Saturday October 28 2023

No Stars In My Eyes · Oct 28, 2023

Another 80 degree day, with sun that "sure is bright!" The leaves are changing now; of course it's nothing like up in the mountains or in New England, but they still are pretty in some areas. Our ground-hog is fat-FAT-FAT! so she/he ought to be fine over the Winter, such as it is down here. It really covers the entire yard eating anything and everything. Momo is not thrilled with it coming onto the patio, but she is definitely not interested in chasing it. She just barks out a warning if she sees it.

Right now there are two squirrels scratching at the corner of the back door.....either they want to come IN, or they are protesting the lack of bird-seed and deer-corn. I will go give them something, because having squirrels scratching at the door is STRANGE! You can actually see where they have created a rather large scratched out space in the wooden doorjamb, so I have to figure out what to put there that will discourage any further attempts at breaking in! Have to search on line about that in a minute.

The woman who said she's retired, so ANYTIME I need her to sit with Nannie and Momo, just give her a call...........welp, this is the second time in two weeks I have had to prod her to give me an answer, one way or the other. And her answer was that she couldn't do it next week. Maybe her dgt who lives across the street can sit for me during the hour it would take to get my hair washed and trimmed. In a way, I kind of don't want to ask her because I'm afraid she'll give her mother hell for bowing out. Not sure their relationship isn't fraught with troubles,( like maybe her mom is alcoholic?) but, I gotta do what I gotta do. I'll let you know how that turns out. I know I could take Nannie with me, though I don't want to; I'm not sure how the hairdresser would feel about the dog, even if it was in a carrier/crate. It's just a one-chair shop, but any inspectors might just drop in at any time, and I don't want her to lose her license because I had to bring my dog!

The shredding event had been listed two ways: Saturday the 29th between 9 and 11 AM....and Sunday the 29th, during those same hours. I wasn't sure if they made an error on the day or the date, so I decided I'd better get up early today and go check it out. Alas, no one was there, so I'm guessing (hoping!) it will be tomorrow AM. You are allowed 5 trash bags full. They also take old meds and old electronics/phones. I emptied out the bathroom linen closet of all the sprays and inhalers hubby was using, and the meds he doesn't need any more (but there is nothing "good" I could use ??). I am 'talking' to so many people now I don't know if I am repeating myself endlessly or what! But, what I was going to say was that this shredding event is free, as opposed to UPS which charges $1.49/pound. Free is MUCH beddah!

I found a statement about the life insurance Nannie took out on her sons.....but I don't know if, as hubby's survivor, I get the $$$ or if his Mom does; I have no idea of who the beneficiary is.

The bug people want either $549 or $995 for a maintenance agreement. YIKES! The smaller amount just covers outside perimeter spraying, and I'd be more inclined to do that one, but gotta see what BiL says about it. We had to call them in because Nannie said (several years ago) that she heard termites in the walls. I really believe it was/is that was a form of whatever "itis" it is when ya hear something that's only in yer head. (NOT schizophrenia! ?)

So, I am having to do another laundry of Nannie's sheets and blankets. If ONLY she would not make the bed up in the middle of the night when she gets up to use the bathroom, this problem would be eliminated. Gets up, makes the bed over the already wet underpad, then sits on the bed to put on her slippers, handily transferring the pee all the way through the intervening layers! Then when she comes back from the bathroom, she lays down on the already made bed and pulls an afghan over herself. She said, when I tried again to explain to her why I wish she would not make her bed in the middle of the night, "I thought it felt kind of wet." DUH. Life with a 'demented' MiL....well, Ado knows what I am saying! Only diff is that Nannie doesn't cuss like Gma does!

Both Nannie and Momo are conked out sleeping, so it is nice and quiet. I LOVE when things are quiet here!

Okay, got to look up squirrel deterrents. ....

.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Oct 28, 2023

Sis is awaiting a lap chole. A stone blocking the duct. The plan was to do it today but because of emergencies coming in they might not be able to get it done today.

