Month: October 2014

  • once or twice

    Firefox on the Compaq quit showing graphics last night. No simple solution in sight. That blows a hole into my partying. No YouTube. Sigh.

    Andrea brought Mother, Harrison and his half sisters Sarah and Mary this morning. Delores brought Marion. :-)

    Sarah is a fine babysitter for her brother Harrison.


    Mary served her tasty herbed chicken for lunch, with cheesy Brussels sprouts, macaroni and cheese and stewed Anya potatoes. An indifferent Arizona cantaloupe as appetizer. Afterwards, Mother was disoriented and feeling pooped, so Andrea ran her home before the game of rummy began.

    Sarah, Andrea and Mary.


    Andrea, with Harrison, gives little Mary some advice as my Mary studies her hand.


    Although her sister Mary became bored with the game, Sarah was quick to learn rummy and ended up really enjoying it.

    Sarah, Marion and Andrea. (with Harrison)


    We all had a good time. I even caught brother Marion laughing once or twice. :-)

    Company left. Mary and I watched Bears (2014) from Netflix. Everything you'd expect from a Disney nature film. And, well done.

    Today, I saw some hard decisions that will have to be made for Mother in the not too distant future. That aside, this has been one of my better days.

    118 lbs.

    41.6 °F, partly cloudy.

  • transport chair

    Got up this morning in fairly good shape.


    Pork chops for late lunch, with sweet potato, green peas and tomato. Apple and pear appetizers.

    After coffees and pumpkin pie, we did a town run. At Walgreens, we bought a transport chair and back support for Mother. $197.72. At Kroger we bought tilapia and a pizza.

    Back home, I called niece Stephanie to help put the chair together. Turned out, there was little to put together. That's alright. We had a nice visit afterwards.

    "Let's see, number one connects to number two..."

    No sooner did Stephanie leave than brother George showed up. I brought him up to date on stuff.

    53.9 °F, clear.

  • Ruff


    The appointment with my neurologist was for 1:40 pm at the medical building adjacent to the hospital. We arrived in Columbia in time to lunch at O'Charley's before seeing the doc.

    For Mary, O'Charley's means O'Charley's Over-Loaded Potato Soup. She had a bowl. (288-290 calories) I had a cup. (166-170 calories) We shared four rolls. (130 calories per roll!) Two cups of coffee rounded out the order.

    Jeffry C. Ruff, Jr., D.O


    Dr. Ruff was pleasant enough. Asked a few questions and made a rudimentary examination. Bottom line, there has been no medical breakthroughs in the sixty years since I contracted polio that could help my deteriorating condition. No news there.

    Oddly, a calmness began to take me over as I drove home. It remains with me.

    70.3 °F, mostly cloudy.

  • summer-like

    Anna brought Leah, as usual.

    Leah is ready for a harder puzzle.



    Salmon for lunch, with acorn squash, spinach, carrots and tomato. Apple and pear appetizers.

    We never managed to get Leah to take her nap.

    After Denise picked up Leah, Mary and I went to Rock Creek Park. Leaving the Durango at the VFW, we took in the library end. May have been our last chance to do it this year in summer-like weather.

    Before heading home, we strolled over to La Superior. Mary bought a few things.

    72.4 °F, clear.

  • sorts

    On edge. Out of sorts today.

    I was at the outpost while Mary was at mass. When she returned, I headed for the house. Stuart walked up with Hudson. Stuart meant a longer stay, but Hudson would have none of it. Wanted his mommy.

    Cheese Krystals with fries for lunch.

    We watched Under the Skin (2014) from Netflix. Confusing fantasy about a kind of alien vampiress. I can't see anyone other than Scarlett Johansson fanatics enjoying this.

    George found me at the outpost. We talked into the night.

    66.7 °F, clear.

  • Nayeli

    Niece Stephanie called this morning. Full of interesting ideas in regard to Mother's care.

    More of the soup for lunch.

    Mary attended the mass and wedding for our friend Nayeli. I sampled the summer-like weather at the outpost. George drove up in the golf cart. Showed me a small garden snake Leah had been playing with. Offered, in jest, to show it to Mary. No thanks. That would ruin her day for sure.

    Brother George and dead snake.

    When Mary returned, we had coffee. It wasn't long before we headed out to West Church Street. Nayeli's wedding festivities were held in The Powder Room of the old Borden Factory Plant. The industrial building converted to an event center is about the size of one of my warehouses. We knew quite a few guests there. Sat at a table with Maricruz and her sons Jorge and Bryan.

    Mary, Maricruz, Jorge and Bryan.


