Fixing a hole...

If you are tired of reading about my days, I can't really blame you. Though, you must admit, I do sneak in a bit of drama, perhaps a soupçon of humor, a dollop of philosophy and who knows, maybe a scintilla of ultimate truth. Ok, maybe not. It is just a blog about life. And such...

And such was life yesterday. Again, I didn't sleep well. But I managed to get enough sleep that I made it through the day. Yay! Making it through a day is a good thing. The weather was still cool here in beautiful Geneva NY, so I grabbed a long sleeve shirt out of my closet. Turned out it was one I hadn't worn in a long time - maybe as long as since I first got it in 1996 - that's right - 17 years ago! Eeeek! Time flies as one becomes more ripe. 17 years ago, I was working for Macromedia in San Francisco (I really hate it when people call it San Fran - don't know why, I guess I am just a hater at heart) and we were "Shocking" people's web experiences. I was a presenter at the tradeshow and had a great time. Met one of my future ex-girlfriends there. This shirt brought back a lot of memories for me. Mom recognized that she had never seen it before. Still amazes me what she remembers and what she doesn't.

I spent part of the morning figuring out what I needed to do that day and what I needed to do the day after that, which would be today. I still haven't figured out what I need to do today, but I did do what I figured I had to do yesterday. Or at least I did what I did yesterday...

Lunch got served early-ish so that I could get everything done that needed to get done. Like more errands. This time, only a few. More pills for mom - sadly, my Favorite Pharmacist wasn't there. And more laundry. I did one load of laundry, a teeny load, comprised mostly of vomit tainted things from yesterday's mishap. The funniest part of this was finding all of the little green puff balls that used to adorn the bottom of the stool cover. I recovered about 10 of them - but from a cursory glance at the cover, I didn't really miss them. Yay! While the laundry was launderying, I walked to Tops to get a few groceries. Wegman's was working on their dairy section, so I didn't get any yogurt there yesterday and I rightly guessed that Tops would not also be working on their dairy section. Yogurt for mom! Rah! Gotta keep her fed as long as she has an appetite! On the way back from Tops, I passed my favorite Staples employee on a smoke (ick) break and complimented her on her engagement ring. She waggled it at me again and seemed happy to be engaged.

Back home again, I folded up all the laundry that had been hung around the house, creatively, I must add (like over my door, and in the red room, etc.) as well as the most lately washed stuff and distributed it and the laundry that had been folded yesterday. Then I did some work in the study, moving boxes in the ongoing excavation of the alcove. I think I dug out all the boxes that contained old mom stuff. Yippee! Baby steps.

Oh, I took a minute to install the hook in the back entry way - the one I mentioned yesterday. Got out my electric drill, made a pilot hole and screwed the hook in. Mr. Handy strikes again. That wasn't so hard. Then I carried a metallic desk from the 40s (I think) down to the depths where it will reside for the rest of time! Bwahahahahahahaha!

Before I knew it, it was dinner time - we had to have it a bit early in order to get to the Smith for me to show a film. Speaking of which, there is a bit of a kerfuffle this weekend because there are four showings of a film and no one is available to cover them all. I have reluctantly agreed to do one, because Grace was gracious (I mean, you would expect her to be with that name) enough to agree to come and sit through it.

Last night's movie was Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times. I have seen it before - in a classroom situation. It was cool to see it in a theatre on the big screen! Decently attended, there were some kids in the audience who were, surprisingly, quite tickled by it! I heard them laughing from where I was perched up in the balcony! Mom thought it was too long at 87 minutes.

After getting back, mom had ice cream and stayed up watching TV for a while. I played a little bit and then watched Pitch Perfect, which I had forgotten had arrived. I am glad I decided to watch it. Sure, it was like Bring it On (again and again and again) and Glee and any number of freaks and geeks triumphing in the end movies, but I love those. Lots. Good music, pretty scenery, what's not to like?

Oh, I forgot, I took myself off of POF for the time being. I am still on OK Cupid. (Both are dating sites.)

Busy, busy day

Today was a full day and I was running on half my typical sleep - 3 hours instead of at least 6. Sigh. I don't know why exactly I couldn't sleep. But that's ok. More awake time is more time to get things accomplished. I find I accomplish little while I am sleeping...

