More appointments

 It seems like every appointment that we have leads to three more.  At this rate will we ever be done with Doctors and appointments??  doubtful

Yesterday was a frustrating difficult day.  Anxiety as we saw the Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon in Fargo.  Far Guy has a nodule on his Thyroid.  The needle aspiration that he had done back in September showed it was Thyroid. (Go figure) The Oncologist Dr B wanted it checked out...the referral took place the first week in December...well yesterday was that appointment...finally. That appointment is leading to another biopsy....not sure when...they will call.  Far Guy is fit to be tied.  There are no ENT Surgeons in Grand Forks....Fargo is the next best option or Rochester.  ( We are not driving back and forth to Rochester in the Winter) ( Far Guy does NOT like the Surgeon in Fargo)

One day at a time...we keep on keeping on. Trying to stay positive! Three appointments on Friday to get through before we get the weekend off. 

We are still waiting for the we will call you from the appointments last week.  

One good thing...the roads were not snowy and not icy. 

Two good things...Jen went with us and we went out to lunch.

Another good thing...furnaces instead of wood fired stoves like in the olden days...I am not sure how people stayed warm.

Far Side

Ah poop

 Poop heads anyways.  

Yesterday I went into the Clinic to get my two Cimzia shots in my belly as I am supposed to have them every 28 days for my many forms of arthritis.  After reading my Doctors notes from the last injection the nurse called a Dr..he said call the prescribing Dr ( she has moved to the great city of Bismarck, ND...good luck to all who she touches there) then the nurse  attempted to call the Rheumatologist...who was busy with patients...SO...

The nurse felt that I had a significant reaction to the last injections and I should see the Doctor in Fargo.  Good thing I have an appointment with him next week. 

I was hoping to get these injections behind me as they made me really short of breath and tired for three days. I had meals prepared and laundry done up...so the three days would be easier.  

 Well so much for having my poop in a pile. 

...other people like Doctors who had 27 days to prepare and come up with a plan...do not have their poop in a pile. 

Buggers anyways. 

My Pain was worse yesterday...might be weather related as our high was -3F or -19C.  I had to run errands in town, in and out of the car multiple times.  We were in town for four hours. ( I had a list a mile long to accomplish) 

I took two Tylenol and a gummy and had a long nap after we got home so the Christmas Card count remains at 117. 

Far Side

I drew you all a pile of poop...only the last plop is a happy plop. 

Fine

 I managed laundry and a long nap and a bit of crocheting.   Will wonders ever cease?  I had a really rough day with lots of pain...so it goes.  ( I have no pain when laying still with my heated rice bag)  

Had to wait on another call from the specialty pharmacy that ships the Rheumatoid Arthritis injections.   "Please wait on the line as a nurse wants to speak with you"  three minutes later I finally get to talk to a real person who said "What can I help you with? "  WTF  you called me.  "Oh ya your medication shipped today. "  OK fine. 

The latest miracle drug should be here on Friday.  OK fine. 

Far Side

Irritated

 I am irritated by people who do not do their jobs. 

I was delighted the other day when I heard that the pharmacy I called was doing a customer satisfaction survey ...after being switched from one idiot customer service person to an almost non english speaking person...15 minutes had elapsed.  I betcha you can guess what kind of a rating I gave them. 

Seems like it is harder and harder to get a real person on the other end of a phone call...who said a computer was better.  I suppose they save a couple of dollars.

Recently I got a recorded call that said please call this number, we need to speak with you about a prescription...well why weren't you there when I answered my phone...I cannot send them a recorded message...but I would like to. Can you imagine what I would say? 

Another thing...that recorded music I have to listen to while I am on hold...sucks...I have had it up to here with piano music and violin concerto # who knows what.  Who are the idiots that pick the music anyways?  After waiting 45 minutes the other day listening to the same tune over and over I was ready to commit myself.

Many people are irritated by self check outs...not me...one less germy person handling my groceries is just fine with me...I make sure the prices are as advertised and my items are packed in bags exactly how I want them. 

