Saturday, October 26, 2013

October 26, 2013

I woke up today with a burning sensation when I urinate and sit.  Called the doctor.  Saw the doctor.  I have a urinary tract infection.  Medication was prescribed, I took some,  and I am waiting it out.  Yippee!

Signed up for National Novel Writing Month.  We'll see how that goes.

Heather and I got out new winter coats out of layaway today.  It's a good thing because winter is upon us.  It is really cold outside.

Worked on one of my novels today.  Since signing up for NaNoWriMo I may be taking on an additional novel in November.  Got to figure out if I have a germ for starting one.

I spent most of my time yesterday at the IV clinic due to my transportation person.  I got to the hospital at 9 a.m. and got home at 3:30 p.m., so I didn't get much done.  I did get to work on one novel.

Wednesday I actually worked on my other two novels.  Plus put away the dishes, washed the dishes, gathered the trash, crocheted two granny squares, and took care of dinner.

My plans for tomorrow are to work on all my novels, crochet two more granny squares, put away dishes, wash dishes, and make my meals.  Maybe even squeeze in a nap.

I know all this is boring but that's been my days.  Jumping off for now....good night. 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

October 22, 2013

Due to technical difficulties last night I did not get to work on my third novel.  Sigh!

Today I have put dishes away, washed dishes, called Mt Carmel business office (returning their calls actually), called Aetna to see if I can get answers for some of the questions I had about next years insurance cycle, and called Aussie Fit to discuss the Silver Sneakers program there.

I now plan on working on my two novels that I worked on yesterday because they are here on my desk top whereas the third one is on my laptop.  Hopefully I can stay awake.  I seem to be more sleepier than usual.

Well, I'd better get started.  See ya later. 

Monday, October 21, 2013

October 21, 2013

Good afternoon!

So far today I have worked on two of my novels.  I tossed out a bunch of old papers in the effort to reduce some of the unneeded things around here.  We are planning on taking my office apart.  Some of it will still stay in the current office space.  Some of it will go into the living room and the rest will go into what will become my bedroom.  My current office will become Heather's bedroom.  This will take a while to accomplish.

Paid a bill.

The rest of my afternoon will be spent putting away the dishes, washing dishes, crocheting, working on my other novel, and making dinner.

Things that we have accomplished in the effort to reduce things around here:  Heather made the guest bathroom usable again.  We replaced the two broken windows in the front of the place.  Put skirting in the spots where skirting was missing.  Cleaned the entryway out so I could walk through there without problem.

I'll close for now.  Have a good day. 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

October 20, 2013

I started my morning by making a big bowl of Israeli Salad.  It's a favorite of mine and Heather's.  It's chocked full of vegetables.

I worked on two of my novels and plan on working on the third one later this evening.  I crocheted two granny squares for the afghan I'm working on.

I put on compression hose today because the past two days and nights my legs have ached and cramped up,  I don't know if this is part of the heart failure but I do know that they check my potassium levels on Thursday and there were no red flags.  My appetite is not up to what it has been.  Breathing is iffy when I moving around.  Dizzy when I stand up and I feel tired.  Outside of that life is rosy!

My friend in England, Steve Finn, sent me a friend's request today.  I accepted it.  He is such a nice guy and I think he's new to Facebook.
 
I need to sign out now and start dinner.  We're having cabbage soup.  

Saturday, October 19, 2013

October 19, 2013

On Thursday, October 17, I had my dobutamin infusion.  All went well.  While I was there I got some reading done; wrote on my novel; and took a couple of cat naps.  Got home and got online for an hour or so, then I took a nap.  Before laying down I sent Heather a text asking if pizza would be okay for dinner.  Several hours later while I was sleeping she woke me up with texts (numerous) saying she wanted lasagna with lots of sauce and garlic bread.  Like I could just pull that out of the air.  At 9:30 p.m. I had to get up to pee so I decided to stay up and see if I could fake lasagna...I knew I could fake garlic bread.  Anyway I did, devised a vegetarian lasagna with garlic bread for dinner.

Friday, October 18, I worked on another of my novels and did some crocheting before going out to dinner and a movie with Hollie.  We saw "Gravity" and it was GREAT!  Loved it!

Today I worked on all three of my novels, crocheted, washed up the dishes, caught up on some DVR'd shows, and did my regular email stuff.  My appetite is down.  I'm just not hungry for some reason.  It's raining out and my breathing is rough now and then.  I have covered my whole day here so I will not be doing an update to today's entry. 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

October 16, 2013 - Update 2

Time - 10:16 p.m.

Played games on Facebook.  Did a little crocheting on the granny afghan for a friend.  Put dinner in the oven 15 minutes ago.  Heather will have something hot to eat when she gets home.

