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What
follows is a daily journal throughout the quarantine of 2020. It walks
through my thoughts, fears, elations, depression and anxiety during this
time in our history. It shows a real face to the everyday struggles of being
quarantined alone.  January 1, 2021 I've been writing in
this journal for 10 months now. Since March when I was still at my home in
Reading, just starting to make some changes. I put my application into this
place in March and called Rich in March or April. I did the dishes,
wished a bunch of online friends a happy New Year, and I talked to Michael this
afternoon. The Back to the Future
Trilogy is playing today and I'm settling down to watch it. My neighbor Becky put a
dream catcher on my door where my wreath used to be. I took my Christmas wreath
down yesterday and had nothing to replace it with. The dream catcher is
perfect. I think she's an oddball, but a really nice one. MaryLou doesn't like
her at all, but that's MaryLou for you. MaryLou don't like a lot of people.
It's a wonder that we are friends. But we are. I really like MaryLou and her
wicked attitude. I made John a Trump
Sucks sign on the cricut. He's coming down to get it. He really doesn't like
Trump. I have 2 non payers on
eBay, I turned them in as non payments. Hopefully they will pay soon. I need
the money. I fixed my light today.
I bought it at Goodwill for $10.09 down from $15.09 because it didn't work. I
fixed the switch and wallah! I just need to plug it in to work now. Not too
shabby for not knowing what the hell I was doing. I love the lamp, it's not
exactly what I wanted but for $10.09 who could go wrong with it? I put in my Marlboro
points today, I'm up to 28000 points. The item I want is 58000 points though. I
want a mini kureg. I had my cabbage today.
I made slaw dogs. yummy. Its 9:42 and I have
taken my nighttime meds and am ready for bed. I'm awfully tired tonight. January 2, 2021, I went to sleep about
10 last night and woke up at 1:30, I stayed up till 2 and slept till 8:30 this
morning. I haven't slept like that in weeks. I wrote in my book this
morning, The prompt was, If there is a fire what would you save? I'd save my
external hard drive and my purse. Too much to lose in tose two things. I got my big ziploc
bags in today. I'm going to start bagging up my boxes so I can keep bedbugs at
bay. I'll do that today and go through all my eBay stuff and put it all away. I
went through my boxes and got rid of a ton of them. I bagged up my wooed
plaques as well. I went through my clothes and got rid of a bunch of them that
were sitting around. I bagged up my summer clothes. For now I'm going to
sit here and drink tea while I wait for my back to settle down some. It's bad
today. I backed up my external
hard drive today too. I hung up my picture
that Michael framed in my bedroom. I love, love, love it there!
January 3, 2021, I did two loads of
laundry today. Michael kinda miffed me a little today. He always calls when he
gets out of work. It's our thing. Today he went to buy some weed at Kim's place
and at 7 I texted him, "Are you working late tonight?" No, he's at
Kim's buying weed. He could have called me instead of making me worry. I'm
still a little miffed about that. It's 9:10 I'm tired, my anxiety has the
better of me, I'm taking a chill pill and going to bed. January 4, 2021 I did nothing today. I
took a 5 hour nap and was confused if it were day or night when I woke up. I
had dinner, brats and cottage cheese with pineapple in it. That's what I did
today. I haven't felt good all day. I just feel off. I had a meals on wheels
for breakfast this morning. John came by to check on me today, I talked to
Michael for a bit today, he missed a doctor appointment today. I had a sale go off on
eBay today. Sis got me a blanket that I didn't have any use for so I put it up
on auction. I got $26 dollars for it today. I'm going to buy the matching coin
purse for my chicken purse. January 5, 2021 I got into the hallway
closet this morning. I purged my Christmas stuff. I got rid of 5 bags of junk
that I no longer use or desire to set out for Christmas. I kept what is
important to me. All the things that that the kids made and that the grandkids
made are still in my closet. I have stuff for Easter Baskets in my closet. I
have a few things to make a wreath It took me all day to sift through
everything. I had to touch everything and remember who made it or bought it for
me. Then I either purged it or kept it. Therapeutic not to have all that "Stuff"
cluttering my closet. I talked to Michael and
Becca today. I told them both about the good heart news that the doctor shared
with me today. My stress tests turned out just fine. My heart looks good. YAY!
I was a little worried. January 6, 2021 Up at 7 today, had
coffee. Gotta drive up to the Admiral Station to get some smokes. Gonna work on
my bedroom today. Got the closet in the hallway done yesterday, Gonna work my
magic on the closet in my bedroom. Purge what isn't needed any longer. Though,
there isn't much in my bedroom closet I don't need. We are witnessing
fascists attempting a coup. Trump's trolls put the nation's capitol under siege
today. Never in the history of America has anyone breeched the capital but
Trump had his trolls do it today. One person was shot. It was horrible and my
heart hurts for America today. Trump just needs to go away. He created a
battleground today. I hate to see what will happen tomorrow, when there is a
planned march on the grounds. Trump needs to leave the nation alone, Biden won
and he just won't go. It's good to see that that senate has come back together
tonight to complete the session they started this afternoon. They need to affirm
the vote that Biden won. That's it. But it got huger than that today. Trump's
trolls thought they could stop the affirmation of the vote. Trump has a
conspiracy theory that the election was stolen from him. His trolls believe
him, instead of believing in the electoral college that has been in place for
eons. It was scary watching the news, so I turned it off. I'm listening to the
senators speak tonight. It's comforting to know that they came back together to
finish the job they started. It's 12:30 and they still haven't made a decision.
I'm heading to bed, going to call Michael and tell him goodnight. January 7, 2021 Up at 4:30, but I'll be
heading back to bed here shortly. Nope, I'm wide awake, it's 6:18 and I just
had a ham salad sandwich and a cup of coffee. I been drinking sugar-free sweet
tea since 4:30. Vice President Pence
affirmed the electoral count this morning at 3:30. Biden and Harris are the
President and Vice President elect, as they have been since the elections. I did go back to sleep
and slept till 3:30. Mike called me about 2:30, I didn't have much to say as he
woke me up. He and his folks are heading to Toledo to the Golden Corral for
dinner. I expect he'll be calling me within the hour or so to let me know he's
home. I have had a couple do nothing days. I have no idea what I'm eating for
dinner, prolly the left over ham patties. I'm hoping that my Wheel of Fortune
and Jeopardy are on today. The nation was under siege and they couldn't show it
yesterday.
January 8, 2021 Up at 5 this morning. I
wrote three stories in my book this morning. I'm up to 219 pages thus far. I have
to figure out why I have so many blank pages in the book. I've had three cups of
coffee, going for my 4th. I need to go to the Wal-Mart's and the Admiral
Station today. Tea and smokes and gas. It's 9:30 and I need a shower. I haven't
showered since the day after Christmas. I hate taking them, but it's been two
weeks since I took one. Well I didn't
take a shower yet, but I did brush out my hair. I haven't brushed it out in a
week. I put it back in braids, so I can run up to the store. I'll take a shower
tomorrow, I swore this to myself. Just not today. January 10, 2021 I hate fucking taking a
shower. It knocks the wind right outta me, it takes me a half hour to
recuperate and that's not even the part where I hate getting wet. I just all
around hate taking showers or baths. I did it today, so goody, goody gumdrops
to me. January 12, 2021 Becca's hubby had a
major stroke on Saturday. He's paralyzed on his right side, has garbled speech
and is a wreck. He's in the hospital in K'zoo.
The stroke happened in his brain stem. He's lucky that it didn't kill
him. They've got him stable and on blood thinners. He's got months of physical
therapy ahead of him, but he's young and strong and I have no doubt that he
will make a great recovery from this. He had his 32nd birthday on Friday and a
major stroke on Saturday. Damn crying shame, so young and such a life altering
thing to happen to him.
January 13, 2021 Mike's coming home this
morning. Becca is on her way to go and get him. He's going to start his
physical therapy and speech therapy on an outpatient basis. I'm glad he's
coming home, but I don't think he realizes the work he's going to be putting in
to get better and stronger. I hope he's up to the task. I did a little
fundraiser for Becca. It got $580 overnight. I can't get it to her for 6 days. I
just upped it to a goal of $750.00. Becca shared it with Mike's family. We'll
see if he gets any from that end. I been very sleepy and
not feeling well today. My neck and head hurt. I slept till 8:30 this
morning. I went back to bed at 5 when I got up and slept through the night. I
took a nap for an hour at 11 and slept for 2 hours at 2:30. I been up since
4:30 with neck and head ache. President Trump was
impeached by the House for the second time during his term today. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Part of
me thinks it's so wasteful of the time that the House gets together to spend it
on Impeaching him when he has a week left, but I understand it would strip him
of ever becoming president again. The other part of me thinks it's Trump's just
reward for inciting a riot on the Capitol grounds. That whole debacle wouldn't
have happened if he didn't direct the people to do it. The House could be
spending time trying to get us out of this pandemic and the economy we are in. There have been 528,621
cases of covid-19 in Michigan since March. Right now, as of today's count there
are 197,214 active cases in Michigan. 13, 018 deaths in Michigan since March
due to covid-19. January 14, 2021 I have been overdrawn
$69 in the bank for two weeks, I will be till I get a check in there and the
soonest that is going to happen is on the 20th when I get my ssi check. That's what woke me up
this morning at 4:25. I'm going to write in
my book this morning. The prompt is "What is one of your go-to stories,
one you like telling over and over?" I'm going to write about the time
Uncle Basil kept a friends dog who was a picky eater. I love that story. Best
dog story ever! I am sitting here
falling asleep waiting on the bugman. Of course I find a bug crawling on me
this morning. Bugman came and found
bugs in my bed again. Becca brought my car
back so I took her home and dropped her off.
January 15, 2021 Up at 2:45 this
morning, gave up and stayed up even though my mind is still so tired, I'm wide
awake .... sigh. I need to write a thank
you to all the people who donated to Becky and Mike. Thank you all for your
generosity in helping Becky and Mike get through this most difficult time. Mike
is able to lift his foot off the ground now. He's able to touch his fingers to
his thumb, he's working really hard on touching his ring finger and pinkie to
his thumb, he's got his pointer finger and middle finger down cold now. Becky
is understanding what he says to her and his face droop is minimal now. Small
improvements that are providing much needed hope that he'll continue to
persevere and work hard to get stronger. I just wanted to say thank you,
sometimes, it takes a village to rally round and lend a helping hand. Thank you
for being my village. There that works. Fooling around on the
cricut, gonna start working on it when I get back from Michael's if the new
heat press comes in by then. Hard time breathing
today, john loaned me his albuterol inhaler. Mine won't come in until tomorrow.
So Michael has to take
a piss test again, he won't pass it, he's been smoking weed these past 2 weeks.
I don't know why he couldn't have waited till this was all over, and he had his
driver's license. Damn it, he was so close, but it's his life. I'm so disappointed
for him.
January 16, 2021 Up at 2:45. I got my
eBay around and took the packages downstairs for the postal lady to pick up. I
ate a bowl of leftover spaghetti and took my pills with my coffee. Having a
second cup and then the dishes need to be washed. Susan is coming by a little
after 10. She's bringing silver vinyl and picking up a few boxes of donors
choose stuff. I'm heading to
Michael's tonight or tomorrow. I'm waiting for my albuterol inhaler to be ready
today before I go. John really saved my ass letting me borrow his. I was
breathing rough yesterday. I washed the dishes,
got a third cuppa and talked with Tim via the internet. He's having chest pains
and has no insurance so he won't go be seen. Dumb idea if you ask me. The farm
is stressing him to the max, but what's new? January 17, 2021 Up at 2:45 back in bed
by 7, up at 11:45. Insomnia so sucks. I'm packed and heading off to Michael's
for the next couple days. He has to get a colonoscopy tomorrow and I'm his
driver. I talked with Becca today, they got Mike a cane and he's doing really
well with it. He is able to walk on his own with it. He has gone to his sisters
and to the Wal-Mart a couple of times. I think he's doing great. January 19, 2021 Back home. I went with
Michael to his colonoscopy. They found 5 polyps and a angry spot in his colon
from the diverticulitis, He had a time getting cleaned out on Sunday, then
after the procedure he was hungry so we went to IHOP. We were both looking so
forward to it, but it was lackluster at best. We left disappointed. I got a
couple of lattes from Starbuck while I was there, one yesterday and one today.
I came home and took a nap then put all my stuff away. I got in my new heat
press from donors choose. It's massive! I'm going to start on Susan's masks and
t-shirts for her class tomorrow or Thursday. Its 11:10 and I'm
heading to bed here in a few. I already took my night pills. I'll be ready for
bed in another 10 minutes or so. I was able to send
Becca $450.00 from her donations. That was a nice feeling. The bank took $69,
cuz I was overdrawn in my checking account. sai la vie .
January 20, 2021 Up at 3:30, I took a
sleeping pill and was back in bed by 5. I slept till 9:30. I got up and started
watching the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Out with Trump in with better. I'm hopeful that the next 4 years will be a much
more calm than what Trump gave us. January 21, 2021 Up at 3:30, I took a
sleeper and am about ready for my second sleep here in a few. Shower day today.
Wal-Mart's today or tomorrow. Up at 9:30 Only slept for 3 hours, I will prolly
take another nap later. I got no nap in today. I took a shower and went to the
Wal-Mart with MaryLou. I spent $111.00 on groceries. Bed at 12:00 midnight
tonight. Up at 3:30. Back to bed
at 5:30. Up at 11:30. I been working on
the tee-shirt design for Susan's class. It has a gnome on it and says
"Miss Susan's Gnomie" with their names on the back. Susan's is going
to say, "hanging with my gnomies" with her name on the back. Of
course it will have a gnome on them as well. I think they will be adorable. I'm
tired but I'm going to push through and not take a nap today. I think I'm going
to make a pizza for dinner tonight. The pizza was rather yucky. I don't think
I'll do that for awhile. It's 11:45 and I'm
ready for bed.
January 23, 2021 Up at 3:00, back down
at 4:30, up again at 11:35
January 24, 2021 Up
at 2:56. down again at 5:30 up at 12:30. Working on getting Susan's class stuff
done. The cricut is on its third cut out now. I have 10 to do. So I got them
all cut out and weeded, I made their names for the back of the shirts as well.
I'll put them on the shirts tomorrow. Its 12:17 and I'm ready for bed. January
25, 2021 Up
at 5:08. Longest I've slept in weeks! My
prompt for my book chapter today was, "What was it like in the 60's?"
This is what I wrote about that subject. The
1960s were one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in world history,
marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and antiwar protests,
political assassinations and the emerging "generation gap." The
1960s were a decade of revolution and change in politics, music and society
around the world. It started in the United States and spread to continental
Europe and other parts of the globe. The
1960s were an era of protest. In the civil rights movement blacks and whites
protested against the unfair treatment of races. Towards the end of the decade
more and more Americans protested against the war in Vietnam. Many people in
the United States thought that Americans had no reason to fight in war that was
so far away from home. Female
activists demanded more rights for women, whose role in society began to
change. The birth control pill and other contraceptives were introduced, making
it possible for women to plan their careers and have babies when they wanted
them. The
1960s shattered American politics with the assassination of famous leaders.
John F. Kennedy, who became the first Catholic President in American history, was
gunned down in Dallas in 1963. When his brother Robert ran for president in
1968 he too was killed by an assassin’s bullet in California. A few months
earlier, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who had done more for African
Americans than any other person before him, was killed in Memphis, Tennessee. After
World War II people all over the world started working hard and respecting the
values they were brought up with. It it was an era of recovery and rebuilding.
In the 1960s many young people started doubting such values. They protested
against society and everything that was mainstream. They had hair long and wore
unusual and strange clothes. Social
change was also reflected in the music of the decade. In the 1950s America and
the rest of the world danced and sang to rock and roll music. A decade later
Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other protest singers composed lyrics that showed what
was wrong in society. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones started a new era of beatnik
and pop music. Television
dominated the decade as the most important entertainment medium. By the end of
the decade almost all homes in America had at least one TV set. Towards
the end of the 1960s hundreds of thousands of young music fans gathered at
Woodstock, New York to celebrate the largest pop festival ever held. All of the
popular musicians of the time performed there: Jimmy Hendrix, Jefferson
Airplane, Santana, Janis Joplin and others. Many of the young people there
called themselves hippies. They took drugs, preferably marijuana and LSD, which
allowed people to see a colorful, unreal world.
They believed in sexual freedom and often changed partners at random. On
the other side of the social scale, many people looked strangely at these
protesters. They could not understand them and stuck to hard work and family
values. I
grew up in the 60's. I was a child, but onset of "The Pill" affected
me. I remember when my mother started taking "The Pill". It was
freely discussed in our home. She wanted no more babies and it was a
revolutionary thing that she did, by taking it. Both she and my dad had to
agree for her to take it. Still, it took until 1972 and a Supreme Court
decision in order to make the pill widely and legally available to single
women. I
remember the Detroit riots, I could hear it raging from my back yard in
suburbia. I remember dad saying that all the niggers needed to go home to
Africa where they belonged. This statement had a profound effect on me in my
youth. I never saw the color of a person first. I still don't. People are
people and I couldn't wrap my seven year old head around what he was saying. I
sit here at 60 and can't wrap my head around what he was saying. I didn't agree
with him then, and I don't agree with him now. I
remember the music, and it was good. Janis Joplin sing Me and Bobby McGee. Ask
Pandora to play it, it's a great song. I remember seeing the Vietnam war on the
television set every night. I
recall the day that July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong
was the first person to walk on the moon. I was in school and we all watched it
happen on a giant black and white television set. The
60's was a time of change, turbulent change for everyone. I didn't know the
world was changing, I just knew that sometimes it wasn't safe to go outside.
Air raids were a thing we practiced in school and at home. People were building
bunkers in their backyards. I didn't know what this meant, but every school had
a fallout shelter in place, just in case.
January
26, 2021 Up
at 3:24. This is killing me. I wish I could sleep through the night. January
27, 2021 Up
at 1:57. WTF?!?
January
29, 2021 So
I cut out Erin and Susan's gnomes for their shirts, but the plastic was so
thick it just scored it and didn't cut it, so I had to order more glitter vinyl
for theirs. Crap! Up
at 3 today, going down for a nap in a minute here. Got up at 3:00 from my nap.
Susan's text actually woke me up, she is on her way with a shirt. I cooked a pot of cream of mushroom chicken soup. I didn't like
it. I ate a bowl and dumped the rest in the toilet. I've got my dishes soaking
and will do them up here in a half hour after they soak. Michael's
coming tomorrow. I can't wait to see him. Struggling with depression today.
Anxiety seems to be in check, but depression and lack of good sleep is killing
me today. I don't feel like doing anything and am pushing my way through the
day. I'm having a sub sandwich from Wal-Mart for dinner. No more cooking for
today. February
2, 2021 Punxsutawney
Phil saw his shadow today. That means 6 more weeks of winter......sigh. On a
good note, Michael's car is ready for pickup today at about noonish. His car
broke down on Saturday, January 30th when we went to the Walmart to pick up tea
and water. We made it as far as McDonald's before he was forced to stop and
turn it off. It was overheating it was buried in the red area of the gauge. John
picked us up from McDonald's and brought us back to the apartments. We picked
up my car and went to Dickie's for dinner. We had to wait till yesterday to get
find a shop to fix it. He found Odren's who could look at it yesterday, order
the parts and get it fixed so he could go to work today. Although I think he's
wanting to call off work today anyway. So
today is Tuesday. I'm going to shower before we go to pick up his car. He's
fighting a dilemma about his recent drug test that he needs for the Secretary
of State. He's trying to get his license back and he won't pass the new drug
screen they want. He made a distinct mistake of smoking weed a few weeks ago
and he took an at home pee test and the weed is still showing up in his pee. I
think he should just not take another one and hope they use the one he already
took. My fingers are crossed for him. I hope it all works out for him. I love
him so much and hate to see him going through this rough patch, the drug test,
the SOS and now his car. February
3, 2021 Bob
came up at my request to see about bedbugs because I woke up with a rash on my
arm. He found 2 live ones in my bed so he sprayed and powdered under the bed
and between the mattresses. Scott
called me on his break today, it was nice hearing that he really is doing ok.
