One thing about being home so much is that I'm starting to get on YKWIA's nerves because while the first few days I was exhausted and asleep, as I began to feel better I tended to do lots of small talk and chatter, even though I tried to rein it in. Apparently, I miss the interaction with other people, and he's been working on projects on the computer and studying, so there have been large blocks of time I've been on my own. Yes, I've read, watched videos, listened to music, done chores, and I've taken occasional naps, but still, I'm kind of lonely and bored, and what I don't get is this is the hallmark of an extrovert, and I've always been very introverted. I score INFP on the Meyers-Briggs, always very strong on the introverted side, although it's moved closer to extrovert over the years, as is normal (you tend to move closer to the other side of the spectrum as you age and experience life, if I understand things well). Anyway, maybe this is part of my problem with reading. Maybe somewhere along the way it didn't satisfy my need to interact with people rather than characters. I also find watching the TV to be rather passive, although I do get immersed in the story, just as I do with reading. Music I enjoy on a different level, both in terms of the actual sounds and the lyrics. But still, somewhere along the way, I got to where it's harder to amuse myself--me, the kid who was always alone and felt unloved. That's a little unnerving.
I cuddled with the cat for a while earlier, although I really didn't sleep. He got right up on my pillow with his head up next to mine. Then I fed him and the dogs, and he seems to be keeping this food down, so he's happier.
I'm not really sleepy. I just ate something extra because my blood sugar went low despite taking my insulin back 20 units each time for the long-acting insulin [so 60 units twice a day, which I think is going to have to go down to 50 or 55] and keeping the short-acting one at 34 units for all meals, not 34-42-42. I kept track of what I've eaten today. Even with four little meals, basically, I've stayed under the recommended amount for losing weight. I've been pretty full. Today I've had two bowls of cereal with milk, a banana, some homemade cream of mushroom soup, a piece of bread, two little applesauce cups, two peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and I think that's all. So I've had 1 serving of vegetables, 3 of dairy, 4 of fruit (there were raisins in the cereal), 2 protein, 6 servings of grain, and a bit of sweetener, for 1333 calories (an I've burned 2004 for the day) between my activity/steps and my metabolism. It's not exactly balanced, but it's not bad. If I eat anything else today, I'll make sure it's a vegetable choice. We've got a turnip-apple dish in the refrigerator, along with 'green rice', which is basically rice with spinach and onions. So those are possibilities. In the meantime, I'm making some more bread right now; we should have an extra-large loaf ready by 10:30 pm.
So the question is what to do now. I'm listening to the OneRepublic station on Pandora. I could read. I could watch another episode of 'Sherlock'. I just don't feel like doing either of those things. It's kind of annoying, actually, that I don't. I don't want to go to sleep or I won't sleep well tonight. Sigh. Maybe I'll try reading. I'm not up to Julius Caesar himself, but maybe the book on his legacy on the landscape (called Caesar's Footprints: a Cultural Excursion to Ancient France by Bijan Omrani). It might be good to read before tackling Caesar, as I'll have a better idea of the lay of the land for the Gallic War, anyway. Actually, I should go to the library's website and check to see when each book is due, then come up with a reading plan. I know the one YKWIA is reading is due on Valentine's Day, the next one that's due, but I think I should be able to renew that one. I just renewed The Forgetting and The Oversight. I just checked out Anatomy of a Genocide. So that leaves Caesar's Footprints, The Landmark Julius Caeser, and La Belle Sauvage to figure out. Okay, I guess I'll do that.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
We're coming up on the anniversary
of my mother's death, March 2nd. I'm thinking about going down to Danville on the 3rd of March to lay some flowers at her grave and visit it for a while. I'm going to text my step-father to see if he wants to meet for lunch somewhere in Danville that day, so maybe we can catch up. I haven't seen him since May when he brought some family pictures up for me and we talked for a couple of hours. He was incredibly good to her, especially in her last illness. I want to check up on him and make sure he's doing okay. We're not especially close, and he has a lot of drama in his family that I try to stay away from. But I do like him; he's my favourite step-father, and I must admit I probably like him better than my father, with whom I haven't spoken since 1993.
Momma is buried in Bellevue Cemetery in Danville. I checked the regulations, and it should be fine to bring some real cut flowers and lay them on her grave. I'm thinking about some nice tulips. She probably liked roses better, but tulips are a herald of spring. I always thought it was sad she didn't live to see the renewal of life in spring. She despised gladiolas, though--that I know. It reminded her of funerals.
Okay, I'm going to attend to a needy cat who wants love (and food, but it's not time yet).
