Saturday, January 05, 2008
After an enjoyable chat with Betty in the morning, yesterday went rapidly downhill. I drove Pat to the hospital and we saw the radiologist for a consultation, learning that treatment for his skin cancers (one Basel, one squamous) requires sixteen visits. I'll have to drive him there every day Monday through Friday for three weeks! Damn! Made the first appointment for the 17th, skipping next week because he already has three doctor appointments and I have other commitments.
When we came out, Pat said the heater problem I've been having means the engine is overheating; he wanted me to stop at Mastercraft on the way home. Well, no way was I going to leave my car, but after we had "words," I did stop just to mention it to the mechanic. He talked to us, but he doesn't think the engine is overheating. Nevertheless, Pat insisted I shouldn't drive the car before my appointment on Monday morning. Of course, he went off to the bay and left me twiddling my thumbs at home--second day in a row.
This left me seriously annoyed and, what's more, depressed and unhappy. I started re-reading my blog entries of the last two Decembers, brooding over how many parties and get-togethers we had enjoyed compared to the few this season. As I thought about it, the idea grew hair and teeth in my mind* that nobody cared, everybody had forgotten about us, and I was doomed to a dull, boring existence even though I'm completely well and full of energy.
Topping off the day, the high-hat light over the kitchen "peninsula" burned out. We have nine-foot ceilings and I'm afraid to stand on the counter and change it myself, so I'll have to ask somebody. What a lousy time for it to go.
However, this is the notion I cling to when I'm down: Things tend to improve after a time and they did. Dennis called to let us know how his and Leslie's son, Pete, is. Pete's in the hospital (in Ohio) with an unknown ailment that seems to involve his liver. It was good to talk to him and to hear a biopsy was negative for cancer. Then Ray called, just checkin' on his pal, Pat, and I was able to ask him to come tomorrow and change the kitchen light. No problem.
Got the mail and was charmed to receive a note from the daughter of Benji G., a long-ago playmate of Betty's and mine on Rosborough Avenue. He became a doctor like his father, practiced in Hawaii, married Indonesian, and died prematurely at 41 in 1982. The other day, I saw his mother's obit in the paper (she was 92) and sent an e-mail condolence message to the family.
In her note, the daughter wrote that she was "delighted for the contact from someone from my father's childhood" and thanked me for allowing her to "share in the sweet memory of my beloved father."
What a lovely gesture. That and just time brought me out of the doldrums and I'm better. Looking forward to going to Alison's for Joel's birthday celebration tomorrow, although we may have a battle about driving my car there.
After dinner, Ellen and I talked and viewed on the web cam, which gave me a lift, too, of course. Still no word on her condo bid, but she'll let us know as soon as she hears.
* Love this expression, but it isn't original with me. Read it in The Last Angry Man, by Gerald Green, a novel of 40 or so years ago.
When we came out, Pat said the heater problem I've been having means the engine is overheating; he wanted me to stop at Mastercraft on the way home. Well, no way was I going to leave my car, but after we had "words," I did stop just to mention it to the mechanic. He talked to us, but he doesn't think the engine is overheating. Nevertheless, Pat insisted I shouldn't drive the car before my appointment on Monday morning. Of course, he went off to the bay and left me twiddling my thumbs at home--second day in a row.
This left me seriously annoyed and, what's more, depressed and unhappy. I started re-reading my blog entries of the last two Decembers, brooding over how many parties and get-togethers we had enjoyed compared to the few this season. As I thought about it, the idea grew hair and teeth in my mind* that nobody cared, everybody had forgotten about us, and I was doomed to a dull, boring existence even though I'm completely well and full of energy.
Topping off the day, the high-hat light over the kitchen "peninsula" burned out. We have nine-foot ceilings and I'm afraid to stand on the counter and change it myself, so I'll have to ask somebody. What a lousy time for it to go.
However, this is the notion I cling to when I'm down: Things tend to improve after a time and they did. Dennis called to let us know how his and Leslie's son, Pete, is. Pete's in the hospital (in Ohio) with an unknown ailment that seems to involve his liver. It was good to talk to him and to hear a biopsy was negative for cancer. Then Ray called, just checkin' on his pal, Pat, and I was able to ask him to come tomorrow and change the kitchen light. No problem.
Got the mail and was charmed to receive a note from the daughter of Benji G., a long-ago playmate of Betty's and mine on Rosborough Avenue. He became a doctor like his father, practiced in Hawaii, married Indonesian, and died prematurely at 41 in 1982. The other day, I saw his mother's obit in the paper (she was 92) and sent an e-mail condolence message to the family.
In her note, the daughter wrote that she was "delighted for the contact from someone from my father's childhood" and thanked me for allowing her to "share in the sweet memory of my beloved father."
What a lovely gesture. That and just time brought me out of the doldrums and I'm better. Looking forward to going to Alison's for Joel's birthday celebration tomorrow, although we may have a battle about driving my car there.
After dinner, Ellen and I talked and viewed on the web cam, which gave me a lift, too, of course. Still no word on her condo bid, but she'll let us know as soon as she hears.
