Daily Diary

8:30 PM Hubby just called out: "Okay, girls, put on your heavy coats and mittens; it's time to go outside and build a snowman!" It has finally started snowing, small, stinging 'flakes'. We are at 29 degrees, though, and that is too freakin' cold IMHO! 8:50 PM... and now it is flurrying visible flakes, and there is a light dusting covering everything... maybe about 1/2". Temp is gonna get up into the 40's tomorrow, so we truly CAN know: "This, too, shall pass."

Joe - J has my sympathies re Augmentin. Even the lowest dose rips my insides after a few doses. I found taking Bacid may help(?). We gave it in the NHs when starting ABTs. And the generics are freq less kind (like for j22's grandson).

The sky is overcast and it's cold! How's that for 'new' news! Since Nannie just said, "I'm glad this weather is all we've got today." ...meaning she had been anticipating the forecast she heard about last night (and remembered!). Anyway, due to her comment, I am guessing it will probably rain or snow at some point this afternoon. Last night the late forecast was for "Not much" and "maybe a dusting" of snow. I've been up for a little while but somehow have failed to get dressed, so here I sit in my so-called 'pajama's' and bathrobe. Guess I'll put on some clothes, and I'll be back later when I am not so embarrassing to look at---😲

Good morning! Joe, hope work wasn't too crazy for you. That's some kind of cold weather. J22, I didn't think you were being snarky at all. Good luck with everything. I had friends from Seattle that were like you. They ground their beans every morning but had several to choose from. Must be a thing from that part of the country. LOL Night nurse I was giving report to was dull, she said it was because she hadn't had her coffee yet and didn't have time to get it. There seems to be a whole generation of people that don't make coffee at home but buy it at Starbucks, 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts. Stars, I can imagine mansplaining can be annoying. 🙂 Work yesterday was 6:1, discharged three and got one admission. They kept our census low because of being short staffed today so I was happy not to get three admissions like I had the day before. I'm finding myself being angry at work again over staffing issues. But it's not their fault Omicron is getting us. Just angry in general. Off today. Have the sheets in the wash. Need to go to get the dog's eye drops. Their optho doc is about 30 minutes away and it's a chore to get. Will do some meal prep and hopefully make it to the gym. Dog was trying to get me up to feed him at 5:15 on my day off and I've been up since. I swatted his little butt away. Not rewarding that behavior.

Sorry, but Starbucks is 😈 'the devil's brew' to me as it feels like it absolutely erodes holes in my stomach, no matter what kind or how it's fixed. You kin have it ALL! 😉

I confess, I am a bit of a coffee snob. I buy whole beans, ground them each morning, and make two cups in a French Press. I usually get Starbucks French Roast. Starbucks makes an instant coffee, that comes in little individual packets, that I take when I travel. So I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, but it needs to be good coffee. On the rare occasions I stop at a coffee shop, I like an Americano with cream, or if they have ceramic cups I will get a genuine cappuccino.