Momma is buried in Bellevue Cemetery in Danville. I checked the regulations, and it should be fine to bring some real cut flowers and lay them on her grave. I'm thinking about some nice tulips. She probably liked roses better, but tulips are a herald of spring. I always thought it was sad she didn't live to see the renewal of life in spring. She despised gladiolas, though--that I know. It reminded her of funerals.
Okay, I'm going to attend to a needy cat who wants love (and food, but it's not time yet).
I went through three other gardening books
Which were mostly listings of various plants or some plans for some gardens. I took pictures with my phone using CamScanner, which puts them into a PDF file, including an herb garden from Edible Landscaping and also a listing of various types of plants that are edible (and things that certainly aren't, like castor bean). So I took a total of six books back, picked up the hold, so I have seven out, one of which YKWIA is reading, three of the others are fiction, one is a collection of Julius Caesar's writings, another a book on sites important in his travels, and then the Holocaust book focussing on a town and what happened there. The fiction books are all fantasy; two are teen books, and they should be quick reads. I'm hoping I can get everything read before time to take it back. I'm going to focus on these before any others. It was difficult to pass by the new bookshelf, which is right by the entry, without perusing the titles. Also, I was very pleased to see the crowd turn out for the opening of the Tates Creek branch, which happens at 1 pm on Sundays. I was there early, about 12 minutes till, and was the first non-employee to get there, as there was no one in the other cars. But in the intervening time period, probably fifteen cars came in, and people were waiting at the door. One man nearly ran over a woman as she was heading in. I suspect the rush was to get to the computers. :) But there were four other people looking to pick up their holds in that section. Three other cars had dropped off books at the book drop while I had been waiting. It was quite a crowd, and even though I don't work there, it warmed the cockles of my little librarian heart.
Okay, time for more caffeine. Let's get these chores over. At least the grocery run is finished--I got a few things at Kroger and then had to go to Fresh Market for radicchio. Most things were for a salad--arugula, shallots, the radicchio, fennel, etc. Of course, there was milk, and I got more bread flour because I miscalculated how much would be left when we did the last run. I use between 3 and 5 cups of flour for each loaf of bread. I really should get YKWIA to find his ginger for me and make some whole wheat bread, because I have all the other ingredients for the bread, including the soy lecithin granules and ascorbic acid for the booster you put in the bread to help it rise. The ginger's part of that, along with cornstarch. And you have to put wheat gluten in, but that's a separate ingredient. It makes a lovely loaf. I have an entire bag of wheat flour. But I think YKWIA prefers the basic bread even to the oatmeal one I tend to prefer. The basic white bread just takes flour, sugar, salt, dry milk, butter, and yeast, along with water, of course, and it's cheapest to make. The oatmeal one has oatmeal, of course, but not the instant kind, but rather quick oats, and uses honey instead of sugar. Both make lovely loaves. I'll have to see about the wheat though so I can use that flour. I think you still use a cup or so of white flour in the wheat bread as well, so I can't just make it if I run out of white bread flour, but if it gets low, maybe. I get White Lily bread flour, which is made by a harder wheat than regular all-purpose flour, but I could use the latter in a pinch. Because I use the rapid bake, I use a jar of Fleischman's rapid-rise yeast. You use a little more yeast if using the recipes that came with the bread machine (the basic white and herb bread) or different amounts if I'm making the oatmeal bread, which is from the book Electric Bread, under 'Outrageously Oatmeal'. It has good recipes, some a little odd but intriguing, and recipes for spreads as well. It was a good find. I think that was from a book fair at work. :)
Okay, really, I'm going now. Have a great day.
Okay, time for more caffeine. Let's get these chores over. At least the grocery run is finished--I got a few things at Kroger and then had to go to Fresh Market for radicchio. Most things were for a salad--arugula, shallots, the radicchio, fennel, etc. Of course, there was milk, and I got more bread flour because I miscalculated how much would be left when we did the last run. I use between 3 and 5 cups of flour for each loaf of bread. I really should get YKWIA to find his ginger for me and make some whole wheat bread, because I have all the other ingredients for the bread, including the soy lecithin granules and ascorbic acid for the booster you put in the bread to help it rise. The ginger's part of that, along with cornstarch. And you have to put wheat gluten in, but that's a separate ingredient. It makes a lovely loaf. I have an entire bag of wheat flour. But I think YKWIA prefers the basic bread even to the oatmeal one I tend to prefer. The basic white bread just takes flour, sugar, salt, dry milk, butter, and yeast, along with water, of course, and it's cheapest to make. The oatmeal one has oatmeal, of course, but not the instant kind, but rather quick oats, and uses honey instead of sugar. Both make lovely loaves. I'll have to see about the wheat though so I can use that flour. I think you still use a cup or so of white flour in the wheat bread as well, so I can't just make it if I run out of white bread flour, but if it gets low, maybe. I get White Lily bread flour, which is made by a harder wheat than regular all-purpose flour, but I could use the latter in a pinch. Because I use the rapid bake, I use a jar of Fleischman's rapid-rise yeast. You use a little more yeast if using the recipes that came with the bread machine (the basic white and herb bread) or different amounts if I'm making the oatmeal bread, which is from the book Electric Bread, under 'Outrageously Oatmeal'. It has good recipes, some a little odd but intriguing, and recipes for spreads as well. It was a good find. I think that was from a book fair at work. :)
Okay, really, I'm going now. Have a great day.
