Bring Me the Head

Its only a little after noon and i'm thinking about dinner. haven't even had lunch. yesterday i roasted various veggies and tonite, if i get out to the store, i plan to roast a head of cauliflower. the title of this posting is not my own--it came with the recipe.

Right now I'm waiting, something i seem to do quite a bit, for Erica (again) to arrive. She asked if I wanted to go out for lunch and have pizza last nite. I said yes, but pizza is not what i'll have.

Yesterday i rode the bike for two half hour periods. I walked around with the walker quite a bit and paid for it later in stiffness and inability to stand up again unless with much effort. i'm learning that just because it hurts, it doesn't mean i shouldn't do it. i think its called working through the pain, but when i picture my knee caps grinding against bone, its hard to believe its good for me. BUT i have to be up and walking so i can prance into the ortho sugeron's office ready for some serious surgery. I can't live like this anymore. There's is too much to be done and too much ahead to be living like this.

Amy wants to or needs to come home this weekend. Both of our helpers have family committments on Saturday, the day on which a friend from out of town is coming to see Amy, her new digs, and me, too. On top of that Amy has a morning appointment for botox on monday so it makes sense to start out from home. am having trouble getting help lined up.

second time i got up very early to turn up the heat. the house was way too cold for what the thermostat was set at. had to hit on the thermostat to get it on. trouble brewing i'll bet. in fact, i need to turn it down right now.

Good Eating

I made what looks like a stir fry tonite but cooked all the vegetables separately. Earlier this afternoon I roasted asparagus and broccoli in the oven. Later I stirfried chicken and zucchini and then mixed everything with some brown rice and seasoned it all with a little saigon sizzle. It was delicious. The pic is blurry but the flavor was not.

Now I'm waiting for my friend erica to get here so we can watch The Bachelor together. I think she is here now!!

Valentine's Day Approaching

This is Allison in the Chapel of Love! She is standing in the spot where she will be married . i love it!

Yay tomorrow is planned with the help of Erica amy's and my helper. We're picking Amy up for lunch and any necessary errands and then returning to amy's house in time for SPA DAY!! Amy asked me to stay for some of it so I am bringing along the Queen Helene Beauty Mask and some whitehead removing strips to add to the fun. Just called Walgreens and they do have more of the mask so I'll pick up another tube. I offered to take Amy to see the movie called Valentine's Day but she wants to spend the time talking and I know why. She needs to get things off her chest and just talk. I know she can't do that with the other clients in the house but I also know that most of the staff do converse with her. This week she told me that one of the women overseeing the house told her to only tell me happy stories when she calls. Right. And they don't like her relating things about what goes on at the house. One of the staff last week told her to try to put her own gloves on and then said "I don't want to be your mother". Does she understand her JOB is working with disabled people and its not up to her to make judgments about things like laziness. i tried like heck to find mittens this season and i was too picky about what they looked like and ended up with nothing. a bird in the hand......................

woke up this morning freezing--the bed, the air everything was cold. i listened for the heat to come on and when it didn't I got up and saw that the temp in the house was at 60 but the thermostat was set to 70. what's that about??? turned it up after i let the dogs out and went back to bed and slept way too late. I had steel cut oats for lunch and a double portion since i'd skipped breakfast. I am very aware of arteries, blood pressure, and cholesterol these days. there is so much one can do to add to one's health so i'm doing it. I have the most wonderful family and i want to be around for a spell. who knows, i might even find "love" although that is the last thing on my mind. Anything is possible as i start looking and feeling good not to forget walking , look out.

i need to be well for so many reasons. i hope i can work and earn money without losing my ssi. i don't know about that one, tho. i would like to tutor maybe and make cash out of pocket--someone else's pocket. maybe teach guitar. plus most importantly, i need to be up and able to be involved in amy's life in many ways more than ever. plus i have al and annie living hours from me. can you say ROAD TRIP!!??

my kitty is doing well now that he is on insulin and i'm not so worried anymore about the cost because it looks like that vial of insulin is going to last a long time. immediately after beginning his meds he drinks much less water. he is due soon for a blood test to check out his levels.

been riding my stationery bike twice a day --yesterday for a half hour and then again for 15 minutes. also walking around with the walker but that is real work. it winds me and hurts for a good part of the time. gotta be able to get out of my wheelchair and then i can travel in my new little car. yay. happy valentines day to ME!

Diabetic Kitty

Our cat Mabel has been losing weight since September. On top of that he drinks huge quantities of water and then, of course pees it all out. Found out to the tune of a couple of hundred dollars that he is NOT feline lukemic as we had suspected but is diabetic. Normal blood sugar for him is around 65, and his was in the 600's!! So today I pick up insulin and syringes from walgreens and take Mabel to the vet to learn how to inject him. This may be a cat i can no longer afford. The good thing is that now that he is NOT a lukemia cat, three people have offered to take him. Annie offered but she is as poor as I am so that's out. Al has offered and so has their dad!! When I learn just how much insulin this kitty will be using I will make some decisions. Plus I need to find the cheapest source of insulin which will hopefully, make a big difference. He is a great cat, furry, cuddly, mild mannered, and comes when you call him. I'd really like to be able to keep him. We'll see.

Annie stayed overnight Tues on her way to Sprinfield and her new job. Met Derrick for the first time, and probably the last, since I don't think they plan on having a long distance relationship. They're both so sad about it. We were all three tearing up about it. I feel her pain. I feel all my kids pain--mothers do that. I feel a heaviness in my heart about the move even tho she will be closer to home and is in a more challenging position. Loss is difficult and she leaves behind her a very full life full of many who love her--even a little sister. She will create a new life in Springfield as she does everywhere she goes. I remember her college life in the dorm, in the apartment, her friends, when she went overseas for a semester. I love her so much.

I liked Derrick a lot. He was comfortable to be around and seemed like nice guy. Of course he was. Annie wouldn't be with him if he didn't treat her well. It almost felt like a funeral at times to me when they were here because i was so aware, as were they of course, that the day was coming very soon when they would kiss goodbye and have a hurt in their hearts. They are traveling back to Al's today so that Derrick can catch the mega bus back to St Paul where his friends are meeting him. Annie is staying the weekend with Al who already has houseguests. What fun! What a good time in life for them.

Al is daily busy working on her wedding plans. It looks to be a great party. I hope I will have it well enough planned out with helpers and all of Amy's stuff that is needed for traveling. Hoyer basically. And a bedpan.
Haven't decided if one helper will be enough. It depends on the shape i'm in at that time.

And its looking good for me!! Have developed some healthy eating habits (again) and preferences actually. My blood screen was good except for cholesterol which, if i remember, was taken right after christmas and some pretty fatty eating. My pt is going well which basically involves lots of exercises and walking with the walker and strengthening back muscles as well as legs. I need the knee replacement yesterday. By March I plan on walking into the surgeon's office and asking him to schedule it for my left leg. He said lose weight and walk. I'm doing it. Also got the bike back in the house that i broke my leg on, but this time i'm getting on it on my own--not with a hoyer's assistance. in fact, i'm due for a session of walking and riding right about now. .................. omg, i just realized i didn't mention Amy but once in this post.