Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:23 pm on March 8, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Lord A Mighty! What a day we have had on Stauffer Avenue. Right on target, after several days of quiet and rest, my back is 85% better. A bit more quiet should take care of the rest, and how to do that . . . do our income tax. Tax Act is just the best program for those of us who have no deductions to itemize. I believe even for those who do have multiple aspects it is a good program. Fill in the blanks and all the prompts take us to the end . . . “This is what you owe.” We saved ourselves $388 on the Federal by taking advantage of the energy improvements we made last year on basement windows and insulation within the crawl space of the basement. Whoopee! Dennis had company out in the patio porch so the house was quiet for me to muddle through the process. I had been putting it off for no good reason other than I knew I could. We do pay in to the Federal and State Income Tax, but not to a degree of causing distress. It’s just a part of life.

  As of this early afternoon, Dennis has High Definition Television in his patio porch. The Mediacom fellow who services St. James is a great representative of a company that gets a lot of grief. I know Dennis’ recovery of the carotid surgery is going to go so much better and faster as of this afternoon. I may have to have visitation rights in to the porch as he is tuned in to his favorite channels. It has been a long week for him. I will make sure to take nutrition out to him if he forgets timeframes. The sun is out and all things are right with the world here on Stauffer Avenue.

   
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  Noreen 5:00 pm on March 6, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Last evening after the huge dump of wet snow, while we were getting supper together, our neighbor Randy was already at the end of our driveway. Watching the process of him and his huge snowblower, was like watching the snow cone machines at the county fair. When I looked, Randy’s wife was coming over and Jan moved snow away from the doorways where Randy couldn’t get close. It was very much appreciated as at that time I was feeling very much like a vulnerable adult.

  Over the weekend my back decided to buck. In thinking about it, it was last year about this same time that my back had to act up, as if to say “Pay attention to me.” Up to this instance, I have had a great winter of being able to take in stride whatever was needed whether outside or inside. Today it was my promise to myself to take it easy. No going downstairs, no lifting and taking turns with the ice pack and the heating pad on the lower back. Arthritis has a sneaky way making itself known and not by one specific act or injury. I do recall that last Saturday when I came back from Mankato I felt a bit stiff. Over the course of that day it settled into the lower back like a sock full of wet sand that was strapped onto me. Laying low for a day or two will do wonders for me and it gives me a chance to watch traffic, read a bit and watch snow melt. Knowing that Dennis’ months of having small strokes is over, surgery went well, his recovery is on tract, perhaps I had ignored the messages that my back had been giving me. It totally has my attention now.

  We did have company today. Grandson Ryan stopped in with a skid loader and took a swipe of snow away from Dennis’ garage door that faces Stauffer Avenue. A bit later Ryan came back and had great granddaughter Adison with him. A very tall 10 year old that enjoyed some Chocolate Chip cookies with Great Grandpa as Ryan took care of moving the old television set out of Dennis’ patio porch and securing the cable for television that had dislodged with all the ice that weighted it down yesterday. Dennis is totally ready to have a television to watch by Thursday evening.

  For Dennis and me it is a wonderful feeling that we have family and friends who are just several blocks away from us that willingly lend a hand. Family that is farther down the highway than just a jaunt do not need to worry as to our safety in times of freak thunder snow. I know I speak for Dennis as well as for me, it is hard to realize that we do need a bit of help from time to time.

   
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  Noreen 5:15 pm on March 5, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  What a blast of weather. Sitting on the toilet this morning, I saw a bright flash of light. I swear not long after that when the boom of thunder caught up to the lightening it made me wonder if I was sitting on a rip tide. Multiple loud booms literally shook the house. It did rain quite heavily for most of the forenoon. We had an appointment at one this afternoon six blocks from home at the VA Clinic. When we came out we had to clear the car of very wet snow.

  The Mayo clinic is across the county road and we headed there for a 2 p.m. appointment. Dennis is one week out of his surgery and keeping track of his reaction to meds and also checking the surgery site made both of these appointments important. We came out of the Mayo clinic at 2:45 and the visibility was less than a half block. Let me tell you, it has been a long time since we have been out in bad weather and having had a hard time getting through the snow on our driveway. It was wonderful to be home safe and sound. We are in March . . . right?

   
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  Noreen 5:49 pm on March 4, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  A quiet day as we are on the outskirts of winter weather. For my part, we could stay there for the duration through Wednesday. The task to take on today is walking up and down the driveway to get back strength in the ole cowboy’s legs. 180′ round trip . . . not a marathon, but a very good thing. It is nice to have a concrete driveway as Stauffer Avenue is a muddy slip and slide. Much thawing but nowhere for the slush to go. A great week coming but not for anything awesome . . . just taking each day as it comes.