Got my cab arranged for my hospital infusion visit tomorrow, so I may not be on the computer tomorrow.  It'll depend on how the infusion goes and how I'll feel afterwards.

Finished gathering the trash.  It's ready for Heather to take out.

I will be up for a while longer eating dinner, watching TV, and spending a little time with Heather.  Plus she needs to change the dressing on my left arm.  I accidentally peeled some skin back on my arm and since I'm diabetic and on blood thinners it bleeds and takes a while to heal.  I'm on week two and its still bleeding a little.  You can tell its healing though.

I will sign off for tonight.  Sweet dreams.    
   

October 16, 2013 - Update 1

It is 4:17 p.m. (Eastern time).

Here is what I have done so far today.

Gathered up the trash.  Put away the clean dishes and washed the dirty dishes.  Read my emails, looked at facebook and played numerous games there.  Spent an hour working on one of my novels.

October 16, 2013

Again late!

I'm going to try to change the frequency that I actually post here.  Yesterday I joined FeedSpot where you can add me to the list of people you follow.

Now to catch you up on things.

I submitted a novel to an e-book publisher and I'm waiting to hear back from them.  I've got two books that I'm reviewing and revising so that I can submit them to publishers.  I am writing the third installment to my American Indian saga.

I'm dating a nice man.  Charlie and I were not a good fit and we both knew it, but we are friends.  The new guys name is Hollie and we seem to fit.  He's 77 years old.

My health seems to have become stable.  The infusion that I get every Thursday seems to be doing its job.

I'm able to do a little more at home.  Hopefully, that will get better as well.

I will go for now and I will try to make this a part of my normal daily routine.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.  

Monday, September 30, 2013

September 30. 2013

For those of you who follow this blog....I am so sorry that I have not been keeping it up-to-date.

This past Saturday Heather and I attended Context26 which is a Science Fiction/Fantasy writers convention.  I attended a panel where editors and publishers were there to answer any questions the audience might have had.  Heather sat in this panel discussion with me.  She surprised me by telling me that the notes she had taken were for my benefit because she felt that I couldn't hear the panelist farthest away from me....she was correct.

We walked around what is called "The Dealers Room" and this was where books were available for purchase.  There was jewelry and other souvenirs to purchase.  I was able to talk to writers and ask them how satisfied they were with the publishers that they worked with.  Two of the publishers that had booths there were two that I was going to look into for submissions.

In the evening, while I was in a workshop Heather hung out with her friends:  Mark F., Mark P., Lucy, and Roberta.  The workshop I attended was "How to Polish Your Manuscript".  I learned a lot more on how to prepare your manuscript to be salable.  It's all in the grunt work.  The boring, mind numbing, editing portion which can produce fourth and fifth drafts.  Ugh.  Worth trying though.

I had a second date Sunday afternoon with a man named Hollie.  We went to dinner at O'Charlies and went to the theater and watched "Riddick".  The company was good and the movie was good.  We have plans to spend Wednesday together.

I have a new PICC line which was inserted two weeks ago.  I was told that my veins are fragile and the next time they will recommend a port.  I don't think my cardiologist is too gung-ho on the process.  It's minor surgery but I do not respond well to anesthetics.  So we'll see how things go.

That brings things up-to-date for a little while.  

Sunday, March 3, 2013

March 3, 2013 - Sunday

Time to catch you up.

Medical stuff - My left arm being tingly, numb, and itchy is finally being addressed.  The tingling started in my left pinky finger about a year ago, but it then moved to all my fingers on the left hand, then my hand, and now up to my elbow.  Plus periodically the pinky finger on my right hand now gets tingly.  My cardiologist when I mentioned it to him said to move it around because it was a blood flow problem and not to sleep on my left side.  My primary care doctor moved it around and that hurt on top of the tingling, etc.  She ordered x-rays for the left shoulder and the left side of my neck.  We are waiting to hear if they showed anything like a break, arthritis, pinched nerves, something of that nature.  I have a bladder infection that I am doctoring as well.

Kent will be graduating from culinary school March 24, 2013.  I am very proud of him for following his dreams and making them happen.  After his graduation he is having a small party at Donato's pizza place to celebrate his success.  He is taking his extern-ship with Wing Stop.  He is doing well there it seems.

Charlie is thinking of joining the gym that Heather and I are going to so he and I can spend more time together and get toned at the same time.....LOL.

Heather and I are still planning ahead to move somewhere different.  I've lived here for 30 plus years and I'm ready for a change.  I do not wish to live with another man.  I like my freedom too much.   

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Sunday - February 2, 2013

I am currently in a relationship with Charlie Probst.  He and I get along very well together. 

