aka Sandy.
aka The Beyotch from hell.
It was not a pleasant night. Not one bit. The eye of the hurricane went directly over us (we are approximately 55 miles north of Philadelphia) and the wind was beyond belief. I think that is what rattled me the most...the wind. Most of the time I had my radio headset on so I would not have to hear the wind. Sometimes I had the radio on, sometimes I didn't.
I climbed into bed around 3:00am and fell into blessed sleep almost instantaneously and I thank God for that. But, then again, I also was not eager to get up in the morning to survey the damages. I worried about the cats outside, something I had been doing since hearing about this storm coming our way.
We came through pretty much unscathed in that nothing major was blown away. We did lose a lot of downspouts, gutters, soffits etc. At least they are still here and not in the next county though. Our neighbor's trampoline ended up in our driveway. It scaled his fence and flew well over 300 ft. to arrive at the side of our truck. Several times my husband went outside while the storm was riding high so he could tie things down or retrieve something that was headed the wrong way, like our garbage container that wanted to visit the street, or the swing on the back deck that wanted to crash into our patio door windows.
The worst of our damage is our greenhouse where our cats take refuge during rain or other bad weather. It is also where I keep their water, dry food, and their wet food that I feed them twice a day. The roof held...some of the side panels did not. There are 12 main panels and 5 of them blew out. My husband said those 5 panels did not blow away but now we have the chore of getting that building back together. There were two cats that came up while I was there to give them fresh water and food this morning. I can only pray they all made it and that they eventually took shelter in our garage at the back of our property. They have ways of getting in and out.
It is times like these where we step back and remember there are a lot of people much worse off than what we went through, which was not pretty for want of a better word. You thank your God that you still have a house that's dry inside and whatever happened to the outside can always be fixed.
I pray for everyone that was hit by this so-called perfect storm. We are one of the lucky ones. From what I am seeing on TV there are a lot out there not so lucky.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Very Close Call
Apologies for not writing more often, but I have been preoccupied for quite a bit. I don't remember if I wrote anything about a problem I had that started back in April of this year. I was put on two antibiotics and neither of them cleared up the infection I had. The doctor then prescribed a sulfa drug and on the last day of taking that medication, I broke out in a rash. I eventually figured out that I was allergic to sulfa drugs.
OK, so the head scratching began. How to get rid of that infection located in my renal system somewhere. I decided to wait until my doctor appointment last week to actually do anything since the symptoms were almost all but gone. I requested a urine sample be taken by the office to determine if it was the same result as the one I had taken at home the day before. It was.
Now, at this point in time, the doctor is as perplexed as I am. Why is this certain infection hanging around? And why is it one tiny symptom and still showing a trace in the tests? A few months ago the doctor said that if it did not clear up he would order an ultrasound of my bladder and my kidneys. I had blood work done and the numbers for my kidneys came back all out of whack. My creatinine figure was very high and my GFR figure had gotten a lot lower than the same test a year ago. This has progressed this way for the past 5 years and we have been keeping an eye on it, but the figures were so bad this last time I became very concerned.
The doctor told me with those figures I was probably in Stage 3 of chronic kidney disease. I was not officially diagnosed with that, but he did mention it in passing. I have a history of high blood pressure. High BP can cause kidney damage and kidneys can cause high BP. Granted, my BP is always low in the stores, at home, but never at the doctor's office. I have white coat syndrome.
This past Monday I had the ultrasound done. My urine was sent to a lab for further analysis. I have been stressing over the ultrasound ever since, reading everything I can and trying to figure out what the outcome is for different scenarios. You do not want to know what I was thinking...other than I thought I was now living on borrowed time. But aren't we all? I thought I might get the dreaded call from the doctor's office Thursday. I did not. It came today while I was out. I had hoped to get back too late to have to call back if they left a message for me to do so. I am a big wuss when it comes to things like that.