I slept in till about 9 am today
When I heard the cat trying to claw my bed, which got him yelled at, he stopped, and he proceeded to climb up on me and tread, eventually moving to my pillow and settling on it. Even with my CPAP, my allergies were reacting. I love cats (and dogs), but I am pretty allergic to them. I'm pretty sure he realises this. Anyway, I petted him for awhile as he purred, got up, took a shower (closing my door so he wouldn't act out further), and so he moved onto waking up YKWIA. The dogs tried to get me to let them out. We have a rule we established early on; YKWIA lets them out in the morning and feeds them, so they're not as likely to bother me in the morning or have the little dog bark and wake him up since I get up about 6 or 6:30 am each weekday. I feed them in the evening and let them out. It works well, usually. Little dog does normally make it till after I leave; she's the only alarm clock he has. But she has a little old lady bladder, so eventually, she'll bark. Anyway, by that time it was about 9:30 or 9:45, so even though he was up later than I, it was time to get up, as he's usually up by 8 or 8:30.
So I've taken my medicine (my blood sugar was 102 today, which is really good). I've eaten. I've made my bed. I just need some caffeine to be ready for my day, and YKWIA said he'd get me some soda when I do a little grocery run later. Things to do:
So I've taken my medicine (my blood sugar was 102 today, which is really good). I've eaten. I've made my bed. I just need some caffeine to be ready for my day, and YKWIA said he'd get me some soda when I do a little grocery run later. Things to do:
Take those books back to the library after they open at 1:00 pm.Pick up the hold that is waiting for me there.Run to the grocery.Caffeinate.Clean the cat litter box.- Trim the cat's claws.
Take outthe trash andrecyclables.- Clean the toilet and tub. [The mirror and sinks are fine; the others need a once-over, including the tub, to keep anything from building up like soap scum or, well, you know.]
- Sweep.
- Mop the tile.
Run the dishwasher.Do laundry.
I didn't work on the game notes yesterday, I may do that today, depending on how I feel after I do all that. Yesterday, of course, I did the reading. I also watched an episode of 'Sherlock' ("The Sign of Three"). Then I watched Despicable Me 3 with YKWIA (we had the DVD out from Netflix). I liked both. I felt a sense of accomplishment because 1) I rarely read, and 2) I'm not great at watching things, especially on my own. I can't binge watch. Three hours is about my limit, usually, and then I normally watch things with other people. I tend to listen to music more. I'm doing that now, the Bastille station on the Amazon Music. So it's been a relaxing time so far. Now I'm going to see if I can get one more garden book taken care of before I take those books back.
[I decided since it has been raining all weekend, and it is supposed to clear up tomorrow, and I'm off tomorrow, I would do the floors tomorrow. The trash wound up not being an issue; the recyclables were, and I took those out. So that leaves the cat's claws [and he threw up his food earlier and isn't feeling well, so I may wait till tomorrow on that too, rather than upset him and cause further distress] and the bathroom stuff. That I can do in just a few minutes. I think for now, though, I'll take a nap, because even though I didn't do a lot, I'm kind of tired. Must be this supposed infection I have, which might be sinus, as this morning I was blowing out goop that was a little yellow. Not that you really needed to know about that, I guess. I'll call my doctor's office tomorrow to make an appointment (they wanted me back in two weeks) and to see if I can get any more information. Then I can text my boss and let her know what's going on. But for now, I plan to be back on Tuesday morning.]
[I decided since it has been raining all weekend, and it is supposed to clear up tomorrow, and I'm off tomorrow, I would do the floors tomorrow. The trash wound up not being an issue; the recyclables were, and I took those out. So that leaves the cat's claws [and he threw up his food earlier and isn't feeling well, so I may wait till tomorrow on that too, rather than upset him and cause further distress] and the bathroom stuff. That I can do in just a few minutes. I think for now, though, I'll take a nap, because even though I didn't do a lot, I'm kind of tired. Must be this supposed infection I have, which might be sinus, as this morning I was blowing out goop that was a little yellow. Not that you really needed to know about that, I guess. I'll call my doctor's office tomorrow to make an appointment (they wanted me back in two weeks) and to see if I can get any more information. Then I can text my boss and let her know what's going on. But for now, I plan to be back on Tuesday morning.]