Covid numbers are up in our area.  I still disinfect my grocery cart...I wish sick people would just stay at home.  Luckily most of my groceries are ordered online and picked up...I just shop for fresh fruits and vegetables in person. 

AND my last irritant.  Some one is posing as my dead mother on facebook and sending friend requests. 

Far Side

Be a Helper

 We had a few frustrating days, with medical appointments changed and cancelled.  The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and they are not consulting each other.  They are not helpers...well we had one helper who scheduled everything and later in the day a different nurse (Nurse Ratched type) called and cancelled everything...she was a real bitch non helper.

My eye doctor called I have a wrinkle in my retina, he says he is not concerned at this time however I have to do the test over again in six months.  Should my vision change I should call him immediately.   He is a helper. 

We went for a ride on the trails yesterday and while we were gone our patio table exploded...the glass top shattered into many pieces...Far Guy says a million pieces.  We were getting it cleaned up when my other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by.  She who sees robins first helped me sweep up the glass.  My other baby brother said we could put the steel frame in his bin that will get recycled someday.  Their Grand Ava was along...she helped by carrying a vacuum cleaner from the garage.  They were all helpers.  It took a while to vacuum all the cracks and crevices between the pavers.   We were tired had a nap and after supper we vacuumed some more...we are reasonably sure we have that huge mess cleaned up.

Even Baxter can be a helper! 

Our area has a number of anti vax people...I have relatives that are against vaccinations.  How are they helping vulnerable transplant patients or children that are immune compromised.  Of course none of them have Polio, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Measles, Mumps,  Ruebella or Small Pox...why are they protected from the diseases that could take their lives...because they had mothers (helpers) who cared about them!  Yet they choose to play the Covid lottery...I guess that is their choice.  Sadly they are not helpers.

Far Side

Monday Madness on Tuesday

 Well...it was a miracle that we got Internet, TV and Phone service.   The technician called and said "I do not know what happened, but your service has been restored."  Huh...you don't know what you are doing...a gal on Saturday told us that a system "migration" was happening but it should not bother us...my guess is that we got migrated to some internet netherland.   They are supposed to be keeping one eye on our problem.  The tv goes in and out...it says the connection has been lost...there is still something rotten in netherlands.   I let Far Guy deal with them...I would just want to rip someones testicles off. 

Speaking of getting ripped off...our Postal System sucks.  We have a new substitute mail man who doesn't know where anyone lives...he and I had a discussion on Monday morning ( do not leave a official notice that says I was not home at mail delivery time because you were confused by three mail boxes...you were just stupid and lazy)...he now knows where I live.  And the stupid broad in the Post Office doesn't wear her mask over her nose just her big mouth. AND I entrusted my big girl camera into this system so it can be cleaned and repaired...and I feel naked without that camera...I have separation issues. 

Remember that refrigerator I ordered on November 5 ?  From a local business and I ordered an Amana...made in Newton Iowa...not even a foreign country involved.  Not a huge special order either...it should have an ice maker that actually makes ice and the rest of the fridge should be cool.  January 15 was the delivery date.  I waited a long time past that date to call....I should get a gold star!!  The local business said " If it was here we would have called you.  WE don't know where it is."  108 days.   Uffda.  Good thing our old fridge is still working...but with our rotten luck with things breaking down in the past few weeks...you never know...at least outside is one huge refrigerator.  Buy American they say...

Well there it is...and the shot last week makes me have hot flashes...how in the world it found one crappy hormone left in this old body I am not sure.   My arm is back to normal...but I am still tired.  Tired and cranky...bet you couldn't guess.  

Oh well it could be worse we could live in Texas.  

 

Scrubbies I finished over the weekend.

Far Side

Do your job

 We had to travel 96 miles to straighten out something because someone was not doing their job correctly.   When we got there we asked them "Why"  they said "We have no idea and this is the first time this has ever happened." We got it straightened out and drove 96 miles back home again.  Of course they made many apologies.  

 

The first part of the drive was very frosty.   We saw Bald Eagles and Vultures on a deer carcass.  We saw someones prize bull had been hit by a car...we wondered what the car looked like.  I took a photo of the big old bull but shall spare you. 

