New Stuff for Old People

When I stop reaching for the gear shift on the steering column instead of on the floor, when I get used to the window controls being on the console between the two front seats, then maybe I’ll realize I have a different car.

My Nook book reader turns the page when you touch the right side of the screen.  I found a paperback I wanted to read and I found myself touching the right side of the page to turn it.  It didn’t work.

Does all this confirm that it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks?  Or once I learn a new trick I have a problem switching back.

I have recently learned how to diaper a 55 lb. Bassett.  It’s called a belly band. 

We are still getting rain and they are predicting it will turn to snow sometime tonight.  It’s 33 degrees outside now.

I still haven’t studied out my new camera.  I can only handle so much at a time.

Later….

Explanation

Let me explain something about the last posting.  When I was expecting my first child I went to a couple of doctors in partnership.  One month I would see one and the next month I would see the other one.  They didn’t agree on the subject of weight.  Every other month I would be prescribed diet pills.

I kind of knew this was not right but they were the doctors.  I ended up gaining 60 pounds!  Within a couple of months I was back down to my normal of 106 lbs.  She weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs. 

A couple of years later I gained 90 lbs with my second child and he weighed 9 lbs 1 oz.  It took me six months to lose that weight.  I CAN COUNT!  With the third child I dieted and gained only 40 lbs. and she weighed only 7 lbs.   She looked very thin to me. 

Everyone is different and I must be one of those people who need to gain a lot of weight when I’m pregnant.  I lost it every time.  I was so proud when I hit age thirty and had reached my minimum weight for my height – 130 lbs. 

We have had a lot of rain which upsets Bandit.  He has a very hard time getting into the bathtub now.  I refuse to help him.  If he is very upset I give him a couple of benadryl capsules hidden in a piece of hotdog.  That seems to help.

My dogs had fleas!  I tried some of those over-the-counter flea drops and they didn’t work.  It turns out that Teddy is allergic to fleas and was getting a bare spot on his back.  So off the vet with a large bill for the appointment and the meds to kill the fleas.

They don’t have Medicare for dogs do they?

I had a great Thanksgiving with family.  Yesterday I attended a third birthday party for my great grandson.   The balloon that I couldn’t get tied after blowing it up was a big hit as it flew around the room.  After letting it fly around the room about 50 times I recruited someone else to do the blowing.

My toes are not bleeding anymore.  I guess the reduction of one pill has helped. 

Later….

Doctor’s Visit & New Camera

Wednesday was a regular every three weeks appointment with my oncologist.  My blood marker test was 86, last one was 85, so that is good. 

I showed the Dr. my feet and she was sympathetic to the open sores where my big toe nails used to be.  She asked if I had any fever, worried about infection.  She also suggested that I should reduce the 3000 mgs of Xeloda that I take each day to 2500 mgs. 

She even suggested I might reduce it by 500 mgs more if they didn’t start to get better.  Now I understand why this medication comes in 500 mg pill.

I went totally wild and bought myself a camera that I can turn off and on.  Now I just have to figure it out from minimal instructions by someone whose second language is English.

It’s a blue Sanyo, very small.  My old memory card fits it.

I got  a lot done this week in spite of being pretty lazy Monday and Tuesday.  Maybe I have to work up to a few busy days.

Forty eight years ago today I became a mother.  When they hand you a baby they hand you guilt.  Did the drugs they gave me cause her a problem?  Did I do everyone wrong?  But then I look at her determination, her pride, and her industriousness I have to decide somebody did something right.  Most likely a higher power.

later….

Confessions

I’m fessing up here.  I cannot turn on my camera with my sore fingers.  It’s a Kodak DX6730, an older camera.   You push down on a button between two ridges and turn the dial to turn it on. 

Maybe I’ll remember to ask someone to turn it on for me the next time I have visitors – or maybe I won’t remember.

The young man who used to live next door came over today to mow my lawn.  He did a good job and it took care of a lot of the leaves.  He also took the tomato cages out of the garden area. 

He was happy to have a temporary job at Kohl’s for the Christmas season.  He plans to do such a good job that they will keep him on.  I wish him luck, he’s a good worker.

Another confession.

Yesterday I had a senior moment.  In the early evening I turned on the gas fireplace in the bedroom while I treated my feet and changed clothes.  I left it on and closed the door. 

By the time I was ready for bed at midnight, unusually late for me, the room was way over heated.  I opened two windows to get a cross draft but even that took quite a while to cool things down.  I only needed a sheet for cover.  Luckily the low for the night was in the 50’s. 

I just noticed that my Nook is updating something – all on its own.  Wow, that thing scares me sometimes.  Is it watching me while I’m watching it?

I took the stick tree to the antique barn Saturday and went around looking for small bottles to put on it.  It looks really good.  I may have to add some Christmas stuff to it.

later….