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Reading Diary Entry #1
JANUARY
- The Heirloom Life Gardener: The Baker Creek Way of Growing Your Own Food Easily and Naturally by Jere Gettle
- Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens by Barbara Pleasant
FEBRUARY
- "A" is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
- Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World by Ella Frances Sanders
Finished
"A" is for Alibi. It was a very promising start to the series. Only 24 more letters to go. :) I like the title, too, as the murder method is such that an alibi is moot, as the main character points out early in the book (I'm not giving any spoilers away, as the book concerns a murder eight years in the past.) The next book is "B" is for Burglar. But that will have to be for another day. I have the other twelve books to go through and read. Today I'm going to work on the language book, as I can probably have that done. The garden plan book is finished, so I'll copy that plan I liked and take all three books back to the library tomorrow, and then I can pick up that book on hold. I think that will work nicely.
The attack of the chatty people
I am chatty, have been all my life, to the point where my mom once said she prayed I'd get laryngitis as a kid. 'Momma, let me tell you one more thing...' was my refrain, she said. Still, I do try to tone it down in the morning around YKWIA, because he's nowhere near toleration of it until he's finished with his second giant mug of coffee if that. Today he's been especially testy about it. Also, the person we picked up to take to the appointment is a very chatty, narcissistic person. Two of us together made him rather want to curl up into a ball, I suspect. So he's planning to have a quiet day, and I'll do stuff as needed out of his way. I respect his need for privacy. We're both introverts, really, although I've become more able to deal with people as I've gotten older, especially working in customer service. But still, time to dial down the chattiness, stop filling the silence and focus on other things.
I brought the "A" is for Alibi book with me today and read a few more chapters. I'm enjoying it; it's not a style I particularly care for, but it's nice to be reading again, and it's going pretty quickly. I did just realise I've left it out in the car, which, since it's raining and I have houseshoes on, means putting at least my sandals on to go briefly out into the wet. Oh, well. I think I'll do that in a bit. YKWIA did splurge a little by taking me out to Captain D's after we dropped the other person off, which was good because when I checked my blood sugar, it was 58. Remarkably, I didn't feel shaky. But I was finding it harder to think.
For now, I'm going to work on some things on the computer and maybe listen to some music. My laptop can play music through the speaker tower so I can stream some music through that. Later I may work on the game notes for a while. We're not playing the game tomorrow since I'm under doctor's orders to rest and apparently have some sort of infection, which I don't want to pass on to anyone, especially since the other player is about to take a trip to visit an elderly mother. So we decided to err on the side of caution. But if I get the notes finished this weekend, and then she's gone the next, I won't have to do them later when my memory's fuzzier about what we did. We're on the third leg of the book Ripples from Carcosa, set in the future this time (we've done ancient Rome and Norman England already). I am beginning to hate the Yellow Sign and the machinations of Hastur. I didn't really engage much last Sunday, as apparently not only was I tired, but coming down with the flu, but I did enjoy the story. Hopefully, by next time we play, I'll be more involved.
I watered all the plants before we left this morning. They're doing well. The ones in YKWIA's bedroom are really flourishing. I think they like him. They're in a window seat in a southerly exposure. The ones in my room are easterly to southeasterly, the couple of African violets in the bathroom (on the back of the toilet) get western light, and then there's his plant in the kitchen (a combination of Christmas cactus and some opportunistic wood sorrel that he likes), again, a western exposure. The living room gets very early morning light but is fairly dark the rest of the day, which is why I was surprised my plants survived in there on the bed and nightstands for so long.
I would love to really garden this year, now that I have a yard to play with, but neither of us has the money to invest in plants right now. Also, the best place for a vegetable garden would be out back behind the shed, and I found a really nice plan that would work, but there are the dogs to consider and whether they would damage the plants. Perhaps a raised bed near the fence would work. But that costs money to get landscaping materials like retaining wall products and mulch. We'll see. In the meantime, I've been looking through catalogues I found online (and one I requested from Burpee's) and have been dreaming of future gardens. I prefer heirlooms over hybrids, and several of the catalogues are full of those.
I do like my present job, but if I could find one in my field (librarianship) which paid more money, that would be great. I made more last year, due to the severance and contract work, than I had before, and I was pretty comfortable. But I've taken a $5/hour hit since October and have really struggled with paying my bills. I still am waiting for my 1099, so I can't file my taxes quite yet. I may wind up paying, although I hope the severance taxes (which was a whopping 41%) will offset no tax withholding for the time I was doing the contract work, as the car repairs back in October took the last of my savings. I'm going to have to have them prepared professionally this year, due to the severance, unemployment, and most importantly the 'self-employed' contract work. Hopefully, I will get a 1099 form soon. I talked to our chief financial officer yesterday and he said they had gone out but some of them were incorrect and they may need to be corrected, so that could be the holdup. But also, since I moved, it may be going through the forwarding process. He did say that he'd drop a line to headquarters about it. In the meantime, I'll give it till the end of the month and hope I get it soon. No sense in panicking until April. Still, I'd like to know if I owe anything. The first tax-related item I got this year was a form to be sent to the Fayette County school system for their share of the taxes. That's why I need an accounting/tax preparing firm, as there are different forms for that contract work, and while they would have them all, I would not.
