Saturday, March 19, 2022

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good morning!

Joe, I hope the day settled down.

J22, as you have told me many times, you are free to vent here.  You are not whining and complaining.  I've never had Robaxin but I have had a muscle relaxant when I was having next pain and I couldn't take it during the day, but I did like the sedating effect at night to help lull me to sleep with the pain.  

Dianah, I'm sure you will enjoy the refurbished guitar.  Seems like that's an art.  

Stars, I'm not like your husband at all and usually pack close to the last minute or the night before.  I've traveled so much I don't tend forget things, but even overnight you want to make sure you have everything.  In my younger days I would always forget something like my toothbrush, or deodorant or something.  I know a lot of people that start packing days before they leave...crazy people.  LOL

Ado, it seems like that part of the country has extreme weather.  Does it get real hot where you are in the Summer?

I got a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks from a patient that insisted I take it.  When this happens I take the amount and spend it on treats for coworkers since we are allowed to accept treats but not direct gifts.  It's my way of getting around policy.  I tried out a vegan bakery that's closed on my usual days off Monday and Tuesday.  I bought a total of 12 different items and brought some for our sister floor as well.  With a 15% tip the bill came to $62.  I think inflation is hitting small businesses hard.  I didn't tell anyone it was vegan and they all said how decadent and delicious the treats were and I agreed.

While there I looked at my PTO hours online because I was having trouble pulling it up on home and saw that I was maxed out and not accruing any more time.  So I'm glad to be using up some hours.  We are allowed to have 320 hours which is almost nine weeks.  I'm lucky to be healthy and don't use sick time but on rare occasions.  I can't remember the last time I called in sick but I know it was for a mental health day and not a physical illness.

I accomplished my goal yesterday of getting some CEUs and took a course on acute MI that was 3 hours.  I hope to get more while I'm off.  I have a subscription for CEUs that expires in May and I need a lot to keep up my Med Surg Nurse certification.

I stayed up late reading and didn't sleep all that well with the double dose of Trazadone.  I'm beginning to think insomnia is just my way of life.  I keep reading and hearing more and more research about important eight hours of sleep is but it's not my lot in life.  

Have a great day!

 

 

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

Tweety that was nice of you.  I've heard that sleep requirements are more variable, especially as people age

NJ22 that seems to be common with the relaxants, the sedating effect

Hi Dianah

Stars sounds like you'll both be glad when he's done with this trip

Ado that's cool that you do wildlife rehab

I was hoping work would be calm, but instead I was delayed by computer problems and had a new case on top of it.  Thankfully, while I had to rush a bit and cut lunch short, by the end of the day things were quiet.  Also, my CT license is almost ready, just needs a review.  Still waiting on MA

Met J for dinner as usual at our usual place.  Was kinda a cold and rainy night.  Had a lemon drop martini which was good

Today thankfully it looks like the rain will stop in time for birdwatching this morning.  Will bake an apple pie when I get home, then will have lunch with dad.  Svengoolie has The Ghoul with Boris Karloff, have never seen that so it should be interesting

Think it will be in the 40s today with intermittent rain.  But will be warmer the rest of the week

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I pack like Tweety, but maybe it's because I travel, or used to, fairly often. And I forgot enough things that I know they can usually be replaced, like a toothbrush. Except camping, there are certain must haves, like means to start the gas stove or fire, LOL. 

Yesterday afternoon, I had to drive 30 min. to a meeting, sit for an hour, and then drive back, and that hurt! I took half of a robaxin when I got home and then fell asleep relatively early, but then woke up in the night with a headache again. Now, 12 hours later, I'm still fuzzy. I put whole coffee beans into my french press instead of the grinder. d'oh. I'm going for a run shortly to shake off the woolies. And then dh and I are going to MIL's house to prune her apples trees. I'm still not sure why if she's moving out in May. 

Ado, I had to look up that bird call. Cool. We have towhees around here, but I'm not sure I would recognize their call. 

Tweety, that was kind of you to get treats. I find many vegan options are quite good, and I often choose them when dining out. My old employer used to let you cash out earned time, which I did once for ds's orthodontia, and once for travel. As I got older, I realized taking time off was important. 

