Saturday January 20th 2024

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2024

Good morning!

Joe, you seem disciplined with your exercise program. Hope you have a good weekend.

Ado, my late Ellie had a murmur her whole life. Eventually it did lead to heart failure but she made it two years comfortably on medication. I would watch her respirations and make sure she was okay. On her last day she looked real good, until she wasn't and deteriorated rapidly as it turns out her kidneys gave out. She was 13.

It's a chilly 48 degrees here and with a high of 55 not a good day. Going to try to get some housework done but otherwise lay low.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 20, 2024

Good Morning, for 2 more minutes, and then Good Afternoon!

It is 29 tropical degrees, and will get up to between 33 and 35 today. LOTS of sun, though. Let's get on our bathing suits and slather on the tanning lotion! ? w00t?

Not sure of what I will be doing today; something INSIDE, whatever it is! I forgot to look for a waterproof mattress pad yesterday when I was at Walmart, but it's not worth going out for. Maybe Nannie will take a nice after-breakfast nap. I can do dishes, make my bed, and putter around upstairs some more. If she sinks deeply asleep, I can go up and trim my hair. It takes a while to do that. I trimmed my bangs the other day, but with my hair longer, it elongates my face 'n I donut like it. Looking forward to the day when I don't have to do Nannie duty every single morning, but not wishing anything 'bad' to happen to her. Just want some respite, maybe I could loll around in my bathrobe; maybe find an old, or an action movie on TV. (That and a million dollars would be nice!)

Since it is Saturday, I can't call the Health Dept in SC and light a fire under someone's butt. Nor can I go to the lawyer's office, but this next week I will do both of those things. I want to change my will and my executrix.

Do you know we STILL haven't heard a single thing from the step-daughter, not even a phone call to Nannie to mouth the treacle-y toned words, "I love you Nannie." Actually, this is typical of her, to ignore our existence, and I really don't mind NOT having to deal with her. I thought about sending her a text, like 'how are you doing?' and 'do you have a lot of snow?'.....you know, just to jolt her a little, but what for? I'm fine with her silence.

Guess I should just get Nannie up and get it over with, so I can get on with my day.

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 20, 2024

I decided to go ahead and trim my hair. Just after I went upstairs I turned on the light in the bathroom, and there wasn't any lights coming on. Hmmm. A few minutes later, my cell phone rang; I was sort of expecting it to be a neighbor checking with me to see if we lost our electricity too. Nope, it was Spectrum, telling me that there was a power outage and they expected the outage to be 'fixed' in about two hours.

Because of the outage, I nixed the idea of trimming my hair.(TMI: My 'method' is: I drape a sheet over the sink and floor, get nekkid, and cut my hair while standing on the sheet. My hair goes everywhere, ie, doesn't come off in 'locks' or sections as I cut it. Each little hair takes its own path to the floor. When I am satisfied that I am through with the trim, I brush more hair off my face, shoulders and chest as best I can, roll up the hairy sheet, and get in the shower to get rid of the hairs that wouldn't be brushed off. Later I take the sheet outside to shake the hair off of it [ not against the wind ! ] before putting it in the washing machine.)

So, the electricity stayed off for two hours, and I had added a sweat-shirt over my clothes, covered Nannie with another afghan, and snuggled with Momo. It got QUITE chilly in here! The power did come back on within the two-hour time frame Spectrum gave the repair. Now I have touched up the thermostat and turned the electric fire back on (set on high for a little while) and I am waiting for the house temp to get back up to a tolerable level of warmth. Not sure yet if I'm going to do the hair-cutting or not.

Nannie just pulled up out of a deep sleep and tried twice to ask me a question, but her eyes weren't really able to open much, and the so-called words she was trying to say were incomprehensible. I said, "Just go back to sleep; it's not time for anything yet." She said, "Okay." and within 45 seconds she was out like a light again. ? .... Nice !

Now to decide about the hair trimming....

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2024

Hi. I'm not accomplishing much today. Washed some clothes, now waiting for the dryer to finish. I went for a long walk. Normally Saturday is my "long" jog day, but I didn't feel safe due to bit of ice on the road. For once I can't blame neighbors for not shoveling walks, as the plows have had to push so much snow that sidewalks is buried in chunks of ice. The temp is around 40, warm enough to melt, but not create lakes of water.

My last 2 bosties had heart murmurs. The vet surmised that Millie had a ruptured chordae tendinae, and she lingered about a month. I wish I would have put her down, but the vet seemed to think we should keep treating. She died in dh's lap. Angus had a murmur for about 2 years, and didn't seem to have trouble, until one day he couldn't get up. A different vet still wanted to keep treating, but it was time.

We've been getting emails and texts about encouraging gas and electric conservation. I think the natural gas depot south of here is still having trouble. At least the frigid temps have abated.

Regarding India, former coworker who traveled there was in Hyderabad, and was struck by the mix of crowding and extreme poverty next to huge construction of high rises and highways. I guess one could say the same thing about unhoused people camping on the sidewalks of major US cities.

Our favorite pizza place is open for the first time in 4 days, so I think we will support local business and get pizza and salad for dinner! I have an itch to bake, but not sure what it will be.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 21, 2024

When I made the rice dish, I realized I had forgotten to buy the friend onion rings, for the topping. I added some onion powder to the recipe, and then crushed some Ritz crackers and mixed them with melted butter, and used that for the topping. It'll be different!!

We watched Zoom Sabbath School, then two episodes of The Chosen. I read a little. It's been a quiet, rainy day -- a steady sprinkling, with snow in the mountains. It will rain through Monday.

Have a nice evening!

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 21, 2024

Watching HGTV, with many adenoidal, whining people who never seem satisfied and disagree about Modern vs Traditional. Something I noticed with the young people is that so many wanted a new house that "nobody has ever lived in." because they were afraid of other people's germs. And a house built before they were ever born...it is too old!

25 minutes until it is Nannie's bedtime! Haven't heard from SiL, who told me two days ago she'd probably give Nannie a bath on Sunday. But the frigid weather is going to continue, so she may not take Nannie over to her house. I don't care if she stays here as long as I can go upstairs and putter, without being needed downstairs. Even if I bang nails into the wall to hang photos, just pretend I am NOT HERE!

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2024

Got a text about 4 am that the med/surg unit was admitting its 7th or 8th patient with only one nurse and one aide on the schedule. So I worked all day. The manager was able to get a 2nd nurse for tonight and tomorrow (by offering an additional $25/hr). When I left tonight there were 9 patients. Somehow missed some new orders on one of the patients and felt bad about that.

Hubs told me he didn't accomplish anything today. But I pointed out that his mom is still alive and is clean, dressed, and fed so he really did accomplish something. Twin A is down about being passed over for a team lead position at the zoo. It is the 3rd time he has applied and not been chosen. I think he has decided to move on.