, as I am starting to feel the build-up of fluid. What a joke, right? Get it, April Fools Day? Thursday is another day with no appointments except a possible Zoom liver transplant support group from 12p-1p if I want to - not required. So I set up a service appointment with Toyota. I got a safety recall regarding the OCS sensors in the passenger front seat. Seems some were made improperly and can short out, causing it to reflect incorrect weight and possibly cause the airbag to NOT deploy. I set it for 7am. Trying to reach out to RM now, and see if she could pick me up from the dealership ( a couple miles from her) and I could go visit until it was ready, then get a ride back.

Today I am going to be hating Life. I MUST/NEED to get the medical finished calculated (plus mileage) and read up on how much medical we can claim, and get the taxes done and filed! I have had paperwork strewn all over my desk for the past few weeks as I try to piece together 2025 medical, and get 2026 recorded so I don't have this mess again. Adulting is getting harder.

Talked to RM, looks like I will be visiting with them on Thursday. Waiting this morning for the call for the IOP. And working papers for taxes. Joy.

PeacE

Monday Preppin'

 I slept good last night. I was wearied out all day yesterday, and forced myself to stay awake until about 9:30p. I slept good through the alarm going off 10 minutes ago. Still feel a bit groggy - still trying to get the sleep the body needs to catch up on.

Here in about a half hour I have a Zoom call with Dr. This is a Psych Doc, but they said he is the one to ask about a sleeping aid prescription. Other than that, not sure what else he will be asking. I should be pretty much done with questionnaires and all. I am hoping it is a really short meeting, as I need to be at the Phoenix Campus for a 9am appointment, and morning rush hour is upon us.

So the Zoom meeting, then 9am the Research thingy, 10:45a Consult to go over recommendation to the transplant council and things to complete prior to, then Nutritionist at 12:45p. Shots w/PCP at 3:30p, and I think I will be really mentally drained by then.

PeacE

A Little Quiet

Oh, the joys and goodness of good sleep! I actually slept through the night, having only woken once to use the loo, and got around 8+hours of good sleep finally! Take a gummy? Other sleep aid? Nope, was just getting 2-3 interrupted hours of sleep for the past month plus. Since I had to quit taking the gummies, my sleep issues are back.

I'm nearing the end of all the tests, etc. Mayo had me doing this last week. Most of my appointments left are consults. Monday I have the first around 7:45a, and hopefully it doesn't last long. On Friday, during one of the consults, I brought (again) about my lack of being able to sleep. I was told the Dr. I do my Zoom with is the one to ask about a prescription for Ambien. That's this call - and I will be asking!!

Either way, I hope that zoom is short, as my next appointment is at the Phx campus at 8:45a (about a 15-20 minute drive with regular traffic, but at that hour may still be rush hour. This is the Research appointment. I don't recall if I mentioned here, but they had snuck in a Research Consult last week. It has to do with a clinical study about how much energy/calories we use in a restful state (non-asleep, resting). I had gotten so frustrated with this person as her English was very heavy with a Slavic accent and was hard to hear let alone understand. So by the time I realized she was asking me to join this research clinical trial, as I was a candidate that met the criteria. I was frustrated, I said fine! Whatever! I just need to get this stuff done and get better! So now I am in a research study. Monday I do a calorimetry. It is laying down with a clear canopy placed over the head and upper torso, and just lay there and breath. Yeah, I don't know how that works, but it seemed simp[le enough, and if I have to show in person, I can try to do it on days I have another appointment there hopefully.

At 10:45 I have the important meeting. This one is to go over the results of the testing, etc. done over the past week, and tell us the Team recommendation to the Transplant Council. Also will tell me any time deferred from the List, or other stuff needed done prior to surgery (cavities fixed, current on shots, etc.). The Wife is coming to this one. Then it is sit until 12:45p to meet with a Nutritionist. I'm sure I won't like that discussion either.

