Tuesday September 19th 2023

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2023

Good morning!

Joe, hope today is better for you. Sounds like you have some fun social engagements on the horizon.

I find myself handling job stress better but not always. I sometimes have to stop myself from getting overwhelmed, frustrated and even angry.

Today I meet my new doctor. I hope she's a good fit since she was recommended by my old doctor. She's my first female doctor. She's a DO which I'm not sure how that will play into her treatment of me. I hope she doesn't mess with my sleeping medications. Some doctors I know don't like benzos which really are supposed to be for the short term but I take them at least on work nights and they help. Blood pressure is 135/85 this morning, so will probably be high at her office. Hope I can still manage it with diet and lifestyle but work stress and insomnia is my guess for why it stays high.

Anyway, that's TMI. Afterwards I need to go back to the vet and pick up their flea-tick-heartworm pills that they didn't have when I was there but got a supply later. I'll see if I can schedule their dental cleanings and get back on a plan that includes it if it's not to expensive monthly.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 19, 2023

Howdy, howdy!

I thought it was Monday...but it isn't. So at noontime I realized I had missed my 11 AM appt. w/ my psychologist! To tell you the truth I didn't really want to go to that appt. so I guess subconsciously I managed to miss it. I will have to pay for it, but OH WELL! I have another appt already scheduled for 10/5 anyway, so all's well that ends well.

Now I have to go to the bank and grocery store. I'll get Nannie a sub sandwich for breakfast/lunch while I am out. Then I have to come back and do my room, which I didn't do yesterday. Slathered a bunch of Lidocaine Roll-on to my thighs and hips. Don't know why they ache in the morning.

Got to go. Tawk wif youse laydah...

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 19, 2023

Hello all!

Wow, Joe, you really had to hustle to get that work pile-up taken care of! Good you are back on track. And, good you have a lot to look forward to, on your social calendar. Trying any new recipes this week?

Tweety, hope your appointment/meeting your new MD goes well. First impressions? (hope your BP stayed low, too) You are such a good doggy-dad!

No Stars, hope your aches and pains fade away soon. And yes, even changing a toilet seat can be challenging!! Some of us (speaking of myself) are not inclined to be handy, even though at work I was! Thanks for the tip re: Jan Karon's book series. I really enjoyed her Mitford series, years ago. I may have to order this new one for my Kindle...

Yesterday we dressed dapper and went to Disneyland. Had a good day walking around (phone app: 8100 steps; smart watch app: 10,100 steps), hearing bands play, visiting with friends who play in the bands, visiting with other park attendees. Didn't go on any rides (we usually don't). Long lines for the train around Disneyland park discouraged us, and the Mark Twain was out for refurbishment. And, dh doesn't do any bumpy rides, after his neck surgery over 10 years ago. Next scheduled visit (reservations are required, since pandemic days) is for Dapper Day. ?

Have a good day!

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 19, 2023

dianah~ Good thing you don't go to Disney WORLD, because they had to close down yesterday due to a wild bear roaming around the park! It's the 2nd time this has happened, too!

Joe~ My gosh when I read how many emails were piled up for you, my mouth dropped open! I would have had a breakdown if I had to answer that many emails + calls. I'm in awe of you for putting your head down and plowing through all that. I am definitely NOT a phone person, so that job wouldn't even approach being an acceptable 'fit' for me.

Yes, Tweety, Let us know about your new doctor.

Well today I made useless phone calls...to Nannie's insurance policy company to tell them to take the car off the policy. It is flat-tired, dead-batteried, and isn't driven at all. However, because I don't have a 'proof of POA' card. I never knew there was such a thing....I'll have to call the lawyer's office, I guess. The POA is on her will, but there is no card to show to prove it is my husbands responsibility.

Also called KIA to make an appt for the low tire light on the dash, and they said that is considered an 'emergency' so I don't need an appointment. But since it is late in the afternoon, I will have to go there tomorrow morning.

We still haven't heard about cancelling Nannie's Master Card. They were supposed to be doing an investigation about the charge that was made at Best Buy for several hundred dollars. They were supposed to get back to us, but so far, NUTHIN' !

And MY Master Card was declined when I got the new battery for my car. Only thing I can think is .... well, I dunno! I just made a payment at the bank, that's two days late, but the battery was replaced by AAA and that was done well before the payment was due. I'll call them in a few days. I have had more than enough phone business for today.