* Love this expression, but it isn't original with me. Read it in The Last Angry Man, by Gerald Green, a novel of 40 or so years ago.
Friday, January 04, 2008
After WW, I stayed in most of the day to wait for the oxygen supply person. (Community Surgical delivers the portable tanks every Thursday.) I was a little miffed that Pat went off the the bay and left me to receive them--oh, well.
Old George was operated on yesterday, Pat heard from another bay buddy. He called Deborah (Hospital), but was told George was still in the recovery room and couldn't take calls. Hope he'll be okay soon--and I want to send his card, too.
Discovered that the wreath container thing is defective; it doesn't have the carrying handle the other one does. When we go to Manahawkin today for Pat's radiologist appointment, I'll take it to exchange.
Hey, when I'm reduced to that kind of non-news, things are pretty slow. Oh, one more tidbit: Anne Mary, our erstwhile neighbor, called to 1. thank me for the thank you card and 2. bend my ear for 35 minutes about her latest hospital foray. She's convinced she has pneumonia every time she coughs. It turned out to be a nasal drip, but of course, it's the most serious, spectacular, and non-common nasal drip in medical history and ever discovered on the face of the earth and blah, blah, blah.
On the phone, Anne Mary felt she had to refer to her late, lamented poodle as "the other one" because the live one, Eddie, was nearby and when he hears Carlos' name he misses him more.
There just are no words to comment on that.
Old George was operated on yesterday, Pat heard from another bay buddy. He called Deborah (Hospital), but was told George was still in the recovery room and couldn't take calls. Hope he'll be okay soon--and I want to send his card, too.
Discovered that the wreath container thing is defective; it doesn't have the carrying handle the other one does. When we go to Manahawkin today for Pat's radiologist appointment, I'll take it to exchange.
Hey, when I'm reduced to that kind of non-news, things are pretty slow. Oh, one more tidbit: Anne Mary, our erstwhile neighbor, called to 1. thank me for the thank you card and 2. bend my ear for 35 minutes about her latest hospital foray. She's convinced she has pneumonia every time she coughs. It turned out to be a nasal drip, but of course, it's the most serious, spectacular, and non-common nasal drip in medical history and ever discovered on the face of the earth and blah, blah, blah.
On the phone, Anne Mary felt she had to refer to her late, lamented poodle as "the other one" because the live one, Eddie, was nearby and when he hears Carlos' name he misses him more.
There just are no words to comment on that.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
My misadventures in pursuit of another wreath container remind me of an old Jewish joke. (I like Jewish humor, but I know it isn't for everybody.) Finkelstein goes into a butcher shop to buy some chops and sees they're marked two dollars a pound. "What!" he cries indignantly, "Why, Cohen across the street sells them for a dollar a pound!" "Then why don't you buy them there?" asks the butcher. "I can't," says Finkelstein, "He doesn't have any more."
Well, I think it's funny. The connection with my yesterday is that I picked up a few things at K-Mart and saw they had a long shelf FULL of the same wreath containers that were sold out at two Wal-Marts. The catch was that they were $9.00 and the Wal-Mart one had been on sale for $6.44. I bought one anyway--it was worth the higher cost because I was reminded of the joke and it amused me again.
As one might surmise, yesterday was all about the little this 'n' thats which fill my life. Got containers at the dollar store for Nana Mix I want to give Joel (besides a check). I'll make another batch for Jen, so they can each have their own. Called Marge to wish her happy 2008. She told me she's been able to cut down, then eliminate, her sleep aids and is sleeping fairly well. They used to make her so groggy during the day it was a toss-up whether they were worth taking.
Tomorrow, we go for a consultation with the radiologist at SOCH about Pat's squamous cell cancers. He has several other doctor appointments next week, including with his primary at Fort Dix. These are demoralizing simply because there's nothing else to be done for him aside from what's already prescribed.
And he no longer asks when he might get better.
Later: Lost .4--almost half a pound--for a total of 51.6 and a weight of 148. Not very exciting, but okay. I'm now 7 pounds from my goal weight.
Well, I think it's funny. The connection with my yesterday is that I picked up a few things at K-Mart and saw they had a long shelf FULL of the same wreath containers that were sold out at two Wal-Marts. The catch was that they were $9.00 and the Wal-Mart one had been on sale for $6.44. I bought one anyway--it was worth the higher cost because I was reminded of the joke and it amused me again.
As one might surmise, yesterday was all about the little this 'n' thats which fill my life. Got containers at the dollar store for Nana Mix I want to give Joel (besides a check). I'll make another batch for Jen, so they can each have their own. Called Marge to wish her happy 2008. She told me she's been able to cut down, then eliminate, her sleep aids and is sleeping fairly well. They used to make her so groggy during the day it was a toss-up whether they were worth taking.
Tomorrow, we go for a consultation with the radiologist at SOCH about Pat's squamous cell cancers. He has several other doctor appointments next week, including with his primary at Fort Dix. These are demoralizing simply because there's nothing else to be done for him aside from what's already prescribed.