When I walked into the house the first thing I did was check the answer machine and that darn red light was blinking away. All I could think at the time was, oh crap. My husband listened to the message, turned to me and asked me when I was going to return the call. I had no choice but to do it right then and there, much as I did not want to.
They confirmed that I still had a tiny infection and I am now on yet another antibiotic, stronger than the first three, but not a sulfa drug. That was all she was going to offer. I had to question her on the results of the ultrasound.
Both the bladder and the kidneys are normal. They do not show any type of deterioration whatsoever. That brought tears of hope and joy to my eyes...you cannot imagine the relief that flooded through me.
Meanwhile, I had put myself on a low sodium diet since I found out I was consuming far too much of it. I have also been on a low calorie diet for the past 6 weeks. This past week, since being on the low sodium diet, I have lost five pounds besides the other ten I had lost prior to this. Despite the fact that all is well, I am going to continue on the low sodium (as well as the low calorie diet) because now my main concern is getting my BP down when I visit the doctor in three months. And losing another 20-25 pounds won't hurt.
OK, so the head scratching began. How to get rid of that infection located in my renal system somewhere. I decided to wait until my doctor appointment last week to actually do anything since the symptoms were almost all but gone. I requested a urine sample be taken by the office to determine if it was the same result as the one I had taken at home the day before. It was.
Now, at this point in time, the doctor is as perplexed as I am. Why is this certain infection hanging around? And why is it one tiny symptom and still showing a trace in the tests? A few months ago the doctor said that if it did not clear up he would order an ultrasound of my bladder and my kidneys. I had blood work done and the numbers for my kidneys came back all out of whack. My creatinine figure was very high and my GFR figure had gotten a lot lower than the same test a year ago. This has progressed this way for the past 5 years and we have been keeping an eye on it, but the figures were so bad this last time I became very concerned.
The doctor told me with those figures I was probably in Stage 3 of chronic kidney disease. I was not officially diagnosed with that, but he did mention it in passing. I have a history of high blood pressure. High BP can cause kidney damage and kidneys can cause high BP. Granted, my BP is always low in the stores, at home, but never at the doctor's office. I have white coat syndrome.
This past Monday I had the ultrasound done. My urine was sent to a lab for further analysis. I have been stressing over the ultrasound ever since, reading everything I can and trying to figure out what the outcome is for different scenarios. You do not want to know what I was thinking...other than I thought I was now living on borrowed time. But aren't we all? I thought I might get the dreaded call from the doctor's office Thursday. I did not. It came today while I was out. I had hoped to get back too late to have to call back if they left a message for me to do so. I am a big wuss when it comes to things like that.
When I walked into the house the first thing I did was check the answer machine and that darn red light was blinking away. All I could think at the time was, oh crap. My husband listened to the message, turned to me and asked me when I was going to return the call. I had no choice but to do it right then and there, much as I did not want to.
They confirmed that I still had a tiny infection and I am now on yet another antibiotic, stronger than the first three, but not a sulfa drug. That was all she was going to offer. I had to question her on the results of the ultrasound.
Both the bladder and the kidneys are normal. They do not show any type of deterioration whatsoever. That brought tears of hope and joy to my eyes...you cannot imagine the relief that flooded through me.
Meanwhile, I had put myself on a low sodium diet since I found out I was consuming far too much of it. I have also been on a low calorie diet for the past 6 weeks. This past week, since being on the low sodium diet, I have lost five pounds besides the other ten I had lost prior to this. Despite the fact that all is well, I am going to continue on the low sodium (as well as the low calorie diet) because now my main concern is getting my BP down when I visit the doctor in three months. And losing another 20-25 pounds won't hurt.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
At A Crossroads
I am finding lately that I don't have much to write about with even less time to write.
And when I do post anything there are a handful of people that leave a comment. Seriously, it makes me feel as if I am talking to myself half the time.
Therefore, I am wondering if I should just not post anything anymore, or if there is a real audience out there actually reading what I write about.
I think if I had more incentive (more people reading and leaving comments) it would prompt me to write more.