    The Mariachi Band Garibaldi was serenading from table to table. Mary's special friend Margarita, mother of the bride, visited with us for a while.

    Margarita.


    The food, San Luis Potosí style, was provided by the groom's parents. The mole was flown in special from Mexico.

    Mary and Margarita adjust Nayeli's veil.


    Nayeli


    Mary and I left soon after the dance music began. It was ear-splitting.

    67.9 °F, clear.

  • dispelled

    Dark clouds over my head. Soon dispelled.

    I was very pleased this morning and much relieved to see Mother walk in on her own two feet. She looked better than she has in some time. Wanted her hair styled as usual. Mary not only obliged, but gave her a manicure and a long overdue pedicure.

    I called Darnell. Looks like the interested parties, after I held #2 and #3 for them two weeks, are getting cold feet. :-( $108,000 contract. That's just after I sent away another party interested in the same location. Grr. Probably another $54,000 contract. Not a good day for business.

    Chicken noodle soup and crackers for lunch. Honeydew melon appetizer.

    Although brother Marion couldn't make it this week, we five still had a high old time. Mother responded to little Harrison, as indeed we all did, and seemed more awake to the world.

    Mary, Andrea with Harrison, and Mother.

    We played cards till 3:00 pm. That was enough for Mary. She was tired. As Andrea was leaving to take Mother home, niece Stephanie showed up. She cared for Harrison till Andrea returned.

    Stephanie shared a few smiles with her nephew Harrison.

    I learned that Stephanie's brother Wesley is getting married on Halloween day. Hmmm. I wonder what costume the bride will wear.

    Andrea returned and she, Stephanie and I had a nice long visit. By the time my nieces left, the relief I felt when I saw Mother walk in this morning and the smiles little Harrison kindled in my heart mingled to give a peace I haven't felt in weeks.

    119 lbs.

    58.9 °F, partly cloudy.

  • smashed up

    Deborah had an early morning auto accident between Co-op and Sequatchie. Her car was flipped over. She got out of it almost without a scratch.

    Empanadas for lunch.

    Mary drove us to Kroger for my inhalation medication. Then, to Mother's. Niece Claire was already there, Delores and Chad arriving later. Deborah had obtained a rental car, Dodge Caravan, in Columbia and was resting at home.

    Claire, Chad and Mary with Mother.

    From there, we drove to Murphy for gas, stopping on the way at A-Plus Collision Center to see Deborah's smashed up Ford Escape.

    Totaled?


    Back home, we watched Mud (2012) from Netflix. Two young boys become involved with a fugitive holed up on a river island. Matthew McConaughey was good. I hardly recognized Reese Witherspoon. She's usually over the top. Solid two hours of entertainment.

    62.2 °F, clear.

  • out of kilter

    Stressful day. Mother couldn't/wouldn't get out of bed this morning. Arrived only at noon. Threw the whole day out of kilter.

    Mary with Harrison.



    Pork chops for lunch, with zipper cream peas from George's garden, turnips, turnip greens, tomato and cornbread. Honeydew melon for appetizer. Butter pecan ice cream during the card game.

    Mother ate with rollers still in her hair. Mary brought the dryer into the kitchen and Mother played cards while her hair dried. Awkward.

    Marion had a rougher than usual day. His two-o'clock medication didn't kick in as expected. He joined me in gasping for air.

    During all the Helter Skelter, the Canadian called. Fortunately, Bill and George were at the warehouses to show him around.

    Delores picked up Marion. Deborah came for Mother. At odds with Mary. :-( Deborah uses a strident tough love approach with Mother. Mary's the opposite.

    At the outpost till dark, talking to George.

    69.2 °F, clear.

  • interests

    Drizzle on and off throughout the day.

    To Kroger for medications. I spotted sister-in-law Delores enter just ahead of Mary. They never met. Just as well. Delores is going through one of her angry spells.

    57 °F was not bad, only the sharp wind that went with it.

    Entering Walmart, Mary ran into her Puerto Rican friends.

    In Subway, Mary and I split a Steak and Bacon Melt sandwich. I then nursed a coffee while Mary had her hair cut in Smart Style.

    In the aisles, I acknowledged Guy Chambers (?), to Houston Walls I lamented the lack of blueberries.

    Back home for coffees. Call from Rafa. He needed us at First National Bank to represent Antonio's interests. We met Rafa there just before closing. Michelle Ritter of the bank was very helpful.

    Mary, Rafa and his Kimberly with Michelle Ritter.


    On the way back to the house, Mary and I stopped at Dollar. Mary wasn't able to find any Hallowe'en decorations there that suited her.

    Calm. :-)

    58.6 °F, overcast.

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