Weather / Car / Clutter / Health

Everyone is talking about the weather and absolutely no one is complaining.  May 11^th we hit 63° with the past eight days (today being the 22nd) in the upper 70s to mid 80s with low dew point/humidity.  Daffodils are out, blooms are on the fruit trees, we brought out the patio chairs last weekend and sit out on the deck every evening after work.  Life is good.  Why am I in the house typing this?  Hold on, I’m moving outdoors.  I should be paying royalties to the dudes that came up with wireless routers.    

We picked up our new car a month ago, 2012 Honda CRV.  We used to say the ash tray is full - time to turn it in.  But they don’t put ash trays in cars anymore.  He wanted white this time.  What a difference the light color makes with regard to interior temperatures.  With the dark brown RAV4, we would have the air conditioner on if it was sunny and 67°.  We went to lunch today, it’s sunny and 80°, he didn’t turn the air on. 

We are in full de-cluttering mode.  Past two weekends we have gone through every closet.  Those evening dresses from Christmas parties and weddings years ago, suit coats from when Jack was a Controller, shoes he buys and doesn’t like after all, all getting donated.  I’m good about my daily clothes and shoes.  If they haven’t been worn in the last two years, out it goes.  However, I was surprised how many of the shirts and pants that “these would be good for working in the yard” I had accumulated and had to reduce the size of. 

Today and part of tomorrow will be the basement.  Neighbor is taking the two area rugs that have been rolled up since we moved in.   He wants to keep the snow skis.  I’m to check with Steve and family if they want the bowling balls, however I have half a notion to keep them.   Gone will be the three pictures that are still boxed up from when we had everything stored for the year we were in Europe.  Gone will be knick-knacks, spice rack, paper towel holder, baskets that I no longer recall where they came from, tacking looking fake flowers, and anything else that hasn’t been looked at in the 12 ½ years we have been in this house.   

Keeping the scales that Chick and Mary brought back from Spain.  That eventually goes to Mary.  Keeping the Monopoly game we bought in the late 70s that has never been opened.  Keeping the three boxes of books from Jack’s college days.    AND keeping the 33rpm album of the Russian Symphony.  Yep, Russian.  The cover is a photo of the whole orchestra; all of them in their brown comrade uniforms with red accents.   What a hoot.  We have a stack of old 33rpm albums from either the house in Hudsonville or maybe it was the house in Ada.  They were in a bunch of boxes of basic junk that the former owner left in the basement for us to deal with.   Oh, and we’re keeping all of Thom and Dar’s stuff.

Health wise, we are doing okay all things considered especially the getting older part.  We both avoided (so far) the flu that went around the office a couple of weeks ago.  Haven’t even caught a cold this season – knock on wood.

Jack’s energy level is down again.  He started getting the B12 shots every four weeks since February, but they aren’t kicking in like they did in the past.  He naps in the morning, and most afternoons, goes to bed around 7:30 or 8pm.  I can tell when he’s taken an afternoon nap; he will read and is able to stay up until 9pm.  Even walking around Sears for a humidifier filter wore him out a couple weeks ago.

I’m having problems with the ligaments/tendons on my right thumb.  I’ve gotten a better wrist pad, wearing my watch on my left hand, and started taking fish oil.   These have made for a noticeable difference.  There isn’t the constant aching that makes me walk around the office with my hand under my left arm pit or massaging it.  Now it will hurt if I extend the thumb outwards, or like this, where I’m typing for a longer than normal time.   

In the past couple of months the dog has shown signs of aging too in that he has to work at getting up and is very stiff walking once he does.  In this weather, he often sleeps on the tile in the kitchen.  Monday he tried to get up and his feet would slip.  He would yip at Jack until Jack finally helped him up.  I think Jack was more upset than the dog; he called me at work to tell me.  I’m just glad Jack didn’t fall on his butt.  Yet, when we go to the vet in October it will be he’s the healthiest 13 year old dog the vet has seen in a long time….

Kirk and Amy are doing good.  Both are still working six days a week.  We almost went out to visit them, but we decided to wait for when we can spend more time with them than just a Sunday.

Kathy (Indermuehle) is all settled in Norfolk, VA.  All ties to Florida are gone with the exception of friends.  The last being her cell phone number is now Norfolk.  She is definietley enjoying time with Bobbie Sue and her family.

The Big News & Stuff

First the Big News:  On New Year’s Eve son, Kirk, and the lovely Amy were officially engaged.  They have decided since this is the second marriage for the both of them, no formal wedding, they will meet up with the Justice of the Peace on one of their trips back home to Tennessee.  We’re very happy for the both of them.   Congrats.