He's getting 30 hours in a week and its moving up to full time. I called Becca
and talked with her today too. I love when I can talk to both of them on the
same day, it just makes my heart happy. I
had to put new sheets on the bed and make it after Bob tore it up today. I made
enchiladas for dinner tonight and the next few nights. The recipe makes six and
I eat one for dinner, so I'll be eating them for lunch and dinner here for a
couple days. I
talked with Michael. His court hearing with Secretary of State is taking place
tomorrow. He didn't get a drug screening test. He failed his at home test that
cost a buck, why pay $140 knowing you are going to fail it...I'm praying that
they accept the old one he took. The worst thing that will happen is that he
will hafta wait another year before being eligible to go in front of the board
to get his license back again. He's been without it for 26 years, another year
isn't going to be too long. I
didn't take a nap today and I'm feeling really tired its 10:30 and I'm off to
bed. February
4, 2021 Up
at 2:02 I took a sleeper and a xanax and am heading back to bed at 4:30,
hopefully back asleep by 5. Up at again at 9:45. I woke up peeing the bed. Had
to change my nightgown and my underwear. Don't know if I was dreaming I was on
a toilet or not. I know when I felt it I jumped out of the bed and ran to the
bathroom. I
took a nap from 2 till 4 again. Musta been the sleeper and xanax I took earlier
cuz I was still sleepy. Having coffee now and waiting on Michael to text me
telling my his SOS zoom meeting it is over. His
zoom meeting was with his lawyer, his SOS appointment is Tuesday. UGH! February
5, 2021 Up
at 2:50, laying down at 9:30, ate an omelet, I love my omelets! Took my daytime
pills. Had coffee and tea. Played on the computer. Going to go lay down now. February
7, 2021 I
slept through the night! I went to bed at 3:00 slept til 7:30 got up went pee
went back to bed and slept til 10:30. 71/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep, well
except for one bathroom break, but I went back to sleep! Yay me! Becky
had me go to Aldi's to see if they had a cupboard she wanted from there. While
I was out I went to Goodwill. They didn't have anything and Aldi's didn't have
what Becca wanted either so the trip out was a bust. I
took a nap from 4 to 6 this evening. It felt good. I
have a deep cough. My pulse oxygen levels are low. They are running between 83
and 89. It's
1:00 am and I'm ready for bed. February
8, 2021 Up
at 3:00 couldn't breathe well. Pulse ox was 74. Took my inhaler and breathed a
bit got it to 88. Gonna check in a few again after the inhaler. I got it up to
90. I
was a little bit busy today, went to the Rite Aid, and to Culvers. Got Pam's
paperwork, I'm going to do her taxes tomorrow, make a quick $60. I called
Social Security and got a few questions answered. I talked to the doctor and
have my appointment for my physical. It's on the 16th at 1:15. I took a nap. Tomorrow
I'm going to Becca's to drop off Daisy's things and Brody's coats. Then I'll
come home and do Pam's taxes. Its 11:30 and I'm ready for bed. Tomorrow is
Mike's Secretary of State meeting to see about his license. Got my fingers
crossed for him! February
9, 2021 Up
at 4 am this morning. I walked Mary's birthday gift down to her, and ate
breakfast. I talked to Michael before his meeting. His in the midst of it now,
I'm praying it goes well for him. I'm hoping to hear back from him here
shortly. I'd hate if they deny him his driver's license after 26 years of being
without it. After
I hear from Michael I think I'll take a nap and then head off to Becky's to
drop off her stuff. My
oxygen level bottomed out at 74% this morning. I worked my ass off to get it
up. Walking and deep breathing, taking my albuterol and breathing. I got it up
to 89% but can't get it any higher. I just pulled out the pulse oximeter and I
got it up to 92 by sheer breathing and will. I
got word from Michael. He won't know anything for 2 to 6 weeks and he'll get it
in the mail. I was a little worried that they'd do that to him. I
laid down at 10:30am and woke up at
1:10pm. I'm having a cup of coffee and heading off to Becky's. I
had a good time at Becky's. I saw all the kids and laughed with them. Mike and
Becky got me a Valentine box with candy in it and a box of puffy peppermints.
They got me a magnetic chalk board that says, "Life happens, Coffee
helps" on it, it's really cute. I talked with Michael, he's doing
remarkably well. His speech is good, he's walking great. It's amazing that in a
short month since his stroke he's doing as well as he is. I
talked with my Michael on the way home, his mom took him out to Olive Garden
for a celebratory dinner. He had salad and alfredo and bread sticks. He had a
good time with Manuel and his mom. This
Is Us starts again tonight. Can't wait to see it. I stopped at McDonald's and
got a Big Mac for dinner. I had my midnight snack and took my pills so I'm
heading to bed at 11:10 tonight, hopefully out by 11:45. February
11, 2021 Up
at 2:08 this morning. Went back to bed at 4:45 and got up at 9. I feel really
good today. I ate a Meals on Wheels for lunch today, Rice with gravy and
meatballs. It was really good, it came with cauliflower. I scrubbed out the
fridge and tossed the bad food. I did my dishes and am getting my laundry ready
to go after the bug man comes. All before noon! Amazing what some good sleep
does for you. Michael had to work at 10, so I won't hear from him till he's out
at 2 today. I
think the bug man will come about 1:00. February
14, 2021 He
was going to stay tonight and see my birthday with me, but there is a
hellacious storm coming in. It's supposed to hit us tomorrow thru Tuesday and
drop 10" to 12" of snow on us, so we both thought it prudent that he
take off for home tonight rather than drive home in a snowstorm. I already miss
him. I
ate my leftovers at about 9:00 tonight. I had fiesta lime chicken. I love that
dish from Applebee's! My favorite that they have. Tomorrow
I turn 60. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. Right now, I'm a little
blue about it. 60 is getting old. I'm really getting old. It amazes me how fast
the last decade flew by. I'm sure this decade will fly by as fast or faster. On
a good note, I started taking Chantix again, and am on the track to quit
smoking once again. I really want to be able to breathe freely without the
smoke interrupting me all the time. I
took a shower this afternoon and have on my jogging suit. It's so comfy! It's a
salmon color, I love it. Tomorrow
my friends are having a birthday party for me. I'm really happy that they care
enough to do that for me. Scott and Jaisa sent me a gift, I'll open it
tomorrow. I'll
be in bed by 11:30 tonight. February
17, 2021 Up
at 2:28 this morning. I'm so tired but can't sleep through a night. Scott
and Lulu sent me smart plugs for my birthday. I can hook up the lamp and fan to
them so they will turn on automatically at the sound of my voice. My
Quincy gals sent me flowers from Neitzert's. Back
to bed at 4:00 and up at 7:45. Crazy sleep. Its
10:30 at night now and I'm ready for bed. February
19, 2021 I
got me booster for my shingles shot yesterday, Lord amighty that arm hurts bad
today. I
bought my last carton of smokes yesterday, I'm about ready to give them up
again. February
20 2021, Slept
okay last night. Up and down as usual, but did ok. Did laundry, 2 loads, and
cleaned my bathroom today. Gonna cook a steak for dinner. February
21, 2021 I
went to the Wal-Mart today. I been outta tea since last night. I been drinking
water, ugh. I bought a few groceries and then I went to KFC for a replacement
meal. The other day I was there and they gave me extra crispy instead of
original so they replaced it for me. I ate a couple pieces and put it in the
fridge for tomorrow. I
had to go to the Rite-Aid and get some scripts today. My meds cost a fortune.
49 and some change today. Tomorrow
I have to go get Becky and Mike and bring them into Coldwater so they can apply
for an apartment here. Then I need to take them home. February
23, 2021 I
got up once in the night and went straight back to bed. I slept till 9:30 this
morning! I'm getting more sleep these past couple days. I'm downloading some
music for Bob the Apartment Manager today. He gave me 4 pages of music that he
likes and I am gonna burn them to CD's for him, cuz I'm a nice lady. UGH lol I
started dinking with his music at 10 am and finished at 7 pm. He has 5 nice and
tidy CD's with the names of the songs on each insert. I
got my eBay around and downstairs ready for the mail lady, I sold 3 things on
it this week. I
have to set my alarm at 7 so I can go to the doctors at 8:45 in the morning. February
25, 2021 Well
I was late. I set my alarm for 7 o'clock and promptly fell asleep till 8:24. I
called them and dashed to the appointment. Some things happened at that
appointment that makes me take pause. I have to be on oxygen for the near
future. My number was down to 74 and got up to 86 on my own. On oxygen it
jumped to 99. So oxygen works to help send oxygen into my bloodstream. I have a
new nebulizer with albuterol that I have to use. I went and had a CT Scan done
on my lungs and I have bronchial pneumonia. I'm on two antibiotics. I called
about my blood work today. I'm thrilled to say that my A1C is down to 5.8, my
triglycerides went up to 210, which is elevated slightly, and they found a little something-something
in my urine, probably another UTI starting. I have a mammogram scheduled for
March 25th and I have the sleep clinic calling me to set up an appointment.
Michael says I breathe funny at night, and my pulse ox numbers are always lower
in the morning, so I'm sure I'll be on a C-PAP machine or oxygen at night time
after that appointment. Damn it's rough getting older. On a good note I lost 12
pounds. The
oxygen people Care Link are coming by today to set me up with air. I also have
the shrink calling me at 2:30. I'm almost out of meds. Can't be without my
shrink meds. I
been debating what to write in my book for my kids. I want to write about
something with substance, but not sure what, I'll continue thinking of it for
awhile. I
decided to go to Becca's tonight. She invited me over to dinner and she make
fried tacos which were delicious! We went to B&G Discount in Schoolcraft
and I got Easter Basket stuff. There was a vegetable chopper that Becca wanted
and it was only 10 bucks! They go for 45 online. I bought me one too, but I
might sell mine on eBay. February
26, 2021 I
woke up and for the first time in a long time my pulse ox was 89. It rose to 93
after about 10 minutes. That's was wearing oxygen all night. Not too bad. I'm
up at 7:00 this morning. I slept through the night without a hitch. One
bathroom trip and that was all. I'm
going to Michael's tomorrow. We are going out to dinner and to Russell Stover's
in Dundee. I can't wait to see him! We are going to his mother's birthday party
on Sunday. I bought her a box of gloves (I know, boring) and am getting her a
box of chocolates from the Russell Stover store in Dundee. I
went and got my mental health scripts. She upped my buspirone to 15 mgs twice a
day. Hopefully that will help keep me at an even keel. I
went to the Goodwill and found the perfect Easter Baskets for the kids and
Becky and Mike. Then I went to the Good Better Best shop and found one for my
Michael. I'm super thrilled to be able to put them together for my loves. I
just have to get a few pieces of candy for the baskets and I'll do that next
month. I
bought a TV for my bedroom at the Good Better Best shop. I'm hoping this one
works. It was only $20.00 so I'm not out a gob if it don't work. March
2, 2021 I
went to Michael's and came home yesterday afternoon. I stopped at the Goodwill
and got a few things for eBay. We went to his mom's birthday party and ate
tacos with his family. We mostly stayed home and watched TV this weekend. Bob
came up and knocked on my door, he asked me to come to the office. Seems there
was a red flag on my income. I told Bob about my Social Security Disability
Income when I got it. I turned in a paper to him before I even started
collecting money. It turns out that he should have did an interim income on me.
It would have raised my rent back in December. Since he didn't they are
figuring out my income now and my rent will go up in April. Bob's bad, not
mine. I expected it to go up but the lady helping Bob said,
"Skyrocketing", so I'm a little nervous about that. Well Bob just
came by and gave me the news. My rent went up to $620 + the $9 for the cable so
now I pay $629 and everything is included. March
4, 2021 I
smoked 4-1/2 cigs on Tuesday 7 yesterday I quit when I have no cigs left and I
have a pack left, so in a few days. My
pulse ox number this morning was 91 I slept through the night again! There's
something about this oxygen at night that does me good. I
went to the Wal-Mart last night and I spent over $100 dollars and they didn't
even have what I went there for. Ink for my printer. I have to order it online
and ship to store. Back
to the Wal-Mart to pick up my ink. I'm
awfully tired today. My numbers are running between 86 and 89 without oxygen. I
guess I'll lay down with the air on . I laid down for about 40 minutes and my
number is at 91 with air on. So
I went downstairs for a smoke, my third one of the day, I smoked half of it and
put it out. I think I'm done smoking now. I won't go down for one tomorrow. I'm
all done with them. Thank God and I pray he gives me strength. March
5, 2021 I
did a little experiment last night. I went to bed without oxygen and I woke up
at 4:30 to potty. I took my oxygen level and it was 86 I put my oxygen on and
went back to sleep and woke up at 9:20. My oxygen level was 96. Up 10 full
points with oxygen. I
think I might dye my hair today. Its
8:00 in the evening and I have dye in my hair. I haven't had oxygen on in over
an hour and a half. My number is 92. I think I won't need oxygen when I go back
to the doctors. I'm certain it was the broncholitis making my air so hard to
breathe. I
went to the dollar tree this afternoon. I bought a Happy Easter plaque for my
door, a couple yoyos for Brody and Cloey's Easter Baskets, suckers for Daisy's
basket, some wrapping stuff for the baby gift and Brody's birthday gift. They
also had frozen meals for one for a buck. Perfect for me so I bought 4 of them.
I got some crackers and meat and cheese snacks as well. I spent 21 dollars and
got so much stuff. Gotta love the dollar store! My
hair turned out nice. I like it. Michael said I did as good as the salon did.
He went so far to call me beautiful, but he calls me beautiful every day. I'm
heading to bed at midnight tonight, there's a good Dateline on right now. March
7, 2021 I'm
sleeping great with the oxygen on. I crank it up to 3 liters and sleep like a
freaking baby! My pulse ox is holding its own at 92 without oxygen. I'll be
able to give it back to the LincCare by the end of the month. I'm certain I'll
be on a CPAP machine at night after my sleep study. I
got about a dozen fresh tomatoes from the pantry on Tuesday so today I peeled
them and am making spaghetti sauce. It's gonna make about a quarter pot of
sauce. Enough for about three meals. crazy how good fresh tomatoes make the
flavor pop. I just hate par boiling them and peeling them to use, but it's so
worth the flavor. I
talked to Michael and Becca today. I called Brody last night to wish him a
Happy Birthday but no one answered their phones, so I had to wish Brody a happy
belated 15th birthday. FIFTEEN! Holy Moly where does time go?!? This was taken
on his 15th birthday. He's such a good looking kid. He is in quarantine right
now until next Thursday. He was in close contact with someone who turned up
with Covid-19. I'll go over Friday for his birthday dinner. I got him a
bracelet that says on the inside where no one but him can see it, "When
you get frustrated, remember who's grandson you are and straighten your
crown". It has arrows on the outside. I got him an Adidas sweatshirt and a
pair of jogging pants, I tucked $15 dollars in the hoodie pocket. I know he'll
love it. I just can't get over how old he is. It was just yesterday it seems
that his mom was dropping him in my bed before she went to school. I'd snuggle
in the bed with him before we got up to start our day. I love, love, loved that
time every morning, snuggling and smelling the fresh baby smell. It made a bond
between him and me. He is my first grandchild, he made me a Yaya. I love him and
his sisters to the moon and back. My
sauce is smelling fantastic! I just fried some hamburger and added it to it. It
has tomatoes, green pepper, olive oil, onion, mushrooms, garlic, salt, pepper,
parsley and Italian seasons in it.
March
9, 2021 I
spent about 2 hours outside with my neighbors today. It was in the 60's this
afternoon, I had to go soak up some sunshine! I been sleeping a lot these past
couple days. I have to call the doctors for an appointment for a recheck on the
pneumonia, I'm sure she'll take me off the oxygen then. It's 11:30 at night and
I am ready to hit the bed. March10,
2021 Today
I went to the Goodwill. I found a brown pair of shorts, a set of measuring cups
and spoons, and 2 LOL unopened dolls for Cloey. I went to the Dollar General
and picked up Mary some sourcream she needed for a cake, I also picked me up
some peeps. Love Eastertime for me some PEEPS. I spent about an hour in the
sunshine with Mary Lou and John today. I also took a nap. My pulse ox is
hanging right around 91 or 92 without oxygen so I know I'm on the mend. I just
checked it and it's 93. I just took my nighttime drugs and will be ready for
bed here in a half hour or so. I'm going to try and sleep without oxygen
tonight. I haven't slept at night without it since I got it, but I'm thinking
my lungs are healthy enough to try. I
talked to Becca and my Michael on the phone today. I'm going to Becca's on
Friday and Michael's coming here on Saturday. We are going to Fort Wayne to go
to the Sonic for dinner. I'm going to lunch with my g'friends on Saturday at
1:00 at the Sportsman bar. They are having cabbage rolls and Carma made them so
we are going to have some. I
have a doc's appointment on Wednesday a week from today at 10:15 for a recheck.
Goodbye oxygen tanks!!!! March
12, 2021 I'm
heading over to Becca's for Brody's Birthday dinner. We are having Big Mac
Casserole. It's a deconstructed Big Mac with tater tots instead of a bun. I had
a great time hanging with my grandkids. I get the best lovins from those three.
Brody liked his clothes and his bracelet and of course he loved the money. The
ate up the cupcakes I made and me and Mike ate some cake along with Cloey. Fun
times.
March
13, 2021 It
was one year ago today that I started writing in this journal. The pandemic is
still going on, we are all wearing masks, and safe social distancing.
Restaurants and bars are at 50% capacity, gyms are open wearing masks and
social distancing at 50% capacity. Theaters are open again, concession stands
are not. The biggest factor that a year has made is the vaccines. There are
three different vaccines out there now. One made by Moderna which take a shot
and a booster, one made by Phyzer which takes a shot and a booster, and one
made by Johnson & Johnson which takes a single shot. I haven't gotten mine
yet, but when I do it will be a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. My
mental health is so much better than where I was a year ago. My shrink fooled
with my dosages and added an anxiety pill to my regiment. It seems to have
worked. I'm on an even keel now. Today I went to lunch with my girlfriends. We
met at the bar across the street for a drink and a cabbage roll. Carma, Pam,
Susan, Amanda and me were there. It was nice. I walked home and sat with John
for a few minutes. Next week I have a doctor's appointment and a baby shower to
go to. Michael
is coming over today and we are heading off to Sonic in Fort Wayne. Tomorrow we
are going to a place called Ron & Chickie's Place for a thrift sale. Should
be a fun time with Michael. I miss him. I'm so glad he's coming out today! So
things are getting back to a new normal and places are opening up, most
everywhere you go though, you hear stories of folks who contracted Corona
Virus. I did, Scott and Lulu did. Becca, Mike and the kids did not. We were
some of the lucky ones that got a mild case of it. My
cousins and Leda are getting together on May 1,2 and 3 to tour the Tulip
Festival in Holland, Michigan this year for our get together. I have to call
and reserve a room for us. We will wear masks and social distance as we visit
the flowers and the Windmill. It will be awesome! I booked us a room at the
Economy Inn in Holland for $188.68 for the two nights. Not a shabby deal.
That's only $48 buck apiece for the weekend! Lulu
made Scott his favorite meal of corned beef and cabbage and shared how
delicious it was! I'm so glad for him, he found a woman who cares enough to
learn how to make his favorites! We'll be heading south to Florida this
February for the 13th. Their big wedding day. We
are on our third round of stimulus checks. First we had $1,200.00 then $600.00
and this time we are getting $1,400.00. It's to stimulate the economy I
suppose. It will get me to Florida and back for Scott's wedding. March
17, 2021 I'm
heading to the doc's office this morning for a recheck on my pneumonia. I'll be
off the oxygen today! They're picking it up Tuesday. I used it last night and
slept through the night with it. I worked at Lee's yesterday, going to stop by
there again today. I
found a new bedroom set when me and Michael went thrifting the other day. It
was $175 with $25 delivery. It's old and beautiful. It comes with a dresser, a
chest of drawers with a mirror, a full size bed with headboard and footboard.
It's solid wood, not particle board like they make today, or worse yet,
laminate. I have a solid wood dresser that I'm replacing, Becca wants it so I'm
going to try to get it to her. I might have to go get her and bring her here to
help me out. I
put out my packages today, I sold 4 things on eBay. I made a grilled cheese and
had a half a grapefruit for dinner. I
went to the doc's today. I'm officially off the oxygen! YAY, but I'm retaining
water and my feet and hands are swollen. Doc is going to double up my water
pill to see if that helps. I gained a little weight it's all water weight, but
still ... jeez. She seems to think I had Covid-19. She said, "You had
pneumonia, or Covid. I think you had Covid." She offered me an antibody
test but I didn't want to be poked for nothing. I have the antibodies from
October when I had it. I
told MaryLou that I would help her with her salad making for her granddaughter
Baby Shower on Saturday. It's
half past midnight and I'm ready for bed. March
19, 2021 Today
I'm going to get my Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. I've vacillated
about it and when J&J came out with theirs I thought about it more. J&J
is a one and done vaccine. It needs no booster like Phizer and Moderna. It been
a year and a week since Covid-19 closed down the world. I've got to admit, I'm
a little nervous about getting the vaccine. I
went to Becca's yesterday to pick up the groceries I made a list for. The
government is giving every food stamp recipient who has children a gob more
food stamps. She did her shopping and called me to make a list. She spent $165
on my list and charged me $32. I was happy and she was happy. I
did a load of laundry and washed my dishes before I went over to MaryLou's to
help her make Mac Salad for the baby shower tomorrow. I got a baby shower
invitation in the mail for Christina Vickstrom. That'll be nice. I
decided not to go to Christina's baby shower but I got on Amazon and sent her a
gift anyway. March
20, 2021 I'm
heading into the shower. I am going to MaryLou's granddaughters baby shower. I
had Julianna in Head Start and here she is having a baby! Time surely flies by
fast! Michael
is coming out today. I can't wait to see him and kiss his sweet face! March
24, 2021 Michael
came and we went apartment hunting for him. Nothing so far... I
went and picked up Becca, Mike, Brody and Cloey this morning. We had to empty 2
dressers and take a part my bed and haul everything plus a fan to the dumpster
downstairs. Then they had to haul a new dresser, chest of drawers with mirror,
and bed with box springs and mattress up to my apartment and square it away. I
had to go buy sheets for a full bed. I found them at Bog Lots for $8.99 a set!