   
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  Noreen 3:39 pm on March 3, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  When there has been good going for Dennis there is bound to be a set-back in his recovery. His patio porch television is no more. What is the point of having a heated patio porch if the RFD, Rural Farm Direct, the History and Discovery channels cannot be enjoyed. We started at the source of what would be needed via Mediacom. This coming Wednesday there will be a cable box delivered via UPS followed by a service call from Mediacom on Thursday. Our responsibility would be to have a television on board by Thursday. St. James actually has what is almost a full time Mediacom service fellow, Alex, and was a great support person to walk me through all this.

  This coming Monday we have two doctor appointments for Dennis. I have been keeping an eye on the weather forecast for late Monday and Tuesday. After Dennis got settled this morning, complete with his shot and meds, I left for Mankato to visit Best Buy to purchase a new television for the patio porch resident. Kevin and Jeremy had both agreed the Samsung we had purchased for the sewing studio was a good product for the money when they installed it on Thanksgiving Day. Mediacom Alex confirmed the thumbs up on the Samsung brand.

  When I returned home at 11:00 a.m., Dennis was still napping and I had a 32″ Samsung television in the car. I think it was listed as a “Smart” television with 1080P for the total of $248.10. Whatever! We are totally prepared for the install this coming week. Right now it is a bit sad to look out the east house window and see into the patio porch with Dennis in his favorite rocking chair watching . . . snow melt. The last thing he thought we needed to purchase was a new set for the patio porch. Dennis . . . sometimes the hand me down television sets have served their purpose and we need to get on board with reality. Next week at this time he will be feeling physically better and be right up to snuff on how the tractor auctions are doing.

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on March 2, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Dennis is showing his real colors via the… 

  Dennis is showing his real colors via the black and blue that is showing up. His neck is twice its size and is black and blue right down to his sternum. The meds that Dennis has been on are now all in review. Good blood flow may mean less meds needed to regulate his blood pressure. All meds have side effects that may not show on any pre-printed paper that comes with each one. I have taken on the job of literally cutting pills in halves and quarters.  Twelve hours apart I need to give Dennis a shot to assist in his blood to clot until the Warfarin tablets are doing their work solo.  No, I didn’t think I could do it, but there really wasn’t a choice.  Even today at the VA clinic when they took some blood from his finger it ran like a little red river.  It will take time for all to work as it should.  The VA Clinic sent us home today with a self inflating blood pressure cuff that will need to be used and charted twice a day. Dennis has always referred to me as “Doc Piddy.” By the way, as I was growing up the baby ducks were called Piddies and baby chicks were called Eeepies. Anyway . . . so Dennis’ translation is that I am “Doc Piddy – a real quack of a doctor.”

  I think all these checks and balances for Dennis are fantastic. What a great chance for him to enjoy a lifestyle with less drugs while feeling better.

  I did go down into the sewing studio this afternoon to take a peek that all was where it was left over the weekend. Yup, just like dust bunnies and dirty dishes . . . infinite patience until Stauffer Avenue returns to a semblance of normality.

   
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  Noreen 6:07 pm on March 1, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Enjoying a regular day at home. yes, Dennis is uncomfortable, it is to be expected. He relays that it felt like a wood fence post was being installed in his neck. I don’t think a stint is quite that bulky, but then how much work is needed for surgeons to maneuver instruments, moving and stretching tissue and skin. The most disappointing thing for him was that he couldn’t sleep through the procedure as they needed him to communicate by verbally repeating either numbers or letters when instructed. I get it. I also know how difficult it was to be willing to go through with this second surgery when Dennis knew what he would be in for. Hey, I chickened out and had both of my knees done at one time as I knew my tendency would be to put off the second one beyond what would have been wise.

  In a week or so, Dennis will be feeling better. In a week or so we may have more signs that spring is here to stay. In the meantime, it is one hour at a time that turns into one day at a time and I am thankful that we have that to plan for.

   
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  Noreen 6:19 pm on February 28, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Dennis’ Exit 

  

  Dennis was packed and ready to leave the care of the hospital. A very swollen neck from the carotid surgery but he was ready to get home. All is well.

   
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  Noreen 8:47 pm on February 27, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  The quiet of the day. Dennis is resting in the Mankato hospital after his carotid surgery. He needs to rest. He is awake during the procedure to be able to talk, count and show being cognoscente. Hope that this will be the start of a great spring.

   
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  Noreen 5:20 pm on February 25, 2018 Permalink
  Tags: Dennis   

  Safe and Sound 

  

  This is how I am assured that Dennis will be safe and ready for his carotid surgery in two days. The snow moved in Saturday afternoon and was not messing around. Randy came over at supper and took the first of the accumulation out. This morning the long green line and Randy were back and cleared the Stauffer Avenue freeway. With the mild temps it was enjoyable being out and clearing doorways, buried garbage bins and of course we can’t forget the doorway of Dennis’ pickup. A great workout. Dennis made noon lunch . . . Campbell’s Chunky Soup. This afternoon we were going to make cookies . . . Humph, no flour. I got out the Bisquick cookbook and sure enough, we have cookies in the cookie jar. No one goes hungry on Stauffer Avenue. This entire week is forecast to be mild and a sloppy messy.