And now the stuff from little notes I've accumulated the past few months:

Jack bought his first pair of blue jeans in 15 maybe 20 years.  Late this fall we had a cold snap and he kept saying his legs were cold.  Well, a blanket or throw wasn’t an option so I suggested blue jeans.  He bought one pair to test them out and then a second pair a couple of weeks later.  He’s as content as can be.

On the way home from work one afternoon in October, there was an ever so slight rain/sprinkle.  I noticed the windshield was a little dusty so I hit the windshield washer a couple of times.  It was then that the motorcycle that I forgot was behind me backed off and then zipped past me.  Apparently, at 45 miles an hour there was some spray that went up over the roof.  I’m usually conscious of them, but it’s October!  The forecast was for rain!

Since football is the top of importance for many people two observations:

- Very few football players wear mustaches.  Why is that?  A lot of long hair, but not the mustache.

-Raven’s played this afternoon.  I'm thinking the all black pants were a tad too feminine looking.  With no stripe down the sides they looked like a bunch of guys in ladies’ black leotards.

Our college bowl tally ended up with Jack beating me by two games again this year.  He had 23 out of the possible 35 and I had 21.  We choose the same teams in all but 10 games.

With a lot of snow and finally some sun makes the sunglasses come out.  I’m not too sure I like the white frames guys have been wearing in this area.

I love my Toyota RAV4.  However, in snowy conditions it can be annoying. 

  -It has an idiot light that flashes if the tires slip.  Like, I can’t tell from the ziiiipppp sound?

  -There is an idiot light that flashes when the anti lock brakes kick in.  Like, I can’t tell from the quick thump-thump-thump noise that they make? 

  -And then there is the worse; the beep-beep when skidding.  I turned a corner and then another 20 yards up intended to turn into a driveway so there really was no speed involved-maybe going 15mph.  Even with the front tires turned to the right the car kept heading straight ahead.  I knew without the beep I was in a little skid.  Dang beeping drew my attention to the dashboard more than to what direction the car was going.  Oi vey.

Bummed that the Packer’s forgot to show up to the game last weekend.  Rooting for the 49ners tonight.

Jack and I have avoided flues and colds that have been going around (so far).  I always end up getting one cold that puts me in bed for a couple of days asking not to be disturbed hoping death come quickly.

Christams Shopping and #2 Hand Update

Jack’s hand is really looking good.  He hasn’t put a bandage on at night since Sunday.   There is a rectangular bruise about 1 ½ to 2 “ x 1 to 1 ½ “ and within it is a big ugly scab about 1” long, ½” wide.  The rest of the hand looks normal.  He still thinks it isn’t healing quickly enough.  I’m surprised it is as good as it is.

I’m using my last day of vacation time today.  We did the breakfast thing and then it was off to do Christmas shopping for the two of us.  This year might be the last year we do this.  It used to be that we would shop on a couple of Saturdays, he’d have the car, and we would buy each other 8 to 10 presents.  But as the years go by, it’s harder and harder to come up with ideas.  We are at the point in life if we need something we go buy it and there isn’t really much of anything that we need in the first place.  Making a list and handing it to each other just looses that surprise factor. 

Back to the shopping.  In early November we said we would make a day of it, go up to Grand Rapids to the big mall, do lunch out towards Cascade to see the old neighborhood.  Won’t that be fun?  Oh, the fond memories of the days of planning and shopping for hours.  We were excited.

Now it’s reality. He tuckers out after a couple of hours.  It’s raining.  Do we really want to drive all the way up there in the rain for a couple of hours in a big mall?  Change of plans, staying on the home front.  Here’s of list of 5 things, pick 3 of them.  One item on my list was a Lands’ End cardigan.  I don’t think he made it out of Sears. 

I’m a planner.  Knew what the 3 things were that I was getting him.  Knew what store.  I even bought myself a pair of black shoes in the 40 minutes it took to get it all done.  JC Penny $10 off coupon - Couldn’t resist.

We had said we would meet in an hour and then decide if we needed more time.  Like I said, I was done in 40 minutes.  He was slowly walking towards the designated area, he looked beat.  We decided on lunch and head home.  By 2pm we both were napping.    

What has started as the new Christmas season tradition is picking winning teams for the bowl games.  Two years ago I picked more winners than he did.  Last year he picked more.  I base my choices on location not on statistics.  Have I been to that city or state?  Did I like it there?  Would I like to go visit that city or state?  Do I like the school colors?  The important things.  Wins and losses, over-rated.

Rose bowl is the biggy.  Of course I’m for Wisc, but we have family attending Michigan State, so they are 2^nd for me, 1^st for Jack.  And as long as it’s either Wisc or a Michigan team and never Ohio State, life is good at the Rose Bowl.  Too bad the Big Ten lets us down more often than not.