And he no longer asks when he might get better.
Later: Lost .4--almost half a pound--for a total of 51.6 and a weight of 148. Not very exciting, but okay. I'm now 7 pounds from my goal weight.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Susan and I had just started up Windstar Drive yesterday when two magnificent deer ran across the street a few yards in front of us! It was a nice start to the day.
Betty called and we had good chat and wished each other Happy New Year, of course. Got a nice, newsy note from Patrick; he and his bride saw her parents for traditional new year food and rituals. He also sent new year wishes, as did Alison and Ellen.
Otherwise, same old, tame old. Went back to the Manahawkin Wal-Mart to get another wreath container--of course, they were out of them. Drove all the way to the Mays Landing Wal-Mart, and yes--they were out of them, too. When I go to Toms River to exchange my sporting togs at Modell's, I'll check the Wal-Mart there.
Called the lady for whom I'll be getting library books (even to me, that sounds awkward) and made a date to see her next week.
Called Alison to wish her good luck on the first day of her new job. Said we'd be at her place for a birthday dinner for Joel on Sunday. He'll be 26 and yes, folks, that's my grandson. Sometimes, I forget that myself.
Pat called his bay buddy, "old George," (who's 83; "young George" is about 65). George is in Deborah with heart disease and an aneurysm. Poor guy is really worried--no wonder. He thinks they'll operate on Friday. Hope his sister-in-law, who was with him and is his only relative, knows to talk to a social worker about getting help for him when he gets home.
Betty called and we had good chat and wished each other Happy New Year, of course. Got a nice, newsy note from Patrick; he and his bride saw her parents for traditional new year food and rituals. He also sent new year wishes, as did Alison and Ellen.
Otherwise, same old, tame old. Went back to the Manahawkin Wal-Mart to get another wreath container--of course, they were out of them. Drove all the way to the Mays Landing Wal-Mart, and yes--they were out of them, too. When I go to Toms River to exchange my sporting togs at Modell's, I'll check the Wal-Mart there.
Called the lady for whom I'll be getting library books (even to me, that sounds awkward) and made a date to see her next week.
Called Alison to wish her good luck on the first day of her new job. Said we'd be at her place for a birthday dinner for Joel on Sunday. He'll be 26 and yes, folks, that's my grandson. Sometimes, I forget that myself.
Pat called his bay buddy, "old George," (who's 83; "young George" is about 65). George is in Deborah with heart disease and an aneurysm. Poor guy is really worried--no wonder. He thinks they'll operate on Friday. Hope his sister-in-law, who was with him and is his only relative, knows to talk to a social worker about getting help for him when he gets home.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
It's 2008! Wow!
After my late start yesterday, I galvanized myself and got a lot accomplished--to wit, I took down the Christmas tree and all the other decorations. Although I had donated to the thrift store at least six large boxes full of such decorations, it still took a big portion of the day. However, it was a piece of cake compared to the drudgery of other years, when I had so much. I was pleased, too, that I easily wrapped the tree--only 5 1/2 feet this year, compared to the more-than-9 footer last--and dragged it to the curb. Now I'm ready to take on 2008.
Heard from Alison that she and Mike may run in a race today instead of going on the Atsion Lake hike. They probably won't join the hike to Apple Pie Hill on January 6 that I mentioned yesterday, but I'll sign on for it. Alison invited us up for dinner the same day for Joel's 26th birthday; that will be nice.
I sent my four precious offspring new year greetings and mentioned the obvious: that they're the best part of our lives in any year.
Today, I want to call the woman to whom I'm going to be bringing library books. I'm looking forward to getting to know her. Also, I'm looking forward to conducting the conversational English workshop that starts in February.
An anecdote: When I was in my twenties, I remember figuring out how old I'd be in the year 2000--63, for heaven's sake! It seemed surreal--I just couldn't imagine being that old.
After my late start yesterday, I galvanized myself and got a lot accomplished--to wit, I took down the Christmas tree and all the other decorations. Although I had donated to the thrift store at least six large boxes full of such decorations, it still took a big portion of the day. However, it was a piece of cake compared to the drudgery of other years, when I had so much. I was pleased, too, that I easily wrapped the tree--only 5 1/2 feet this year, compared to the more-than-9 footer last--and dragged it to the curb. Now I'm ready to take on 2008.
Heard from Alison that she and Mike may run in a race today instead of going on the Atsion Lake hike. They probably won't join the hike to Apple Pie Hill on January 6 that I mentioned yesterday, but I'll sign on for it. Alison invited us up for dinner the same day for Joel's 26th birthday; that will be nice.
I sent my four precious offspring new year greetings and mentioned the obvious: that they're the best part of our lives in any year.
Today, I want to call the woman to whom I'm going to be bringing library books. I'm looking forward to getting to know her. Also, I'm looking forward to conducting the conversational English workshop that starts in February.
An anecdote: When I was in my twenties, I remember figuring out how old I'd be in the year 2000--63, for heaven's sake! It seemed surreal--I just couldn't imagine being that old.
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