Done with Mayo for the day, I have a 3:30p at my PCP to get all the update shots: Flu, Pneumonia, Meningitis, start Hep A and Hep B series, update my tetanus. I also will update her on Mayo's progress. 

Another issue Mayo requires is an 8-week Intensive Outpatient Program. Basically, a detox program, since my liver disease is alcohol related. Well, the problem is, in short, I don't need it. This is for people going through detox, or having problems staying sober, etc. I never had any of that, and I have been fine for 6-months. <eye roll> Requirement. So I found a place that isn't but about 8 miles from home, and they can do a majority, if not all, of the program online as well. I am having them verify insurance to see if all is covered (should be - transplant requirement) and they are to contact me late afternoon on Monday (my timeframe with the other appts.) and right now it sounds really good. Looks like quite a bit of meeting time, but that is going to happen anywhere. I also am required to do a minimum of 3-years of AA-type meetings, once a week. They gave me a link for a local group that only takes liver transplant-alcohol related as referrals from Mayo. It would be like a double support - for the surgery and recovery, and the AA portion! But they only meet Tuesdays 7p. I have VFW meetings 3 times a month on Tuesdays at 6:30p. But maybe I can find an online, or close to home AA group for another night, and the Tuesdays I don't have a meeting, do this support group. I emailed to verify they only meet Tuesdays and am waiting to hear.

Have to wait to call dentist - business hours. But I can schedule my cleaning right now so they can get their x-rays, and a quick basic exam of my mouth. Then I will schedule to have the bad teeth removed. I'm thinking two, but might luck out with 1 extraction, and a filled cavity. Otherwise they say they want me to do crowns - too expensive!

I'm getting all my things in a row. the IOP will keep me from getting on the list for the duration. I was informed of that. Trying to get it started this week so I can get on the list in 2-months.

Whew, that was tiring typing all that out. TTYL.

PeacE

Reading ... Sigh

 Surely I have mentioned, in fact I know I have, that in the past six months, my ability to sit and read like I used has gone away (temporarily I hope). I have been forcing myself to try to read for a minimum of an hour each day, but that is getting harder - to allot the time for it than to actually do it. Today I printed out the Liver Recipient Patient Guide from the Mayo Clinic - 76 pages of information regarding the transplant process through after-care, and beyond by explaining much of my new meds after the transplant I will now be on for life. Then there are the other factors that I have to maintain throughout the rest of my years, mainly to prevent any rejection of the liver, or other complications. Reading through just a portion of it tonight, my head is swimming at all the changes that will be made in my lifestyle: diet, exercise, being in public, even into medical issues: if this happens, if that happens, if another doctor tries to prescribe, have them contact Mayo (so as to not screw up the transplant drugs. The whole thing is just so ... massive compared to the ideals I had of it (thanks television). Lotsa big changes, and I am ready to do them.

What did I do today...? Oh yeah! I had the weekly paracentesis done. Last week only 8.6L were drained, which is good. Today, that dropped to 7.0L!! I think I will still keep my appointment for the next one on next Wednesday, but if the next drain is smaller, I'm going to try to go 2-3 weeks between. If it is draining, or not mass-producing like it has, I'm happy!

Afterwards, I swung by the Leather Shop and picked up my new vest. They are going out of business and have a 50% off sale, and I scored pretty good. Got a lighter vest to wear, and decided to make it my "fun" vest. So I picked up some patches that had humorous sayings, got my nickname badge "Ashol", all of them sewed on ... for less than the marked price on the jacket ($149). Did I mention the 50% off, plus a VFW discount? Yeah, always nice. So now I have a new vest for non-VFW events.