We do have the prospect of some overtime coming up because we have to 'shuffle' all the appointments out there into new grids, and that should involve some weekend work. But the grids aren't ready yet, and I couldn't have worked this weekend anyway per doctor's orders.
Tomorrow I'm going to do some chores around the house, like laundry, sweeping, and the cat box--things I normally do before the game. But I'll try to make sure I get some rest, too. Monday I have no real plans. I guess I'll just relax. At some point, we have a small grocery run to make, just a few items. Other than that, I'll have some time to rest and recuperate. I'm taking my medicine as I should (I have to for nine more days). I wish I knew what the problem was--I know it's not a UTI, and I don't think he'd have prescribed an antibiotic if it were residual from the flu. It could be a sinus infection, as I have chronic ones, I guess, and I am having some sinus pain. I really was surprised he wanted me home for four days. And I'm a little concerned because I don't have enough PTO to cover last week. If they add the long-term sick time (which only kicks in after three days of personal time off), then I'll be about 3 hours short. Otherwise, it'll be more like 12 hours. That'll make for a small cheque. This Monday is covered because of a new pay period, but then we're off the Monday after that due to President's Day, and that's on the same cheque so I won't have enough to cover that. I get something like four weeks of vacation time a year, so it accrues quickly--but not that quickly. I actually was on track to have a week's worth of time built up before my birthday, but this has wiped out my hours completely. I asked the payroll clerk to just do what she could. I'm not sure I can touch the EIB because of the three-day rule. I worked Monday half a day, and Friday half a day, so I'm not sure how that works. I would think the PTO would kick in Monday, go through half of Thursday, and then the EIB would cover half of Thursday and part of the time I missed on Friday. But I have 21 hours of PTO and I need 24. I don't know if the EIB will kick in if I don't have enough PTO to cover those three days. Sigh.
It's depressing to think about. Oh, well.
I brought the "A" is for Alibi book with me today and read a few more chapters. I'm enjoying it; it's not a style I particularly care for, but it's nice to be reading again, and it's going pretty quickly. I did just realise I've left it out in the car, which, since it's raining and I have houseshoes on, means putting at least my sandals on to go briefly out into the wet. Oh, well. I think I'll do that in a bit. YKWIA did splurge a little by taking me out to Captain D's after we dropped the other person off, which was good because when I checked my blood sugar, it was 58. Remarkably, I didn't feel shaky. But I was finding it harder to think.
For now, I'm going to work on some things on the computer and maybe listen to some music. My laptop can play music through the speaker tower so I can stream some music through that. Later I may work on the game notes for a while. We're not playing the game tomorrow since I'm under doctor's orders to rest and apparently have some sort of infection, which I don't want to pass on to anyone, especially since the other player is about to take a trip to visit an elderly mother. So we decided to err on the side of caution. But if I get the notes finished this weekend, and then she's gone the next, I won't have to do them later when my memory's fuzzier about what we did. We're on the third leg of the book Ripples from Carcosa, set in the future this time (we've done ancient Rome and Norman England already). I am beginning to hate the Yellow Sign and the machinations of Hastur. I didn't really engage much last Sunday, as apparently not only was I tired, but coming down with the flu, but I did enjoy the story. Hopefully, by next time we play, I'll be more involved.
I watered all the plants before we left this morning. They're doing well. The ones in YKWIA's bedroom are really flourishing. I think they like him. They're in a window seat in a southerly exposure. The ones in my room are easterly to southeasterly, the couple of African violets in the bathroom (on the back of the toilet) get western light, and then there's his plant in the kitchen (a combination of Christmas cactus and some opportunistic wood sorrel that he likes), again, a western exposure. The living room gets very early morning light but is fairly dark the rest of the day, which is why I was surprised my plants survived in there on the bed and nightstands for so long.
I would love to really garden this year, now that I have a yard to play with, but neither of us has the money to invest in plants right now. Also, the best place for a vegetable garden would be out back behind the shed, and I found a really nice plan that would work, but there are the dogs to consider and whether they would damage the plants. Perhaps a raised bed near the fence would work. But that costs money to get landscaping materials like retaining wall products and mulch. We'll see. In the meantime, I've been looking through catalogues I found online (and one I requested from Burpee's) and have been dreaming of future gardens. I prefer heirlooms over hybrids, and several of the catalogues are full of those.
