New Things

My SO and I went shopping yesterday after her appointment with the infusion clinic. See, she has to carry around this bag full of IV antibiotics so that the infection in her knee will heal.

The bag is ugly. A black, utilitarian canvas thing with various holes, pockets, velcro and straps. The nurse obviously has a whimsical sense of humor because she has given us permission to decorate it. Bedazzle it! So, we promptly paid a visit to the closest Michaels and bought supplies.

From there, we went furniture shopping. We found the perfect sectional set on clearance and a wonderful chair and a half to go with it.

New furniture for our living room. New beginnings. I'm hopeful that this portends a much better year to come. Not that this one has been bad, it's just been challenging both at home and at work.

In addition, I'm getting a new fence with automatic electric gate. I'm in heaven.

On to better things I say.

Harbingers

I woke up this morning after a night frought with fighting for covers and space in my own bed with an SO, a dog and 3 cats only to step in a puddle of cold, slimy dog vomit. I cleaned that then stumbled from the kitchen with a hot cup of coffee only to see another even larger puddle of cold, slimy dog vomit.

Out oldest dog, Fudge, didn't eat his breakfast and had the foulest smelling gas last night so we've deduced that he's the one who is sick.

And now I know why. Apparently he found it necessary to jump on the coffee table and eat close to a pound of fudge.

Fudge is vomiting fudge.

It's going to be a long day.

God is Male

Clearly. If God were a female, she would not let two middle-aged females with two teen-aged boys be on their periods at the same time. Clearly, God is male.

Good Sunday Morning to You All

What a goddamn, fucking, mud-covered frog turd of a day we had yesterday. Bloody blue seizures had us in the ER for over 6 hours yesterday and know how many times we talked to the doctor? 2. Guess for how long total. 4 minutes. We're gonna get through this though. Is it too early for a margarita? or 7?  And again, we learn what good friends we have.  Yay for that. Takes the stink out of the mud-covered frog turd although when the mud dries it sort of encases the smell.

I wonder if frog turds stink anyway? Anybody ever smell one? Mine are always covered in mud.

Finally, my SO's disability came through.  Now, her medication and doctor's visits will be covered.  Maybe we will get some better care. 

I've been reading and following the news reports about medicare and medicaid and what a nightmare they are.  I always pooh-poohed it thinking those folks were just bitching.  Well, they aren't just bitching.  These two programs are the most infuriating, confusing, nightmare of a plan.  They change things on you without notice.  My SO has received no less than 6 letters and plan cards each with a different effective date.  And one plan doesn't even send a card.  I guess you just have to guess when it went into effect.  There are restrictions on the number of prescriptions you can have filled a month so if you have more than 3 you're screwed.  No wonder certain Seniors have to choose between food and medicine.  There has to be a better way.  And for those people who aren't educated and who are trying to navigate that maze of rules and regulations without help....God help them.  I'm seeing a niche for some business start-up.  Medi Coaching.  A consulting service to help people figure out which one is right for them.

We bit the bullet and rewarded ourselves with a Plasma TV.  It's beautiful.  We are planning on hanging it today.  The price was TOOO right to pass it up.  I suppose it's a benefit of the horrible economy.  I'm just doing my part to drive the recovery.  The next two projects that I'm going to pay to have someone do instead of doing it myself is a new fence with an electric gate and insulation.  I'm just going to let someone else do that....oh, and a new front door.

There isn't much else to report.  Christmas/Hannukah is coming up.  That means a break for the boys.  We're planning on going to Florida and rest.  The family needs the time down there to recover mentally and spiritually not to mention physically.  It's peaceful for us.  I have to keep my SO from over-scheduling though.  She tends to do that which makes me crazy.  Vacation, to me, is about NOT doing.  It's about being quiet and resting, reading or just listening to the water.

The house is quiet.  I'm going to read the instructions on the mounting unit to make sure I know what I'm doing.  Yes, I read instructions.  Shocking, I know.

County Commission

"memphisdaily

  

After 24 rounds of voting, County Commission stuck on Joe Ford or JW Gibson for interim mayor. Will try again Nov. 17 at 4pm.about 12 hours ago from web"

This from Twitter.  Are you seriously kidding me??  We have these two to choose from out of the entire Shelby County?  These clowns?  I'm frightened.

My goodness, it's been a wild week.

My SO went in for knee surgery and decided to start having seizures.  She ended up in ICU for a couple of days.  It was very unsettling.  You go in for what has become a relatively routine procedure and this happens.  There's no really good way to prepare emotionally.  I learned something that I'd like to pass on.

1.  Make sure you have medical power of attorney if you aren't legally married.  I had to sign a consent form and couldn't have done it without that piece of paper.
2.  Make sure you have a signed and witness directive in case something happens.
3.  Make sure you have a Will.

I know, none of that is pleasant to think about or even do but it's necessary especially for those of us who aren't legally married or considered next of kin.  I'm lucky.  The hospital staff was brilliant in that area.  They never batted an eye.  There was never a question that I was supposed to be there.  Maybe they go through training or maybe it's just a sign of the times but they were brilliant.

4.  Be on good terms with the SO's parents.

I can't stress this enough.  I am so grateful that Diane's mom came to help.  She's been a godsend.  My parents offered and I'm grateful for that but it's just not the same as having your own Mother with you.  Oh, that brings up...

5.  The patient should be on good terms with and actually like her own parents.  Because she's going to be here for a while and taking care of you while I'm at work and starting Thursday, out of town.  It would suck to not like your mother.

The boys stepped up and did well although the youngest neglected his homework for a few days and has now had to play catch up.  His teachers were wonderful though.  They understood why we kept them out of classes for two days and have let them make whatever work they missed up.  I'm grateful for that.  We had friends step up and be there.  Beautiful, wonderful friends.  I'm grateful for that and am awed at how quickly they rallied around.

There's a saying in AA.  "Get Grateful."  I got it.  I am.  I've learned what is important and what isn't.  Work can go to hell.  I don't NEED that promotion.  I might want it but don't need it.  I NEED my family to stay intact.  I NEED my SO to get and stay healthy for a long time.  I NEED my kids to mature into brilliant, caring adults.  I NEED air to breathe, good sleep, food and water.   I NEED good, supportive friends.  I NEED good, supportive family members--parents and siblings. 

I look at what I need and realize that I have it.  The rest is fluff.

Part 1| Obama Addresses Gay Rights Group [Human Rights Campaign]

Finally