Came home, had a small cup (maybe a half-cup) of the broth from RM's Chicken Chili (so good!) and then I decided I did not want to sit at home all day. I'd been home most of the 5-6 days before as I was not feeling well. VFW closed today, so headed over to my pub, the Other Room. I had a small pitcher of coke, and tried to read, but couldn't stay focused on it. So I played some games. Went home and filled up my Taz Mug (holds 2 cups) of chicken chili, including a third of the glass with the solids too. I heated it up, and added a couple extra spices I like, and was so darn good! Glad RM gave me the recipe to use later on. Could be a good crockpot recipe for next week when I get home late from Mayo, dinner will be ready - and for the Wife as well! 

I decided I needed to get that Patient Guide printed, so I started it (76 pages). Then, because I was trying to save ink, I had it print in greyscale, and the other option about saving some ink - I forget what it was. And still, anything that was in a font color other than black, did not show up. SO I had to go through page by page, comparing what was printed, and what was missed. Overall it wasn't terrible, and I just copied it from the pdf to a doc, then added to the bundle with note it goes with attached page. I had already put my appointment schedule packet (another 36 pages) in a small binder, but I want it all together. So I found a large binder here at home (thanks for rat-packing!) then I had to 3-hole punch all the pages. Oh - frustrated. I only have a hand-held single punch tool. Well, I guess more than 5 pages at a time is too much, as I broke it. I asked the Youngest if he knew if there was a hole punch anywhere, and he brought me this OLD 3-hole one. It's like a ruler with the three punches. You put the pages in, align to the edge on bottom, then push this metal plate over the punches & paper, and push on it. Old-fashioned!! I kinda like it. SO I did all that, put in the bunder, did separators for Patient Guide, and Appt Schedule, Misc. (copies of my list of doctors, prescriptions), and then the after visit summaries (these I am keeping to Mayo). All the other paperwork I have from discharges, etc. from Banner I plan to work into another binder, and the Wife agrees, just to have available for the unforeseeable time frame. Never know when there might be something in there another doctor needs.

By then it was near 11pm, and I headed to the bedroom, with the binder. I showed the Wife what I had done (she thought it was a good idea), we talked about which appointments she wanted to attend next week, and I marked them, plus she has the dates to request partial days off for the two. One is the surgery consult, the other is the week after testing where they will probably go over the results with me and what they are going to take to the transplant council. Then I decided I should actually read this thing, and began to do so. Oh my. There is A.TON. OF. INFO. I quit about 1/3 of the way through. Brain overload. So many emotions even about just what the typical standard transplant pre-, during, and post-care things that happen. And Life style changes.... I'm starting to repeat myself....

Today. Thursday. I thought I would wake this morning feeling refreshed, nausea gone, able to eat some Raisin Bran even! Nope. Up all night. I would just go to bed at like 5am like many other times, but I have a funeral service to attend today, followed by the cemetery ground internment. And that starts at 9am about a 20-minute drive from home. Need to leave here about 8:15a at the latest to be sure to get parking and a seat.

Okay, I am outta here for now.

PeacE

When It Starts With A Coffee ....

 ... you know it is going to be a day. It is barely 9am and I have downed my cup of coffee this morning. Not that it is totally weird, but I don't drink coffee often, and my mug is one of those ones big enough to be 2. ...And now I see it is *really* going to be a weird day. I just did my numbers for the morning, and they are: BP 97/54, pulse 58, glucose 128. What do the numbers mean? Well, that's the lowest BP I think I have EVER had, and this one was after 4 readings. It kept coming up lower, so, even though it showed I had battery power, I replaced the batteries, and got this reading. and the glucose is about my normal range.

So the BP is a little lower than my average of 105-110/ 65'ish. Am I just that relaxed and lethargic this morning? Or is something going on? I don't know....