I ran into dd on my way back to the office yesterday. She had just dropped off youngest grandson for his ukulele lesson, which he is loving. 

Joe, glad your computer problems got resolved. They can be the devil! 

Ack, Angus is doing the "Feed Me, Tango" in my lap, so got to go. 

 

[Ado Annie, ASN, RN]

Tweety, we do have high temps in the Summer (90s to low 100s mainly). I'm less tolerant of it as I get older but would NOT trade it for Indiana winters again. It is not humid like Florida, though. 

Joe, I'm going to have to try a martini some time. The lemon drop sounds good.

J22, I remember making a drive when I was having sciatic pain and how uncomfortable it was. With nerve pain, nothing really seemed to take the pain away. Meds just made me sleep even though I hurt. 

I am Grandma-sitting today while Hubs sails with a friend. Twin B is here, too. Grandma's mind is getting worse. Sometimes she can't think of the words she wants and what comes out is kind of a word salad. She doesn't think to go to the bathroom so I've herded her there a couple of times. She doesn't remember what to do there, either. I'm sure I'll be cleaning up a mess at some point. *sigh*. When I asked if she needed to go to the bathroom she said "yes, but not in there" why? "Because he makes it that way". OK, well, that's the only choice. 

My mood seems kind of negative this morning whereas yesterday it was really good. Need to clean out the fridge and do some grocery shopping. There's a fellowship meal after church tomorrow and I need to think of something to take even though I'm the only one of the family that will go.  Im re-reading The Princess Bride because it is my book club's selection this month. I love my book club -- started with some nurses I used to work with in "the city". Mostly younger than I am. 

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

J22, sorry the muscle relaxant is causing unpleasant side effects.

Ado, sounds like you have your hands full with grandma.  Is she at least steady on her feet?  Hope your mood improves.  I can relate.

I used to cash out 100 hours a year of PTO, but the 1st set of owners only paid 75% of your pay so I decided not to due that.  I know our new owners cash out, but I don't think it's 100% and you can only cash out at certain times of the year.  If it's not 100% I'm not doing it.  Usually, I take a couple of big vacations a year so it's usually not a problem that I get maxed out.  My issue is that the new owners limit is much lower.   I think organizations have limits because they don't want to pay out large sums when people quit or retire.  

I belonged to a gay men's book club for a couple of years.  Unfortunately the sponsor let the group go, and we did last for a while after they did, but then the leader of the group unexpectedly died from a pulmonary embolism and we couldn't keep it together.  I also did an online book club for a while.

I'm starting a new book tonight about the Prince of Wales falling in love the the American President's son.   While I usually prefer to support gay male writers, it's written by a non-binary person which is a first for me.  It's just a matter of supporting community for me and while a lot of straight women write good gay male fiction I want to support actually gay men writing for gay men.  Kind of narrows it down some but there are some great works of fiction out there in this sub-genre.  

I accomplished my goal of washing the car and next goal is to go to yoga.

 

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Hey-ya'all~

Hubby got started on his drive around 9:30 AM. He called at 1:30 PM and said he was almost there; there had been a wreck which he had to do a long detour around. He was going to pick up the oldest Grand and she was going to show him her and her fiancee's apartment; then on to his dgt's house.

I went to make Nannie a sandwich for lunch and started pulling out all the leftovers -- my gosh, you wouldn't believe!  I don't know how many covered bowls and large baggies I pulled out, tossed foods that could practically TALK, they were so old!. Now I have a stack of stuff to wash, but I am letting it all soak in hot soapy water first.The shelves in the fridge need a scrubbing, too.

Oh, domesticity! If hubby would be good and stay up there for a week or so, I could get this place cleaned up. Between him and his lung problems and me with my various "itis's" we just can't summon the gumpties required to do a lot of the housekeeping. He gets out of breath, and the day after I do a lot, I have to deal with the gypsies complaints. But I see things I could do by breaking down the processes into smaller portions of the cleaning needed. It all takes up a lot of time, which is why I'd like him to stay away for a bit longer. I have a hard time doing certain chores while he is around. He is a 'bad' influence: "You don't need to do that!" -- "Leave that and we'll get it later." -- Plus, he gets to feeling guilty that he isn't as strong or have as much endurance as he used to.