Got up way too early and stayed up, working on a couple of blog posts. One eventually got posted - the other - about Trust - may never see the light of day. We shall see. After that, the day started in ernest. Lunch for mom and me, then I moved a few boxes and some furniture around. I achieved my major goal for the alcove in the study - I got pa's portrait re-hung. Yay! I also started pulling out boxes that contain only mom stuff that aren't getting sorted this go 'round - mostly boxes filled with mom's teaching stuff - and put them aside for later delivery to the attic.

While brushing my teeth, I had a realization that I really need to do some more cleaning before my house guest arrives on Friday! Eeek! My bathroom has seen cleaner days. And the two bedrooms she gets to choose from could do with some work. Sigh. None of that got done today. But the realization was there - so some of it might get done tomorrow.

After lunch, I headed out to run errands and do the laundry. First stop, Protective Services Office in downtown Geneva. Mom's handicapped parking permit was set to expire at the end of the month. What an easy, no hassle thing to get renewed! Stopped in, the person behind the window asked me a couple of questions and presto! another five years have been added! Huzzuh!

Next stop, the hardware store. My Handy wants to be at it again. A couple of years ago we had the back entryway replastered. The work was never finished - the contractor had another job, left and never returned. The good thing is he never charged us for the work. The bad thing is, well, the work was unfinished. One of the things that didn't get done was the replacement of a hook that allowed a screen door to be secured in an open position. I didn't find the hook easily when I went to look for it and it isn't like we go through that door a bazillion times a day. More like once a month or so. Still, on the occasions we do go through there, and the door needs to remain open, it would be nice to have the hook back. So I decided to bite the bullet and find a hook and fix it. Hence the trip to the hardware store. A hook was easily found and I plan on fixing the dang thing today! Yay!

Onwards to the library. Mom wanted some books - eeek - that she had been looking for in the house but hadn't found. Big surprise there. The books in the house are getting more and more shuffled around. I really need to get them organized, but it is pretty far down on my list. I also feel a bit of trepidation around books from the library after one went missing for a long time - the library forgave the fine, but it was scary! I don't like losing things in general and I especially don't like losing something that is someone else's. We shall see what happens with these.

Last stop, for the time being, was laundry. I had three baskets full. Lots of sheets. And clothes of course. While laundry was laundering, I took my leave of the laundromat and headed to Staples to turn in recycle printer cartridges! Margaret was there and helped me - and told me she was engaged - nice ring! Sigh. I think she is great. She even took a typewriter ribbon cassette thing and credited me for it!

Laundry done, zipped home, hoping for a little nap of maybe half an hour - at least that is what I imagined. Mom volunteered (ish) to help fold. I was sitting in my room, getting ready to lie down when I heard mom coming down the hall at a rapid (ish) pace and then some weird plopping sounds and then clear vomiting sounds. Poor mom!! She was not a happy camper. I don't know if it was the coleslaw or what - maybe just the heat of the room at the head of the stairs combined with having to do so much twisting to fold the laundry. She just got sick. Luckily, most of it went in the toilet. Still, there went my half hour nap. And I think I need to go back to the laundry again. I really want a washing machine in the house. Maybe that will be my capital investment next time we have a windfall. If there is a next time for a windfall. The dryer has probably died, but I won't know until I get brave enough to walk around the corner in the basement and check. A dreaded (and easy) task for another day.

So, no nap. Instead, it was off to the grocery store to get a chicken and some other necessities - like fiber bars, a sweet potato and soda water. I needed to cook in a shortened manner - as I was heading to Ithaca after dinner. On the way out of Wegman's I ran into Cassie who works at The Leaf. The Leaf is currently on hiatus for a week or so. We chatted for a longish while. Sweet person - very chatty! Got home, cooked up the sweet potato, heated up leftover vegetables and divvied up the chicken. Not a bad dinner - and quick and easy. Watched the rest of the news with mom and then set her up for the evening - she loves NCIS for some reason. And then I headed to Ithaca.