As you can see we have hardly any snow.  On the way back there were some interesting clouds. 

We enjoyed the warm afternoon...I think it broke some records. 

I managed to make it to the Post Office before we left so all the Christmas cards and packages have been mailed.  I think the gal that works in the Post Office had a partial lobotomy.... as I handed over the bag with 130 Christmas cards she asked "Are any of them overweight?"  I smiled and replied "Weigh them all if you wish." She threw the bag on the floor and sighed. At least this time she was wearing a mask...however people that came in to check their mail boxes were not.  I almost asked one guy what his problem was with masks...but I decided to keep my big mouth shut...and that was really REALLY hard for me...so I just bit the inside of my cheek (I am certain my lip quivered) and glared at him. 

A bit of history...my lip quivers if I am really really angry.  I am going to practice my evil eye look in the mirror until I get it perfected.

Far Side

Stuff

When Far Guy is at Pulmonary Therapy I have an hour to do "something."  Usually I run errands.  But he goes to Therapy 3 times a week. I have a limited amount of errands!   Monday is a great time to check out the Thrift shop for yarn...last Monday it was a gold mine...I spent 3 dollars and got 6 skeins of yarn....two were full skeins which might become a scarf someday. 

I wandered around in the local Yarn Shop ...and  bought something special.  Which I may or may not get done before Christmas.

I made a trip through the gardens outside the hospital. Took some photographs and then sat in the car and began winding yarn into balls.

It has been a stressful week.

 We still have a partially bottomless pit of money at the Credit Union...now some bills are paid and some are not.   I found this out quite by accident when I was setting up an alternate way to pay bills.  The Electric bill was paid and then 5 days later it was unpaid...go figure. So I paid it again using the alternate way.  I have spoken to The President of the Credit Union...she is as frustrated with it as we are...no solution is in sight.

A lost checkbook was found.  ( Thank goodness...it was all my fault.)

Lab Tests that were supposed to be ordered locally for Far Guy are now 10 days late.  Someone says they were ordered but the Lab has no such order.  They probably sent the order to the wrong clinic...who really knows.   He had a list of nine things that needed to be addressed...and it is all in progress...supposedly.

One day I was not adulting very well and just wanted to cover my head up with a blankie and suck my thumb.

Far Side

PO’ed at the PO

WELL.  You know that Altered Book I worked on labored over for hours and sent off to the round robin exchange? 

Some Postal Employee went postal on my package between here and Idaho.  It looks like it soaked in a mud puddle for a very long time.

So right now I am mad as hell at all the Postal Employees in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho.  I hope whoever is responsible for soaking a book that was incased in a bubble wrap postal approved $1.89 mailer gets a pox and I hope his penis falls off.  Oh yeah what if it was a lady mail carrier… may her boobs sag prematurely and her hot flashes put Mount Vesuvius to shame.  Mind you it is not just damp…it was dripping with water.  For goodness sakes it is wintertime…too darn cold to have water anyplace…maybe it was left unattended in a post office shower…or maybe an elephant crushed the packaging and peed all over it…perhaps aliens stole it because they thought it was worth reading and when it wasn’t they hosed it down with their super duper space hoses filled with miracle water that never freezes.

I don’t know what I will do now.  Sure it is only a book.  I can make another.  It was one of a kind. How do you go about making another one of a kind?  I would bawl if I wasn’t so mad.

I can tell you this, lesson learned. The next book I mail off will be inside a Ziploc bag and then incased in bubble wrap and insured for $50 bucks.  I used to have faith in the Postal Service…not so much anymore.

I had a rough day.  I didn’t need anymore DRAMA in my day. Perhaps you have a Postal story that will make me feel better?  It was one of those SPF days and I am not talking sunscreen.

 

Cranky

Well let's just get this over with! What makes you cranky?

I can be a tad cranky..sometimes even very bitchy. REAL BITCHY.

First of all I called my oldest nephew an asshole, he isn't and wasn't, but he has a hell of a throwing arm and threw Chance's ball half way to the next county. It just kind of slipped out..sorry Josh. I should carry a bar of soap in my pocket, cause there was a small child present, the small child could rub the bar of soap over my teeth..shudder..remember that feeling..fels naptha was terrible..Ivory was not so great either..nor were the bubbles that came out when I tried to rinse my mouth..and it was in my teeth forever..all day long I carried that soapy yucky mouth feeling.