So Nannie's had her lunch, and now, after her trip to the bathroom, she is sitting back in the recliner arranging and re-arranging her shoulder warmer (a large, fluffy, pink scarf with pockets). It has to be 'just so' in order for her to get her hands in the pockets. I am hoping when she gets the arrangement to her liking, she will drop off to sleep!

Okay, it is taking her forever, so I'm not waiting 'til she settles in; I am going up to knock out the dish-washing....and maybe clean off the fridge shelves, which I can do sitting on a chair in front of the fridge.

Most likely I will be back by later on. Hope everyone's Saturday is pleasant. We have a temp of 76 (!) degrees, mostly sunny and very, very windy.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

 ??  Oh, I am just an ol' plumbers daughter, Cleaned out the kitchen sink to drain the stopped-up water...?

It took me about 40 minutes to snake 'em, baking-soda-and-white-vinegar 'em, and I even plunged 'em, too. Then poured in a 1/2 bottle of Goo-Gone and let it sit a while, just to show them I meant business. A few weeks ago hubby did the Liquid Plumber thing, but IMHO it really didn't do much for the slow draining. So, now while he is gone I get to do the stuff he's told me to not bother with.

While I (am about to) clean the shelves in the fridge, I am going to spray a corner of the filthy kitchen floor and let that sit...I used to use Greased Lightning to do that...after the grossness soaks in the cleaner for 20 minutes, you can just wipe it up with paper towels. THEN wash the floor as usual. It is very easy-peasy; if it works with the Mean Green or whatever cleaner it is I found under the sink, I will be a happy camper. 

Back to the scrubbing life.....!

[dianah, ASN]

Wow, No Stars, good on you for being chief cook and cleaner and fridge clearer-out'er!  Maybe, now that he has arrived, you could convince your dh to stay a couple more days??  As long as he is there??  wink-wink

Tweety, hope you got your yoga in today.  Kudos for supporting gay writers! 

Ado, that was my thought too: is Granny steady on her feet?  Hope the day went by quickly and without incident.

nursej22, how is the discomfort today?  SMH about the fuzzy brain and h/a side effects of the Robaxin.  I am disappointed for you! 

Joe, were you able to get in the morning birdwatching?  What kind of apples do you use when you bake apple pie?

I made rye bread grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, with X-sharp cheddar, and we each got half an avocado. 

I paid bills tonite, and we will start the laundry soon (dh didn't do it on Thursday).  Tomorrow we will drive up to the high desert, to Hesperia, and meet J and bassist E at Texas Roadhouse restaurant, and have some good food and chit-chat, before handing over the guitar to J.

Friday I got a (pre-arranged) call from Social Security.  The call was arranged a couple weeks ago, just to touch base with SS re: looming retirement date.  The person I talked to was very personable and knowledgeable, and helped clear up a number of questions.  I don't even know what to ask, but she filled me in!  Everything is pretty well squared away, and I should receive my first SS check in mid-April. 

Dh commented that whenever HE has had to call SS, -- while sometimes there is a long wait time to connect with someone -- the staff are invariably courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful.  Kudos to Social Security employees!

OK, better get the laundry started.  Have a good evening!

[Ado Annie, ASN, RN]

Grandma does OK with walking though she's getting more hesitant about it and starting to want to hold on to furniture (we have a walker but she hasn't really needed it around the house. That may be changing). Part of the problem is that our dogs seem to always be in the way (and they're old, too). I tend to take her by the hand and walk with her. The guys just expect her to get up and go. At her tallest she was about 5'1" and she weighs maybe 110 lbs. 

The day went pretty well. Hubs had a good time sailing. It's never without challenges but all was good. We all started to watch Murder on the Orient Express but got interrupted by a phone call and then it was starting to get late and Twin A has to get up early to get to work so we delayed the rest of the movie until tomorrow evening.