I bought three sets. Now I'm slowly stocking my eBay dresser and will do my
clothing dresser next. I already made my bed with the new sheets. It's nice to
do my eBay dresser and organize it as I put stuff away. I
was supposed to have a mammogram tomorrow, but they called and cancelled it
because I had my Covid Shot so recently. My lymph nodes are swollen because of
the vaccine and it will give a false positive on the mammogram. So we scheduled
it for 6 weeks out. March
25, 2021 I
went to Lee's today and worked for him for a little over 4 hours. I went to the
post office and to UPS and I order Chinese food to go for dinner. Fried
dumplings, pepper steak with fried rice and n egg roll and a fortune cookie, it
was so good! I
finished putting everything away in my bedroom. It looks great in there.
I just love my new set!
Such a rich dark wood. I wish I could
use my pretty bedspread and dust ruffle, but bedbugs LOVE those things, so I
keep it down to the minimum of a bottom sheet and top sheet, and my pillows. I'm going to work on
eBay selling a few things tonight.
March 26, 2021 I went to the sleep
specialist today, he is sending me to a have a sleep study and a pulmonary test
done. See how I'm breathing and sleeping. I went to Lee's for
awhile today and made a business card and helped him on a web site. I took a long assed nap
today from 4 to 7. I got up and watched wheel of fortune and jeopardy. I ate 2
pieces of chicken and a cupcake. I actually ate 2. I been watching tv since I
woke up. Dateline is on now. I talked with Michael
twice today, and I called MaryLou to see if she got her phone back, I was going
to loan her my Obama phone so she wouldn't be without tonight. But her daughter
fixed her phone and got it back to her, so she's good. I'll be going back to
bed by midnight tonight, I already took my nighttime meds. March 29, 2021 I went to Becca's
today. I found Cloey a near new bike for $45.00 I had to get it. I spent some
quality time there with the family. I love visiting them. I sold a couple of
things off eBay so I got them ready to ship out in the morning. I went to a
fellow named Gary's apartment yesterday, I didn't know him, but he passed away
and his family left the apartment open so we could take what we need. There was
a brand new dresser there that I got for Becca. So when I got home from toting
Cloey's bike in the back of the car, I carried the dresser down and hoisted it
into the car. I'll take it to her on Saturday when I go for Easter Dinner. I
also got a little cart to keep in my car to tote my stuff upstairs and a
yardstick. I got a razor for Michael and a TV tray that won't pinch my fingers
every time I use it. I took an unopened bottle of apple cider vinegar. I have
white but not apple cider. John brought me over a
little bedside table that works perfectly in my bedroom. It's exactly the right
size. Becca bought a car
today for $1200.00 it's a Black Grand Prix that will fit 5 people in it. It
will also be able to be driven here. March 31, 2021 I have my sleep study
tonight. I have to be at the Hillsdale Hospital at 8:30 so I'll leave here at
7:45. I'm nervous about sleeping somewhere else. I'll be certain to take my
sleeping pills with me. I talked to Michael
today, he'll call me after work, like he always does. I was going to go
outside, but it was a little too chilly so I didn't. I ate some crackers and
salami today, I'm having lasagna for dinner tonight, a heaping helping! I'm
hungry. I went to bed about
midnight last night, and slept till 9 this morning, I laid back down at 12:30
on the couch and slept till 4 this afternoon. I don't mind sleeping 12 and a
half hours, I wish it were altogether though. I hate sleeping my days away. I'm
hoping that this sleep study will fix this being sleepy all the time. I don't
think I get good sleep, I get a lot of it, just not quality sleep.
April 1, 2021 Well, I slept at the
hospital last night. She came in about 2 and put oxygen on me. My pulse ox went
too low. She said I don't get enough R.E.M. sleep, and that I wake up a lot in
my sleep. I guess I was right, I don't get quality sleep. It's 10:00 at night and
I am tired! I helped MaryLou for 2 hours today fix her new Obama phone. It's
set up with all her numbers and apps she wanted. I made fried summer and
zucchini squash, sliced cucumbers and leftover lasagna for dinner tonight. I been watching the TV
all evening and creating on my cricut. I been designing tee-shirts. I got one I
want to make for Scott for his birthday. "Don't hate me because I'm
beardiful" It has a hipster dude out line on it with a beard and
sunglasses. I took a nap today. I'm
still tired. I just took my nighttime meds. I'll be in bed before too long. Today I am celebrating my Doodlebug. Daisy was
diagnosed with Autism when she was 2. She is so much more than a diagnosis. She
is a happy 'tween most of the time. She loves movies, water activities, her
trampoline, swinging, and eating, especially dum dum suckers. She finds
absolute joy in the little things. I am so blessed to be her Yaya. Daisy has
changed the lives of so many people without ever saying a word. Wearing Blue to
spread awareness. April 3, 2021 I'm heading to Becca's to drop off a dresser and Easter
Baskets. We are having an Easter cookout there today. I slept till noon, I woke
up a lot and watched the clock, prolly 5 times that I know of I was awake in
the night. I have to be at Becca's between three and four. This sleeping thing is getting to me. I slept 12
hours and I feel rotten in the morning. I sleep 4 hours and feel rotten, There
is no sweet spot for me. I went to Becca's and we had fried chicken and brats
for dinner. Michael came by this evening and spent the night with me. April 4, 2021 Me and Michael went to Out Back for Easter Dinner. I
had Prime Rib. I haven't had prime rib in years. It was so good! I brought my
potato home to eat tomorrow with some barbeque chicken and brats. We watched some TV and took naps together. After we
left Jackson we stopped at Cracker Barrel's store to see what was on special.
Not much of anything resellable. Then we got to Coldwater and bought BOGO
Blizzards. April 5, 2021 Today I lunch with the Quincy Ladies. We are meeting
at noon at the Stables in Quincy. The saga of my VW Bug is over. It's been scrapped to
the highest bidder for $300.00. It was a good run while it lasted. Becca
enjoyed it more that I was able to, but for the time I was able to drive it, it
was awesome. Becca forgot to give me the
money from the bug, and to give me the money for the transfer of title and
plates. I sat outside for about an hour and a half this
afternoon. I sat with John and MaryLou. It was so pretty outside. We stayed
till the sun went down-ish and it started getting chilly out there.
April 7, 2021 I went to the Secretary of State yesterday for
Becca. I transferred plates and a title for her. I sat online at 8 am and got
an appointment Monday for Tuesday instead of June 29, which was the first
appointment. Crazy times we live in. I sat outside for 2 and a half hours in the sunshine
yesterday with MaryLou and John. It was 79 degrees out there! Beautiful. Becca is coming by today to pick up her taxes that I
did yesterday, and to pick up the car insurance, registration and title
information. Then I have a pulmonary test to take at 1:00. I have
to leave here at 12:15 to be in Hillsdale by 1:00. I'm up at 5:30 this morning. I went to bed at 12:30
last night. 5 hours of sleep, not good sleep, I have been having nightmares
these past few nights. One nightmare was about my brother Billy going on a
rampage and shooting me because I was holding his daughter, who he wanted dead.
Crazy! The next night was about Billy again only this time he killed my Scott
as an infant. Last night I dreamed that a girl I had in head start was in
domestic trouble and came to me to help her. I still had the wound where the
bullet grazed me two nights prier in my Wicked nightmare. Funny, not ha-ha
funny, but peculiar funny where the mind goes at night. I have to start writing in my book again. I'm so
behind in it. I took my pulmonary test today. It was difficult,
but I was able to get through it okay. I found Jaisa a purse for Christmas I
think she will love at the Hospital Giftshop. I also found Susan Gnome salt and
pepper shakers for her birthday. April 8, 2021 Today I go to the pain clinic at 2 I have to leave
at 1to get there in time. I also want to go to the Goodwill in Marshall. It's a
nice big one. Yesterday I was able to spend time with my
babygrands. Then at the end of the day I
had dinner with Becca and Mike and the kids. We all had Arby's for dinner. I
love spending time with them. I wrote three
stories in my book yesterday. I just got home from the pain doctor. In June I am
having lumbar rhizotomy procedures. Last time I had this procedure it last a
whopping 10 years. Dr. Bez says that is outside the norm. I can expect longer
lasting results than my shots, but not to look forward to 10 painfree years. I
hafta ask Michael if he'll take me that day. If he can't, maybe Becca will. The kids are coming back by again today. I have to
ask Becca which of the size boards she wants her bathroom rules on.... I have
to make them for her before she moves to her new house. When I get the cricut
out I have so much to do! I had a surprise family visit this evening. They
brought me dinner and a wind chime flamingo for my bathroom. Everyone went to
play putt-putt golf and I have Daisy in a bubble bath right now. She didn't
want to play putt-putt golf. So I kept her here with me. She was a dirty little
rascal so a bubble bath sounded good to her. The kids left at about 8:45 and I talked to Michael
after he got out of work. Heading to bed at 11:20 tonight. Michael will be here
in the MORNING! YAY! April 9, 2021 Up at 5 this morning. Michael will be here about 10
this morning. I had some nice dreams last night. I dreamt that I cooked for
Ringo Starr and had all the Beatles over for an album signing at my house.
Lacey J. Dalton came with her granddaughter and the little girl and Ringo Starr
belted out a tune. Near the end of my dream Ringo Starr was coming back
tomorrow to cook for me and my mom. It was a sweet dream. We found a couple of places to put in Michael's
information, a trailer park and a realtor that deals with rental houses. We drove all over hells half acre to find
them. We also found three thrift stores and a yard sale. I got Becca a pair of
Muck Lucs Slippers and a Pair of Capri pants, and I found a few small things
for eBay, and me a pair of Capri pants. April 11, 2021 Got up at 4:00 this morning. I was super hungry so I
boiled and fried up some knockwurst and had some cottage cheese with it. I
saved the rest for dinner. I got out an eBay package and put the dishes away. I
took my med and opened the window. It's raining out, listening to it is lulling
me back to sleepy-land. I think I may go lay back down for awhile. I was really antsy yesterday. I wanted to do
something-anything. So I got in my car and went looking for garage sales. I
didn't find any, but I did go to the Goodwill and found a couple of things I
can flip for a profit. I already sold
the Coca-Cola doll I bought, and the Teddy bear might take awhile, but he'll
sell as well. April 12, 2021 I went on a river rock hunt today to put in the
bottom of my planters so I could replant my dad's and my mom's plants. I think mom's
is a goner this time. I planted the roots hoping it will come back. It took me
about 2 hours to get both plants repotted and cleaned up. I planted an offshoot
of dad's into Mom's pot too. I'm going to wait a few weeks and then give Becca
one of them. Maybe. Prolly the bigger of the two is the one I'll give her. I swept my kitchen floor for the first time in a
month. I'll Swiffer it tomorrow. Now I'm washing 2 loads of laundry as I watch
Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Nice busy day. I like them like this. I stopped at
KFC for my make-up meal. I have to call McDonald's and get the dinner replaced
that they messed up the other night. They left out Brody's chicken nuggets. I've had to take 2 pain killers today to get
through the things I was doing. Not too bad, it helped.
I played around on my cricut all day, got lots cut
out and weeded. I made a transfer for me a shirt, and Lulu and Scott Wife and
Hubs shirts, I cut out the thing John wanted (White Trucks Matter) and Susan
(Choose Joy) wanted and made Becca's Bathroom Sign.
April 14, 2021 I'm waiting on Amazon to send me some gold glitter
transfer vinyl so I can do Lulu's robe. I just got back from MaryLou's. I was trying to help
her set up her new wifi. I got as far as putting the app on her phone and had
to call for a guy to come out and hook it up. He'll be here between 4 and 5
tonight and then she'll have internet at her house. I have a shrinky-dink appointment today at 2:00.
Brielle is going to call me this month. I've never met my shrink, we do all the
appointments over the phone. I'm honest and talk to her about what's bugging me
if there are any issues. She just determines if I need my meds for the next
three months. She has never not refilled my meds. I talked with Michael today. His car is in the shop
again.... that car is nickel and diming him to pieces. Seems as if there is
always something wrong with it. The elevator is being replaced today so there is no
elevator till after one. I had my 2 o'clock appointment on the phone and laid
down for a nap afterward. I slept till 5:30. I didn't feel like cooking so I
went and got a whopper for dinner. I'm watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and
whatever comes after. April 15, 2021 The government extended tax day to May 17th this
year. Good thing for Carma. I haven't done her taxes yet. I will this weekend. I got up at 6 this morning, I was groggy so I laid
back down at 7 and slept till 1:30 in the afternoon. Crazy sleep, crazy dreams.
I went to bed at 11 last night too. April 16, 2021 I did a lot of cricutting today. I took John to his
truck repair appointment and took him back to pick up his truck. The kids came
by and hung out with me for a bit. The like using the dispensary in Quincy. The
littles can't go in there so they stay with me when Mike and Becca go. They are
so loving and caring. I can't be happier with the way they are growing up. April 19, 2021 Michael is here! Yay. We went to Becca's yesterday.
She went grocery shopping for me. I went to pick up the groceries. We stopped
at a couple of yard sales, I got a couple cake pans to flip for a profit. I
paid 25 cents each for them. I smoked some weed last night to kick start my
libido, to Michael's (and my) delight, it worked! With all these meds I'm on it
takes something to jolt me into having any desire whatsoever. I'll keep this secret to use again!
Michael is going to call on a house rental today. April 20, 2021 I went to the cardiologist today, he found that my
pulse is weaker on my left side, than my right. He's going to do a
echocardiogram on me next week to see what's up. I went to Lee's and worked a couple few hours for
him today. He gave me a $50 for showing up. He's so generous. He got me a
firestick to watch movies on, out of the kindness of his heart. So I can watch
movies at home. I visited with MaryLou and John for about a half
hour today. MaryLou was doing her laundry and I went and had a cup of coffee
with her, then John came down. I told them I was hankering for some spam, and
John went to his place and brought me some spam. I talked with Michael and Becca on the phone today.
I love that I talk to Michael every day. Some days we don't have a lot to say
but others we do. I just love him. And after the night we had recently, I love
him even more! (if that is possible) I talk to Becca most every day. I find out what
she's having for dinner and I compare it to what I'm cooking. I tell you her
family eats well. I would love to eat at her house most nights. I baked a whole chicken for dinner. April 21, 2021 I've done nothing but sleep today. I got up at noon
thirty after going to bed at 11:30 last night. I laid back down at 3:30 and slept till
6:15.While I was up for 3 hours, I ate a
chicken sandwich for brunch with some chips and a banana. I talked to Becca and
heat pressed two of the cricut cut outs I made the other day onto shirts. One
says, "I came, I saw, I had anxiety so I left", and the other one
says, "I am anything but BASIC".
I'll wear the second one down in Florida when I visit Scott. He called
me Basic when I was down there the last time. I am not a sheep following the
trends. I just happen to like Starbucks! May 2, 2021 Well I guess I should write more often in here, it's
been 11 days ago that I wrote last. Last Saturday my Godmother Shirley
Vickstrom was taken to hospice. On Sunday April 25 she died. Her funeral is
going to be here in Westland on Friday. Becky and Daisy are going with me. It's
a long lonely drive if you do it alone. I wrote a eulogy for Shirley, I'll say a
few words of remembrances on her behalf. I put it here: "It takes a whole community to raise a child. GA1-0581 was one of the first telephone numbers I
learned. The day my mother gave me that number, she gave me more than a series
of numbers, she gave me Shirley. As a very little girl, I remember walking around the
block with my mother to go to Shirley's for lunch. Sometimes I got to go around
the block by myself. But that stopped when I accidently walked over to the
railroad tracks instead of going to Shirley's. I got whacked by every mother
that was out searching for me that day. But I digress. My mom had to leave the
house to go to work, and Shirley was to be called in case of an emergency.
Once, I called her to ask for a cupcake recipe, I had to be all of 6 years old,
but it was an emergency to me! She told me not to turn on the oven. It wasn't
long before she brought me and my brothers a plate of cupcakes still warm from
her oven. Shirley was like that. Never was there a doubt in my small child mind that
she wouldn't be there for me. And she was. Unconditionally.
I was 5 years
old when Shirley became my Godmother. She took me and a whole carload of
children to Sunday School on Sunday, sometimes in her nightclothes and her hair
in curlers just to get us there on time. She would always ask me if I had my
dime for the offering basket. Say your prayers she'd tell us all as we exited
the car. As I grew, she was always there. During my teens I was at her house
every day, practically living there, not once did she ever ask me to leave, or
was bothered by me being there. I was just one of her kids. It was a special relationship I had with her. Every
year at birthdays or Christmas she would get me a Madame Alexander Little Women
Doll until I had the whole collection. I was able to pass those same dolls down
to my daughter, who will in turn I suppose, pass them down to her daughter. Shirley liked to know how me and my family were
doing. She'd take pride in knowing that things were going well. Every little
thing that I did that she liked, I would get a, "Well, that's just
wonderful Tammy". And I knew I did good when I heard it. She loved me. Unconditionally. Shirley led me to believe that I was special. I
mattered. Never a time have I ever heard a bad word about one of Shirley's
children. Her own or anyone else's. She simply loved at face value.
It takes a whole community to raise a child. But Shirley wasn't a part of my community; She was a
part of my family. She helped raise me well. I love you Shirley. I will miss
you." That will work. I sorta took Phyllis Korona's as a
jump off point to help me with Shirley's Vickstrom's. I went for my mammogram and a chest x-ray for
pneumonia. My mammogram looks good and my chest x-ray was clear so the
pneumonia is GONE! I finished up my cricuting and have Becca's family
done for Christmas. I just need to get
each one a toy of some sort. That will happen naturally as I go through the
year. I had my car detailed at the tune of $200.00. It was
a MESS! Chocolate ice cream on the floor, a hot chocolate on the seat, dirt and
grime everywhere! I love the job they did to it. It looks amazing! The only
thing is that she got in a little fender bender when she was bringing it back
to me. It left a scratch on the front bumper of my car. I need to get some
touch up paint so it doesn't rust out on me. I'm making ham patties for dinner. It's 10 minutes
to nine at night and I'm just doing dinner. It's crazy. Michael is coming out tomorrow night. YAY! He's
going to go looking for houses on Tuesday. I have to get my echocardiogram on
Tuesday at 10:30 so we can look on the way there and on the way back. I was supposed to go to Holland with Missy but she
cancelled at the last minute, boy howdy was I disappointed in her. She's going
to Washington in a few weeks and thought she shouldn't be in a crowd. She's
fully vaccinated! She's leaving in a few weeks! I am still miffed over it, I
was soooo looking forward to going.
May 3, 2021 Up at 4 this morning, my alarm is set for 7. I'm
going to go get my dinger silenced in my car today. Yay! I see a nappy-nap in my future though. May 4, 2021 May the 4th (Force) be with you. Today is Star Wars
day, not that I get into that kinda stuff. Michael is here. I woke up at 4:05
this morning drenched in sweat. I got up and had a cuppa and bagel and took my
pills. I have to be in Hillsdale at 10:45 to have my echocardiogram done. I'm
going to play on the computer and braid my hair. Michael wants up at 8:00 this
morning so he can take a shower and get around. May 7, 2021 I'm still your
momma....When you no longer listen or care what I say. I’m still your momma...When
you decide I’m old fashioned and want to go your own way. I’m still your momma....When
you talk back, complain and we argue. I’m still your momma.....When you figure out
you know more than I do. I’m still your momma.....When you move away and take a
piece of my heart with you. I’m still your momma...And I will love you more than
the first day I held you in my arms. I’m still your momma.....And I will pray
for you and make sure your wings are strong enough to soar. I’m still your momma...I’ll
want what’s best and will sacrifice my plans for yours. I’m still your momma....I’ll
always have room for you and a hug to welcome you. I’m still your momma....And
until my very last breath, I’ll keep carrying your love with me. And I truly
thank God every day for the privilege and joy I have to be called — your momma.
I stole that from the
Facebook, changed some (a lot) of words and got it ready for Mother's day to
post with my kid's pictures. Today I'm up at 4:00.