Things have finally slowed down a bit in the medical area of my life. With Mayo Clinic involved, and the doctors all  'stepping back', my appointments have almost disappeared. Seemed like a had a blood draw and a paracentesis and an appointment somewhere every week (I'm sure I'm exaggerating a bit). Either way, now I am doing the paracentesis once a week (this month on Wednesdays at 11am) and that's about it. Mayo has nothing for me until the 17th, when I do an online 'Zoom-type' education class about the preliminary procedures for transplant, etc. that Mayo does. After that, I'm just waiting on the list of places I need to go, and doctors I need to see, on the week of the 23rd. Liver, Kidney and PCP all backed off and I have those appointments in April (2 with bloodwork - always taking blood...). Kind of nice, but leaves quite a bit of time to think about things - and that is  sometimes a bad thing. My imagination can get pretty wild.

Got some reading done! Having forced myself to try again, I found I am able to read without the comprehension issues I was having before. I thin it may have been part of the encephalophagy, so good sign that the meds are improving that? I hope so... Either way, I got onto Goodreads last night and updated my  reading goals for the year. I thin k I mentioned I dropped it from 250 to 100 this year, since I was having the reading issue. I think it may still be hard to hit 100, as I can read and comprehend better, but still "tire" the mind fairly quick in a short time span. Gotta build up the endurance again! I know RM is happy about it, as I Am her "Reader Child", and enjoy books as she does. On a side note, RM, I found out this last week that one of my Riders is a published author! He actually came to me and was talking about it, versus me searching him out. He said he has like nine books, and gave me a list of six of them for now. So, I have a mission this weekend to locate one of the books and check it out. It'd be cool to know him, and enjoy his books! Plus, the author signatures!

I need to work on the meeting notes from this past Tuesday's House & Entertainment meeting. Shouldn't be too bad, as the House part was short, and the Entertainment was mostly confirming event issues for the upcoming 100th Birthday of the VFW Post at the end of the month. This Tuesday is our regular general meetings. Friday (3/13) is the Rider's Dinner night, and we are bringing back our Soup Night! Have several sign-ups (finally) and it is happening.

Welp, late last week, and early this week, the registration department at Banner Hospital has called me several times. The first was the usual every week call, to re-verify all my information for me, billing insurance, etc. Then they called back saying that I have reached my out of pocket with my insurance (I knew this) but still had a balance to pay at the hospital (of course I do, and I plan to pay it). They practically were demanding I do a payment plan with them, and not just a random figure, it has to be broken down over a 12- or 24-month period, so if I said $100/month, they were like no, and we arrived at a final figure of about $259/month for the time being. Their loss. Before, they were "requiring" a patient payment of $342 for each para I got (4 per month) so now they get $259/mo, instead of a $342 payment every two weeks. Huh, 250 instead of 684...hospital math?

Sigh. Seems that is all I think about nowadays is medical crap, and payments. Such has become my life at this time. It is even starting to interfere with my VFW work. And let's not even start about the job searching....

Think I covered most of what's happening around here. The Wife and I have our 35th Anniversary coming up the end of this month, and have pretty much decided that I would make plans. We are going to do a weekend in southern AZ, as I have not travelled that part of the state much. I haven't really been checking hotels in some of the larger towns like Bisbee, Tombstone, and Sierra Vista (near Ft Huachuca Army base) but need to work on it more. mostly looking at events going on at that location, or regular daily activities. Something new for the Wife and I to do. It has become sort of our goal after the Youngest graduated HS, and that is to try to get out more to social events/happenings not just in our area, but the Valley, or where we are travelling to/from. We've had some good ones, and some bad ones, but it was something we did together, and had not done before (some of them).

Welp, I need to close this off and shoot RM a text letting her know I posted something. Then I will get my stuff together and get out of the house. Have a prescription to pick up. Should run the car through the car wash. Then head to the VFW, where I will bring up my laptop and do the meeting minutes, and probably end of searching for our anniversary stuff as well.

PeacE

There Has Been An Unexpected Change ....

 ... to everything I do, it seems. The biggest one being the time at which I set out to do said 'thing'. With some of the bad sleeping nights, I may not get up from bed before 11am. Other days I am up earlier, but the getting motivated thing to do something... well, another story.