j22~ You don't come across as being snarky, you come across as a person with chronic pain that is being essentially ignored and you are justifiably disgusted! I am also disgusted FOR you! Insurances don't care how long you've lived in your body and the knowledge you've gained from living X# of years there-in. Even if you are not a 'standard/generic' being, you still cannot deviate from the insurance mandates. And that would include ALL of us, since no two people are alike; hence the irritation over being treated like a brainless body. Tweety, I am not a coffee snob, but I have yet to find an instant coffee that I LIKE. There are 4 or 5 brewed brands I will drink, from the usual ones available in the grocery stores. I also like coffee from the HFS, but can't afford it, so that's that! // If you want me to, I'll think up some other things you can say to admin about the short-staffing over-load assignments 😜....like, "What are your plans for staffing when you don't have me to ask questions of any more? No, never mind, I don't care, because at that point, none of it will be MY problem. BYEEEE!" AUGH. Today I have been a domestic drudge, with the accent on DRUDGE! Have FIVE loads of laundry, but so far I've only got 2 done. The next to the last loads are washing and drying. Last load is heavy stuff like towels, so will probably not get finished until tomorrow. And I vac'd the den, including under the sofa and under the sofa cushions Also Nannie's room and her bathroom. (Found missing socks under her bed, trying to disguise themselves as dust bunnies.) Made her bed w/ fresh sheets and pillow-cases, and blanket + comforter. Gathered trash and recycling to go out tonight for tomorrow's pick up. Also cleaned leftovers from the fridge to contribute to the neighbor's 🐷🐖 pigs' slop. ---time out for supper--- We have definitely been here TOO long; hubby is 'splaining things to me like I'm Nannie!! I think I told you where he warned me about how to recognize black-ice, and where snow still was on the roads---how to deal with that. I told him, "Uh, I'm from New England and I grew up dealing with snow and ice on the roads." (did not say "DUH!" even though I felt like it.) There are other things he feels obliged to man-splain to me, too. *sigh* It has been raining lightly all day, not terribly cold nor windy at this time. Supposed to be getting some snow overnight--or tomorrow--or tomorrow night--or SOME TIME, IF the upper atmosphere so deigns. They can't decide which weather pattern will arrive...the "European model" or the other model. I suppose I can wait a half an hour to get the most recent update from local news and weather, but then watch while Mother Nature takes her own route and fakes 'em ALL out! Will be playing Laundress for a while longer, and watching the Local 'gnus' and then Network news broadcast on our BIG ol' T + V--------- All for now, mebbe more laydah---

I am sorry that I came off so snarky yesterday. I do get frustrated with the system, but I am better off than most. It is almost a handicap to be a healthcare person because instead of being a professional speaking to another professional as you do at work, you have to submit to their processes. Gack. Then add in a new computer or a new system every 6 months just adds more confusion and chaos. Interesting day at work. Got a call from a GI doctor just as I was heading out the door, wanting recommendation on ruling out latent TB in a hospitalized patient. She is immuno-suppressed, so the usual blood test or skin test won't work. I asked the hospitalist to order induced sputum collections, but of course, that hasn't happened yet. Today I am sleuthing out her history and risk factors. Weather is 40 and showery. Sun is forecast for Saturday. We are going to look and possibly order a travel trailer. If I can pry dh away from the TV and football. I am going to try a new chicken recipe tonight that I saw in the NY times this morning. It's one dish which sounds great. Yes, Tweety, stay strong about them expectations of taking a full assignment and charge. Oof, it sounds like Omicron is sweeping through your hospital. Joe, I am sure you will power through the work. Those work arounds can get quite convoluted, can't they? Stars, I can't even imagine how people who won't push back about refills and such manage. The number of people who don't take meds as directed is huge, but it is easy to see why. I see a couple of different providers, and every one has a different med list for me, even though they go through it every encounter. Same for the patients I see at work. Okay, I'm starting to get snarky again. Imma going to drink my mid-morning coffee and take some cleansing breaths. Good day

Good morning! Amo, sorry you're having trouble on the other side. I still laugh that every time I asked sirII a question the answer was "clear your chache". LOL Joe, sorry you didn't get your cat scratching posts. Some things take a while these days. J22, how frustrating. I hate having to play the system. After I went to therapy my ortho was able to get authorization practically immediately because before I could even get home they were calling me to schedule it. Hope it's the same for you. Stars, that kind of communication is frustrating and too bad your husband had to be "that husband" but it got it done. My doc told me when he renewed my klonopin "I'll renew it one more time but the rules are the next time you need to see me". How hard was that? Now I go back every six months for a refill for him to write "yep, still has anxiety and insomnia". Such a game. I drink instant at home because it's easier to make just one cup of coffee for myself. I started that about 40 years ago and have grown accustomed to instant. Although the 10 years I was living with my ex we drank brewed because he was as coffee snob. I'd heard about that nursing home or another incident where there was one LP, two aids and a gazillion residents due to staff being out with covid. I'm glad they got busted. Wonder where was administration? Although it could be administration was working day shift. I have a friend that's a DON that says he has to take on 10 residents while being the DON and dealing with all of that and staff with covid. They have the nurses for 70 residents but have 120 residents. It's a crisis. I read our cases are dropping. "Only about 50,000 cases a day". My boss tested positive yesterday, as did another nurse who was on orientation. The other staff that has covid is a night tech and is not getting well after over two weeks of symptoms. Again, I keep having the creepy feeling that I'm next. Work was miserably busy. I'm so tired of working short staffed and getting hammered with post-op admissions. I'm so tired of being in charge. I snapped at the Administrator that asked me "did you have a chance to review the admissions coming to you and what does your post-op schedule looking like tomorrow". Me: I have six patients and I can't be in charge so I'm not doing charge things, I'm extremely busy and tired of working short staffed." She got the message. Stop asking me charge questions when I have a full load. It's not her fault people are out with covid and the hospital is full, but don't ask me stupid questions.