I have to be ready by 6:30 to leave the house and go to Becca's house. Today is
Shirley Vickstrom's funeral and I'm heading into Westland to go with Becca and
Daisy. Thank God Becca's going or I wouldn't go. There can be a small gathering
at the funeral. I'll wear a mask. I have had Covid twice now, I don't want it a
third time. May 9, 2021 Shirley's funeral was
very nice. I spoke my words. I met up with old friends. It was nice. I didn't
get home till 8:00. I was exhausted! Michael came out last night. Today is
mother's day and we are taking his momma out to Ponderosa - Her choice- for
Mothers Day at 1:30 to beat the rush. May 10, 2021 I woke up at 4:15 this morning. I ate a peanut
butter on hamburger bun sandwich and had a banana and yogurt for breakfast. I
had 2 cups of coffee, and too my morning meds. I'm making out a grocery list
for Becca. I'm going to work on my eBay, vacuum out the car and
cut Michaels hair today. That's today's agenda. We are having hamburgers,
French fries and coleslaw for dinner. May 11, 2021 I have the big eye tonight. Can't sleep. Thought I'd
write in here for a few minutes. I went to the cardiologist today. I may have a
touch of heart failure. Scares the hell outta me. Is this a downward slope to
heart disease that killed my parents?? I'm doing the exercises Scott told me to
do, I'm wearing compression socks, I've cut out table salt as much as I can, I
quit smoking awhile ago. I think I'll do what I can and give it up to God to
take care of for me. After the cardiologist I went to the hot dog stand
in Hillsdale and got a Coney. It was so good I stopped at the Wal-Mart to get
the makings so I could make some at home and eat them till I get my fill of
them. Then I was headed home and stopped at the Goodwill to see if there was
anything I could flip for a profit. I found the shelf Michael suggested for my small kitchen
appliances and my tea. It was only $5.09! I also found an X-Box 360 for $35.09.
I debated buying it, but looked on eBay ad they are going for about $78.00 - $150.00
so I bought it. I told Becca about it and she wants it. She's going to buy my
groceries and I'm going to give her my X-Box. I'm getting the better end of the
deal, I think. I watch "This is Us" on Tuesday nights. It
was filled with momma stuff tonight. Everyone was loving on momma. Then Toby
called his dad to help him out and I cried through the whole thing. That's when
I turned to my photo of my momma on the wall, it's the last picture I ever
snapped of her, I took it two days before she died, anyways, I told her how
much I am missing her. My heart is just filled with love for my people. I care
about each and every one of them so much it's painful sometimes. Talking with
Scott eased the pain of missing him some. I took a Xanax tonight before I started writing
this, hoping it would ease my anxiety and slow my mind down some so I can
sleep. Missing my momma and hearing I have congestive heart failure made for a
rough day.
May 13, 2021 Up at 2:22 this morning. I slept forever yesterday,
napping all day till 3 in the afternoon. Could have been the Xanax that made me
so sleepy all day. Might be another day like that today if I can't get back to
sleep here soon. No Xanax tonight though. Back to sleep by 3:30 and up at 8:30, I dozed and
rolled around the bed till 9:15 and finally got up. IRS paid me my refund but not my 600 stimulus. I'm
using some of that money to get my dinger broken in my car and some of it to
get my mom's wedding ring resized so I can wear it. That'll be $400.00 of it
gone. I'm taking the car today to get it worked on. May 15, 2021 I slept all night and got up at 7:30! I'm going over
to watch Lee's dog today, he doesn't want to leave Abby alone because she's
sick, so I told him I'd come watch her. I'm taking my laundry so I have
something to do today. Saves me $10.00 from doing it in the laundry room. I found out that the car has been dinging for years
because of a bad sensor. A quick and inexpensive fix. The sensor that tells the
car the emergency brake is engaged was bad. I was out the door with $180.00 My back is hurting again, my shots are lasting less
and less in between them. I'm excited for my Rhizotomies in June. I'm praying
they help ease the pain. I can't walk without pain, I can't stand without pain,
and lately sitting is painful and that's when I always got relief. I could sit
down and the pain would go away. Now it eases but doesn't go away. I been selling a lot on eBay lately. I've got bids
on 5 things right now. Everything goes off auction tomorrow. It was boring babysitting the dogs today, tomorrow I
will take a book to read to help ease the mind numbing boredom of sitting in
someone else's home all day.
May 16, 2021 Back to Lee's today. He said he'd take us all out to
dinner after he gets home tonight, we'll see. My eyes are swollen today, not shut but just about
shut. Don't know if it is something I ate, or something in the air causing my
allergies to erupt. They don't hurt, they are just swollen. I had to cut my nails yesterday. Two of them broke
off and I can't stand short nail and long nails mixed so I cut them all. They
still look nice with the nail polish on, so I'll leave that. So there is a light at the end of the Covid-19
tunnel we've been living in. The CDC says if we've been vaccinated, we no
longer need to wear a mask outdoors or indoors. But I tell you I won't go to
the Wal0Mart without a mask on. I caught Covid the first time there. I prolly
caught it the second time there as well. Too many people to go without a mask.
By this summer we will be back to large gatherings and in the fall the kids
will go back to face to face schooling. Lee was good with his word. We went out to Coldwater
Gardens and I got my usual from there, pancakes, eggs and bacon. He came home
at 4:00 today. He gave me $80.00 for babysitting 2 days. Nice pay for watching
TV all day and reading all day. I played with the dogs, made sure that Abby was
cared for and let them out several times while I was there. Goofy cat tried
sitting on my face while I was sitting in the recliner. I have to go get my eyes checked tomorrow. I'm going
to go with bifocals instead of the trifocals I have now. I'm going to package up my eBay, I sold 5 things
today that I have to get out. May 18, 2021 I got up at 4 this morning. I made biscuits and
gravy with bacon. It was sweet, it must have been the biscuits that were sweet
because the gravy was perfect. I sold two ornaments I bought at a flea market for a
dollar each and sold them for $16.99 each. I got them around for the mail this
morning. I wrote in my book this morning too, it's shaping
up. There is something missing from it. I don't know what exactly. But
something is. May 19, 2021 Up at 3:30, I stayed in the bed arguing with myself
to either get up or go back to sleep. At 5:30 I lost the argument and got up.
Now my back hurts from tossing around the bed. I got some coffee, but I see a
nap in my future. I spent a great deal of time outdoors today. I had
my recertification with Bob and he told me I would know if my rent goes down
after he hears from my bank. I went and got gas and lottery tickets. I lost. I have a hankering for some liver and onions. I'm
going to head to the Wal-Mart and pick some up along with a few other things.
I'm out of anything fresh. I have to go through my freezer and get rid of the
old stuff. There are some things in there that are over a year old. It's 6:20 and I have my onions frying. Liver is
coming along nicely. I spilled Olive Oil on the curtain and the rug. I
hope it came out in my washing it. What a mess. It turned out to be a hot, muggy day. I shut my
window and turned on the air conditioning. I hope I can cool it down some in
here. I spent a long time on my book this morning. There
was a chapter on molestation that I wanted to add in the book, but I wanted to
do it without too much detail. I wanted to add that it has directed me my whole
life from the age of four or five. I wanted them to know that about me. The
ugly side without it getting disgusting. I think I pulled it off okay. May 21, 2021 Up at 2:25 this morning. Craziness. I went back to
bed at 4:30 to try and get some more sleep and I slept till 9:30. I'm going to Michaels today. We are going to go to
the Toledo Funny Bone tomorrow. Going to Ahmed's for a steak dinner tomorrow
night. I was going to have to come home at noon for a photo shoot but they
cancelled. A sick kid or something. Sitting here having my coffee. Michael got the house we were looking at! Yeah! It's
8 something a month. Three bedroom 1-1/2 bath. Sits on a half acre. May 25, 2021 I had a great time with Michael last weekend. We
hung at his house Friday watching the game show network. We ate leftovers for
dinner and talked a bunch. Then Saturday I took a shower and dressed nice and
we set off to Ahmed's. We both had steak and potatoes and we shared a piece of
chocolate cake since it was supposed to be for his birthday that we went. We
stopped at Bath and Body Works and we both got smelly stuff to shower with, I
had fun smelling all the shower gels with him and helping him pick some out.
Then it was time for the Toledo Funny Bone. We sat down and ordered drinks, a Mello
Yello for him and a Diet Pepsi for me. We both got a Bavarian Pretzel as an
appetizer and then it was time for the show. There were three comics. The last
two were funny. Actually the last one was hilarious. We laughed out butts off. Then
we came home. Michael wanted to smoke so I drove there and home. We had a great
time. Sunday I left about noon. Came home and took a nap,
visited with my neighbors and made leftovers for dinner. I had made a big pot
of green beans, bacon, and potatoes on Thursday and ate them all weekend. Yesterday I worked at Lee's. I made a mistake I have
to call him about. I but Michael Craig's stuff in with Relentless Tactical
stuff. I just called Lee and told him about the mistake I made. I feel horrible
about it. I don't know what I'm going to get into today. I
might work on the book today. I'm close to my 480 page mark. I have to see how
close. May 28, 2021 Today I went to the hospital to pick up a pulse ox
recording machine to sleep with tonight. Turns out I don't have to have a CPAP
machine, but they want to know how low my oxygen goes at night, seems the lady
that was running the test put me on oxygen as soon as she noted I was going
low. She should have waited and seen just how low it would go. So Dr. Patten
has me doing the pulse ox test. I stopped at Goodwill to return a coffee machine
that didn't work and picked up a couple little things to sell on eBay. I
pictured all the stuff I have bought in the last couple weeks and put them on
eBay today. I did my dishes and cleaned off my table. I went down to Connie's
with a bowl. She made goulash tonight. It was really good, she puts mushrooms
in her goulash. She just came down about an hour ago and gave me a piece of
pineapple cake. YUM! I thawed my Christmas turkey and had to cook it
today so it's in the oven 2 hours and 14 minutes left Alexa tells me and it's
8:30 at night. UGH! but I couldn't let all that meat go bad. Connie gave me a couple of Norco's. I took one
tonight and have 2 for tomorrow so I can be on my feet all day. I have a
wedding photo shoot tomorrow. Michael and me are going to Shipshewana on Monday.
Monday is Memorial day and they are open on Monday for a special engagement.
The flea market is usually open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but occasionally on
holidays too. I'm so excited! I haven't been to the flea market in years. The
bummer is that I need to rent an electric scooter to enjoy myself. I feel like
a complete jerk over it. My back causes me so much pain that walking hurts too
bad to do it long. I'd be there 8 hours and sitting 7 of it. I hate this.
Michael should rent one too, his back and body ache and hurt all the time with
his arthritis. I can't wait for the rhyzotomies on the Thursday. Maybe I can
walk without pain. I'm sitting here watching Back to the Future part 2.
Michael would say UGH! to that if he knew. LOL! I love these shows. I was Genotyped and it turns out I have a
predisposition to have emphysema. Lucky me. I have genetic emphysema given to
me by one of my parents. Only 10% or so of the population have it, lucky me.
The doctor said I have moderate COPD and mild emphysema. He believes I quit
smoking in time, before it can really cause issues and become severe emphysema
and COPD. I still struggle with smoking. I have a cigarette
every 3 or 4 days. I bum them off of MaryLou. I'm ashamed of this and haven't
told Michael. I'm afraid he'd be so disappointed in me. May 29, 2021 I wore the pulse ox machine all night. I dropped to
72 and had a high of 98 with an average pulse ox of 86.4 I think I may need
oxygen at night. I'm all charged up, well my batteries anyway, for
the wedding photoshoot. I'm leaving in about 5 minutes to go hang out with at
the Township Hall today. It's kinda cool outside. 53 or 54 degrees is all
today. I'm praying my back will make it.
June 1, 2021 Michael came and we took off to his house. He wanted
to remove rocks and weed eat the yard. He was able to do both. I tried helping
with the rocks and it sucked on my back so I stopped. His mom and Manuel came
out to see the house. I think it calmed her nerves some. We went to the Lone
Ranger for dinner and had their great burgers. Then on Memorial Day we got up at 6 to be leave here
by 7 and be to Shipshewana by 8. It was a beautiful day. I rented a scooter and
had a great time. We were there for three hours. We ate at an outdoor cafe that
sold bbq. I had a half chicken with baby reds grilled on the grill, and Michael
had a pulled pork sandwich with the same baby reds. I bought a Shipshewana
Hoodie and some tee shirts. I found a couple things to resell on ebay. Michael
bought some old license plates to sell on eBay and flip for a profit and he
found some sink stoppers for his house. We came home at about 4 and by 4:30 I
crashed and slept till 7:30. Today I'm working on my eBay, going to Lee's and
coming home to work on the wedding photos. Michael texted me and I called him.
I miss him already. His mom is going to help him with a stackable washer/dryer
unit. She also has a freezer she's going to give him. She's worried about him
out there in BFE, but he's not far from me. I have a feeling she has doubts
about me and my feelings for him. I broke off with him once, maybe I'll do it
again. But what she doesn't know, is it's different this time. It's comfortable
and nice. I love him and want him around. The only thing that bothers me about
him is his smoking cigarettes. I don't know what's different this time, maybe
it's just me. Maybe a combination of things, but it feels so good. In my secret
heart of hearts I've toyed with the idea of marrying him. There's no doubt that
I'll move in with him eventually. I love him and want to be with him always.
June 2, 2021 Michael is coming out tonight. He's taking me to my
Pain appointment tomorrow. I'm getting my rhysotomies done tomorrow. I am
looking forward to being pain free again. I can't wait to see Michael. Even if
it is for a little while. He's got to be at work at 4:30 tomorrow, so he'll
pretty much drop me off and go. I made a huge pot of turkey bone soup today and
passed it out to my neighbors, I still have a small pot full for myself. I took
a nap and played on the computer some today. Angi came by at 3:30 to pick up
the thumb drive of the wedding photos for Aleshia. I know she'll be thrilled
with them. I'm watching Dateline right now, there's a show on
at 9:00 again and then a shower for me. Maybe by then Michael will be here.
This is me waiting for a shower. It's the only time I let my hair down anymore.
I like my hair down, but it gets to be a tangled mess. I need to get some cut
off, maybe 8 inches or so. It falls into my lap now. June3, 2021 I had my back surgery today. A total of 6
Rhyzotomies. L4 both sides, L5 both sides, and L6 both sides. Michael got here
about 11:30 last night. We were up and out of here by 9:30 so we could be there
by 10:15. All went well. Now to do nothing for 2 days, well today and tomorrow.
I'm sore as a plucked goose tonight though. I did go to the Wal-Mart and got
stuff to make rice pudding. Mine is the best! I rode in the electric cart to do
my shopping. I sat with my neighbors today outside, it was so pretty out.
Michael left to go to work by 4:30 and they had given him the day off without
him knowing it. Crazy. Tomorrow is his last day there. I hope they do a little
something for him. it's 11:30 and I'm off to bed. June 4, 2021 Up at 7:45 this morning, I slept through the night!
I don't know what's on the agenda today, I'll get into something I'm sure. For
now it's coffee with a little bit of Nitro on top to make it into a latte! I
love this new Redi Whip for coffee. Whelp, I made Michael a book for our anniversary. We
been together a year on June 6. It's a photo book of us doing all the things we
have done this year. June 6, 2021 I woke up at 4:10 this morning. I had coffee and
played on the computer for a couple hours. It's 6:30 now and I got out my
cricket to cut a couple things with. Yesterday I went to the Wal-Marts and got a few
things for dinner today over at Michael's house. His mom and Manuel are coming
out to help him with the lawn mower. I told him I'd bring over everything for
dinner. Sloppy Joes, beans, mac salad and chips with lemonade. Sue is bringing
pickles. I have everything ready. I just need to put it all in the cooler. I
have all the paper stuff, plates, cups, silverware and paper towels to take
over too. I picked Becca up a pair of pajamas for her
birthday. Caffeinate Me they say. I'm making her a tee shirt too. I drink a ton
of water. Filtered Water. Filtered over coffee beans. I drink a ton of coffee. It's cute and funny. I also have to do
Sammantha's shirt for Connie. So I dragged out my Cricut and all the workings
that go with it, Made Connie's shirt, made Becca's shirt, packed it all away
again, and put it away. By 8:30 in the morning. I need to shower and then I just
need to have stuff around for Michael's place by about 12:30 or 1:00. So today I stop saying yes to MaryLou's offer of a
cigarette. She always asks me, "Want one?" I've been too weak to say
no, until now. I smoked on average 3 or 4 a week. No more. I'm through with
smoking. I'm going to ask Michael to try to refrain from smoking around me for
a while. I've been so weak when it comes to smoking. My lungs can't handle it.
I've already got moderate COPD and mild emphysema. It has to stop and today is
the day. Sigh I took a cigarette from
her. UGH I hate myself! Tomorrow I will not. I went to Michael's and we had dinner. It was too
hot. It was 95 degrees and no shade to eat in so I sweated as I ate. Bummer.
There was a slight breeze. Michael and Manuel got the mower working and Michael
got about 3/4 of the front mowed when the mower conked out on him again. It was
too fricken hot to mow anyway. So I finally cooled down enough to put everything
away and get a glass of lemonade. I put ice in it, and it's soooooo good.
Simple pleasures. Michael called me on
the way home, he was getting sleepy and wanted to talk so he wouldn't fall
asleep on the road. He was too damn hot. Michael called me at twenty after eight and he felt
a whole lot better. We watched Celebrity Family Feud on the phone together. It
was fun. I washed a load of laundry to get ready to go to
Michael's tomorrow, we are going to get ready for a yard sale and pack as we
go. I plan on staying all week. June 7, 2021 Off to Michael's! June 20, 2021 It's been awhile since I wrote in this journal. A
lot has happened. I went to Michael's for the week and had a yard sale. We went
through his house room by room and set out everything for sale He made over
$650.00 dollars. I was really glad for him. We worked our tails off and then on
Sunday we went yard saleing ourselves. lol. I came home and on Wednesday I went
to the Pulmonary/ Sleep specialist. He said I didn't need oxygen at night. I
was really relieved. I don't go back for 10 months. Michael was left packing his house to move out to
Montgomery. He moved out one load yesterday and he is finishing today. We are
going out on Tuesday to Big Lots for curtains. I can't wait to see him. For some reason my phone was messing up and I didn't
get a lot of Scott's messages. He called me while I was a Michael's place and
we had a really nice talk. I miss him and we are excited to go to Florida in
February. Michael and me are taking Brody and Cloey with us, we should have a
really good time. When I got home my phone is working just fine again. Becca's Michael got in a car wreck and totaled the
Grand Prix. He was fine but the car was not. Well the cops called for an
emergency removal and it cost $1350.00 to clear the car. We negotiated down to
$500.00, and of course Becca didn't have it so I paid for it, I am just
relieved that I had it since the car was in my name, and the emergency towing
is connected to the Secretary of State and come February they'd be after me.
Becca is going to pay me a hundred a month till November since I used my
Florida money to pay for it. I went and got the kids on Friday. Daisy is a pain
in the butt, poop smearing everywhere. I have done 5 loads of laundry since
Friday and it's only Sunday morning now. She has had 2 baths and 11 underwear
changes. She's wearing me out.
June 22, 2021 Today, Michigan opened everything back up.
Everything, restaurants, stadiums, stores, everything is open to fully capacity
and without masks. Covid isn't over yet,
but it's getting smaller as people are getting vaccines. It's quite a relief to
me, that's for sure. I can have my baby grands over without guilt now. Michael
and I are going to a Tiger game on July 18 for his birthday. It will be nice to
sit in a full stadium again. We went to Burger King yesterday for lunch and sat
inside. First time in a fast food joint in over 16 months. I was oddly, eerily,
nice. Today we went to his house and unloaded a bunch of
boxes in the kitchen. I had to be at the Baseball diamond to photoshoot Zach
playing baseball. The photos turned out really good. I just have to edit a few
of them for Jodi. I'm starting them tonight and will finish them up tomorrow. June 23, 2021 Off to work with Lee for a few hours before I go to
the cardiologist and then to Michael's to help with his unboxing. Whew I got
home at 8:30 put some groceries away that I got at Meijers, and am waiting for
Michael to come over for the night. I have coffee and am watching Dateline in
my nightee. June 24, 2021 I went with Michael today to get his schedule from
his new job, which they won't have till Saturday. Then I deposited $400.00 in
the bank, and we took off to the Ye Olde Store. They forgot to bring his hoses
for his washer and we went to pick them up, then off to Becca's to drop off the
Angel Sense GPS for Daisy. Then we went to KFC for lunch and headed back to his
house, not before stopping off at Starbucks to get a White Mocha Latte with 4
equals put in. I took a nap and he worked on his bedroom. I feel at a loss to
help him with not obvious stuff. The kitchen was easy, but the other rooms are
proving at a loss for me to help. Tomorrow we are going to his cardiologists
appointment, and to clean up the old place and turn in the keys. We had salads for our "midnight snacks" at
10:00. Mine was a berry spinach pecan with Catalina dressing, Michael's was a
lettuce salad with Olive Garden Italian dressing. I added a few channels to my lineup today and am
having fun watching the Game show network in between the other shows we are
watching. June 25, 2021 After the doctor's appointment, we went to his old
apartment and cleaned it. I swept the floors and cleaned the windows. He did
the kitchen and the bathroom and mopped the floors. He was totally worn out
when he was done, and now it's understandably so. I'm worried. We went and had dinner at the Family Kitchen. He had
roast beef Manhattan and I had a turkey Manhattan. It was filling and
delicious. He stopped by Starbucks for me and I got a Latte for dessert. I stopped at Rite Aid and got my medicine for the
month, dropped of a thumb-drive of photographs and picked up 3 packs of smokes
for MaryLou. We came back to my place and Michael took a cat nap and then went
to his place. I'm watching the Olympic Trials in gymnastics and the game show
network. Dateline comes on at 10 tonight and I'm going to watch it, it's a new
one. June 26, 2021 I ordered my kids books that I wrote today! Yeah! I
been writing them since December. I'm excited for them to come in! It will be a
month before they do. I been waiting on this girl to come get her stimulus
check. I thought it would be nice to give it to her without hassle that I went
through. She's not showing up. WTF?!? What's wrong with people these days??? I'm heading over to Lee's to see about a problem on
his Corel Draw. They seemed to charge him nearly $250 too much for the upgrade.
