My To-Do List For Today ....

 ... feels quite full. I have the Group IOP session this morning. Then nothing on the calendar (appointments) so need to get the meeting minutes done and sent out for the Riders (and applications for two new members). Also, I had went to the store yesterday and picked up some supplies for pickling. They had tomatillos on sale, so I got a couple bags. One of the guys I know at the pub makes his pickles on occasion, and he always does a few quarts of spicy hot pickle-ness with tomatillo pieces, some jalapenos, garlic, and usually throws in a small ghost pepper. But I just love those quarts, so I am going to try one. I also am going to make another quart of the Zesty Italian flavored ones as I really like them. Depending how many cucumber slices I get, I may do a second Zesty quart, or a half quart, to share at the Post.

I need to get on a windshield repair. Last Saturday, as we are just getting on the highway, a pick-up truck in front of me tossed a rock that caught the drivers-side edge of the windshield, and the crack spread across half the glass. Plus it is almost directly across my view - enough to be somewhat distracting. Safelite is the best quote I have gotten so far and it is $750 for a replacement (there ain't no "fixing a crack"). I'm going to mull it over for a few days and see if can't find cheaper, but out of four other places, this is still cheapest - and I can do 4 payments versus the whole amount up front.

Between medical bills and Life things (like windshields) it feels like all I do are make payments. Sigh.

Yesterday was PT's 89th birthday. The Wife and I had stopped by last Sunday and brought him a couple presents (a 'Gibbs' Rules T-shirt, and a book on Snowden) and he chose to open them that day instead of waiting for today. My Sis flew into town yesterday as well, as she, RM, a niece and grand-niece are doing their 'Jailbreak' vacation the girls do each year. Well, RM had mentioned the possibility of doing dinner at Black Bear for them, and in the afternoon she messaged me asking if we could make it. The Wife was able to get off early, and we met RM and gang at the restaurant. There were 8 of us, had a nice dinner (I had a Taco Salad, which was good, and plentiful). PT loved being the center of attention (as usual) and I am going to stop there before I voice my opinion about things. As RM says... (erase, erase).

It was nice seeing my Sis, though she has only been gone a few short months, over one state into New Mexico. I may swing out Monday to RM's and visit with her more on Monday prior to her flying back home on Tuesday. Will have to check the calendar in a few and see what is scheduled.

I had a personal session with my Group Lead in the IOP. Usually each week it lasts about 10-15 minutes, but yesterday I yakked for an hour - and didn't realize it. Most of it was griping about PT. We had hit that topic after talking about how I am trying to throw memories and stories together for my kids of my younger days, which lead to telling about my Dad, his passing, and moving to AZ - which brought us to Tom and his conception of "raising kids". For there, it was more than venting. I realized that my viewpoints of PT are so full of anger for how I was treated growing through my teenage years. Then led into how he has been the last several years, from back when I asked him to give up his car keys (he still hasn't) and the advancement of the dementia that many older people get. All I do now is tolerate his questions that are not on topic, his desire to feel wanted and needed (he made his own choices) and in general, just put up with it to prevent a Family Squabble (though most of the family agrees with me to a large degree, in my opinion). Enough! I'm getting worked up (anger) just thinking about this....

With that I need to get off here. IOP in about an hour.

PeacE

Things That Happen With Age

 Today's topic is not going to be me whining - well, at least about my body getting older and falling apart. It's more about my lunch outing with my brother and PT yesterday. I know I have mentioned several times the dementia that is slowly occuring with his advancing age. RM writes about it at times on her blog - it is something that affects those around him. Lunch was a boring affair.

To be honest, I really didn't want to go to lunch. I never know what to expect PT to talk, or ask questions about. Most times, I feel he does it just to gripe about other people. Well, we sat down and were pretty much ready to order when we got there. I had salad, brother had salad and soup, PT had spaghetti and soup. Then most of the next 45 minutes was PT asking about a show he was watching on Amazon Prime (which I had already talked to him about on Tuesday). Then topics floated around other shows, then about some things going on with my nephews. Thankfully I didn't have to talk much, and I didn't mind that at all - more time to eat. PT just does not have any experiences to talk about. He kept mentioning they were going out of town in August, which they do every year, and I reminded him we know as they do it every year. His response was but this year they were staying in an air-bnb versus a hotel. 