And when I go out to the car place about the tire, I can also bring the shredding (I STILL didn't get it done) to the place where they do that as one of their services. I know where it is, but I can't remember the name of the place....maybe UPS? I wonder if they charge for that, and if they do, how is the cost figured, by the pound, or what? I'll find out tomorrow.

Also want to go by to donate books to the thrift store that gives the money they collect to a battered women's shelter.

Nannie started saying something about her feet....but then she pointed to the bedroom (where a load of laundry is busy in the washer). I told her it was way too early to go to bed, but what did she want to say to me about her feet? She said, "Well, they're not moving..." (Uh.....HUH?) I told her she could (and should) move them around sometimes while she is sitting in the recliner. I honestly don't know why she hasn't developed thrombosis, because she sits soooooo still in the recliner, and also in her bed. It's a mystery to me!

But right now I have to go feed the livestock.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Sep 19, 2023

Good afternoon. The weather is gray and cool here. There were a few sprinkles of rain while I was riding this morning, but nothing significant. I am taking a break from reinforcing the fence. The screws I was using yesterday were too short, but I have long enough ones now. But dh left to go get his RX (he can't just let it sit for a day or two), and I need a second set of hands to hold the wire fencing while I attach the screws. And I was getting cold. Tonight I am playing online trivia. I've invited dd to play too. I am hoping dh is bringing home something for dinner. He is at Costco and sometimes they have street taco kits, that we all like. I was going to order out for Indian food last night, but the owners of the place we like, were out of town. So I had a can of chili and it was just OK.

Joe, good for you for getting caught up. Email is the devil. And I dislike making a lot of calls, too. There was a certain lab company that I had to call a lot, that was always misplacing labs, or not doing what we had requested.

Dianah, that's a lot of walking! I trust the weather was pleasant.

Stars, that is so weird that you need a POA to cancel things. They sure don't seem to mind who pays the bill, amirite? When I make changes to my insurance, I just call and they make the adjustments. But then again, my name is on the policy, but they don't need id to make the change.

Tweety, you take such a small dose and not every day, it would seem silly to change. I finally had to accept that at my age, my arteries were getting a little stiffer and a whiff of lisinopril wouldn't be the end of the world. But I have a few years on you.

There are two mama black bears with cubs roaming about our county, knocking over garbage cans. Fish and Game are trying to catch them to relocate before they cause too much havoc.

Youngest ds finally got his sleep apnea report, and as I guessed, he has severe apnea. His follow up appointment is next week. I hope he can adjust easily to using a machine. Dh never uses his, even tho I have asked, begged, and bargained for him to use it, even if only for 15 minutes a night. He's always got some excuse.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 20, 2023

nursej22, our zoo up at Big Bear Lake/Big Bear City, received a mama grizzley and her two cubs (some years ago) after they had their 'three strikes and you're out!' while in another state. Mama was teaching cubs how to be very forward with the campers and homeowners, going after food without fear. So, they were shipped to us here in California. Big Bear Lake was named for grizzleys that used to live in the area ('way back when), until the last one was killed in the 1920's. So the community embraced this as The Bears Are Returning to Big Bear! They are quite spoiled, and well-fed, and it's interesting to see them in their habitat at the zoo (they even have their own swimming pool!).

Weather yesterday at Disneyland was nice, probably 78 degrees, a gentle breeze. When we left at 6:30, it was VERY pleasant, and all the lights were on, and if we hadn't had a little doggy at home waiting to go pee, we would have liked to stay longer. ?

I did a couple small errands today, nothin' much.

No Stars, sorry you weren't able to get much done via phone today, in spite of your valiant efforts! Tomorrow is another day. 'What's for dinner??' (*naughty grin*) I did read about the bear at WDW, pretty weird! PLUS possiblity of gators there! I don't know if I would be comfortable there... Though we met some ppl at Disneyland who live near WDW, who go at least once a year for, a few days, and LOVE it there. This was their first time at Disneyland California, and while they made the best of it, it IS smaller than WDW, and thus feels more crowded.

OK, time to get some grub going. Have a good evening!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2023

I've been able to sign up for car insurance make changes to my car insurance online but when I wanted to cancel USAA because of a huge price hike I had to talk to two people, one of whose job obviously was to try to get me to not cancel. Very annoying. You should be able to cancel on line, no questions asked.

I think reservations at Disney World Orlando are required to avoid overcrowding. Vox.com has been running some articles about Florida and had one on Disney World and its numbers are staggering: over 47 million visitors last year and profit of over 6 billion. Crazy numbers during a year of high inflation.