I have to go figure it out. June 28, 2021 I figured out that Lee heard wrong. He needed to
purchase the program for $429.00 and next year renew the license for $249.00.
So I got that figured out. Michael came over last night to watch a program.
Kisstory on the History Channel, it ends tonight, so he'll be over to watch the
conclusion of it. What a bonus! I get him all night. Although, I haven't felt
really good. I have cramps in my lower abdomen, kinda like pooh cramps, but
intensified. I got a little bug or something. I wasn't feeling really well last
night and went to bed at 8:30. I slept till about 6 this morning. I feel a
little better, but I still have tummy cramps.
June 30, 2021 Lots of Corona Cases in Michigan, especially Branch
County where I live. Branch County has recently emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot
in Michigan. According to data issued on June 28 by the Michigan
Department of Health and Human Services, it rose to the top of the state's list
of infection rates over the weekend. According to the MDHHS report, there were 311 new
cases and five deaths statewide from June 26-28. Seven most-populous counties
reported more than the 11 new cases in Branch County. But the 14 new cases per
100,000 population rate put Branch at the top of the list. That rate is used to
compare county to county. That rate is twice more than the next closest county,
Gratiot, with 7 per 100,000. Branch County had a rate of nine per 100,000 people
the previous week. Six new instances were reported on average every seven days.
The previous seven-day average was only 4. Branch County also has four Delta variant cases that
have been tested. For the 450 people tested last week in Branch
County, the percentage of positive cases was 4.4. Calhoun County tested 1,159
people, but the positive percentage was only 2.2 percent. A total of 25
counties tested more people, with some testing over 10,000 persons, but none
had a greater positive rate. Huron County had the highest positive test rate,
at 4.9 percent, but it only tested 142 persons. Rebecca Burns, health officer of
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, commented about the rising
rate. "It’s probably the Delta variant,” she said,
regarding the more virulent and contagious variant of coronavirus. “I can’t
tell you exactly how many yet. We are still getting the numbers. I am not
sure.” According to Burns, many people in this area are no
longer using masks, are not social-distancing, and are not taking appropriate
precautions. “COVID fatigue is really a big deal here,"
Burns said. Since the pandemic began, there have been 894,260
confirmed cases and 19,712 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Michigan. In the major metropolitan areas, the April new
infection rate was 40-to-49 per 100,000, which dropped to 6-to-10 per 100,000
in May. The number had dropped to below 5 per 100,000 in June. On June 24, Burns stated that, with the exception of
Branch County, the infection rate throughout the tri-county district had been
reduced. Hillsdale was upgraded to a “B” rating. St. Joseph County was on the
letter "C." Branch's rating had reverted to "D," the worst
on the A-D scale used by MDHHS. That's from the newspaper. A new variant has come to
Michigan now. A Delta variant. Hard to know how that going to go. We are 100%
open again, no masks except in hospitals, no limitations, outdoor events like
concerts and ballgames are back at full capacity. “The Delta variant is
currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate
COVID-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert,
said at the briefing on June 22. The good news, he said, is that the vaccines
authorized in the United States work against the variant. “We have the tools,”
he said. “So let’s use them and crush the outbreak.”
I'm making spaghetti for dinner tonight. I'm going
to take some down to Michael at suppertime. He's home burying his DMCI Internet
cable. They didn't bury it for him, so he's out in the heat doing it. Crazy,
they just laid it on the ground. I'm going to hang up some curtains when I'm
there. He didn't get the ones I wanted him to, but I understand why. It cost
him almost $175.00 to curtain up the house. Poles and rods were not cheap. July 1, 2021 I'm working on eBay today, gotta get my ads up and
running so I can sell, sell, sell! I might go over to Michael's today and hang the
curtains I didn't hang yesterday. I have to go to the Home Depot and see if
they have a rod to fit the front window. I hope they do, I think I'll call
first. I'm having my second cuppa coffee first. I have been
trying to come up with the cat's name that we had on Shiawassee St. in Detroit
that was an outside cat. We had him for about 8 years. He stayed outside and
killed the mice. I fed him on the porch when he got older. Once I had to stitch
a wound he got from a raccoon. It was the only time he let me hold him. I
stitched it and put antibiotics on the wound for ten days and then took the
stitches out. He never argued with me during that time. The wound healed nicely
and off he went. Another time he was caught up somewhere for over 3 weeks.
Someone mistreated him then and he was a skinny, poor mess when he got home. I
took him into the house that time and fed him tuna. He died shortly after that.
I've been trying to come up with his name and it's driving me crazy. I put out
a text to Becca and Scott, Becca don't remember him I'm hoping Scott will. I
think it started with an H. Hector, Hugo, Horace, or something like that. Scott
just got back with me, his name was PURSEY!! How could I have forgotten that! July 2, 2021 I have a senior photo shoot here in about 15
minutes, a cap and gown shoot. I have the follow up to the shoot not this
Saturday, but next at her graduation party. It's Connie's granddaughter
Sammantha. I did her shirt for her. Now I get to do her photos too. I tool
MaryLou up to the bank this morning and talked with Michael. He has to go to
Adrian for a Covid test, and then back to Adrian on the 6th to take a stress
test. I have to take Daisy to the dentist on the 6th so I can't go with him.
I'm bummed about that but happy to take Daisy to the dentist, she's needed to
go for a couple years here, and Becca FINALLY made the appointment.
July 5, 2021 I've been a little put out by Michael's mood against
me lately. Since I asked him for my money back on the pole he asked me to go to
home depot to get him, which I did, he's been really bitchy with me. I forgot
my inhaler at home and he had to bring me home to get it. I stayed at home
because it was midnight and he'da just have to bring me home at 8:30 the next
morning. Then there's this whole thing about his fucking birthday. He gets me
flowers for my birthday AND Valentine's day, so freaking thoughtful, and I'm
supposed to take him to the ballgame for his. Not only buy his and my ticket,
but put out the money to buy his friends tickets too. On a month where if I
didn't dip into my Florida money I'd be bouncing checks all over the place. Not
only that but he had something to say about the parking I bought online. It
wasn't good enough for me, too far too walk. I was trying to save some fucking
money. I'm not really happy about it. I bought him a pair of clogs and already
gave them to him for his birthday. I'm not happy about how he's making me feel
and then the ballgame crap on top of it. I don't even LIKE going to the ball
game. He asked me if I was mad at him. I'm not mad exactly. I'm put out and I
don't like feeling like this one bit. I'm being taken advantage of and for some
reason just because he says he wants to go he's got me paying for it. I'm glad I have to take Daisy to the dentist
tomorrow. I wouldn't want to sit in the car to Adrian and back with him if I
went with him for his stress test. I'm that put out. July 10, 2021 I feel much better about Michael. We are just fine.
I never talked to him about the tickets, I just got over it. He deserves a day
with no stress and full of fun. I can give it to him so I will. I have a party I have to photo shoot today at 5:30.
I got up at 4:30 this morning so a nap is in definite order today! I'm dying my
hair to make the orange crush look go away. I can't stand when a color called
mahogany goes bright orange on my hair. It drives me crazy. Michael is coming to the party with me. He gets off
work at 5:00 so he can be here by 5:30. It's for Connie's granddaughter
Sammantha's graduation party. My money situation is okay for now. I have $1400.00
in my Florida money and $51.00 in the bank, and $21.00 in my purse. I'm okay. I
get another hundred on the 14th from Carma. She insisted she pay me $100.00 for
filling out her quitclaim deed. I resisted but she insisted, so I took it. I talked with Scott yesterday, it's always good to
talk with him. He's working toward disability with the Marines. His paperwork
got messed up and he had to redo it or send in extra paperwork, but it's back
on track. It will take awhile before he knows anything. He was in the ER for
heart palpitations the other day, about a week ago. The VA is checking out his
heart to see why this happens to him. He's getting a hearing aid today, it
might help him out. He might hate it and never wear it. But he and Jaisa are
doing well. I talked with Becca like I do every day and she
threw out her back. She went to the ER
and got some muscle relaxers. She was better yesterday. Her legs and feet have
been swelling something awful and she is getting ultrasounds and tests run on
her legs to find out what's up. So far no answers, but when I saw them they were
awful. She paid me for June and July's payment on her car so she only owes me
another 300 on that. July 19, 2021 I went to lunch with the ladies on Friday, and had a
great time. I got my books that I been writing in the mail and am over the moon
with how it turned out. Geneva wanted to read it, so I left it with her. We are
meeting up tomorrow for lunch and so I can get it back. She said she laughed so
hard at a couple of the stories in there. She also said that my kids will love
it. I know they will. Wow it's been 9 days since I wrote in this journal.
I'll just run through the high points. I went to Sammantha's graduation party
to shoot the photos. No one barely showed up, I took 50 some photos of those
people in it. I felt bad for her, but did what I could for the photos. Connie
was happy with them. I went and spent the last 5 days and 4 nights at
Michael's. We went to dinner at Olive Garden on Friday for his birthday with
his folks. Then we went to Tiger Stadium on Sunday, his actual birthday. The
Tigers played an awesome game. The score was 7-0 Tigers. The sun was brutal on
us, but we found seating in the shade that no one was sitting in and we sat
there. Tonya and David went with us and we found seats for them in the shade
too. I had a great time, although the day was really long. We left the house at
8 and got home at 9 Sunday night. I went with Michael to his Secretary of State
appointment today. He forgot a piece of id so he has to go back tomorrow at
noon. He's getting a State ID. I can't go with him tomorrow because I'm going
out to lunch with the ladies tomorrow. We are meeting at Jeannie's at 11:00. I got a grant check in the mail. It was filled out
in April. I got a message from Travis at Branch ISD who said I may be eligible
for the grant since I worked during the pandemic. It was a grant to all Head
Start Teachers and Several other type of teachers. The grant was worth up to
$500.00. I hadn't thought about it since April until just the other day, I
thought, "I wonder what ever happened with that grant". Well just
Saturday, which was 2 days ago I got a check in the mail. It was my portion of
the grant which was $449.00. It was much more that I thought it would be since
I only worked 3 months during the pandemic. I retired that May so I only worked
March, April and only part of May. But what the heck I'm happy with it. $400.00
of it is going into my "Florida Money". Gotta see my boy get married in February! I went out and sat with MaryLou and John and Connie
tonight after I came home from Michael's. I was waiting for a lady to come pick
up my clothing. She paid me $65.00 for all of it. I was happy to finally get
rid of it all and she was happy to get it. July 21, 2021 Mom's been dead 5 years ago today. Amazing how it
seems like yesterday I was holding her hand as she took he last breath. I miss
her so much. There is no other loss like the loss of your mother. A child would
be worse, but there is something profound about losing your mom. I was sitting out with MaryLou and John for a cup of
coffee this morning. It was nice. I talked to Michael this morning too. I have
an upset stomach, I took some Tums, I took my pills without eating and I should
know better. I'm going to take a nap and then do my dishes and pay my bills. Michael's coming over after work tonight. He's
mowing his lawn this afternoon before work with his new riding lawnmower. July 22, 2021 I went and got the kids last night. I was sitting
here feeling sorry for myself having a pity party over losing my mom and
decided to go get them early. This morning I found bedbugs in my bed. I'm so
over having bedbugs! Daisy fecal smeared in the night so the bug man wouldn't
even come in to look, he said it was a bio-hazard. I told them to come back in
a half hour and I'd have everything cleaned but they never showed back up. I'm
calling Medallion to complain. July 24, 2021 I talked to Bob and told him I'm over the blame game
and to work on eradicating the begs. There were 14 other apartments that the
bug man saw this week and he'll be back on the 5th. I have till then to
"clear out" my stuff. Bob thinks I have too much stuff and that I'm
harboring them here. I'm remove the stuff I can and store the rest effectively
barring the bugs. I'll use Ziploc bags and bug proof totes. But blaming me has to
stop. Clearly I'm getting them from 14 out if 38 other apartments here. At what
point do they say this isn't working and try something else? It's been since
January that I've been battling bedbugs here. The kids are eating me out of house and home! So far
we've gone through 20 containers of yogurt, 3 big bags of chips, 2 bags of
candy, 2 bags of grapes, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, cheese sticks, a
box of cereal, cucumbers, 48 small bottles of water and more....and all in 3
days. Plus we've had dinner each day! I don't know how Becca does it. We went to bed at 9:30 last night. Daisy got out of
bed while I was awake and fecal smeared on the wall. I was furious! I took her
to the bathroom smacking her naked butt all the way there. I made her sit on
the toilet for 15 minutes, telling her all the time that you poop in the
toilet. Cloey cleaned up the wall for me, it was fresh so it was easy to clean.
Daisy got up at 3:30 this morning. She's had breakfast, watched Mickey Mouse
and is now in the bath. I couldn't find her and she peeked her head out of the
shower. She took out the bath mat and was naked. Her way of telling me she
wants a bath. It's 7:55 now and Cloey is up, Brody has been up to
use the bathroom and down again. He's out for the count now. He got up at 3:30
when he heard Daisy, I told him I was up and he went back to sleep. No way do I
trust her to be up alone! We were going to take the kids to the Hot Air
Balloon Show in Jackson today, but it's supposed to rain. I just looked at the
new forecast and it should be okay to go. I'll talk to Michael and see what he
wants to do.
July25, 2021 We didn't go to the air show, Michael had to work
till 6 pm. He stopped by Pizza Pizza and picked us up dinner. Such a
sweetheart! Daisy smeared again last night so I spent an hour changing my bed sheets
and scrubbing the wall and the floor. Cloey helped me a lot! I had to scrub a
spot in front of the bathroom door. I been keeping it locked so Daisy don't get
in the shower all the time. She peed before I could open the door. My fault not
hers. I had to scrub the couch where Brody had an accident last night. Pee and
poop everywhere this morning! I'm taking the kids home this afternoon. They are
eating ice cream cones before they go. I'm stopping at McDonald's on the way
home. We'll be out of here by 2 or so. I have laundry to do when I get back home. The
blanket Brody used, the sheets that were on my bed, some towels and washcloths.
I threw a couple of poop scrubbing washcloths away. No need to wash my face with
it after I scrubbed poop off the wall, even if I wash it. Nope. Threw 2 away. Brody got hit in the nuts with my bed when a piece
of it flew off and hit him in the thighs and nuts. Poor kid it brought tears to
his eyes and a horrible grimace to his face. We were putting on the full sized
bed bags on the mattress and box springs. The queen size ones I had on there
were making folds that the bedbugs liked. So I just slipped the bags over the
old ones. No need for flinging bugs everywhere. Brody killed 3 baby bedbugs
while we were putting on the bags. Cloey and Brody were the heroes of the night
last night helping out with that task. I moved my bed farther from the wall so
the bug man can get to the mattress on the far side of the bed now too. I'm
going to condense my stuff in there as well. July 26, 2021
July 27, 2021 I started writing yesterday and got as far as
putting in the date. I was not a remarkable day, the highlight was when Michael
came and we went out to dinner at Dicky's for bar-b-que. Same as today,
unremarkable. Michael came by after work and I made us Grilled Cheese and corn
on the cob, taken off the cob. I watched Wheel of Fortune while he took a
little nap. I'm watching the Olympics
pre show. Simone Biles took a mental health break from competition with the
team. She still up for individual competition. What they are doing to her is
wrong. I'm going to Sue's on Thursday at 1:00 and Becca's
Friday and a photo shoot Saturday. Then on the 6th Michael has a cardiologist
appointment in Adrian I want to go to. July 28, 2021 Michael and I are going to go to Das Essenhouse in
Middlebury Indiana today for dinner, I love that place. He's picking me up at
2:00.
July 29, 2021 I went to Sue's today to put up corn the way she
does it. I put up 10 quarts of corn. I got there at 1:30 and left at 4:30. Enough
to last me and Michael awhile. Michael came over after work and I made potatoes
and corn for dinner. It's a dinner he likes to have. I don't mind, it's super
easy to make! Michael went home at about 8:00 tonight, and I am
watching Dateline, it's on till 10 tonight. August 6, 2021 I went with Michael to his cardiologist appointment.
I'm scared to death I'm gonna lose him over this. He has to get his aortic
valve replaced. He's in a holding pattern right now because there isn't a great
deal of discomfort and the doctor doesn't want to go in until he absolutely has
to. I spent last night at Michael's so we could leave
from his house this morning. I slept really good there for once. I had some leftover goulash for dinner. I made some
a couple days ago with fresh tomatoes I had to blanch and peel and fresh green
peppers and celery and onions. It was soooooo good. I have one bowl left for
lunch tomorrow. Michael and I stopped at a food distribution today.
We got a box of fresh vegetables and a bag of canned food. They gave us milk,
eggs and bread as well. I got a cake for the grands, but I took a piece and
gave the rest to Michael. It was Birthday cake. Delish. I took what I wanted,
Michael took what he wanted and I put the rest on the table downstairs to be
taken by anyone who wants it. I gave MaryLou and John first choice of the
goodies in the boxes and bags. I worked on the cricut yesterday and the day before.
I'm making Becca 7 shirts. She's giving them out for Christmas. She paid me
$100 and I bought all the shirts and iron on vinyl. I needed one white one and
made the rest in red. The shirts are black. In the next few days I'm going to
iron the fronts and backs on the shirts and get them done for her. I made Jaisa 4 bottles of hand sanitizer that says,
"Share love not germs Scott & Jaisa 2.13.22" They were a bugger
to weed, each one took me over a half hour just to weed the dang thing. I was
glad to do it for her though. They aren't exactly the way she wanted them. I
did them in black because the gold was impossible to weed. I tried it in gold
and couldn't do it. Dad's birthday was 2 days ago on the 4th. He would
have been 89 had he lived. He's been gone 12 and a half years now, it will be
13 in February. Time flies. It seems like just a couple years and it's been a
dozen. I went out to Becca's yesterday to take her
shopping. She gave me $20 in gas and $36 in groceries. I would have done it for
nothing, but she offered, who am I to say no. I had fun shopping in the Meijers
looking at all the different food in there. I used the cart, my back screams at
me when I walk that far anymore. I have to go back to take her and the family out
school shopping on the 16th of August. The kids go back to school the following
week. August 7, 2021 I made copies of Michael's pay stubs today for him.
He needs them for social security. Thank goodness he had a set of them from the
last year and a half. I have something stinking in my house. I took all
the garbage out, I did all the dishes and I tore apart the stove and cleaned
every inch of it. I Lysoled the trash can before I put a new liner in it.
Hopefully I got rid of the odor. It smelled sour. I thought it was the dirty
dishes, but I couldn't track down the smell exactly. I don't smell it right
now, but I smell Lysol so maybe I got the smell outta here too. I'm supposed to be working on Becca's tee-shirts, I
might still later, but the smell had to go first. It was driving me crazy. I spent some time outside today with John and
MaryLou and Connie. Had a cup of coffee out there with them. I went over to
MatyLou's daughter's house to see what kind of clothes she had for sale. She
had 14 pieces I bought off her for a buck apiece. New stuff too. In my size.