I do like my present job, but if I could find one in my field (librarianship) which paid more money, that would be great. I made more last year, due to the severance and contract work, than I had before, and I was pretty comfortable. But I've taken a $5/hour hit since October and have really struggled with paying my bills. I still am waiting for my 1099, so I can't file my taxes quite yet. I may wind up paying, although I hope the severance taxes (which was a whopping 41%) will offset no tax withholding for the time I was doing the contract work, as the car repairs back in October took the last of my savings. I'm going to have to have them prepared professionally this year, due to the severance, unemployment, and most importantly the 'self-employed' contract work. Hopefully, I will get a 1099 form soon. I talked to our chief financial officer yesterday and he said they had gone out but some of them were incorrect and they may need to be corrected, so that could be the holdup. But also, since I moved, it may be going through the forwarding process. He did say that he'd drop a line to headquarters about it. In the meantime, I'll give it till the end of the month and hope I get it soon. No sense in panicking until April. Still, I'd like to know if I owe anything. The first tax-related item I got this year was a form to be sent to the Fayette County school system for their share of the taxes. That's why I need an accounting/tax preparing firm, as there are different forms for that contract work, and while they would have them all, I would not.
We do have the prospect of some overtime coming up because we have to 'shuffle' all the appointments out there into new grids, and that should involve some weekend work. But the grids aren't ready yet, and I couldn't have worked this weekend anyway per doctor's orders.
Tomorrow I'm going to do some chores around the house, like laundry, sweeping, and the cat box--things I normally do before the game. But I'll try to make sure I get some rest, too. Monday I have no real plans. I guess I'll just relax. At some point, we have a small grocery run to make, just a few items. Other than that, I'll have some time to rest and recuperate. I'm taking my medicine as I should (I have to for nine more days). I wish I knew what the problem was--I know it's not a UTI, and I don't think he'd have prescribed an antibiotic if it were residual from the flu. It could be a sinus infection, as I have chronic ones, I guess, and I am having some sinus pain. I really was surprised he wanted me home for four days. And I'm a little concerned because I don't have enough PTO to cover last week. If they add the long-term sick time (which only kicks in after three days of personal time off), then I'll be about 3 hours short. Otherwise, it'll be more like 12 hours. That'll make for a small cheque. This Monday is covered because of a new pay period, but then we're off the Monday after that due to President's Day, and that's on the same cheque so I won't have enough to cover that. I get something like four weeks of vacation time a year, so it accrues quickly--but not that quickly. I actually was on track to have a week's worth of time built up before my birthday, but this has wiped out my hours completely. I asked the payroll clerk to just do what she could. I'm not sure I can touch the EIB because of the three-day rule. I worked Monday half a day, and Friday half a day, so I'm not sure how that works. I would think the PTO would kick in Monday, go through half of Thursday, and then the EIB would cover half of Thursday and part of the time I missed on Friday. But I have 21 hours of PTO and I need 24. I don't know if the EIB will kick in if I don't have enough PTO to cover those three days. Sigh.
It's depressing to think about. Oh, well.
I got up very early for a Saturday
But then I was in bed by about 9 pm and asleep by 10:30 last night. I have to take a couple of people to an appointment in a couple of hours, and so I wanted to get up early, get washed up and dressed, and clean out the car. Not that there was much in the way of trash (a couple of soda bottles to recycle), but I still had a small cherry table in the backseat and my TV and DVD player in the trunk, and they've been there since before I got sick. I set it all up, it works (now that I have WiFi, I can not only get the basic channels with a digital antenna, I can get streaming services since it's a (small) Smart TV). I can also watch my DVDs now without hooking up the old DVD-ROM to my laptop (I don't have one built into the computer as it's smaller and they saved space).
YKWIA just came in and saw the TV set up. I'm not sure he was happy, but he said it was okay. I did set it all up while he was asleep in the hopes that he'd be less likely to say no, I have to admit, which I did freely to him. But it's out of the way of his treadmill (though next to it) and away from the books, so I think it'll be okay.
So far this morning I've also taken my meds (including the antibiotic), eaten some raisin bran with a banana, and now I'm in my room while he's watching 'Will & Grace', with the cat perched on my bed. It's raining outside, so the dogs weren't particularly happy, and they were just let in and are gated in the kitchen.