Western Michigan plays Purdue in The Little Caesars Bowl.  Those are the good games.  Jack graduated from Western; Jack’s grandson-in-law is a Purdue Alumnus.  Perfect, we can’t lose.

The Armed Forces Bowl that neither Armed Forces team plays in, but Brigham Young and Tulsa do.  I picked Brigham Young - I’d like to see Utah.  Tulsa - tornadoes and flat.  No thank you.

Update to Jack's Hand

It's healing.  At his followup visit, his regular doctor said to leave it get air at least 6 hours a day and no need to return unless there is a problem.  He takes the bandage off during the day so it's actually off a good 12 hours.  And putting fresh on at night. Or like this morning when we went grocery shopping and later out to lunch he left the bandage on so that his coat wouldn’t rub against it. 

As I had said, it looked like a page from a book.  The part of the skin that was near what would be the binding (towards his little finger) has healed the most.  It's the center that still looks yucky, but even that is a lot better than it was.  All the red rawness is gone.

Jack's Hand

Last Wednesday evening, the 16^th, Jack had somehow scrapped a good 2” x 3” top layer of skin off the top of his left hand.  The skin was folder over like the page of a book.  It was awful looking. There was a small amount of bleeding along one side.  Of course he said it was okay, no need to have it cleaned up and looked at.  I taped it up.

Thursday morning I said we should go out to breakfast and then stop at the intermediate care/med station.  No, not necessary.  He calls me at work that afternoon and agreed to go after work.  We get there and it’s a two hour wait.   He said no thanks, that he’d call his doctor on Friday and get a same day appointment.  Sure.

Friday, his doctor is booked, BUT Jack knows he shouldn’t wait any longer as it was starting to hurt worse and constant.  Hurray!  That is, hurray that he agreed, not hurray it hurts.  The med station is part of the facility both our doctors are in.  The doctors rotate covering days in the med station and if they have a same day cancellation, they fill it with a med station patient.  Guess who had a same day cancellation?  His doctor!

Dr Dandouis said it was getting infected and good he had not waited any longer.  He cleaned it up, gave us some non-stick sterile pads, and a prescription for an antibiotic.  His instructions were to take the bandage off every day, leave the wound exposed to air for at least an hour, and then cover with new sterile pad with Neosporin on it.  He also wanted to see him again in a week.

Last night we both thought it looked the best it had been.  Up to then Jack was getting concerned that it wasn’t healing.  It just looked so raw.  With being older and a diabetic healing can be longer than normal and problematic. 

This morning he woke up and said the hand hurt, thinking maybe he slept on it or did something to it at night.  By mid morning it was still hurting.  After lunch he took then bandage off to do his daily airing and asked me to look at it because it looked different.  Oh did it ever.  There was a 2” long, ½” wide light-greeny-yellowish colored glob along the edge of a portion of the original top layer skin the doc had placed back over where it should be.  It’s infected.  He didn’t think so.  I walked away thinking if he doesn’t change his mind in 10 minutes, I’m calling my sister.  He agreed to another trip.

Today is Thanksgiving.  I was half way through putting together the pumpkin pie.  I called to make sure they were open, turned off the oven, and we’re off.  I went in with Jack this time.  Doc said he didn’t think it was infected.  He took some gauze and started dabbing it.  He said if it was an infection it would be liquid and stick to the gauze.  This did not.  What we were seeing wasn’t puss, it was granulation of the wound, the wound healing.  I’m wrinkling my nose, oh yuck; I really don’t handle this type of stuff well at all.  I told him I can’t touch that even with gauze.  He laughed and said he could tell.  Jack chuckles and said I’m not the nurse in the family.  At least I didn’t get light headed and have to sit down.

Good and bad news.  It wasn’t infected, which was good.  But, I was wrong about his needing to go to the med station and that probably is bad.  My fear is he will be stubborn about going because I’ve been wrong.  Jack? Stubborn? BUT, he wants to keep tomorrow’s appointment and that too is good.

Doc Visit Updates / More signs of Winter

Both the dog and Jack had semi-annual doctor visits in October.

We noticed a small red growth on the lower right corner of Česky’s left eye for the past few weeks.  Since it could be any number of things, it would be best if he cut it out and sent it to Michigan State University for analysis.  Because this would require putting the dog under anesthesia within seven months of the last time, he needed to have tests done to be sure his kidneys at 10 years of age could handle it again.   He did more extensive blood work this time.  Test came back great.  Surprisingly good for a dog his age.  One of the healthiest dogs he’s seen in a long time.  Lucky us.

The following week and one small snip later it was done, along with a little teeth brushing and nail trimming while he was sedated.  Results came back this week that it was just a slight infection.  Vet had given his eye a real good look over and doesn’t feel that there is any infection in the eye outside that growth, which is good because that dog wouldn’t let me put drops in his eye without taking my hand off.