Good Deal. I have to wash them and hang them up. Gonna make some dinner here in a bit. I think I'm
gonna have brats and cottage cheese. Easy and good. August 8, 2021 By John Hiner | jhiner@mlive.com The first advertisement I saw this morning was for
personalized, medical-grade face masks. The internet may be creepy and
annoying, but it usually knows what’s up. And what’s up is nearly 600 days after the first
case of COVID was announced in the United States, after 600,000 deaths and
counting, after encouraging gains due to vaccines and sacrifices, we’re headed
back to where we started. Fueled by the Delta variant, the pandemic is gaining
again in Michigan, and it’s devastating some areas of the country. The virus is effective at what it does, and it’s
gotten smarter. The problem is that humans, the most evolved species in the
history of this planet, haven’t. The vaccine works, yet roughly half of the
population refuse to get it. Masks and social restrictions – the only effective
defensive position when half of the population refuse vaccines – also work. But
we’re very aware that a lot of Americans don’t like being told what to do, and
politicians have lost their appetite for trying to make us. So here we are, a year and a half after the start of
the pandemic and eight months after the first vaccine dose in America, heading
back into the chaos and sadness of a disrupted society. Notice I don’t say “uncertainty” – we all know what
it looks like. Social restrictions in public places, and all of the nastiness
of angry people venting on one another; the damaging effects on local
economies; filled hospital ICUs and exhausted health-care workers; schools
struggling to educate students and conduct sports while being second-guessed on
every decision. That’s not a prediction on my part; it’s already
happening. Some businesses, like Home Depot, are requiring masks again inside
their stores. Some school districts, like Ann Arbor Public Schools, already
have announced mask requirements for the coming school year. Eight universities
and colleges in Michigan aren’t waiting for the cavalry – they’ve already
announced that all employees and students will have to be vaccinated. Conspicuous by their absence in this maddening slide
back into the abyss are politicians and public health leaders. It’s one thing
to be an individual with a personal point of view about masks or vaccines –
good for you, it’s your health and future. But it’s another matter when your
entire job is the well-being of the people you represent and for whom you work. “The messaging around the removal of masks if you’re
vaccinated and lifting the restrictions, was very much like: ‘If you get the
vaccine, we won’t have to do this anymore,’” said Lauren Gibbons, MLive
political reporter. “I think, politically, no one is interested in putting
restrictions back. “The key here will be, can the (Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer) administration and public health experts convince more of the public
to get vaccinated, because otherwise it’s trending in a direction that is not
good for COVID-19 numbers and not good politically.” So that puts the onus squarely on individuals, which
is not confidence inspiring, and onto institutions like schools, businesses,
local governmental units. And, as it has every day for a year and half, our
health-care workers. Scott posted this picture with his words on it
today. I'm going to finish Becca's tee shirts, I have to
iron them on the shirts now. Yay it's 3:20 in the afternoon and they are done!
There are two with tiny mistakes on them. I'll redo them if Becca wants me to. August 9, 2021 I've done nothing today but took a nap and took a
shower and got dressed. That's the whole of my accomplishments today. I did
call Woman Within and ordered 5 bras. They had them on sale for 12.99 and I
bought 5 that will fit me. I put an extender in my bra and realized Michael is
right, I need new bras. I'll get rid of all the old ones. $12.99 for the bras I
wear all the time is a great price. I think I paid $29.99 for the one I'm wearing
today. Michael is coming over about 5 and we are going out
to dinner. My choice. I just don't know where I want to go yet. If I go to
Ponderosa I'm going to want a steak. We ended up at the Willows for a burger with a side
of onion rings and a lemonade. I had a little pooping issue and had to run over
to the Goodwill to use their john. I was at the Laundromat with Michael doing
his laundry when Montezuma hit me. I had to leave again after he put everything
in the dryers as my tummy was rumbling bad again. So I came home and watched
Jeopardy! and now am going to watch Antiques Roadshow. August 12, 2021 Today there was a hellacious storm that blew the
power out. It woke me up when my fan turned off in the bedroom. Up until that I
was sleeping through the storm. It was out from 5:15 till about 10:00. It could
be worse. Quincy just had theirs out for 2 days this week from another bad
storm we had, Coldwater was spared that time. Oleta, Megan and Cordie are coming to visit for a
few days. They'll be here this afternoon and stay till Monday. Leda was going
to stay till Labor Day and Megan was going to come back and get her, but she
changed her mind and her plans and is staying a long weekend instead. I was outside once the storm stopped and visited
with Kathaleen and Connie. MaryLou was stuck upstairs. She can't go up or down
stairs with her back the way it is.
August 13, 2021 Oleta and Megan and Cordie made it in about 4:30
yesterday. We went out to Chinese and then Culvers for ice cream. Michael came
over after work and I made him some grilled cheeses. I'm making tuna noodle casserole today for dinner.
I'm thinking that we might be able to go to some yard sales tomorrow. August 17, 2021 Leda and Megan and Cordie went home yesterday at
9:30 in the morning. I was so happy to see them come and happy to see them go.
I cooked and did dishes the entire time they were here. I made Friday - Tuna
Noodle Casserole, Saturday - Goulash, and a huge Sunday Pot Roast with Mashed
Potatoes, Homemade Gravy, Corn, Green Beans with Bacon and Onions, Grape and
Banana Salad and Peach Cobbler for dessert. I enjoyed their company. I had been
missing Oleta. I'm going to try to go see her before the snow flies at her
place though. I left at 10 and headed to Becca's place. I took the
family to Walmart so they could do school shopping for the kids, and grocery
shopping for a couple weeks. We had 6 people in the car + 2 carts FULL of
school clothing, supplies, food and pop. Poor Mike got covered in bags in the
hatch of the car. We dropped off everything and Becca and me went to Meijer.
She needed the meat specials and kitty litter and cat food. I'm down to $26.66 in the bank and $22.00 in my
purse. I get paid tomorrow, so I didn't do too bad this month. I even spent
$150 on food for the weekend with Oleta and Megan here. I filled out Mary Lou's food stamp benefit
application for her today. I took a nap and I ate leftovers for dinner.
Tomorrow I have a rotisserie chicken from Meijer that I'll eat. Not a real noteworthy day today. August 18, 2021 I got up at 9:30 this morning. I went to the Dollar
Tree for MaryLou. She needed some new reading glasses, and I wanted to go to
the Goodwill and peek around. I found Oleta a small Crockpot and Cordie a Baby
Pegasus. I found Megan the coffee she was looking for at the Wal-Mart at the
Meijer so I picked it up for her. So now I have a box to send out to Oleta. I talked with Scott today. We talked about him being
front line in the Covid war. He's hot and his back hurts, but otherwise he's
okay. He said the deaths don't bother him too much and when they do he's got
his therapist to help him through it. He said he knows when to take frail and
fragile people off their rolls, so clients "don't die on my shift". I
got this picture with the words COVID WARRIOR under it. All joking aside, I'm really proud that he decided
to step up in the face of a pandemic and be the leader of the Covid Team. He
feels as if he's really helping the folks that will listen to him and do what
he says to do. They are getting up and walking out the hospital doors after a
week or so. Just moving is helping to get the virus moving out of the
system. I talked to Michael today. He went to the lawyer
about his driver's license. He has to start at square one to get it back. He's
done this whole thing with a lawyer in Adrian who quit him at appeal. He came
by but I was still in the bed this morning. He's coming by after work tonight. I talked to Becca tonight, she's not doing much. Her
sister-in-law's birthday is today, so she's over there celebrating with her and
the family. There is some family issues going on that causes angst between the
family members. Crazy, there always seems to be some sort of drama in that
family. Daisy starts school on Monday. First Day of Seventh Grade! Yikes!!! Having a HIGH ANXIETY day today. I tried to take a
shower and couldn't. Every time I thought about it my eyes would well up like I
wanted to cry. I took a Xanax and waited a half hour and thought about taking a
shower and still couldn't do it. I thought about taking one when Michael got
here and felt better about it. He's on his way now and the anxiety is gearing
up. All this over a stupid shower. What's wrong with me?!? Anxiety creeps up on
me and gets me outta the clear blue sometimes. Today it's been most all day. Maybe
it will go away once I take the stupid shower. August 21, 2021 Much better day today. Michael came over and sat
through my shower with me. He washed me some and I was able to get through
washing my hair and my body. I just took a pain pill so that I could clean the
cupboard and the refrigerator out here in about 15 minutes. Kathaleen came down, she wanted me to track a
package for her. So I did and printed out the estimated time of arrival. Becca had me design a shirt for her today. Jingle
this at the top of the shirt and hand grenades (2 well placed) at the bottom of
the shirt. She wants me to make one for Scott, her Michael and Brody. Well off to organize the cupboard. . . . . I got the cupboard done and the fridge done. I put a
ton of food on the table downstairs. I should have taken a before and after
picture. I have everything I'll use without having too much of each thing. I had
7 containers of peanut butter that I put on the table downstairs. Crazy hoarder
lady if you ask me. I still have 3 containers of peanut butter in my pantry. I
have a bunch of backups so I won't run out. Ketchup, mustard, Miracle Whip,
syrup, dressing and a few other things.
August 22, 2021 I had a really bad bowel day today. I must have
pooped 9 times today, I stopped counting at 7 and there were more after that. I
didn't "do" much today because I had to go poop so much. I bent over
to pick up a pen and thought it was going to squirt out my rear end bending
over! So I played on my computer most all day. about 6:30 I went outside and
stayed out for an hour when Michael got here. I cooked him some biscuits with
butter and grape jelly and we both had a hot fudge sundae for a little yummy
afterwards. I made Spanish Rice for lunch and ate that at about 2:00 this
afternoon, so a couple biscuits with butter and strawberry jam on them hit the
spot for dinner. I'm watching Buddy vs Duff on the food network channel, and
flipping to a rerun of America's Got Talent since I missed it on Tuesday. Scott and Danielle have been going at it on Facebook
today. Scott obviously is pro vaccine and pro mask, and Danielle is making it
known that she is not pro vaccine or pro mask. Danielle is throwing Facebook
crap at Scott trying to make a point, and Scott ain't buying any of it. It's
been going on all day. Danielle is just being stupid. August 23, 2021 Boring day. August 24, 2021 Turning out to be another boring day. I got up at
10:30 played on the computer till 1:00. Went and checked my mail, got Jaisa's
Matcha green tea for Christmas in. Made some lunch - a bologna with butter and
mustard sandwich and some boiled eggs. It's 1:45 now and am eating my sandwich
still. I turned on the TV. Watching an old rerun from the
70's of Match Game. Boring Day. Hottest day of the year so far, 103 degrees. August 25, 2021 Michael stayed the night last night because it was
too hot at his place. We had to drive to his place about 11:00 last night to
close his windows because the rain was coming. The sky was lighting up with sky
lightening. It was awesome and beautiful as well. Michael was called into work this morning. He had
brought a load of laundry to wash so I washed it today for him. We went to dinner tonight at Applebee's with Sue and
Manuel. They are going to Florida tomorrow and wanted to have dinner with
Michael tonight. Michael went home tonight. He should be fine. It's hot but
doable. It's 79 and feels like 84
degrees right now. I grated up 4 zucchinis for bread later in the year,
I need a few more to grate up. I popped the grated ones in the freezer. August 28, 2021 Woke up at 11:00. Must have had a storm last night
because we lost power. It was on again when I got up, but the clocks were
flashing the wrong times and the computer was off. Michael came over and we went to the Willows for
dinner. I had a 3 piece Alaskan Pollack Fish meal. It was a winner! I got a mug in the mail
today from sis. September 2, 2021 Well in the last few
days a few notable things have happened. Scott had to stand down from being the
leader in the Covid Unit. It tore up his back and the pressure was a little too
much for him, so they are going back to taking rotations in the Covid Unit
again. He's on light duty for a couple, few weeks until his back heals. Becca found a car. It's
$500 and needs an alternator. She needs to borrow the $500 from me till the
15th when she gets her child stimulus in and then she can pay me back. I'm
happy to loan her the money. Cloey started her
period. She found out what the word bloated feels like. She said it's the worst
day of her life. They both started High
School this year. No more Middle School for Cloey. She is a Freshman and Brody
is a Freshman-ish/Sophomore-ish student. He's making up some of his 9th grade
stuff in the 10th grade, and doing some 10th grade work as well. I made a date in
October to go to Gallipolis, Ohio with Missy and sis. The 7th - 9th of October.
It's a Thursday thru Saturday. Mike is coming to stay
the night with me tonight. I'm cooking homemade noodles for him for dinner. September 8, 2021 I haven't been feeling
the greatest these last few days. I have tummy troubles and pooping issues,
yesterday I pooped 12 times, running explosive pooping episodes. I think
between my meds, what I eat and my innards being so messed up from the bypass
and bypass reversal, I get stuck with days and weeks like these. I took Becca out
$500.00 so she could buy a car. She says she'll pay me back on the 15th. I'm
glad to know that they have a car again. Patti Fraley has called
me up. Seems our friend Dawn isn't doing very well. Patti had to go get
guardianship over Dawn so that she could get the right medical care for Dawn.
Charlie, Dawn's husband isn't able to do it. The hospital is trying to place
Dawn in a nursing home, and Patti (and I) want her placed in a mental facility.
Dawn told the doctor that she isn't Dawn, that she is somebody else. The doctor
labeled her with delirium episodes with psychosis. With the right paperwork
from the doc, and the nurse we could go to court and have her committed to a
mental facility. I'm really glad that Patti has done this stuff before, having
guardianship over someone who is not family, would scare the hell outta me. September
9, 2021 There was a mandatory meeting at the apartments
today. There is a lot of rule breaking and gossip going around, and it has to
stop. Bob the manager will start eviction notices on anyone who doesn't stop
breaking the rules. There was a lady here who is Bob the managers mentor. She's
a livid bitch and has no right to tell me anything. Bob needs to tell me stuff
if I'm doing it wrong. Bedbugs are still a bother. There were several live
ones on my bed. They spread dust again. It's looking way better than it had
before so we are cutting it down. Patti
talked to 4 different people about placing Dawn in a mental facility. When the nurse came in today, pills were on the
floor and under her fingernails where she pocketed them in her mouth and dug
them out. Nurse also said she walked in and Dawn had her brief off and was
holding it and rocking it like a baby. She told Patti she wasn't Dawn, she was
Pamela. Dawn told Charlie today that she was Amy and was in the wrong room. The
nursing staff feels she needs to be in geriatric mental health. I told Patti
that would be perfect. Dawn is soooo much sicker than any of us thought. September 15, 2021 The transport Service took Dawn to the
NeuroBehavioral Hospital in Crown Pointe, Indiana. It's three hours away, and
full of bad reviews. I'm uber worried about Dawn. I pray that this place will
actually help, and not hinder her progress to getting well. I got 14" of hair cut off my head yesterday and
still have longish hair. That's the before and after shot of the haircut. Michael and me went out to dinner at the Willows
last night. I watched the finale of the my AGT - America's Got
Talent - My guy came in second, Michael's guy won the show. I went to Becca's today and cut about 9 or 10 inches
off her head. She's been wanting it cut for awhile too. She paid me back the
$500.00 she owed me for her car today. She still owes me $100.00 from the last
car and she'll pay me that on the first.
September 16, 2021 I'm heading to the DMV today to see about getting a
title for Becca's car. Seems that it's been being sold from one person to the
next without a title. Now I have to go and try to sort this mess out so the car
can be plated. It's already insured. I didn't get out of the bed till after 11 this
morning. I called Michael and headed outside with my morning coffee. It won't
be too much longer that I'll be able to do that. The weather is getting cooler
as September goes on. September 18, 2021 Well, I was able to sort through the mess of the
title. It's call title jumping and it is illegal to sell a car without a title.
4 people did this to that car before me. I didn't think I'd get a title, but I
did! Michael and I are going to a Boo Bash tonight. We
are dressing up as Christmas Elves. His cousin is throwing a Halloween Party a
little early and we are going! I'm dying my hair after I drink my first cup of
coffee this morning. Too much grey makes me look old.
We had a really good time at the Halloween party
tonight. Mike's cousins dressed up as Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their dog
Dino. So cute! September 21, 2021 Whelp, I spent the day with Michael at the heart
doctors yesterday. Then we went to Bob Evans for dinner with Sue and Manuel,
and then we went back to Sue's to see about some letters for Mike's license
reinstatement. They needed to be updated and refreshed. So I did the 6 letters
today and did my own too. So they are all done. I spent some time outside, but it started raining so
I came in, going to go lay down and take a nap here in a few. September 22, 2021 I haven't felt good at all today. My back hurts to
start the day with and I was super tired, even though I slept 13 hours in the
night, I still took a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. I picked Michael up from
work and drove him to Oriel Auto to see about his car. It was too much money so
Michael just took his car and will go somewhere else to get another estimate on it. Sue, Mike's mom is coming over tomorrow to collect
the reworked letters I wrote. I made 2 copies, one for the lawyers office and
one for Sue to gather signatures. Tonight I cleaned off my table, scrubbed my
toilet, cleaned out the fridge and am going to sweep the kitchen and bathroom
floors. I took a couple of pain killers to get me through. I'm going to have a
liverwurst sandwich on white with mustard and onions for dinner. MMMmmm. I
already had a piece of chocolate cake that MaryLou brought down for me. That
was really good! September 26, 2021 So yesterday and today I have done nothing but
sleep. I slept from 11 last night to 2 this afternoon. 15 hours of sleep and I
could lay down and sleep again. Yesterday was the same way. I am going to the
doctors tomorrow to talk to her about my bowels, I will mention the jerks in my
hands especially when holding the mouse and when typing. It gets a little
annoying when your hands jerk all the time. Maybe all three things are
connected. I laid on the couch for almost 2 hours, not
necessarily napping, but laying there. I truly don't like this. September 27, 2021 I got up at 5 this morning after going to bed at
midnight thirty. Had to poop first thing. I'm going to the doctor's today to
talk about my pooping and see what I can do about it. I didn't go back to bed,
I finally got out of the bed at 5:45. I made a cuppa coffee and am sitting
here, contemplating pooping again. Crazy shit. When your bowels are messed up, everything
messes up and you feel lousy. September 28, 2021 So I went to the doc's. I was tested for an array of
viruses including Covid. I got 2 X-Rays, one on my chest to make sure I don't
have a touch of pneumonia, and one on my gut to make sure that there is no
blockages or near blockages. I had to take a stool sample in to the hospital
last night. So doing all that, I'll see what ails me today or tomorrow. I was up at 5:55 with a headache. No urges to poop
yet. Thank Goodness!! I feel a little better than yesterday. I'm sure I'll be
taking a nap today sometime, but for right now I feel okay. Michael and I went out to dinner last night after we
dropped off my poop sample. We went to the Finish Line in Hillsdale. I had a
Turkey Manhattan and Michael had a breakfast for dinner. I was feeling a little
better last night after loading up on Tylenol 4's and antihistamine. I stayed
up and watched all my cooking shows and went to bed at midnight thirty. I heard from both my children yesterday. It always
does my heart wonders when I hear from them, and both on the same day, wowsers!
Scott is still on light duty. He's looking forward to getting the evaluation
completed through the VA, to see about disability. The wedding planning is
coming along nicely too. Jaisa is taking care of those details. Becca is
dealing with another outbreak of boils, she was sitting on an ice pack when I
talked with her, she has one on her whoha that is killing her. She goes to the
skin doctor on Friday and the lady doctor next Friday. October
4, 2021 Up at 10:30 this morning. Mary is coming by in a
half hour for me to do her hair. She wants it straightened. I'm feeling loads better. still a little sinusy but
better. No covid or any other virus that she tested me for. Poop sample came back
as normal diarrhea, nothing out of the ordinary. So time will cure my virus,
and she gave me some powders to take for the poops. I have a list of things I have to do today. call the
shrink for a letter to get out of jury duty. Call about an IRS appeal when they
took out the $600.00 stimulus payment that I never got. I have to take a check
back to the bank for escarole from when I switched accounts. I have to look
into Lee's website and figure out why it's not working, and eventually I have
to work on my cricut. I have three shirts to make and 6 signs to make. I made a banana bread brownie, with burnt brown
butter glaze frosting on top. I shared it with my friends and John called me
and told me he had a complaint about the brownie. I said, "you do, do you?"
He said "There wasn't enough!!" I'll take a complaint like that
anytime! October 7, 2021 I'm waiting for my shrink to call. I have paperwork
to do with her to get me out of jury duty. Then I'm off to lunch with Michael
and his mom and Manuel. Finally I'll go to Gallipolis, Ohio to have a cousins
weekend with Missy and Mary. It's a 6 hour drive, but I'll be okay in it. Can't
wait to see my sis!!! I'm waiting for the bug man to come by as well. he should
be here within a half hour. A lot going on today! October 9, 2021 Got back from cousins weekend this afternoon about
4:45. So glad to be home! It's 11:50 at night and I should be ready for bed,
but not quite yet.
Then we had dinner and went back to the river, then
we shopped some and went to a Goodwill and the Wal-Mart to get my Michael a tee
shirt. After that we went back to the hotel and we talked till midnight and
then we all passed out from exhaustion! Sucks getting old! After I got back home, I sat outside with MaryLou
and John for about an hour and then Michael came and we went to dinner and the
Goodwill here at home. I found a couple dolls to flip for a profit. Then we
went to the weed store. I thought I would try some edibles and see if my libido
comes back. Worked with inhaled weed, but it's too rough on the lungs to smoke
it.