I like the new room. I have a door I can shut so I have more privacy, so my music doesn't disturb him (or the TV for that matter). I can hear him on the computer when he's watching stuff because he plays it loudly (his hearing isn't what it used to be, but then neither is mine, I just can listen to things more softly), but I can take it down a notch or two by closing the door. I'm surrounded by books on three sides of the room, and I have taken over some of the built-in shelves, so I have more storage as far as the bed go. The water for my CPAP, for example, is in the footboard instead of next to the bed. I have the two nightstands, with two drawers each, the bookcase on the headboard, plus the top of that, the footboard with two sliding-door cabinets and two long drawers for underwear, socks, and nightclothes. He's let me use his cedar chest for pants and T-shirts. My normals blouses and sweaters, along with my laundry basket, lunch bags, a few random bags, and my robe are in the entryway closet. I also keep my two microfleece blankets there in the daytime. In the hall closet are my linens and two bags of purses. Also in the bedroom, in addition to the TV/DVD/cherry table, are two small trash cans and a Bluetooth speaker tower. My headboard has a small CD player/boom box, so I have all the music set up and now the video. He brought a stool in while I was sick to put my food on, and I've kept it, so I have the laptop on it right now and my chair from the kitchen. But those travel around, of course. So it's a nice, comfy environment, and I'm doing so much better in terms of anxiety and psychological peace since downsizing. Now granted, I am having to pay for storage, and most of that is the books that I didn't get rid of. But it's still much better than when I was in the apartment. We're doing pretty well in terms of getting along and giving each other space, although I'm a bit too chatty for him before his coffee, except that's usually just Saturdays and Sundays, and I can take a hint. I think having me home (especially after I ventured out of the bed after three days) was starting to get to him, having a little too much time with me). But otherwise, we're doing fine. I have certain chores and he does as well; we share a lot of the upkeep.
I have two windows in my room, good-sized, but separate as opposed to the two in the living room, which are together. There are two maple trees and a redbud outside in the front yard, and there is a squirrel who has been hopping between one and the roof above. The cat is having his Zen time on my bed, or I'm sure he'd be enjoying the view. We get lots of squirrels. Our neighbour has been putting out corn for them, and they nest in the maples. It's nice living in a house. It's got a little over 1200 square feet, has the large bedroom, which I gather was two rooms at one point, you can tell on the hardwood floor, the library, which was a study and a den at one point until they remodeled, the living room, a kitchen with utility room, and a bath. I do wish they'd kept the bath as one main one with the half bath off the master bedroom, but instead they knocked down a wall and made it a large bathroom with tub, a shower glassed in on three sides, a window, two sinks (that is nice) with a large mirror and three cabinets behind it, and a door going to the bedroom and to the hall. But sometimes we trip over each other trying to use it. Still, it's nice, and there's ceramic tile in the kitchen and bath, and hardwood throughout the rest of the house, the former having been part of their remodelling a few years ago. There's a nice-sized shed for storage and a privacy fence for the dogs, although one likes to jump up and peek over it, and can. She could technically clear it, I think, she just doesn't realise it. Still, I suspect she scares the neighbours when she does that, as she is a Labrador-pit bull mix with amazing jumping power. The other little dog is a border collie-terrier mix. The cat is black and slinky. They are all incredibly loving and good-natured. The older dog has mellowed over the years; she used to be much more anxious and weird. We found that a Thundershirt helped when she was outside, but the other dog was offended by it and would drag her around the yard by it until she tore it to pieces. She used to have to be sedated around the Fourth of July, but now she's a little deafer and it doesn't bother her. I love all the animals dearly, but I'm a little partial to the little dog, who sleeps in my room most nights.
There was just a mourning dove out on the tree a minute ago, spooked by a squirrel. But she walked along the branch with that funny gait and head bobbling thing they do. I think they are my favourite bird, not particularly showy, but I love them. They're usually on the ground in pairs when I see them. I love their call, as well, so eerie.
Okay, I guess I should go get hydrated and ready for the outing. I hope things are going pretty well for you all. Stay well (I had mild flu, really, but it still was bad enough). Have a great day.
YKWIA just came in and saw the TV set up. I'm not sure he was happy, but he said it was okay. I did set it all up while he was asleep in the hopes that he'd be less likely to say no, I have to admit, which I did freely to him. But it's out of the way of his treadmill (though next to it) and away from the books, so I think it'll be okay.
So far this morning I've also taken my meds (including the antibiotic), eaten some raisin bran with a banana, and now I'm in my room while he's watching 'Will & Grace', with the cat perched on my bed. It's raining outside, so the dogs weren't particularly happy, and they were just let in and are gated in the kitchen.