A friend there suggested a waffle place. I don't think it has been open long - at least I don't remember it from my last visit - which was, hmm, last summer perhaps? Yummy waffle, good conversation. Who could want anything more? Well, I could, but...I got to listen to my book - Water for Elephants - while driving in both directions. Yay.

Got home, puttered around on the computer, watched an episode of Doctor Who (with Peter Davison - the most lackluster doctor ever!)(With three of the weirdest companions ever) before closing my eyes and forgetting the world. Yay sleep!

Are toe nails supposed to look like that?

I did not choose to follow in my brother's footsteps and become a nurse. (One of his 5 degrees, I think - let's see - BA, MBA, CPA, RN - nope, only four - though I could be missing one or two or three...) Though, you know, I did toy with the idea of Chiropractic, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, psychology and sonograming. Anyway, choosing to be mom's primary caregiver I see and saw (Marjorie Daw) my duties and responsibilities as being a facilitator, bill payer, cook, chauffeur and general helper. I did not want to help her shower - which the aide does - or cut her toenails or any other body maintenance. Not that I am particularly squeamish - just not what I enjoy doing - and yes, I do believe life is supposed to be enjoyed - even the unenjoyable parts. So yesterday, when the aide told me that one of mom's toenails was not able to be cut, I took a look. Eeeek! Looked like a rhino horn instead of a toenail. I cleaned some gunk out, always a yummy undertaking, and took my clippers to it - eventually getting some of it cut off. I then proceeded to set up a podiatrist visit for her for next week. Yippee!

Meanwhile, in other news, I am engaged in a second round of sorting of the boxes in the alcove in the back study of the house. I put most of them there early on in my tenure here in Geneva. Back when I had vague notions that mom might actually be able and willing to go through boxes I had culled for her. I think the willingness is there on her part - but not the ability. So, this time through, I am making much more drastic choices - not as drastic as could be made - I am keeping anything that smacks of correspondence for instance, but still, letting go of a lot more. I am also keeping many of mom's teaching materials. Again, not because she will actually look at them - but she might. Probably won't, but might. I plan on putting boxes of mom papers up in the attic in the same room where her mom's papers (that have not been looked at in more than 20 years I don't believe) are stored. And culling out anything that might be important. As well as lots and lots of blank note cards, pads, padlets and things like that. Fun times! Only 20 boxes to go through and the alcove will be emptied! Though the interim goal of being able to rehang my father's portrait in there ought to be accomplished tomorrow perhaps!

Mom caught cold somehow. I am leaning towards a potentially infectious tangent starting with small ones who recently visited. Just a hunch. Though of course she could have picked it up on one of the outings she went on with Karl and the kids...Luckily I have a more robust immune system and have not come down with anything. Yet. Then again, I didn't really interact with the kids all that much.

And now for another epiphany-let

My only big accomplishment for the day was paying bills. Yay. But at least I got most of them paid. I still have a couple that I am doing today. I don't know why paying bills is so traumatic for me. Oh, yes I do. I would rather use any money that we have for fun things - like food, and travel and such. Where would mom and I travel? That is a darn fine question.

I took a walk downtown. The library got in a book that I put on hold. A friend suggested I read Water for Elephants. I have seen the movie and vaguely recall enjoying it. She said the book was, of course, better. And so far, she is right. Anyway, I walked downtown, also went to the Smith Opera House, the bank and to Madia's Market. I figured it was easier to get things there, which was sort of on the way home, than to get home and head back out to Wegman's, or even walk to Wegman's on the way home. Madia's did not have an awesome selection of produce. Not a surprise really - but I did get some brussel sprouts which turned out to be fresh and happy. And corn - which was actually better than the picked over corn I usually end up with from Wegman's. Might just have to swing by there today (Friday) and get more corn when I head out for food shopping.

My epiphany-let isn't really all that earth shattering. When I was getting the rest of the edible chicken separated from the non-edible bits the other day, the chicken was still hot. Not fun on the fingers. Other times, I take the chicken out of the fridge and it is really cold. Also not fun on the fingers. So, here is the epiphany - when I take the chicken out of the fridge a few minutes before I start to work on it, it becomes warm enough that my fingers are not numbed quickly! Yay!