Jack’s semi-annual tests also came back real good.  Good enough that he no longer needs to take Lipitor.  His cholesterol has been way down for the past few years.  He was taken off it a couple months before this appointment to see how much of a change there was between then and now.  That just leaves him on insulin, Vasotec, and an aspirin.  He doesn’t have high blood pressure, actually just the opposite.  They have him take it as a blood thinner. 

More signs of winter are the gloves on the table.  I have brown and black pairs and take the appropriate one depending upon what coat I wear.  Haven’t pulled out a winter coat yet, but these gloves had to come out.

It has been an unusual for fall colors.  The Maple out front just started turning colors this past week.  The Ash next to it has been bare for the past 2-3 weeks.  Bradford Pears in the neighborhood are late to turn this year also.

I have to get a hold of Kirk.  We read where they are under a winter storm warning this weekend with the worst being heavy wet snow and the problems that can create.

No new news from the Prague or Troy Hubbells. 

Learning from Elder / Books / Tigers / Family

Been awhile, so this is rather long.

Family:

Kirk called last night.  Northern New York is still on the wet side; they were having a reprieve Friday.  It doesn’t look like they will have more than Thanksgiving Day off.  Too soon to tell how much time they will have off at Christmas.  We are planning on going to Beaver Dam for Christmas this year so fingers crossed that they get a couple/three weeks and then could hit Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Mary and Nick are back from the annual senior baseball tournaments in St. George UT.  Mary said it was good weather and great views; however Nick’s team didn’t win this year.  Bummer.

Tigers:

When we lived in Lawrenceville, Georgia we really got into watching the Atlanta Braves.  We even went to a couple of games.  Back then, Joe Torre was the manager.  That’s how long ago it was.

Detroit Tigers had been doing really good so we thought we’d start watching them.  We tried a few times in August, but had a hard time of it.  There is so much pre-pitch wiggling, waggling, practice swinging by the batter that it took forever between pitches.

We gave it another try during the playoffs.  Not any better, if not worse.  Me, I started people watching during the various games. This is the playoffs.  Win the series and your team is in the World Series.  So how can a 60ish gentleman, sitting in the 2^nd row behind the batter’s box, in a sweater looking like Mr. Rogers, be nodding off?  There was a guy that could pass for Mickey Rooney’s brother.  In another game there were two women about 3 rows up having talk fest.  I mean looking at each other totally oblivious to the crowd noise of a hit or bad call.  That had to be one piece of juicy gossip.  Men would kill for those seats and here are two women jaw-jacking.

Books We Are Reading:

I haven’t been checking out books from the library due to the Nook.  However, in the library last week, I noticed a Pearl S. Buck “Letter from Peking” in large print.  A very good book.  Doesn’t top Good Earth or Three Daughters of Madam Lang, still I don’t think she wrote a bad book. 

Jack picked up books at the library from Charles Cumming, Robert Crais, and Steve Berry.  He’s into espionage-ish / thriller stuff.  About a year ago I started keeping the check out slips that lists the author and title.  That got cumbersome. Then the idea hit me to buy a pocket size address book.  I started writing down the books he has checked out so I have an alphabetical list of the dozen or so authors he likes that is easy to carry.  Yes, I could put it on the computer, but there are times when handwritting them down is easier and quicker than firing up a computer, opening a program, opening a document, entering, printing out a list, and saving.  Maybe it's just me.

Never Too Late To Learn From The Elder:

I’ve never liked yellow flowers.  A couple of years ago Dar mention using yellow in flower beds.  After Jack mentioned I’m using a little too much pink, I picked up a bunch of yellow cone flowers just before Dar and Thom visited.  She suggested we plant most of them in front of the Russian Sage.  Damn, that was a good mix.

Or the value of pruning shrubs short.  My Clematis’ have been doing terrific for years due to a hardy annual pruning.   But it wasn’t until she trimmed back the new Nine-Bark and Viburnum that I really saw the benefit.

Then there is the benefit of not just for sightseeing, but also for shopping that a small purse with a long strap that can be put over the head and across the body is handy.  Dar and Thom are into traveling light. 

And the microwave of 2 cups of water with 4-6 ounces of pasta for 10 minutes.  Summer is the time for salads, but heating up the kitchen to boil the pasta was counterproductive.  I was boiling the pasta at night for the next day up until now.

Who knew there was much to learn from the elders?

Football:

Notre Dame has Jack really grumbling tonight.  They are playing USC and…not doing well.  Western Michigan lost to Eastern Michigan no less.  Here’s hoping Wisconsin and Tennessee win to even things out.