I can't remember if nephew said they'd do it tomorrow or wait for Monday. Something about maybe placing a drain in the meantime.

No Stars In My Eyes · Oct 28, 2023

Squirrels do not like any kind of red chili pepper powder, or garlic powder. I couldn't find any steel wool to saturate with those powders. I found a plastic mesh cover that used to be a dish scrubber with sponge inside of it, but the sponge has disintergrated. So I wet it, poured on the powders, BUT.... down in the shed, of all the little plastic drawers to hold nails and things....all but ONE of them had screws! I found a few slightly long nails, but they aren't long enough to be holding in the weak wood there. I did, however jam that piece of stinko mesh into the hole, which is a lot deeper than I thought it was. Aren't men supposed to keep, like, ten-penny nails with their tools? I suppose that for now, what I put there will do. And I can get some steel wool and LONG nails the next time I go out. Or how about two sided gorilla-glue brand tape? Or heck, I dunno, it probably needs the rotten, scratched wood removed and replaced with good solid wood, but that's not my department. *sigh*

I made up a spray bottle with water and the things ants don't like (peppermint oil and cinnamon) It also said they don't like cloves, but guess what? The whole cloves get in the spray tube and won't let any liquid through; I will have to strain the stuff and try, try again.

I am not much of a Do-It-Yourself-er but I can approximate things for a temporary 'fix'. Bet it will make BiL REALLY happy when I point it out to him! (Hey, it ain't MY house!)

3 PM and I once again don't feel like doing jack-sh**t!

Not having any luck finding a sitter so I can get my hair trimmed next week. Oh well, I'll live.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2023

Hi. It's bright and a little chilly here. There was frost on the grass this morning. I did go for a little bike ride yesterday, and am going again shortly. The power that the bike has makes the hills so much easier, but it only kicks in when I pedal, and I control the amount, so I'm still getting a bit of a work out. We ate canned stew last night, and pulled out some homemade dinner rolls from the freezer to go with it. dh's cough is much better today, and he's not complaining about being cold, so hopefully his crud is on the way out. And I will avoid catching it.

Sis and I went to lunch yesterday, and she caught me up on her medical stuff, which is basically, no change. Her MRI was normal for her age. Next she is to see an ENT for possible inner ear problems but the earlier appointment is in December. And she goes back to see the neurologist in January. So no answers, no improvement in loss of balance. Bah. She reached out to cardiology to get scheduled for trading out her pacer for a pacer/defibrillator. She is getting discouraged at feeling yucky for so long. I can't say as I blame her. She has some more PT to help strengthen her leg.

I gave the dogs a bath this morning, and trimmed their front nails. They were very resistant, so I'll try the back ones later. I should gather up paper and cardboard for recycling. We seem to accumulate a lot of boxes and I seem to be the only one in the house who can flatten them and take them out to the bin. Oh well, I guess that's why they keep me around.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Oct 28, 2023

J22, I hope they get to the bottom of your sister's balance problems. It has bothered me a little because before BIL was diagnosed with ALS his primary problem was frequent falls. But that was weakness, not balance.

So no surgery today for my sister, and they're letting her eat. And she actually wants to, so that's progress.

We have a Gma sitter coming and Hubs and I are going to the party in the biergarten.

Sooners lost to Kansas so no longer undefeated. And Kansas is unranked. And a conference team. ?

nursej22, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2023

Huskies, who are undefeated, play Stanford at 4 today.

No Stars In My Eyes · Oct 28, 2023

My BiL told me to expect a couple of cops to come by the house tomorrow to serve papers. It has to do with the new, official guardianship; same thing happened to the brother when Nannie switched to hubby as her POA. BiL didn't want me to freak out; and if they come early, and wake me from a sound sleep, they would freak me out!

Monday I have to start making phone calls again, insurance and other such BS. Prolly should crawl under the bed to try to unearth our marriage certificate and my birth certificate, and I don't know what-all else. All of this nonsense is starting to really, REALLY depress me.