Does anyone think I ought to feel guilty about recycling old New Yorkers and other magazines? And does anyone want mom's old huge electric typewriter? If not, it is getting recycled. You must come and pick it up - I ain't shipping that sucker anywhere!

Drove to Ithaca last night and had a pleasant evening with a nice woman! Yippee! She suggested a new-ish place down there. We sat outside and watched the sun set and the stars rise. It was awesome! (Little in-joke there...)

This and some of that

Just had the weirdest dream - which I am not going to share - suffice it to say, it was weird. And disturbing. Don't know if I want to go back to sleep. Eeeek.

I did not accomplish all of what I wanted to accomplish yesterday. None of the fiscal/financial/ick stuff. Glarg. I did, though, start moving/redistributing stuff from the living room. My idea is to move everything from there to other places - or at least to the room at the head of the stairs - my old room from when I was a tyke - before moving that stuff up into the attic - a sort of expandable universe up there - room for a few more households to be dumped into, I am sure. I had one of those darn epiphany-lets - now that the red room has been delinened - all of it artfully crammed into the linen closet, I am going to move all of the empty boxes from the living room to there - so it will feel like I have made a lot of progress. Yay for the semblance of progress. Or for semblance indeed! Perception is reality!

Sorting, at least, continues. I like to sort - and to throw stuff out - even if it is my stuff. I am an equal opportunity thrower-outer. Yes, I do hold onto silly stuff - like movie ticket stubs. What the heck am I going to do with movie ticket stubs? Maybe my grandchildren (ha. hahahahahahaha) will look at them and be in awe that I went to so many movies.
Today is mom's birthday. I am waiting to "get up" until after the mail has arrived - hoping that another birthday card (she has only gotten two) arrives. I do have a present for her - the book from the Chasing Ice guy/movie that she for some reason keeps remembering. I think she will look at it for about five minutes and then never look at it again - but I hope that it will make her choose happy for a few minutes as well. I will get her flowers tonight at the grocery store when I go to get makings for dinner tonight. I am a little anxious about cooking mussels - bad shellfish is, er, bad. But we shall do the best we can!

So far, she has gotten flowers and candy! Thank you E&B and J&P! You all rock! Karl sent her a package earlier. I am guessing it has marzipan fruit in it. I will let mom open that later today. After her hair appointment. Yay!

Egg rolls

The eggroll making process  may or may not have been mentioned before in this blog, but such is life! (See how I did that?!)

The way I currently make eggrolls is this: I buy Asian slaw mix, pick my meat of choice - usually chicken or shrimp - add spices - ginger and garlic primarily - toss everything in a bowl then wrap them up in store bought eggroll wrappers. This makes 10 or so egg rolls. Leaving two sheets of eggroll wrappers forlornly sitting in their container. In times past, I tried to make eggrolls again soon, so that these wrappers didn't go to waste - lest they turn all sort of pretty colors in the refrigerator. Other times, I just cut my losses and tossed them. Then, one day, I had one of them, thar' epiphany-lets: to wit, I could make wontons or rangoons out of the remaining wrappers - just cut the big wrapper in four and voila, voici - smaller wrappers! I have, for the most part, just put cream cheese in them. Lately, I have gotten more adventurous. Only my creativity limits me. Yay!

I read a book - no need to faint people - that my friend David lent me. Not sure why he did - maybe because I voiced an interest in language and linguistics. Perhaps? Anyway, it was called Don't Sleep, There are Snakes by Daniel L. Everett. I am glad I read it. The writing is pretty basic (terrible, actually) but the content was interesting - about the Pirahãs of the Amazon and their language. Too bad the book wasn't better written. Oh well. On to my next Alzheimer's book.

Speaking of reading, well, sort of, since my latest CD player was killed (by me) I have not been listening to books. In fact, I returned all the ones I had to the library. I have mixed feelings about this. And finding devices that play CDs isn't as easy as it once was. Grrr.

My work at The Smith yesterday went well. The event was an inspirational talk by an ex-professional wrestler. Good stuff. The people seemed to enjoy it. Everything went off without a hitch, which is great. Yay, even!