Meanwhile, we are in the midst of replacing our sliding patio door. Last winter there was an awful lot of cold air coming in so husband covered the outside with plastic sheeting. It helped a bit. So this year we were finally able to sit with someone and go over the possibilities of what we can do to replace the old door.
We had already picked out a door last Friday (the 12th) but had to wait for someone to come to the house and measure the space where the new door will be going. That was done yesterday (the 19th). When we went back to the store Saturday (the 20th) we again went over everything with a different person. When he took us back to the door displays it was discovered that the only left hand door they had when we were there last week had been sold. Yes, someone sold our door. No, we didn't have our name on it. We couldn't actually order it till the measuring was done. It's just the idea...we saw what we wanted and expected it to be there when we needed it. That is Rule #1. Never assume.
That store called around to other stores to try and find what we needed. Out of the five stores they called, only one had a left hand door in stock. They said they will send it on a transfer truck and the earliest we would get it is this coming Thursday...if we're lucky. And then, of course, the crew that will install it may not even be ready to do that for who knows when.
Do you people remember the bulls eye on our backs? Well, it reared its ugly head again. No matter what we try to do, something always goes wrong somewhere along the line.
And when I do post anything there are a handful of people that leave a comment. Seriously, it makes me feel as if I am talking to myself half the time.
Therefore, I am wondering if I should just not post anything anymore, or if there is a real audience out there actually reading what I write about.
I think if I had more incentive (more people reading and leaving comments) it would prompt me to write more.
Meanwhile, we are in the midst of replacing our sliding patio door. Last winter there was an awful lot of cold air coming in so husband covered the outside with plastic sheeting. It helped a bit. So this year we were finally able to sit with someone and go over the possibilities of what we can do to replace the old door.
We had already picked out a door last Friday (the 12th) but had to wait for someone to come to the house and measure the space where the new door will be going. That was done yesterday (the 19th). When we went back to the store Saturday (the 20th) we again went over everything with a different person. When he took us back to the door displays it was discovered that the only left hand door they had when we were there last week had been sold. Yes, someone sold our door. No, we didn't have our name on it. We couldn't actually order it till the measuring was done. It's just the idea...we saw what we wanted and expected it to be there when we needed it. That is Rule #1. Never assume.
That store called around to other stores to try and find what we needed. Out of the five stores they called, only one had a left hand door in stock. They said they will send it on a transfer truck and the earliest we would get it is this coming Thursday...if we're lucky. And then, of course, the crew that will install it may not even be ready to do that for who knows when.
Do you people remember the bulls eye on our backs? Well, it reared its ugly head again. No matter what we try to do, something always goes wrong somewhere along the line.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Going Out On A Limb
I watched the Vice Presidential Debates Thursday evening and I will admit I dozed off once or twice for a few minutes. I don't think I missed much though.
However, every time I awoke all I saw was an old man bullying a young man. A very rude, obnoxious old man I might add. Where the hell did he come from and who woke him up?
Now, before you get all crazy and start yelling at your screen to berate me...yes, I know both of them and who they are and what they stand for. However, I was very uncomfortable watching that debate. Joe Biden may be a likable man in his circles and also the public, but what I saw was someone yelling most of the time and laughing like a crazed person the rest of the time.
This post was not meant to offend anyone. I am merely stating my take on that debate. Hopefully, the next two Presidential debates will be a little more civil.
However, every time I awoke all I saw was an old man bullying a young man. A very rude, obnoxious old man I might add. Where the hell did he come from and who woke him up?
Now, before you get all crazy and start yelling at your screen to berate me...yes, I know both of them and who they are and what they stand for. However, I was very uncomfortable watching that debate. Joe Biden may be a likable man in his circles and also the public, but what I saw was someone yelling most of the time and laughing like a crazed person the rest of the time.
This post was not meant to offend anyone. I am merely stating my take on that debate. Hopefully, the next two Presidential debates will be a little more civil.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Calgon, Take Me Away
Anybody remember that slogan?