Whatever.

I can't say I have anything going on to talk about wither, though. After lunch I went down to the VFW for a couple hours. It was good to see some people there I had not seen in a couple weeks. Some were asking me to come down Saturday night for karaoke, but I told them I don't know. Then I went over to another bar closer to home. Met up with another friend there for a couple drinks, then picked up pizza  for the family. Guess what is for lunch? Hawaiian (for the Wife's weird smell/taste thing) or 5 meat. Not much else on the agenda.

PeacE

Not Quite the End of the World

 I saw my doctor about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I know I mentioned it on here, because it was all about the new meds, and how I have become diabetic, etc. Well, in our discussion period, I mainly recall about the meds and side effects, and I don't recall everything being said. It must be my selective hearing, and I turned it off at some point. I received a call about 2 weeks ago, from a Nutritionist, stating he was referred by the doctor to set up an appointment with me to discuss eating habits and what to avoid, etc. I pretty much blew them off. I have no interest in 'being told' what I am supposed to eat, not eat, how much, etc. I know I need to lose weight, and I am working on it. I know I need to eat healthier, and I am workign on it. Yesterday I get a call from an eye doctor. Seems my medical doc decided to refer a diabetic eye screening as well. Sigh. More shit to pay for. But this one I went ahead and set an appointment for Monday. It won't hurt to have the old eyes looked at for possible early signs of anything diabetic. I know I need to get in for an updated prescription as well soon.

My medical doc is just going 'all out' on this stuff. I should feel happy about it, I guess, that he is doing all he can think of to 'help' me get the information I need to take care of myself better. Or is ti to 'cover his ass'? I don't know, maybe that's just the pessimist in me coming out. I have been keeping a doily log since my last visit. Each morning I do a glucose meter reading, followed by my BP reading. This log helps the doc see how the meds I am on are working on a daily basis. That being said, I have a strong feeling he is going to increase the diabetic, as my sugar levels have been flip-flopping between 175-250 with no consistent reading. And those side effects? I felt were mostly gone know - until yesterday.

I went over to RM's the other day to drop off her Mother's Day present. It wasn't much, but it was a something, and she seemed to really like it. I hate buying gifts, I just feel I am not good at it. Anyways, as we visited for a bit, I menitoned how I was basically taking this week off work. Immediately PT asked about doing lunch. Sigh. I couldn't outright say no without lying, so I told him ok. Then my brohter couldn't meet at the time PT wanted, and the chain of texts....sigh. I finally just told PT to tell me what time was decided, and finally I go that text. So we are meeting around 12:30 today at Olive Garden for lunch. It will be a weird lunch. I already shared everything I had going on so nothing new to add. I just hope I am not feeling nauseous from the meds. At least I can have salad today.

Well, today's bit of good news - the Youngest gets to take the bus, and I don't have to take him 4/5 days of the week. Even though that would mean "getting up early" on days I am not working, or at least stopping work for 30 minutes to do it. OVerall, just one hassle I don't have to worry about.

PeacE

The Best Laid Plans ....

 The eye surgery on the Wife went just fine, I am guessing. Though they were running an hour and a half later than what we were told. Which meant we had to drive home in rush hour traffic. Of course, I took the side-streets to avoid the slow freeways. Well, that and the Wife was feeling nauseous, and I wanted to be able to turn onto a side street if she needed to empty the empty stomach. No way was I letting her puke in my new car! I stopped and picked up an early dinner on the way home as well.