 

New –to me- Car

Today I bought a silver colored 2002 Jeep Liberty with 64000 miles on it.  It seems to have more bells and whistles than I am accustomed to.  It will take me a while to figure them all out. 

It always takes longer to deal for a car than it should so I am very tired.  I just barely got home.  We got there at 1:00 and it’s 5:30 now. 

I test drove the Jeep and the Hyundai and I really liked the Jeep much better.  It’s already getting dark so I can’t get a picture tonight.

The dogs were happy that I came home in time to feed them. 

And yes, there were some snowflakes in the air.  They just said there would be more tonight.  It’s not cold enough for it to stick – yet. 

That’s all for now.

later….

 

Busy Week

Had a very busy Tuesday.  I went to the doctors office for a blood test, the Dollar General Store (got left over halloween decorations to make capes for great grandsons), the drug store (got more Udder cream), the bank (deposited check received for the jack in the box – it sold for $135. on ebay), voted, and picked up mail.  Then I went home a took a well earned nap.

This village is so in between larger towns and cities that our news gets ignored.  I still don’t know if the school levy passed or who won our mayor race.  It may have scrolled across the bottom of the screen Tuesday night but I can’t read it unless I’m a foot from the screen.

I received two belly bands for Bandit.  So far the review is mixed.  One wet one, one dry one and one moved so a puddle was left.

The question of whether to paint the stick tree or not is solved, John and Lory stained it.  It is great and I can’t sell it, oh well, maybe they will make more and I can sell them.

Lory has decided she wants to buy my car since she can’t find a good used car in her price range as good as mine.  So I have been car shopping. Tim (son-in-law) is helping.  I want another small SUV.  My Mazda Tribute has been good and I like to be up a little above traffic.

Lory and John went with me yesterday to check out a Hyundai Santa Fe.  It was being detailed so we couldn’t see it.  The salesman drove us around in a Jeep Liberty Sport with leather/heated seats.

I really liked the Jeep and the salesman called later that afternoon to lower the price. 

Lory has tomorrow off work so we will probably do some more looking.  Even though I wasn’t thinking about a different car it’s kind of fun.

My feet and hands still hurt so I am taking more pain meds.  Where my big toe nails used to be there is are running sores now.  Yes I had all my terribly ingrown toenails removed several years ago. 

Today was a “receive UPS delivery of pills” day.  Tomorrow morning I take the last dose of this 2 week round.  Next week I see the oncologist.  I hope maybe she will let me reduce the dose in the next round.

The weather man used that four letter word in the forecast – SNOW.  He also mentioned a good hard freeze, in the 20’s.  I am hoping that will help my drippy nose and eyes. 

Time will tell.

Later….

 

 

Sunday & Time Change

Had a nice Saturday.  Lory and John took some Christmas stuff over to the barn and took out the halloween stuff.  We are as bad as the big stores.

Andrea and her new special friend, Chris, came also.  See I remembered his name.  He is into old stuff but isn’t yet in the selling mood.  I tried to give him some stuff but he didn’t take it.  I’ll have to work on him.

Got a call from my sister because I posted so gloomy.  She suggested I just put my feet in a plastic bag at night.  DUH why didn’t I think of that.   It works great with a sock over it to keep it on. 

I do get gloomy and discouraged.  I hate to share that part but it is real and it is probably normal.  I reread the side affects of Xeloda and depression is one of them. 

I have decided Bandit needs a lesson in who is the boss around here.  All I do is make him lie down on his back when he doesn’t want to.  He won’t look me in the eye or I would out stare him.  Also I am limiting the water in the evening.  It worked last night – no puddle this morning.

John is making me a stick tree.  It is in the process of being built.  The tiny bottles will go on the branches.  Now we just have to figure out how to make it stand up.

Do you think I should paint it? 

Got all the clocks changed, now I just have to change the dogs’ clocks.

Later….

Solving Problems

Okay, I can be creative.  If I lay out the two pieces of plastic wrap before I grease my feet it is easier to wrap them.  A little easier.

The Bandit problem is being worked on.  The rescue people have suggested a dog belly band to help stop the peeing inside.  They have offered to send me one and I have ordered a couple on ebay. 

They wrap around his belly and, hopefully, remind him to wait to go outside to pee.  Some of them are just plain diapers, some come with a way to add throwaway padding.  It’s worth a try.

Watering eyes, running nose, and an occasional coughing fit are all that’s left of my cold.  I think a big part of the problem is allergy to ragweed.  When we have a hard freeze it will improve.  We have had several light frosts so far.

I have been 6itchy today- this week.  I am having negative thinking – wonder why?  Whenever I have a cold it seems like it will be around forever.  My eyes water so much I have to keep wiping them to read.  My nose drips unexpectedly into the dogs water so I go back to the faucet for fresh water. 

I’m taking meds that make me miserable so I can stay around a little longer in this world and take more meds that make me more miserable.   There – I said it. 

I’ll be more cheerful ….

later….