Yesterday I was at a decent morning hour. I had wanted to be up, gone to the Dr.'s (bloodwork in office), stopped by Walgreens for the shingles shot, and back home before 10:30am, the scheduled time for my phone interview assistance with SSA for disability. Well, I didn't make it out of the house in the morning.

Near 10:30am I got a call from Banner Transplant. This is the referral the Liver Dr. made for me, to have them schedule an appointment to see about getting preliminary tests, paperwork, etc. out of the way, in the event I need a transplant. I set an appointment (March was the earliest) and had to go as another call (SSA?) was coming in. 

Missed the second call, I think I hung up as I was trying to end one and get to the other. Call log shows it was Banner calling at the same time as I was on scheduling. So I called back, left a message in case they need more info from me.

Finally the SSA call came in (on time). As I sat here at my desk, I have medical reports, discharges, procedures and results, W-2s, birth certificate, my medical notes journal - I'm prepared to load them up with info, and to scan/send anything they need. Nope. Thirty minutes later I was off the phone, shaking my head at the time frame to be approved (six months). Six months? Hmmmm... I have a friend at the Post that works in a similar field. She does interviews to offer suggestions/decisions for continuing coverage for some other Government welfare-type program. She said once I got the app process started to let her know, and she knows of a way I could speed up the decision, due to my medical issue. I'll have to get with her this weekend.

Later on, I get another call from Banner, this one the hospital scheduling for my paracentesis scheduled on Monday. Registration and Admitting do not communicate, and their computer system that is there to link and share patient information is non-existent. So had to give her the insurance information (again). She couldn't check my current benefits, so asked to call me back. Sure. A short while, she's back telling me my insurance still says I have my full deductible to pay (true) so my patient responsibility for Monday is $1710. Just like the past three Mondays. I told them I would make a minimal payment ($500 like last week). That's settled for now.

Later in the day I get another call from Banner Transplant. Seems they are not covered through my insurance (yet Banner hospital is?) and it would all be out of pocket expenses (fat no). She mentioned that the Mayo Clinic is the only one in the Valley that is under my insurance. Okay, so I did leave a message to the Liver Doc about this, and also the prescriptions my PCP wants him to be in charge of the refills, dosages, etc. as it is his specialty. I did some looking online, and I cannot find through my insurance or the Mayo clinic, where they are participating with my insurance. This may be a fun one if I have to do a transplant, which no doctor has said I NEED or HAVE to have ... it's a 'just in case'. March would make my 6-months sober, and eligible for the list.

This morning, I was going to try to do the lab thing and the shot, but ended up sleeping until 10:30am almost. Got up, checked my emails, and was thinking what do I need to get done. Decided I was going to the Post to work on the Riders meeting minutes, and maybe the agenda for the House in a week or so. Made it to the carwash when my buddy J asked about doing lunch, with another of our friends, D. So we three met up. Tried out this gyro place over at 35th Ave and Greenway, NW corner, that had been there for years, like 15+ years. It never looks busy. J had gone there back earlier in the year and mentioned it, I just never made it there. Oh my! I got a Beef shwarma pita, with fries and a drink, for $16, and it was awesome! I was worried that there would be some weird Greek cheese or sauce that would permeate the food and I wouldn't like it ... I was wrong. I want to go back and try the lamb and chicken as well.

It was good to catch up between the three of us. Then I was off to the Post. Finished the minutes, emailed them out. Decided the agenda could wait until next week, in case new business comes up. I headed home about 4pm, and here is where you find me. Today's mail: SSA contact of my scheduled phone appointment for 1/21 at 10:30am. Right on time to remind me (snort).

Tomorrow I don't have anything on my calendar. I should get out front and work on the yard. I did get weed eater line for trim work, and an action rake to work on removing the grass/weeds in the section between the neighbor and our drives. Physical work. I see many breaks in my future (if I actually motivate myself to do it).

PeacE