I like the new room. I have a door I can shut so I have more privacy, so my music doesn't disturb him (or the TV for that matter). I can hear him on the computer when he's watching stuff because he plays it loudly (his hearing isn't what it used to be, but then neither is mine, I just can listen to things more softly), but I can take it down a notch or two by closing the door. I'm surrounded by books on three sides of the room, and I have taken over some of the built-in shelves, so I have more storage as far as the bed go. The water for my CPAP, for example, is in the footboard instead of next to the bed. I have the two nightstands, with two drawers each, the bookcase on the headboard, plus the top of that, the footboard with two sliding-door cabinets and two long drawers for underwear, socks, and nightclothes. He's let me use his cedar chest for pants and T-shirts. My normals blouses and sweaters, along with my laundry basket, lunch bags, a few random bags, and my robe are in the entryway closet. I also keep my two microfleece blankets there in the daytime. In the hall closet are my linens and two bags of purses. Also in the bedroom, in addition to the TV/DVD/cherry table, are two small trash cans and a Bluetooth speaker tower. My headboard has a small CD player/boom box, so I have all the music set up and now the video. He brought a stool in while I was sick to put my food on, and I've kept it, so I have the laptop on it right now and my chair from the kitchen. But those travel around, of course. So it's a nice, comfy environment, and I'm doing so much better in terms of anxiety and psychological peace since downsizing. Now granted, I am having to pay for storage, and most of that is the books that I didn't get rid of. But it's still much better than when I was in the apartment. We're doing pretty well in terms of getting along and giving each other space, although I'm a bit too chatty for him before his coffee, except that's usually just Saturdays and Sundays, and I can take a hint. I think having me home (especially after I ventured out of the bed after three days) was starting to get to him, having a little too much time with me). But otherwise, we're doing fine. I have certain chores and he does as well; we share a lot of the upkeep.
I have two windows in my room, good-sized, but separate as opposed to the two in the living room, which are together. There are two maple trees and a redbud outside in the front yard, and there is a squirrel who has been hopping between one and the roof above. The cat is having his Zen time on my bed, or I'm sure he'd be enjoying the view. We get lots of squirrels. Our neighbour has been putting out corn for them, and they nest in the maples. It's nice living in a house. It's got a little over 1200 square feet, has the large bedroom, which I gather was two rooms at one point, you can tell on the hardwood floor, the library, which was a study and a den at one point until they remodeled, the living room, a kitchen with utility room, and a bath. I do wish they'd kept the bath as one main one with the half bath off the master bedroom, but instead they knocked down a wall and made it a large bathroom with tub, a shower glassed in on three sides, a window, two sinks (that is nice) with a large mirror and three cabinets behind it, and a door going to the bedroom and to the hall. But sometimes we trip over each other trying to use it. Still, it's nice, and there's ceramic tile in the kitchen and bath, and hardwood throughout the rest of the house, the former having been part of their remodelling a few years ago. There's a nice-sized shed for storage and a privacy fence for the dogs, although one likes to jump up and peek over it, and can. She could technically clear it, I think, she just doesn't realise it. Still, I suspect she scares the neighbours when she does that, as she is a Labrador-pit bull mix with amazing jumping power. The other little dog is a border collie-terrier mix. The cat is black and slinky. They are all incredibly loving and good-natured. The older dog has mellowed over the years; she used to be much more anxious and weird. We found that a Thundershirt helped when she was outside, but the other dog was offended by it and would drag her around the yard by it until she tore it to pieces. She used to have to be sedated around the Fourth of July, but now she's a little deafer and it doesn't bother her. I love all the animals dearly, but I'm a little partial to the little dog, who sleeps in my room most nights.
There was just a mourning dove out on the tree a minute ago, spooked by a squirrel. But she walked along the branch with that funny gait and head bobbling thing they do. I think they are my favourite bird, not particularly showy, but I love them. They're usually on the ground in pairs when I see them. I love their call, as well, so eerie.
Okay, I guess I should go get hydrated and ready for the outing. I hope things are going pretty well for you all. Stay well (I had mild flu, really, but it still was bad enough). Have a great day.
Friday, February 09, 2018
Just had a meal
of home-made bread (my contribution, courtesy of my Panasonic bread machine) and lovely tilapia in white wine, onions, and herbs (YKWIA made that, except I chopped the onion). It was incredibly good, a good meal for Shabbas, and very satisfying all in all. We each had a third of the pound of fish and split the last third, and each had a couple of helpings of thinly-sliced bread (he did the slicing--I'm only now getting the hang of using a bread knife on a loaf). Now my stomach is happy and I'm getting sleepy. I think the kitty wants to cuddle; he's on my bed.
Did I mention that I weighed myself before and after I was ill, and I've lost about 10 lbs this week? I'm sure some of that will come back, but at the moment I'm thirty-two pounds down from my highest weight. It's all of this home-cooked, wonderful food. Yay!
Did I mention that I weighed myself before and after I was ill, and I've lost about 10 lbs this week? I'm sure some of that will come back, but at the moment I'm thirty-two pounds down from my highest weight. It's all of this home-cooked, wonderful food. Yay!
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