I will pay bills today. That is my dreaded task - though not as dreaded as it has been in the past. Oh, and this month is my mom's 83 birthday. Not sure if we are doing anything too special for it. I do have a present for her - and Karl is sending some stuff. I will probably go to the dollar store and get her a balloon and maybe some other things. And some cut flowers for sure. I like doing things for other people's birthdays - when they are near. I am not good at sending cards and presents to far away people (like across the street far...)

Trying to keep it simple

I hate talking about money. Really, really hate it. It gets my blood boiling in fact. Mom loves to talk about money. I tend to answer a few of her questions and then remind/tell her that I don't like talking about money. She usually drops it. For a little while.

Other times, she asks questions and I know that the answers don't really make much difference. For instance, paying for the dentist - mom's question - did it cost a lot - my answer - yes. Or no. Depending on my mood. I gave her a dollar amount once and she got all confused. She can't really tell the difference between $10 and $1000.

I just try to keep my answers as simple as I can. And I aim for truth most of the time. Not that it really matters since she, sadly, will probably forget that she asked the question and what the answer was. I mainly want to make her feel as if she has been listened to. And that her questions get answers. Validation. :)

Speaking of hating talking about money, I saw a cool presentation on an alternate financial system - one that does not stem from a debt based economy. Not many details but it sure looked better than the evil system we have now...(I was going to link to the video but can't find it - apparently a decent sized group of people also dislike the current financial system - but changing it isn't going to happen easily (or quickly if ever, sadly))(I love parenthetical comments...)(And ellipses!)

Effective day yesterday - I got a lot done. Fought my way (gently) into two bank accounts online that I haven't accessed in a while (three years for one and at least 5 years for the other). Paid more bills, organized a few papers, put together more Publisher's Clearing House entries...Yay!

Went downtown and watched a friend eat dinner - that was exciting. No, it was, really. Maybe exciting isn't the right word. The evening was way more pleasant than I am making it sound. Anyway, we had a nice time and that is a good thing. Good days - gotta love them! Today, off to the eye doctor and perhaps some shopping. I need some new clothes - underwear especially! (Did you need to know that?)

Small Triumphs

Yesterday was full of small triumphs.

I got the taxes mailed. I don't know why, but I often forget about the post office on the Hobart and William Smith Campus. I feel that I need to walk all the way downtown to get something mailed. But I don't. I can walk across the William Smith green and get my post officing done. Yay! I remembered it as I sat watching mom "sign" her tax returns.

I cleaned out a box yesterday - by which I mean I emptied it out and moved the contents around a bit. Some wires went into the wire box, two electronic components got moved around - not sure what to do with them yet - a box of old films got moved to my room - and I found a box with a computer component in it that could be returned to them postage free. I hope the company even still exists. At least the post office took it - with no return address. Hahahahahahahahaha!

The comfy red office chair I bought back in, hmm, when did I buy that thing - maybe 2000? - finally made it into the study. I exchanged it with the red plastic covered one from the 50s that has lived in there for years and years and years. And years. Mine has better casters and is warmer and has a higher back. Yay! Oh, and I found the stool for the piano - so now I can easily switch from playing xBox to playing the piano! Yippee even.

There might have been a fourth thing, but I can't recall it. Anyway, I watched Up again last night and didn't like it as well as I did the first time. Still good - but not great. I thought the squirrel stuff was a bigger part of the movie than it was. Hmm. Memory is a funny thing.

Mom is on a rant this morning, or is it a tirade, about how evil the new aide is. Sigh. Just going to wait it out and see who shows up on Thursday. Sad that our other aide quit - at least that is according to the new aide.

Tonight, I might be making Macaroni and Cheese with Cheetos. Only time will tell.

More Bills

Where do they all come from? Goodness gracious. I would like a life without bills, please. Money sucks. And what does money really represent anyway?

That will be my distasteful task of the day! Yippee! I am looking forward to it being done with. Then I can get on with the rest of my exciting day. Playing, puttering and piano-ing. I put my electric piano - one of my best and favoritest purchases from when I was actually flush (meaning having considerable quantities of disposable income) back in the beginning of the century - in the back office, right next to my xBox. I feel I am more motivated to play/practice/learn because the piano is right there.