I am up to here with things to do and don't have the gumption to do them. I have no excuse, the severe heat is gone and it's currently 47° which, of course, is much too cold for me. But then again, it is 12:45am as I type this.
And, yes, I am complaining. It seems that's all I ever do these days. I am getting tired of hearing myself complain, that's how bad it is. Anyway, like I said, I have so many things to do I don't know where to start. By the time I get finished with a lot of my routine morning things...that is if I even get up early enough to consider it being morning...I can't seem to find the time to do the necessary things.
My morning, ahem...mid-morning begins by feeding the cats inside. That's before I even go out to the rest of the house. They are fed in the laundry room which is right off of the bathroom. Once they are fed and their potties are cleaned, my next step is to feed the cats outside and that is done in the kitchen. I usually have dried cat food mixed with water that has softened which I add a can of wet food to it, and then I heat that in the microwave since cats outside prefer warm food. And since I am not a mouser and also I cannot outrun a mole, they get warmed food from me. It's the least I can do for them.
Before I come back inside I fetch the paper. I cannot start my day without reading an actual newspaper. A lot of people have given up their newspapers and get their news elsewhere but I am not ready for that yet, although I do read a lot online and catch mostly old news on TV. That's one thing nice about getting news online...it is fresher than what is on TV.
While I am reading the newspaper I usually have my first cup of coffee. I live on that stuff all day long and it's difficult to not be able to start the day with it. I eat breakfast when I get hungry or there is the occasional morning when I make breakfast for husband and I eat with him despite the fact that I am not hungry yet. That doesn't happen too often. I like to eat when I am hungry, not just because it's time to eat.
Boy, did I go off course with this. Back to the basics. Back to what needs to be done. I have curtains to iron and hang on the new round curtain rod with fancy balls on the ends that we put up yesterday. It replaces two traverse rods. Very old traverse rods...they were here when we moved in over 20 years ago. I have kitchen curtains to iron and hang. And then there is the usual housework...something I detest. Who invented housework anyway? And who said the women had to do it? The only housework I like doing is laundry. I have no idea why, I just enjoy doing it.
But for now? It's time to go to bed and start all over in the morning. Or is that mid-morning?
I am up to here with things to do and don't have the gumption to do them. I have no excuse, the severe heat is gone and it's currently 47° which, of course, is much too cold for me. But then again, it is 12:45am as I type this.
And, yes, I am complaining. It seems that's all I ever do these days. I am getting tired of hearing myself complain, that's how bad it is. Anyway, like I said, I have so many things to do I don't know where to start. By the time I get finished with a lot of my routine morning things...that is if I even get up early enough to consider it being morning...I can't seem to find the time to do the necessary things.
My morning, ahem...mid-morning begins by feeding the cats inside. That's before I even go out to the rest of the house. They are fed in the laundry room which is right off of the bathroom. Once they are fed and their potties are cleaned, my next step is to feed the cats outside and that is done in the kitchen. I usually have dried cat food mixed with water that has softened which I add a can of wet food to it, and then I heat that in the microwave since cats outside prefer warm food. And since I am not a mouser and also I cannot outrun a mole, they get warmed food from me. It's the least I can do for them.
Before I come back inside I fetch the paper. I cannot start my day without reading an actual newspaper. A lot of people have given up their newspapers and get their news elsewhere but I am not ready for that yet, although I do read a lot online and catch mostly old news on TV. That's one thing nice about getting news online...it is fresher than what is on TV.
While I am reading the newspaper I usually have my first cup of coffee. I live on that stuff all day long and it's difficult to not be able to start the day with it. I eat breakfast when I get hungry or there is the occasional morning when I make breakfast for husband and I eat with him despite the fact that I am not hungry yet. That doesn't happen too often. I like to eat when I am hungry, not just because it's time to eat.