I liked my new doctor just fine. I offered up no concerns and we talked a bit about my standing issues like low platelets. My BP was 150/80 and she continued with the approach of my prior doc to continue home monitoring. This afternoon it was 125/85 at home. She's going to keep me on the same meds and asked if I needed refills and I didn't because I'd just got a 30 day supply on top of another 30 day supply (wanted to use up the old docs script). She said to just request it through the pharmacy. However, to my annoyance I noticed on my "After Visit Summary" it said "no long take clonazepam" so now I can't request it via the pharmacy since it's not on the list of meds I take. Not sure why she did that unless it was because I said I didn't need a refill right then. But she has a portal that I can message her when I need it I suppose. She will see me in five months at the time my annual physical is due and order bloodwork then.

TMI again, but you asked. LOL

I went to hot yoga this evening and will relax and read the rest of the evening.

toomuchbaloney · Sep 20, 2023

Tweety said:

I've been able to sign up for car insurance make changes to my car insurance online but when I wanted to cancel USAA because of a huge price hike I had to talk to two people, one of whose job obviously was to try to get me to not cancel. Very annoying. You should be able to cancel on line, no questions asked.

I think reservations at Disney World Orlando are required to avoid overcrowding. Vox.com has been running some articles about Florida and had one on Disney World and its numbers are staggering: over 47 million visitors last year and profit of over 6 billion. Crazy numbers during a year of high inflation.

I liked my new doctor just fine. I offered up no concerns and we talked a bit about my standing issues like low platelets. My BP was 150/80 and she continued with the approach of my prior doc to continue home monitoring. This afternoon it was 125/85 at home. She's going to keep me on the same meds and asked if I needed refills and I didn't because I'd just got a 30 day supply on top of another 30 day supply (wanted to use up the old docs script). She said to just request it through the pharmacy. However, to my annoyance I noticed on my "After Visit Summary" it said "no long take clonazepam" so now I can't request it via the pharmacy since it's not on the list of meds I take. Not sure why she did that unless it was because I said I didn't need a refill right then. But she has a portal that I can message her when I need it I suppose. She will see me in five months at the time my annual physical is due and order bloodwork then.

TMI again, but you asked. LOL

I went to hot yoga this evening and will relax and read the rest of the evening.

I'm glad that your anxiety about the new doctor was alleviated in important ways. That may account for the BP trending.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Sep 20, 2023

Stars, that is tiresome to not be able to make needed changes. I've threatened Hubs that he cannot die before his mother because I wouldn't be able to get anything done for/with/about her. We should address that legally and we keep saying that but so far haven't done it.

Joe, emails are the worst. Sometimes they amount to a request to do a lot of work.

I finally got around to going to get my labs drawn but the office was short-staffed that day and not drawing labs. They gave me a req so I could get it done at my hospital but I have misplaced it. Along with the paperwork from the cardiology visit I made that day. I remember putting them somewhere "safe" and worrying at the time that I wouldn't remember where. And here we are.

I'm wearing a heart monitor for a couple of weeks. Not sure I'll be able to tolerate this patch. I do have sensitive skin and it itches/burns like crazy for a while and then doesn't bother me for a while. There is an option to use leadwires instead but I'm going to try to cope with the patch. I had a patient once whose skin blistered really badly from the tegaderm-type dressing on her central line.

I woke to a thunderstorm early this morning and it was still raining pretty good when I drove to work. By afternoon it was warmer and dry. There were cool cloud patterns but I didn't try to capture them with a camera.

Hubs really enjoys a good ol' meat & potatoes meal so we had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas and carrots for dinner.

It's bedtime but Turbo-cat is in my lap. Binx disappeared after I failed at giving him his pills and I still need to find him and get him to swallow them.

No Stars In My Eyes · Sep 20, 2023

I know I've said this before, but all my animals have taken their pills in a blob of soft, real butter. Give them one plain blob to lick off your forefinger. Next time put the pill in a blob of butter on your fingertip. If it gets spit out, try the butter blob trick again, with the pill, off the tip of your forefinger. If those don't work I open their mouths and shove the pill in a blob of butter, to the very back of their mouth. Kack! Kack! They don't like that, but It's always seemed that after a few episodes of that, they'd always easily take any pill in a blob of butter. Piece 'o' cake ? ? ?

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Sep 20, 2023

I'm going to try the butter trick!