Maybe I should just get the duct tape out.

On Saturday, we went to a garage sale, I bought some great Christmas Ornaments and some beads. Like I need more ornaments or craft bead in my life. I knew this lady, I do not like her. I almost didn't stop at her sale, she is a pain in the butt and if she lived next to me I swear she would drive me nuts. HOWEVER.. I am polite, we parked in the driveway..not on their lawn. Far Guy got into a conversation with her, and decided that she should be the recipient of some of his many hens and chicks he has out back. Well she went on and on about how she loves plants..well whoopee do..I am happy for you. I asked if I could take one photo, I am polite, she said yes, so I took the photo, it was just an old purple wave petunia, but the sun was shining just right. Then she said, bet you miss all your plants? "NO" she had a cow..how could I not love and miss plants of all things. Do you miss them a little? "Hell NO" I am thinking, usually I say I miss the customers..but lady not you. That would have been impolite. So then I got to hear her life story, kids, grands, her line of work, her recent knee surgery, who is moving, which grand kid is driving her nuts, and everything she used to sew or cook. I know everything that has happened in her entire life ..except for possibly the last time she had sex. And to top it all off she has developed a new plant in her spare time, it is at the U of MN getting evaluated and she might get a patent. I congratulated her..from the car where I was sitting politely poised to leave. Then she told Far Guy that she would be over to get the hens and chicks. I was exhausted and came home and crashed on the couch. She arrived during my nap, but Far Guy let me sleep, and he gave her a bunch of stuff. When I awoke, he told me all about it, I said fine ..good enough. .. very neighborly. He said she wants to come back and dig some stuff up out of your gardens. OVER MY DEAD BODY. If she wants some of the stuff out back, fine, if it has roots and is in my wildflower garden and I do not want to share..I don't have to. No one can make me either.

Sunday afternoon as we were getting ready to go to a final get together for a friend who will be exiting this earth shortly..guess who called? It was her, Digging Lady, she wants a few more pots of Hostas, and to talk.. I suggested some other day..nope she must come now. FINE..be here in five minutes.. I went out.. they drove in..they continued to drive between the trees..HELLO there is a huge parking lot..with no cars in it.. they continued to drive and squeezed their vehicle between my garage and a big old oak tree. She rolled down her window and hollered "HI" I said "I DON'T appreciate people driving through my trees and lawn

( yah..it might not look manicured but it is still a lawn) " Oh.. where are we supposed to drive? ON The Road. Where should we park? HOW ABOUT BACK AT YOUR HOUSE..right here is fine. She got some Hostas, some of those old pots out back must have 20 Hostas in them, her knees are bad, I got the freaking wheelbarrow, and had to listen to her whole life story all over again..plus the woes of being a horse trainer and giving private lessons back in South Dakota. Now she is here and loves plants, and is volunteering her time with many 4 H groups in the area to promote gardening.. when I asked which 4 H group it became just a group of people that need help because they know nothing about gardening. She can't understand why I have so many weeds..as she started pulling them.. I tell her "I love weeds, all weeds will eventually flower." She can't stand weeds. She grins as she rips some out of the ground and says "this would drive me nuts." I almost suggested that she try some of the thistle with her bare hands. I have news for her, she could drive someone totally insane..way back to normal again. She wants to dig now, she is dying to have some Erigeron..

it is impressive and in full bloom among some weeds in my wildflower area.
She also wants my very old clematis..it has baby seedlings that I will share with FRIENDS. Possibly NOT with her. Suppose she wants Far Guy and Chance too?? She is insistent about digging..but has no shovel, I say "NO DIGGING TODAY." and "I AM SORRY I HAVE TO GET READY TO TO GO." I went in the house, and Far Guy took over, he loaded her hostas, but she left her name and phone number on a red piece of paper for me, for when I feel like inviting her over to dig. .. it looked beautiful shredded:)