Boy, did I go off course with this. Back to the basics. Back to what needs to be done. I have curtains to iron and hang on the new round curtain rod with fancy balls on the ends that we put up yesterday. It replaces two traverse rods. Very old traverse rods...they were here when we moved in over 20 years ago. I have kitchen curtains to iron and hang. And then there is the usual housework...something I detest. Who invented housework anyway? And who said the women had to do it? The only housework I like doing is laundry. I have no idea why, I just enjoy doing it.
But for now? It's time to go to bed and start all over in the morning. Or is that mid-morning?
Sunday, October 07, 2012
A Full Day Of Sports
The pork roast is in the slow cooker making it that much easier for me to get dinner together tonight. I can't be slowed down on a day such as this. Too much going on for me as far as sports are concerned.
My main focus of the day will be the Good Sam Club 500 being run at the Talladega Speedway. This is the fourth race of the Chase for the championship. This is what is considered a plate track. This is where Dale Jr. shines best. Granted, his last few years of racing at this track proved fruitless; however, this year he is focused and on top of his game, so hopefully he will race well today.
While the race is being run, the NY Giants will do battle with the Cleveland Browns who are currently 0 and 4. I will not let that sway my thinking and lull me into the fact that the Giants will win this game...those Browns may awaken from a deep sleep and trounce my beloved Giants. Let's hope not.
Later this afternoon, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will do battle against the New England Patriots. No, I am not a Broncos fan, per se, but I am a fan of Peyton Manning's. I am hoping to see him stage a huge comeback this year since his neck surgeries kept him out of football last year. He has had his ups and downs so far this year and I am hoping it will soon turn to all ups.
So there you have it...quite a busy day for me. A day of a lot of channel flipping. I've done it before, I can do it again today.
Three out of three wins for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Eli Manning and Peyton Manning would make my day.
*********************************************************************************
UPDATE:
Dale Jr. got wiped out along with 20 plus other drivers on the last lap and did not finish the race. His championship hopes have gone up in smoke no doubt.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos lost their game to the New England Patriots.
Eli Manning and the Giants won their game against the Cleveland Browns.
SO I went one out of three. Those are lousy odds wouldn't you say?
My main focus of the day will be the Good Sam Club 500 being run at the Talladega Speedway. This is the fourth race of the Chase for the championship. This is what is considered a plate track. This is where Dale Jr. shines best. Granted, his last few years of racing at this track proved fruitless; however, this year he is focused and on top of his game, so hopefully he will race well today.
While the race is being run, the NY Giants will do battle with the Cleveland Browns who are currently 0 and 4. I will not let that sway my thinking and lull me into the fact that the Giants will win this game...those Browns may awaken from a deep sleep and trounce my beloved Giants. Let's hope not.
Later this afternoon, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will do battle against the New England Patriots. No, I am not a Broncos fan, per se, but I am a fan of Peyton Manning's. I am hoping to see him stage a huge comeback this year since his neck surgeries kept him out of football last year. He has had his ups and downs so far this year and I am hoping it will soon turn to all ups.
So there you have it...quite a busy day for me. A day of a lot of channel flipping. I've done it before, I can do it again today.
Three out of three wins for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Eli Manning and Peyton Manning would make my day.
*********************************************************************************
UPDATE:
Dale Jr. got wiped out along with 20 plus other drivers on the last lap and did not finish the race. His championship hopes have gone up in smoke no doubt.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos lost their game to the New England Patriots.
Eli Manning and the Giants won their game against the Cleveland Browns.
SO I went one out of three. Those are lousy odds wouldn't you say?
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Rain, Rain, Rain
I guess it's helping the environment somehow and I shouldn't complain, but...
...I am not ready to turn any kind of heat on yet.
...it wreaks havoc on the cats outside, not to mention all the new kittens.
...second to nasty winter weather, a cold damp rain makes me crazy.
...it keeps me home because I don't like schlepping around in a downpour.
...But all in all I guess I should be very grateful for all this rain. After all, without it Earth would not survive. And with all the political crap that is going on projecting gloom and doom, it's all I can do to keep ahead of the survival game at this point in time.
For now anyway.
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