This month will be super busy for me.  Charlie is occupying my time and I have three doctor appointments- PLUS:

The most exciting news (besides Charlie) is that Heather and I have joined a gym.  I'm definitely committed to at least two days a week this month and will try to get a third day in as well.  At this same time I joined the Senior Citizen club in Groveport where the gym is in the Groveport Recreation Center.  I am in the Silver Sneakers program at both.  I've walked the inside walking path twice this month, so far.  I'm waiting for my doctors to give me any restrictions on what machines I can or cannot use. 

Heather and I are trying to fit more vegetables and fruits into our diet and cut back on the meat and starches.  The meat I'm okay with, I only want meat now and then.  The starches will kill me (LOL) I do love my 'taters, pasta, and rice...oh, gosh....I forgot bread.  Eating more yogurt, cottage cheese, and fish.

Keeping an eye on calories, cholesterol, salt, and sugar.  Ugghh!  Not liking it but "live with one portion" is my motto now.

Hope all this helps to keep me moving along.

Almost forgot!  I'm trying to "plan ahead" and there may come a day when "assisted living" might be my next "big event"....so I'm looking into assisted living places....they are pricey.  However, even though I don't plan to do anything until another three and a half years they do have waiting lists.  I was advised to look around and when I find something I like and can afford to get placed on the waiting lists.  Heather and I are doing this at our leisurely.  I'm tired of yard word and all the maintenance.  Right now I'm still somewhat self-sufficient.  I can't carry anything big like a laundry basket while using my walker (it wasn't a cake walk using a cane, but it was do-able), plus I have a five pound weight limit on what I can lift.  So Heather does my laundry for me (washing and drying) and I fold and put it away.  I can't mop, sweep, or vacuum with the walker and when I was using the cane I went without the cane to mop, sweep, and vacuum...not safe.  Grocery shopping and putting away is a chore so Heather and I try to do that together.  Some times Kent helps carry the groceries and push the cart and put away groceries as well.  We fit three butts in a one butt kitchen....hahaha.  I can still cook and do dishes.  I still can bathe and dress myself.       

Monday, January 21, 2013

Monday - January 21, 2013

I haven't been home much this month.  I've spent some time with Charlie and had some other things claiming my attention.

I'm going to take some time now to gripe.  I try not to do this but I need to put this "out there" so I can quit fretting about it.  It's actually several things. 

Number One:  I wish the money situation would just clear up and go away.  Wishful thinking, but something that will eventually work itself out.  Perseverance!

Number Two:  When I ask for my egg to be cooked "hard" I don't want to bite into it and get liquid yellow running out of it!  The person who cooked this egg had the heat up too high.  I had even said "Poke the yellow with a fork so it will cook to the right hardness".  It didn't happen.

Number Three:  Charlie is too nosy about how things are at home including my financial situation.  He is not a family person and does not understand that because of the dynamics here at home that I need to be here on a regular basis.  He came to my dobutamine IV and questioned the nurses about everything.  He might be showing his concern for my care but we're only in the early stages of our relationship.

Number Four:  I'm tired of being sick and old.  I plan on going to the rec/gym center once the doctor tells us what I can and cannot do.  I will have restrictions.  No upper arm exercises that pull muscles that are across the chest, because of the separated sternum.  Walking and the recumbent bike should be okay.  I would like to go at least two times a week up to four times a week if possible.  Charlie will not like that.

I, also, have been thinking a lot about assisted living quarters.  I'm tired of where I am.  I've been in this spot for 35 years.  I'm tired of yard work...lol!

I'll quit for now.   

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Happy New Year's everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted here.  It's been pretty quiet around here.  We had a lovely, peaceful, Christmas and spent time with some wonderful friends.  One of my osmosis daughter's, Roberta and her family, hosted her usual Christmas dinner and we participated with them on Christmas Day.  Heather, Kent, and I celebrated our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve day and opened presents on Christmas Day morning.  We took a dish that Kent prepared:  ratatouille.  It was pretty tasty and was well received by all.

My PCINR has been running low now for about a month.  It fluctuates between 1.4 and 1.8 and they want it at 2.5 or 3.0.  I will be getting my blood drawn every Thursday until we get it under control.

Outside of having flu like symptoms and a sore swollen left foot I've managed to stay out of the hospital.

In November I met a nice man named Charlie Probst.  We have been seeing each other on a regular basis.  He's quiet, attentive, and we share a lot of likes and dislikes.  At this point we are just friends although we kiss and hug like boyfriend/girlfriend.

Still planning on getting a book submitted to a e-book publisher.  Need to get a synopsis together and read through the novel to make sure its formatted the way they want it.

Hope all of you have a terrific 2013!