October 12, 2021 Yesterday Cloey turned 14 year old! Wow these kids
are growing up so fast! I'm having trouble with my online banking. I tried to
get into it and couldn't. I went to the
bank at 2 for an appointment. They couldn't help me either, so I'm going to
wait till Monday and then they'll maybe get me in. I have an appointment at the
pain clinic tomorrow. I'm seeing Mike. I'm going to ask for a walker. I do
great if I can sit down on a long walk. I just need to stop every so often and
sit. A walker would give me that seat I need. The pain gets excruciating when I
walk too far. October 15, 2021 So yesterday I went to the bank and added money to
my account so I could pay for some things online and have money for the pumpkin
patch. I spent down to $13.00! I been shopping of Christmas and loving it!! I
found the perfect birthday gifts for Becca's Mike, and Daisy too, being that
their birthdays are right after Christmas. I have everyone done except for
Bruce and Oleta. I'm just picking up Stocking stuffers now. I found a cool
thing at Goodwill for My Michael's stocking. Just gotta get him candy now. I
have Scott and Jaisa done with their stockings, I need to work on Mike and
Becca's stockings done. I picked up a few things for the kids, need a few more.
I'm running to the store for MaryLou and going to
the Good, Better Best store. Then I'm coming home to make a grilled cheese and
then Michael's coming over for an adult date this afternoon. Yay!! So sad that
we have to plan it, but hey whatever works! And the good news is even with
though it takes weed to get my libido going, it still goes!
I'm off to get MaryLou's cigarettes..... October 16, 2021 Today is Cloey Jo's 14th birthday party. I have to
leave here at by 2. The party is at 3. I spoiled her for her birthday. She love
the skeleton animals that come out at Halloween. I got her a ton of them, plus
a 5 lb bag of gummy bears. I ate three gummies last night. It was too much. I
had to go to bed and let the world whir in front of me. I'll try 2 next time.
It did what I needed it to do. :) October 18, 2021 I got up at 7 this morning and thought I'd close my
eyes for 5 more minutes and woke back up again at 11:00. I have an appointment
for an MRI this afternoon at 3:15 at the hospital here in town. My car has a
transmission issue. I'm dropping it off tomorrow night at Odren's to see what
the trouble is. It started when I was in Ohio with my cousins. Coming back it
acted up a little and yesterday all the way to and home from Becca's it gave me
trouble. First real trouble that car ever gave me. The October weather has been delightfully warm and
sunny. You can see it in the trees this year. October 20, 2021 So my car hasn't given me any trouble at all until
now. Transmission issues. It either needs a new transmission or new solenoids put
in it. $58.43 to tell me that they (Odren's) don't do transmissions. So, I
called Franks. They can't get it in until next Wed. So I'll drop it off on Tue.
night. Jaisa's bowls came in yesterday. I had to put a
label on it to send it off to Florida it was almost $50! Crazy man!!! Michael came for dinner. I'm cooking a roast, mashed
potatoes and corn. October 22, 2021 I helped Michael take his mom's truck back to her
house today. She loaned him her truck when his car was in the shop. I sat outside for about an hour with MaryLou today,
it was cold out there! It was only about 51 and I wasn't wearing my jacket.
C-C-Chilly. Yesterday I did MaryLou's shopping for her. She was
going to go with me but she fell off her seat when the bus driver slammed the
brakes. She stoved her thumb and scraped up her knee. She was hurting afterward
so I went to the Walmart for her. When I got back I went to her house and we
made Carbonara together. It was really good. Today John brought me down a bag of chocolates. Yah
I love Chocolates!!! Mike and I went for burgers at the willows tonight.
They have the best bar burgers in town. I'm ending my day at midnight tonight. Up tomorrow
to do a mini photo shoot, make a pot of chili and go through my closet to sort
through Christmas gifts! October 24, 2021 I finally went through my Christmas Closet. Boy do I
spoil my loved ones! I don't need to get another single thing. I'm going to
finish up Brody's and Cloey's tee-shirts
and wait for the candy for the stockings and then I'm set to start
wrapping!! YAY. I may have to put up my Christmas tree early this year!
Michael's going to be rolling his eyes at me. I got our Christmas outfits ready
for us. They are adorable! I think I'm going to stay up a little late and make
my pot of chili tonight. It is so much better sitting over night, I made room
in my fridge tonight. Sis got with me today and she is going to be a Mimi
again at the end of May. Ronald's new gal is pregnant. They are happy as can be
about it. She also asked me if I would write her last paper.
It's to be in an argument style. I have a persuasive paper I wrote in college,
it just might work! I might have to rework some of it, but we can make it work.
October 26, 2021 I took my precious car into the transmission shop
this morning. I am praying on my knees to our sweet baby Jesus that the issue
doesn't cost more than I have. About 2 or 3 weeks ago I trimmed my nails on my
feet. My big right toe always gives me trouble and has a hangnail. I cut the
nail and rip the hangnail. I have always done it that way. I know it's not the
right way to do it, it bleeds and is painful for a day or two and then it
heals, just like it always does. It healed up 2 or 3 weeks ago, but when I woke
up yesterday it felt like a hornet stinging me on the inside of my big toe.
Michael put some cream on it last night and covered it with bandages. Today it
feels the same so I called my insurance to see about a foot doctor that is in
network. They told me that Michael A. Howell is in network. So I called and
made an appointment for tomorrow. I have to call Michael and see if he'll take
me at 8:45. "Of Course I'll take you", he said. He'll be here about
8:15. October 27, 2021 My sweet Michael called me and made sure I was awake
this morning. I had a cup of coffee in me when he got here, so I got dressed
and off we went to the foot doctor. My toe is swollen, infected and puss
filled. She gave me an antibiotic for 10 days and I have to soak my foot a
couple times a day in Epsom Salt. I go back to see her again on the 8th of
November. She talked about surgically removing that pesky old ingrown nail once
this has healed. I'm down for that! Good riddance! I'm also going to start
going to her to get my nails trimmed. Crazy stuff, diabetes and feet don't mix.
I need to start thinking like a diabetic when it comes to my feet and take
better care of them. Michael went home and is going to take a nap and
grab a foot soak bucket for me. He'll be back at 3 ish and I'll go get my
antibiotic from the Rite Aid then. I should hear something about my car today sometime.
November 3, 2021 I been soaking my toe and taking antibiotics. It
feels way better but if I touch it in the wrong place It feels like a bee
sting. I spent the last couple days out at Michaels. We got
all but the kitchen curtains pinned up over the heater. That was a job that
needed to happen since its getting colder out and the heat was being trapped by
the curtains. On November first I went to McDonalds and got my
McRib Sandwich. YAY! Tomorrow the toasted white mocha lattes come out again! I bought some size 12 w diabetic shoes, but they are
not wide enough, so I have to go to the shoe store and get fitted for a pair. So, I bought a men's size 13 lined crocs. Crocs seem to fit me best, but I want a pair
of shoe shoes too. November 4, 2021 I got my car back today! Yay! I test drove it up to
Marshall so I could see if it drove okay, and to get my Toasted White Mocha
Chocolate Latte. It only comes out at Christmas time. I stopped at McDonald's
and got a McRib too. What a happy girl I was. I stopped at the Goodwill in
Marshall and found a few things to flip for a profit. So that made my day! I
have $35.00 to last me two full weeks in my checkbook. I have $95 in my
pocketbook. So that's going to have to carry me through. Michael came over after work. I made him some mac
and cheese and chocolate pudding for dessert tonight. I wasn't eating with him
as I ate earlier at McDonald's. I want to set him down and ask him to marry me,
but am waiting till the time is just right. I want to convince him that having
a justice of the peace wedding and a big reception is the way to go. I want to
wait until our housing situation is a little easier. I need to start saving big time since I spent $2100
and some change today. It was all but a hundred of my Florida money. I'm going
to try to save $800.00 this month and next month and the following month. It's
all but $50 of my retirement pay. I'd be doing everything on my disability pay.
Paying my rent, My DHS payment, my phone and spectrum payments, along with my
insurance payments. Ouch, I know but it will give me $2400 to take me to
Florida in February. Here's praying I can do it. It would leave me about $280
to live the month on. Christmas is completed, I'm done buying for everyone!! I
just need to wrap everything and ship out the ones that need to go out. Billy's
and Scott's go out in the mail, Bruce's goes with him. He stops and picks it up
for me. November 5, 2021 I got my sweet Lulu's shirts today. The one's that
she wants in Harry Potter writing. I got the iron-ons ready in glitter gold, I
just have to iron them on with my heat press. Alexis came by yesterday. It seems that there is
trouble with Scarlett Elkins father abusing her. She cut her hair so he buzzed
it off. He makes a hot pepper tea for her to drink when she's naughty, which
according to Alex is all the time. She hates showers and cries and cries when
she needs one. It is breaking my heart.
November 6, 2021 This is what I wrote on day 6th of 30 days of
Thankfulness: Day 6 - I am thankful to be a Yaya to Brody, Cloey,
and my sweet Daisy. They aren't littles anymore, they are 15, 14, and soon to
be 13. But they love their Yaya like no other, and I love them just like that!
My life would be incomplete without them. They make me laugh and keep me
wondering. They are my pride and joy. For them I will always be thankful. Michaels coming over today. We are going to Funks
Junk to check out 6 barns. Hopefully there will be some goodies there for us. Going to the Laundromat to do my clothes today with
Michael. How romantic, doing our f*#king laundry together...NOT! I dumped my piggy bank for the second time. One more
dump and I'll have my gallon zippy filled. I'd say I have at least a hundred in
the baggie now, more or less. I have made John his Banana Brownies with Brown
Butter Frosting that he likes so well for toting me all over the place when I
needed to be toted. I so appreciate him and it was worth making the brownies
for him. I'm going to make Michael some sort of chocolate
cake here soon. Maybe an earthquake cake. I bet he'd love that!! Cheesecake
inside a chocolate cake all swirled together. I won a blue ribbon in the fair
for that cake. That's the one I'm going to make him. I have 2 sink loads plus over fill that needs to be
washed today. This morning actually. I have to get it done after I eat some
breakfast. November 7, 2021 I had a busy day. I put 9 items on eBay. I made
Jaisa's shirts, and I put my cricut away. I still need to vacuum the floor but
thats gonna wait till tomorrow. My back is beat. I called Scott today. He is over the moon for me. So
is Becca. So am I! November 9, 2021 So yesterday started with Michael on one knee asking
me to be his wife. Lovely, of course I said yes. Then we dropped off paperwork
at his lawyer, and headed to my foot doctor appointment. I have a new
appointment in January to do a toenail bed extraction, it will take care of
that pesky ingrown toenail that is a constant pain in my big toe. She's going
to do the second toe too, to get rid of that ingrown nail too. First Monday in
January at 12:45. After the foot doctor me and Michael went to the
courthouse to get apply for a marriage license. That was fun It really was. Me
and Michael both had to be there for the information they needed. Michael paid
his $20 and they told me I could pick it
up next Monday. Then we went to see Michaels's niece Lexi at the
flower store. We were talking about all the flowers we want for the wedding, I
want a ring of them in my hair, and something to carry, a boutonniere for
Michael and a corsage for Sue. I said to her, "We want to keep the cost
low enough that...." and she cut me off and said, "This is my wedding
gift to you two". So flipping sweet
of her! And a Life Saver for us, cuz simply put, we are broke as shit with the
cars hitting us big time! Then we went to Sue and Manuel's place to share the
good news. Hit Sue straight into left field with the news bulletin. She was
shaking trying to write it on her calendar. But she was happy for us. She asked
Michael if he was okay with it. Michael just nodded his head, I think he's in a
daze too. Michael explained how my nerves couldn't take a full on wedding like
Scott and Jaisa are doing. This little one that me and Michael are doing is
perfect. Courthouse, $10.00, Becca and Mike and the kids and Sue & Manuel
and maybe Aunt Linda. That's enough for me. Then we went to dinner at Skip's and left Sue and
Manuel after dinner to go to Mike's and face-time with Becca so she could see
the house, that was sorta fun showing her the house. We are hoping that it all
works out for us all. It all depends on Charles. I got up at 8:30 this morning. I got on the phone
and was put on a 45 minute wait to dispute a charge on my credit card. I bought
Michael a cool looking (From the photo of it) shirt from a place called
Hardaddy's.com. Turns out it's a scam mill in China turning out subpar clothing
that is way too small and take 30-45 day to get to you if it comes at all. So I
disputed the charge. Then I talked to Michael, he had to work today till
4. I'm going to see if I have some pork chops in the freezer that we can have
for dinner. I'll make noodles with them and some sort of veggie. I have to vacuum my floor today and do a load of
laundry. That's all the domestic shit I have to do. That and dinner. Sue just called, she is setting up the place to eat
after the wedding. We are going to Steak Eatery in Jackson. We have the room
reserved for 5:30. There will be 9 or 10 of us there, Me and Michael, Becca,
Mike and the Babygrands, Sue Manuel and maybe Aunt Linda. So the whole day is
set. YAY! I planned my whole wedding in less than 3 days and that was from
asking him to getting my clothes, Michael's clothes, the flowers, the license
the venue and the dinner place. I know my theme for our reception in January. It's
Snowman! It will be so cute. White table cloths, snowflake glitter, snowmen.
How fun! I have little Hershey Bars with snowman covers and snowman seeds for
tic-tac covers as favors for the table. I bought people pegs to make a snowman
cake topper. I saw it on a Wedding site for $36. I just bought the pegs for
$3.50, I have the rest.
I found the centerpieces I can make for the tables.
I need to find the right bottles and find out if Becca drinks frappacinos
anymore. Those are the bottles I need. I'll figure it out. I'm waiting for Becca and Mike to get here. I'm
taking them to Mike's house. I'm assuming I'm going to keep Daisy while they go
do the paperwork at the dentist, and go to the Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart's and
wherever they go when they come to town.
November 11, 2021
I took the kids to go
see Michael's house. It's a no go for them. It's too far out in the boonies. I
kept my sweet Daisy. She is such a sweetheart! She got naked and stayed naked
while she was here. I wasn't going to yell at her. She laid on the couch under
the weighted blanket mostly and watched my little ponies on the TV. I didn't get up till
11:30 I have my coffee and am yawning through it. I need to go to Lee's today.
Becca says I can get
the bottles I want at the dollar tree. I looked and I can't. I put a call out
on the internet. Maybe I can get some there.
So I went to Lee's and
worked a few hours there. Then I went to Goodwill and got a bunch of snowmen
for the table decorations. I have glitter, Tic Tac snowman seeds and Hershey
bars Snowmen in the wings along with some other decorations in Amazon's cart. I
got a vision in my head of how I want the tables at the reception to look.
White table cloth, snowflake glitter, Frappacino jar snowman vases, with
cranberry pokers in each one, and the snowmen Hershey Bars and Tic-Tac Snowman
seeds scattered about.
Today is Veteran's day
and I posted a big Thank You on my FB wall.
My bed is totally
broken. Michael is bringing me home a bed frame so I can throw the one I have
away. I'll have to take it to the dump Saturday. Michael came here
after he worked 8 hours. He moved furniture all day and was hungry and sore and
tired. I made him some pb&j's and cheetos for him (His choice) and then he
tore down my old bed, and put up my new bed and helped me make it to boot. He
amazes me to no end. I love that man, I'm getting teary eyed writing this....
He loves me. I made invitations to
the reception that Mary is setting up for us. It's so sweet of her! I made one
big one and 38 little ones. The big one is for the bulletin board downstairs
and the little ones are for each apartment. She's making scalloped potatoes
with kelbasa, sloppy joes, a cheese and cracker tray and a cake and fruit pinch
to drink.
This is what I posted
on my wall today along with the picture of Daisy kissing me.
Thankfulness day 13 -
I don't get the kind of hugs and kisses I used to get from my babygrands. The
older two still give me them, but they are a quick peck on the cheek now. From
Cloey I get a quicker hug. Brody gives the best hugs, long and meaningful and
full of love. Then there's my sweet Daisy. From her I still get squishy hugs
and sticky kisses. Today I'm blessed and thankful for the hugs and kisses that
mean the world to me. I am going to go into
my bedroom today and put away all the eBay stuff and start wrapping a few
things. I'll start with Bruce and Oleta's family so Bruce can pick it up for me
as soon as he gets a trip out this way. November 15. 2021 As far as my wedding
goes, my to do list is done until we need food. Then Sue will take over and do
that. I'll help of course, but it'll get done. I got a DJ for $200.00! And the
Hall for $100.00!! I have everything ordered to decorate the hall. I have all
of the centerpieces and candy stuffs. I have the cake topper and Becca's going
to do the cupcakes and cakes. Sue will do the Taco Bar and we'll have something
to drink. Wallah! It's as done as it gets! I even have the invites waiting to
pop in the pictures. After the wedding in
three days, I have to start wrapping presents. I'll put up the tree and put
them under the tree as I wrap them. The wedding in three
days.... omg! My heart is beating
in my throat. If I could, I would run. Not away, just run to run off the
anxiety. Crazy I haven't felt any anxiety till tonight. November 16, 2021 I called Michael last
night after my panic attack, and talked with him for over an hour. I was
feeling much better by then and was ready to hang up the phone and go to bed. Crazy shit I ever
heard, Lee has become a daddy again. 68 years old. I don't know how Annette is
taking that news. But he announced it on Facebook a couple days ago. I thought
I'd let thing settle down before I call him. I caught Michael
before he went to work this morning to tell him to have a good day at work and
that I love him. He's caught 3 mice in his trap last night. He has my car. His
is in the shop. I called Orbit on my
walker, It's "still with insurance" whatever that means. I think it
means I won't get it. November 18, 2021 I'm finally wound
down enough to go to bed. I set my alarm for 9:00. I'm going to have coffee,
get dressed and go to Hillsdale to pick up the flowers for 11:00 and then Becca
and crew will be showing up for 12:30 ish. I'm so excited!   Everyone was able to
be in the Courthouse to watch us get married. The lady called me 2 days prior
and told us that they might limit our witnesses due to Covid, but they didn't
and the kids and Becca and Michael and Sue and Manuel all got to watch us get
married. So awesome! Becca got a smothered
Steak and her Michael got a Chicken Fried Steak, the kids got burgers and daisy
got chicken strips. Sue got Chicken Kebobs and Manuel got Chicken Fried Steak
too. Everything was perfect and so tasty. Sue and Manuel picked up the tab for
everyone. I'm sure it was $150.00 or better. They are so good to me and my
Michael. Always doing something. November 22, 2021 Up at 7:08 this
morning. Had a good time yesterday at the Wedding Reception that Mary Nowlin
threw for us. She made sloppy joes, scalloped potatoes with kielbasa, a cheese
tray, a four tiered cake and punch. There were about a dozen of my neighbors
there to wish me and Michael congratulations on our wedding. So sweet. Verna
got us the cutest little car ornament that says "Just Married 2021"
on it. It has a little bride and groom driving away in it. Deb made us a
haphazardly made framed embroidery with our names and wedding date on it. (It
accidently on purpose fell into the garbage can) Everyone signed a card for us.
Kathaleen got us a beautiful serving dish set. Everyone was so kind, they all
clapped for us when we walked in. Scott called me on
the 19th to wish me luck. So sweet of him. He holed up in a corner at work so
no one would find him using his phone on the job. Becca really turned out for
me. She brought me my something blue and something borrowed. It was a blue
barrette I borrowed from her. She got us a great wedding gift too. Michael got
his Instant Breakfast, and that sweet girl got me coffee. All my favorites too.
Breakfast blend, Starbucks, Folgers. and McCafe, plus she got me a giant 96 pod
box of Meijer coffee. She makes me feel calm in her whirlwind kind of way. The
kids were so good, as they always are. Michael has to work
11:30 - 5:00 today. I'm going to wrap presents today. Hopefully get them
done. November 22, 2021 I did not wrap
presents yesterday, I had a day of sleep. Every time I sat my eyes got heavy so
I'd go lay down either in the bed or on the couch. So today someone is
going to judge the doors for the Thanksgiving Door Decorating Contest. I have
to go down at 11:15 to the commons room and see who won. Hopefully I will win
one of the prizes. 10:30 pm - I did win!