This afternoon is her follow-up appointment - about the same distance as the surgery, just in the opposite direction.I'm sure they will tell her she can have the eye uncovered, and will be able to start driving as early as tomorrow. The Wife has taken time off work until Monday. The appointment is late enough this afternoon, that I called PT and explained. I was not driving out past his house, then back home, and back there for dinner. He said he would think about it and call me back. No call back yet. I did reach out to my brother, who told me he couldn't go as it is his daughter's final choir concert. So it looks like no dinner with PT tonight.

Good note: I got my stuff back! It was a pretty short trip from the surgery center to the precinct to pick up my keys, etc from the accident. I only had to wait maybe 10 minutes after giving them the form I had to fill out to let them know what I was there for. Then I had a thought. When I bought the newer car, I only got one key. I am writing the manager today saying I was told I would get the second one when the customer brought it in, and so they owe me a new one (explain more later). I could maybe use the old key and just have them recode it for the newer car. No, unfortunately, the Rav4 actually has a key for the ignition, and the old key doesn't fit. So onto that letter to the manager of the dealership. I was talking to my attorney friend last night, and explained about the key(s). He said I should just have the manager make a new key for my car, since I was told I was getting a second key. If they don't, then he knows a guy 'high-up' in the chain of the company that runs many of the dealerships in the valley. He could give him a call and have him ...etc etc. We will see...

Welp, off to see if I can get the Wife to go out for lunch.

PeacE

What's Going On ....

 I'm off work the next couple days. The Wife is having eye surgery today, and of course needs a driver. Then tomorrow she will need me to drive to her post-op follow-up appointment. I told the Company yesterday that I would check back in Friday morning, but from what I see of material left to complete, the project may have ended by then. Which worksout well, as I feel I need a couple days off to rest the mental faculties. This project has been a bit harder than most.

The Wife's surgery is scheduled for this afternoon. We found out last week, that even though I am her driver, no one is allowed to wait in the waiting room. Which means I need to find myself somewhere for an hour and a half. Works out that since I am halfway to downtown, I will head over to the Property Holdings building of the Phx PD. The local precinct had said they would have sent my keys, etc down there. Hopefully it won't be an issue getting them back. That should take up some of the time. Then I will probably see if I can find a burger shop and sit/read with a drink until I pick the Wife up.

I have been anxious to get my specialty plate onto the new vehicle. I went down to the DMV satellite office not far from me this morning. Turns out I cannot change it over until I get the new car registration in the mail. Otherwise, they say I am not in the system for the new car. At least they said the two years I paid with the new plate, should transfer over easily, and I would be refunded the year I paid at the dealership. Here's to that coming true. I also stopped and ran the car through the car wash. I enjoy having that unlimited monthly deal. I take it through there at least 3-4 times a week, just because that wash is on my way to most places I travel.

No work today meant I was able, or rather, had the opportunity, to sleep in a bit later. That didn't really happen though. Still had to get the Youngest up and make sure he made it out the door for the bus. Them PT called me. Asks me if I am free Thursday afternoon around 4:30. I said I would know for sure later today, but depends on the follow-up appointment time and location for the Wife. I guess he wants to get my brother and I to meet up with him at an Olive Garden. That has my mind whirling a bit. Usually when he wants to get us together it is to share some 'big news' that he feels he needs to do on a personal level. I have no idea what he will bring up this time. He is in his mid-80's, and has some memory issues. Possibly slight dementia, just due to age. Maybe he is saying he will hang up his car keys finally (though he will probably drive there and home still). I don't know, but I am leery about the whole thing. Maybe he will just bring it up that he is concerned about my brother's and mine drinking - though, for both of us, that is not a problem of late. Neither of us get out much anymore. Who knows? With RM out of town for like three days, I'm sure he just wants to have a reason to get out of the house, and eat out.

Hmmmm, some good news.... So I haven't had issues with the backyard trots the past couple of days. Maybe the body is getting used to the medication. If it starts up again, I'll speak to the doc and get a slower release type. Doc may change it up al ltogether, as my sugar count is still above 200 regularly (even with the two days that were under). One day at a time ....

PeacE