I took lessons a long time ago - I think for about four years - and like many a kid, was reluctant to practice. My piano teacher took it all in stride, though. I eventually learned to play a bit and memorized a few pieces of pieces. I still remember and can play (mostly) the first part of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag. Yes, I got hooked on ragtime after watching The Sting. I could play a lot of the music that was used in that film, once upon a time. Now, I can barely struggle through the beginning of Maple Leaf. But I sense some improvement. My goal is to have a repertoire of maybe 10 pieces that I can play without recourse to sheet music. And to be better at "faking." Ok, maybe not better, since I can't do it at all just yet. But someday...

On the theatre front - I heard back from one of the many letters I put out with some good information - she just had forgotten to reply to my message. (Sadly, my thank you note hasn't found its way to her yet - her mailbox is full...) I had, though, already grabbed the bull by the horns and went directly to the horses mouth. (Hmm, weird looking animal that conjures up...) Which is what I did with the second theatre bit as well. We communicated a bit and set up an appointment to meet, only for me to find that mom's dentist and eye doctor appointments interfered with both days that had been offered. Which is ok. I am in no tearing hurry on that project.

Any suggestions on what to read next? I am about to finish the last Rachel Morgan book. Boo!

DTs

No, not delirium tremens. Haven't had those in a long while. No, I meant Dreaded Tasks! (Dunt, dunt, duh!!!)

I did one yesterday, or at least part of one. I think I prefer to do them in pieces. I am of two minds about pulling the bandaid off slowly or quickly. Sometimes one quick pull seems appropriate, sometimes slow remove seem more appropriate. And it also depends on whether there is just the one bandaid or a whole body covered with bandaids.

The task, to which I am alluding, is taking the Christmas Tree down. Yes, I finally took it down yesterday. (And mom fussed at me for not being allowed to help...sigh). Anyway, I took the ornaments and most of the needles off the tree. I am afraid that this one also will not survive. It was on a wheelie thing, so it was easy to move and the tree happily shared needles with the whole house! Yay shedding pine trees! Also muddy water in a bag. I think if we do the live tree thing again, which we probably will, I need one of those plastic trays to put under the pot instead of a plastic bag. They are so darn heavy (the trees that is) and prickly. I feel like I need body armor and two of me to move them around. Which is one of the myriad reasons I told myself for not taking the thing down earlier...Anyway, after getting it outdoors, I wanted to water it. So I had to turn the water on to the outside faucet. Yay, the hose worked! And the tree got watered, but it seems that the knob outside doesn't do much in regards to turning the water on and off. So back to the basement. Yippee. Next step, clean-up the pine trail! At least the pine needles smelled great as they were sucked into the vacuum cleaner. Whose bag I had to change. Sigh. And there was sweeping and mopping up to do as well. And light arranging. And chair moving. Still one more part to do, but I am going to wait until tomorrow or the next day to do that - hole digging. Fear not, I will take pictures of the process. I read somewhere on line that you need to dig a whole that is three times as wide as the root structure in the pot. Can't wait...

More dreaded tasks today. Bill paying. So excited, and I just can't hide it...

Speaking of which, when paying my phone bill, I just saw that somehow I bought a $10 a month subscription to a quiz application about which I have no memory and no knowledge. Grrr. I hate things like that. I just canceled it, but I have already lost $20. Crap!

After errands, it is time to start work on putting the side porch back together for the summer. Yippee!

Yesterday was beer night. I opted to visit Leaf Kitchen, which turned out to be a good thing. First, it looks like Emily changed her mind and will not be working at Leaf after the middle of May. I might try to go find her once up in Sodus Point - mainly because I have never been to Sodus Point and I like new experiences. They had some new beers (which was the main reason I went). Well, new to them. I had a Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale. Very tasty. I tend to like beers of that style. Malty. Not as rich as I would have liked, but still good. My second beer was a Belgian wanna be from Unibroue out of Canada - Tres Pistoles. A dark beer. Good, not great.

All in all, a good day! Yay!

I hope it survives, but it is doubtful...

Looks like an angel to me!

Eeek, a ghost in my chair at Leaf Kitchen. Oh, wait, it has a reserved sign on it! :)