I took 2nd Place and won a $15.00 gift card to the WalMart!! Michael and me went
to the bank to open a checking and savings account. I have to go back when my
name is changed to update everything. Then he dropped me off at the Goodwill
while he went to the Walgreens for a Covid test. He's not been While at the Goodwill
I found a snowman tree topper that was tons cuter than the one they have at the
Wal-Marts for $11.99! I got mine for $4.09! It's super cute! The photo shows
the tree without any ornaments. I'm gonna put a load of them on it. Michael
bought us matching initial ones and Verna from down the hall got us one for our
wedding, it says "Just Married" and 2021 on it. It the back end of a convertible
with a bride and groom in it. Too stinkin' cute. I'll post another photo when I
have all the ornaments on it. I had Ritz Crackers
dipped in Fudge tonight for a snack. They are only out at holiday time and are
so damn yummy. Michael and I went to
dinner tonight at the Willows. I had a burger and a diet coke. Michael had a
burger a Mountain Dew and Curly Fries. I stole some of his Curly Fries. We also
had a fried pretzel bread stick each with a nacho cheese dip. Tomorrow I will
cook at home. Baked Ziti. November 24, 2021 Wrapping presents
today. Got Scott and Jaisa's nearly done and Sis's done and Sue and Manuel
done. Gotta still do Becca's family and my Michael's. Then I'll be done! Yay. I
have to get some ribbon to wrap up a few packages. I took a break from
wrapping to make baked ziti for Michael for dinner. I have the burger browned
and the cheeses out just waiting for the ziti to boil and then to lay in the
sauce onto the noodles. MMMmmm making my own mouth water. I was going to make
garlic toast to go with it but chose not to, enough carbohydrates as it is. I just asked Susan if
she's going to craft night on the 3rd at Juli Westgate's house/ She said she's
hoping to feel good enough to go to her moms in Muskegon tomorrow. She has an
esophagus issue, it swells and hurts. She says she takes things one day at a
time. Poor thing, but I guess that's what we all do, one day at a time. I fell asleep at 8
and am up at 10 at night yucko. I'll be back in bed by midnight again. 12:30
and still not sleepy....ugh! November 25, 2021 Thanksgiving day,
well late at night now. We went to Cracker Barrel for noon today. I had the
turkey dinner and Mike had a pancake breakfast. They didn't have the pie I
wanted so Sue bought me a whole damn pie to take home. It's an apple caramel
strudel pie. Umshus! I had a piece tonight. To die for good! I came home from
lunch at about 3 and laid down for a nap, I woke up at 5:30 and have been
watching TV ever since. I didn't get any ornaments on the tree, or any more presents
wrapped. Tomorrow is another day. Michael had to work till 9:45 tonight, and he
has to work 12 till 7 tomorrow. November 28, 2021 Friday was Black
Friday and Michael hadta work. He worked his bum off! I went out for ribbon and
my drugs from the pharmacy but the pharmacy was closed so I just got my
ribbons. I finished all my present wrapping and it's all under the tree. Saturday we went to
Lexi and Tyler's home to have a pizza Thanksgiving with all the family. It was
really nice. Kim and DJ and Knox, Katie and Joel, Brantley and Delmer were
there along with Lexi, Lenny and Ava, Sue and Manuel, Aunt Linda and me and
Michael. It was a good turnout for a miserable weather night. At 7 o'clock when
we left I was driving my mom's car, and was fishtailing and sliding all over
the place. There had to be an inch of snow and ice on the road. You had to stay
in the tracks or fagetaboutit! Horrible all the way to about Jonesville and
then they salted and it was smooth sailing after that. Finally got the car up
to 50 on the salted roads, I was doing 30 up to then. Crazy. Ava, Brantley and
Knox were being horrible at the dinner last night. I would have had my kids
sitting next to me if they ever acted like that at someone's home other than
their own. They wouldn't have been that way and I certainly would never have
screamed across two rooms for them to stop it. That's what the three mom's were
doing last night. Get off your ass and make them stop the bad stuff. They drove
Sue and Manuel to leave. We left but because of the weather. Today I woke up at
11:00 I started waking up at 9 but kept falling back asleep. At 11 I was awake.
It's 3 now and I haven't got much done around the house. I ate a cannoli that
Sue sent me home with. I have to wash the dishes, there are 2 sinks plus the
stovetop full of dishes. ICK!! But they will be done before the night is over.
I have to wash them hunched over, my back is really hurting today. November 29, 2021 Went with Michael to
his skin doctor in Ann Arbor. He woke me at 11:00 and I was ready with my hair
combed, deodorant on, clothes on and jacket on and had one cup of coffee in me
when he got here. We seemed to drive forever, but it takes 2 hours from
Coldwater to Ann Arbor - his doc's office- instead of the hour and a half he
thought it was. I called to see if we could still be seen running late, the
lady said it was up to the doc. Thankfully he said okay when Michael showed up.
I was parking the car after dropping him off so he wouldn't be even later! All
that for the doc to tell Michael to keep up the good work, refill his
prescriptions for a year and off we went to Starbucks, my favorite, and then to
White Castle, Michael's favorite. It's tradition when we go to Ann Arbor, we
stop at Starbucks and White Castle....then the rest area on the way home on 94
just before we hit 69. Yeah buddy they are called sliders for a reason. Then I went to the
dollar tree for the things to make a winning door as the apartment is having a
door decorating contest for Christmas. Those dollars add up fast. But I mapped
out the winning door. I called Oleta, she's
coming in on Friday and staying till Sunday so I can go hang with them on
Friday evening. She got a room with Missy and Sis, I don't know about her Mary
or not. September 30, 2021 Up at 4:10 this
morning, my mind was just a racin'! So much to do on January 29th!!! WTF?!?
It's September 30!!! Sometimes even I don't get me. Been up poopin' 2 times in
the night. Damn White Castle. I got a cuppa coffee and I'm up for awhile. 7:00
am and yawning, but still up, I have a 12:30 appointment to get my name changed
at the Secretary of State. Then I have to go do packages for Lee. I have to find a way
to write something good enough for my final entry of thirty days of thankfulness.
Thankfulness Day 30 -
I have enjoyed finding out what I'm thankful for these last 30 days. My
husband, my family, new family, coffee, photography, bubble baths, acceptance,
great neighbors, and having a good sense of humor to mention a few. There is so
much more that I am thankful for. If you are reading this, never forget that
I'm thankful for you, I love you and I pray after you. You are always here for
me when I need you. For that, today and every day, I'm thankful. So Patti is seeing
Dawn sliding downhill already. She hasn't been moving around and it took both
Charlie and Patti to get her off the couch. She didn't take a shower. Hasn't
since she's been home. I totally understand that though. I got to take a nap
from 4:30 to 7, It's 9:45 now and I'm ready for bed. Gonna try to last till 11
ish so I have a good night's sleep and I won't want to get up at freeking 4
AM!! December 1, 2021 Then I headed over to
Lee's. I did some shipping and a few other things he wanted done and then I
went and played with the laser machine to make my mother in law a Holy Cross
with the Our Father Prayer inside it. I made 3 and the one I have for her is
the best of three so I went with it. He has a new puppy named Mona Lisa. She's
as big as my hand and way too cute! She licked my ankles to tell me to pick her
up, so I did. It made my jobs more fun today. I always enjoy working with Lee.
He had me take some chili leftovers home that Annette made, that's my soup
tonight. I stopped at the
Wal-Mart on the way home and got me some Milo's sugar-free sweet tea. I needed
some creamer too. I bought sugar free creamer today too, gonna work on the
poundage and lose a few pounds....maybe. I don't know what to
make for dinner, I'm leaning towards soup and sandwiches. Michael gets outta
work at 7 which is 25 minutes away. Whatever we have its going to be quick. I been painting my
snowman vases and Sue's Our Father Cross. Right now I'm taking a break and
having a cup of coffee while everything dries, and then I can add my finishing
touches on it. December 2, 2021 I'm disgusted with
the Supreme Court right now. "Justices signal they may toss Roe, allow new
abortion limits", "Historic Supreme Court arguments over abortion
behind them, the justices soon will begin the work of crafting a decision that
could dramatically limit abortion rights in the United States". I support a woman's
right to a safe and legal abortion. I can't stand the idea of going back to
backrooms and untrustworthy "medics" who perform the abortions. Oh My
God! How can we turn our backs on Roe vs. Wade? "The justices
heard arguments that could decide the fate of the court's historic 1973 Roe v.
Wade decision legalizing abortion throughout the United States and its 1992
ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe". " In nearly two hours of arguments Wednesday, the
court's conservative majority indicated they would uphold the Mississippi law
and allow states to ban abortion much earlier in pregnancy. The court may even
overturn the nationwide right that has existed for nearly 50 years". It's all hogwash and we can blame Trump for this! He sat
three conservatives on the bench. He changed the trajectory of the nation on so
many levels, but this one to me is personal as a woman. I have never had an
abortion, I never would have. It's just something I couldn't do, but it's not
for me or any other person to decide what's right or wrong for a woman's body.
Every woman must make their own decision. Roe v Wade gave us the right to have
safe abortions and took woman out of the back rooms and alleys. I want a banner
that says, "Say No To Coat Hanger Abortions!!" Ugh what an outrage!
Texas was able to get around Roe v Wade and limit their gestation of abortion.
What is going to happen next? The government needs to stay out of a woman's
womb! "Democrats and Republicans alike told Fox News that the
Supreme Court should not have the final say when it comes to abortion access. " "The state of Mississippi has really certainly led a
courageous fight in order to make sure that these are decided on the state
level, that this kind of thing is decided by elected officials, not the Supreme
Court," Rep. Michelle Fischbach, a Minnesota Republican, told Fox News". "And Michigan Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens noted:
"We don't need the Supreme Court intervening between a woman and her
doctor."" " The Supreme Court heard a case Wednesday regarding a
Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson,
could upend Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 granted women the constitutional right
to abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy." "Roe v. Wade comes into place," Pappas continued.
"This is about freedom. This is about health outcomes that are so, so
critical." I'm finishing up my
crafts, I made my snowman vases, my cake topper, and mom Sue's cross. I'm going
to talk to Michael about backing it with felt when he gets here today. Michael's ring came
in today, Yay! I've been waiting for it. He needed a 9-1/2 not the 10-1/2 that
he told e he needed. I was able to get a replacement for rather cheaply. so
that's taken care of. I turned in my
application to change my name through the Social Security Administration. That
has to happen before I can move forward on my license or anything else. I'm
legally Tammy James through my marriage license, but not completely. The
complexity of it all! We are having an
inspection today, I did nothing to prepare for it. I have my crafts everywhere!
Ugh! December 3, 2021 My car acted up
today, It needed a jump to start it. I took it to the Auto Zone where I bought
my battery this summer and they told me the battery was fine but the starter is
bad. I have to wait until Monday to find out about a new starter. I'll take it
back to Franks Transmissions, I liked the job they did on my transmission and
anxel and brakes. I called Sue today
for a fudge recipe, I made it with whole milk, not evaporated milk and it
didn't set up. I had Michael bring some home from work so I'll be making it
tomorrow. Fudge and Buckeyes. Michael loves both. Michael came for
dinner at 9:30. He had Cheetos, PB&J and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake.
He enjoys eating like that I passed out all the
Christmas Cards and sent the ones off in the mail that needed to go. I had to
ship a package out from eBay. I bought a Mickey Mouse Mug Heater for $5.00 at
Dollar General. I sold it for $12.99 + shipping on eBay, flipped for a small
profit. December 4, 2021 Sis got the feedback
on her paper...it was not good news. She got a 18/50 on her first draft. I have
a lot of reworking to do before Tuesday! I made 2 batches of
fudge for Michael. Having coffee and
then making Buckeyes. So that is what I'm
working on all day, a paper and baking. Michael came and offered to take me out
to dinner. I love my man! December 5, 2021 Up at 11:10 today,
was up at 11:11 yesterday I wonder what my guardian angels are trying to tell
me with all these ones. I'll hafta Google it. After reboiling all
my fudge it still didn't set up. I threw it all away. It was terrible. I'm
going to try to make him a different recipe and see if it sets up. I been doing nothing
all day. We got our photos in the mail from the wedding. I made Spanish Rice for
dinner for me and tacos for Michael. Michael has been
sleeping since he got done eating at about 5. December 12. 2021 Michael and I went
and got our photos made yesterday. I wasn't too happy with the outcome of the
session. I wrote this to JC Pennys. I'm going to call them tomorrow and let
them know how I feel about it. " I wrote this last
night. So I got a hold of JC
Penney today and was mad even madder at the situation. I just gotta let it go. I made fudge again
last night, the first batch was over cooked the second batch was perfect! It
took me 6 tries but I got it right. Today I am rolling out cookies. I rolled out half the
cookies, I'll finish them up tomorrow. I went grocery shopping with Michael
tonight. I got him some milk and pop and chips to take home, I thought he
bought two, one for his place and one for my place. I'll have to ask him about
that. December 14, 2021 I got up at noon
today. I went and got my pantry items, I didn't give away too many of them
today. They gave me peanut butter and jelly, a big ham, 2 boxes of spaghetti, 2
breads, a box of girl scout cookies, 15 cans of veggies, fruits and beans,
cucumbers, 2 juices, cereal, milk and so much more that I can't remember off
the top of my head. I'm having coffee
right now and then will start on cookies again.
I called Sue to ask her how I frost the cookies. As soon as this last
batch cools I will start frosting and decorating them. I got them all cooked
and cooling. I'm having a cup of coffee and letting them cool. Then something
to eat and Walla! I'll start icing them. I thought Michael worked till 4, but I
must be wrong it's 5 o'clock and I haven't heard from him yet. December 16, 2021 Michael had to work
till a little after 5 on Tuesday. He had Wednesday off, but lawd we were busy!
I had a Secretary of State appointment at 12:30, Michael had an Echo
appointment at the hospital at 1:15. I couldn't go in with him, I had to wait
in the car due to Covid... Then we went for a bite to eat at the McDonalds and
then went for tires. He had to make an appointment on the 23rd then we went to
Becca's and picked up Scotts packages. Me and Michael packed
2 boxes for Scott. One from me and one from his sister. I just texted him to
let him know that the boxes are coming. Mine cost $67.00 to ship and Becca's
was $20.00 to ship. WOW! I am really considering getting cards and putting
money in them for the kids next year. All of them even the grands. I went and picked up
my car. $325.00 I bought Tylenol 4's - 25 of them, they will last a few
weeks. I went to the Wal-Mart and got my
beef in a can for my enchiladas. I found Michael a Santa Hat I thought he could
wear to work. It would be fun! I got some orange juice, I been craving it for a
while now. I put the turkey
bones on to boil. I'm having turkey noodle soup for dinner, Mike is having
noodles and broth. It smells scrumptious! I started on my door.
I got the hardest part done, putting on the table cloth to cover the door. Now
to put the rest on. I have to pay my
rent, seems I been paying too much so they retro-acted the past payments and I
only owe them $280.00 this month for rent. Yay! I needed to catch a break. December 17, 2021 I tossed and turned
till three thirty last night. I finally got up and laid back down at six
thirty. I woke up at ten thirty. I see a nap in my future. I want to get my door
done today, December 18, 2021 I sat and talked with Marylou and
John for an hour today. I checked out my competition on the doors, I have some
stiff competition this time around. December 20, 2021 Yesterday was a boring day. Today
I'm doing laundry, dishes, making dinner, baking banana bread and sweeping the
floors. I have energy today even though my back is hurting bad today. December 21, 2021 I got up at 1:25 this morning. I
was up till about 7 this morning and up for the day at 10:30. I have a luncheon
to go to, to see if I win anything on the door competition. I hope I do! When I was up I wrapped all my
banana breads that I made yesterday as gifts for a few neighbors. They look
really nice. I put bows on them and wrapped them in Tin Foil. December 23, 2021 Went to Goodwill today, they had a
few things I could flip for a profit. Then I went to China 1 to pick up lunch
to bring home, and ran into Michael having lunch. I went back to take Michael's
car to Belle Tire to get his tires for the rear of his car. Then we went to get
a bite to eat at McDonald's and went shopping for Manuel a pair of Long John's
for Christmas. Then I went to Meijer and got salad. Came home and watched the
Holiday Cookie Championship on the cooking network, got the cart filled with
presents and went to bed at 2. December 24, 2021 Up at 5:30 this morning, still
tired, but unable to sleep. I got coffee. I'll put the presents in the car in
about an hour after the coffee is gone. I have to dye my hair and take a shower
this morning. Michael will be here about 12:00 or so. Becky wants us at her
place at 2:00. December 25, 2021 Christmas. We spent Christmas eve
at Becca and Mikes with the babygrands. They spoiled me and Michael. I got
coffee, a little snoopy plaque, a Doc Brown stuffie, a box filled with mini
kitchen utensils and a towel and cookies and a small canvas with the kid's
signatures on it. Mike got instant breakfast, malted milk, pop, candy and I
don't know what else. We were spoiled, but then so were they! We ate our traditional crab legs
and sliders. Becca make no bake cookies and had lots of dips with crackers. Then me and Michael came home and
exchanged a couple of gifts. I got a cup that says, "I don't need to use
Google, my wife knows everything!" and the Pioneer Woman frying pan I
wanted! Yay! I love it and my cup, it made me laugh out loud. We opened our
stockings from each other and I got Whitman's chocolates and Kinder snowmen. I
got Michael a Tiger's We are going to my mom-in-law's
house his mom's by 1:30 or so. Scott called me to open their presents. I forgot to put names for
Christmas dinner at 2 today. I think we are having ham, mac salad, deviled
eggs, and noodles. Maybe some mashed potatoes and corn too. I'll see how close
I am on the food selections. Michael got me a Willow Tree
figurine for Christmas. I wanted this one for a while. I'm out of the shower and Michael
is taking one now. We will get ready to go to on their gifts so they were
opening each other's presents ... jeez. They both loved what I got them and
Scott went nuts for the book. I'm so glad I was able to get them the book. We went to Sue & Manuel's
tonight. Linda was there. She was a hoot. We had a fantastic meal, which we
were able to bring home with us in zippy bags, thanks to Sue. Manuel and Sue
loved their gifts. Sue gave us a $100 dollar bill and got me a 4 quart crock
pot. I'm super elated about that! Gonna start using it now that I got it. Michael went home at 7:00 tonight.
He has to be to work by 5:30 in the morning. Big Lot's is having a mark-down
extravaganza starting tomorrow. December 26, 2021 Putting things away today that I
got over the weekend. I was so spoiled this year. Mike is sleeping on the
couch. He slept like crapola last night and had to work at 5:30 this morning.
He had to drive to work in the fog. It was pretty thick so I read on the web. I
been munching on leftovers all day. Gonna go in for some ham in a few. I took
some photos for eBay, so I'm going to work on that this afternoon. I ate a gummy and got to work! I
cleared off the table, cleared up all the wrapping stuff in my bedroom, and
enjoyed the buzz of the gummy. We went to Marshall to pick up a table for
cookie making next year. She had a child's table and 4 chairs for free. I
thought the table would work out perfectly for cooking my cookies next year. Michael dropped me off and I'm
watching How Toys Built America on the History Channel. December 29, 2021 Daisy Ray is 13 today! Yikes all
three of my babygrands are teenagers! It's amazing how time flies! I took down all the Christmas stuff
yesterday and put it all away. It's always such a letdown after it's put away. I'm heading out to Becca's to bring
Daisy her birthday present and bring Mike his birthday present too. So I drove to Becca's today and
gave Mike his race track for his birthday, I had one for Brody so he could play
with Mike and I had an owl for Cloey. I played with Daisy. She opened her own
present and played with the sequins on her outfit. She likes the one piece
outfits so much. I got her 2 new ones for her birthday. Becca never lets me leave without
some type of food to go with me. Today it was spaghetti sauce, hamburger, bbq
sauce, manwich, roast beef, bacon, little cans of beefaroni and ravioli. She
just wants to make sure I have enough I think, Then I came home and took a nap. I
slept from 3:30 till 6:00. Then Mary Lou called me down to her place. She had a
gift for me, a stocking filled with goodies and a bag with a summer sausage
gift set and a bag of candy in it. December 31, 2021 So much to look back on this year.
I have had Covid twice, once in 2020 and once in 2021. I had Covid pneumonia in
2021. It was rough. I was on oxygen for two weeks at home. The doctor told me
that if I didn't accept oxygen at home she would have put me in the hospital. I
was on antibiotics and steroids for the two weeks as well. I got over it but
was left fatigued and breathless for a while. When I sleep now, my pulseox
number still hang in the 80's. February I turned 60. I got flowers from Michael
and flowers from my gal pals. It was a hard win. Love being alive, but 60
Really?!? Time moved by and the year saw me writing a book for my children. I
worked on it every day for 8 months of 2021. It was 439 pages of my life. I
gave it to them and to Michael for Christmas. Michael who is my husband now. We
tied the knot on November 19, 2021! He asked me a long time ago to marry him
and I said yes but changed my mind. That was 12 or 13 years ago. He put the
ring he bought me on eBay, and it sat on there waiting to be sold for all those
years. We started seeing each other again when I moved in June of 2020. Well,
on November 6, of this year, we were sitting in the Lone Ranger Diner and he
looked at me and said, "What?" I must have had a look on my face. I
told him, "You know that ring you have on eBay? I want you to take it
off". He said "I can get a lot of money on eBay for it!" That's
when I had to spell it out for him. "I want to marry you", I told
him. Less than two weeks later we stood in front of the magistrate in Hillsdale
County and got married with Becca and the family there, and Sue and Manuel
there to watch us be married. I couldn't wait too long with my anxiety and all
interrupting my life the way it does. So in less than two week, I got us new
clothes, a ring for Michael, a marriage license, and a venue to be married
at. We tied the knot at 4:00 on November
19, 2021. We've been married a month and a half now, but it seems as if we have
spent a lifetime together already. It's been a remarkable year. This
is the first full year of retirement for me. I wrote a book, I got married, I
spent time with my family and friends, I dealt with Covid, I made it through
that and came out of the year shining. Oh and for the cherry on top of the
year, I quit smoking. My New Year's Resolution last year was to quit smoking.
I've been smoke free since July 17, 2021! What a year!
I guess this year's New Year's
resolution would be to lose some weight. Lord knows I need to. |
How I stayed sane inside insanity |
|
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
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