Hey, by the way, I am missing my bright green hoodie that matches my bright green cotton sweater. If anyone finds it, let me know! 🤪 😯 🎼🎶Oh, Solo-Joe-Oh~ Let us know what your solo is going to be. Are you nervous? Found out that my med authorization refill has gone to an alternate pharmacy, which is closer to home. I have used that pharmacy when I have had to start something right away, like antibiotics or prednisone, immediately after an appt. We usually go to the pharmacy at Walmart, but as long as I am going to be able to get my refill, I don't much care where it is. I can pick it up in the morning. Still haven't even looked at the laundry, much less begun to sort and treat it, so mebbe tomorrow? I also still need to clean out the fridge and collect toss-away food for the neighbor's pigs. And the floors remain YECH! I really dislike having to be so domestic so often! Crapola! Tweety, If we run out of TP or coffee this weekend, I'll be driving down there (merrily through the snow...) to pick up some of yours. What kind of coffee do you drink? No, seriously, don't worry, because I don't like or believe in "drop-in" guests here, so it's highly unlikely I'd show up at your door down there. Golden Rule, doncha know. j22, wonder how long after your magic 6th PT visit will you have to wait for the MRI appt? I'd be hanging on their door-jam screeching like a banshee, "Don't tell me I have to wait another 2 months!!!" No. I wouldn't, but I'd just really LIKE to! It is not fair to let people hurt and ignore their pain for x# weeks. So very INhumane! Latest weather report: Yes, expect snow; And no, it's not necessary to run out for supplies. "At this time, this fella is not going to be as much of a problem as the last one." Big scandal: A nursing home had 'accidentally' locked out a resident (or she slipped out and ended up being locked out) for 10 hours. Found her at 7 AM, she is now in hospital.// Also there was another nursing home where a family member had called and called and called, and no one answered the phone. When the police got there, they found 3 people who were expected to take care of 98 patients. GADS! ~Later!~

For Pete's sake! Jeez, j22, you must be trying to 'work the system' by knowing the PT isn't helping! Patients are not allowed to have brains, and healthcare 'rules' do not have brains. Where in the blazes is common sense and EASE of communications? I have been trying to get a med refill for a week now and have just read on my Dr's Practice site that I have to make an appt before they will refill my med. They never told me that, and I only found it out 5 days AFTER the med was to be refilled; but I can't get an appt for another 5-7 days? We are talking two weeks of me getting more and more irritable. Hubby is so irritated by this problem w/ physician communications that he has just gone off in the car to go to the Dr's office and walk in uninvited to wrangle w/ someone to get the med called in to the pharmacy, pronto and tout suite! *fingers crossed* ~update: They faxed the script in at 9 AM this morning, but I DO have to keep the appt w/ the PA (since my primary doc isn't available until some ridiculous date in February) on Wednesday 1/26 at 11 AM so another of my meds can be re-authorized. At least I have been to the PA before and know him to be a decent guy who is easy to talk with. Have we noticed that any and every time we are told that some office is 'switching' or consolidating their computer programs and gear to make things easier and clearer....that it DOESN'T? And my husband has just arrived home and is squawking about it the same as he does every time something comes up having to do with the medical professions --- I told him that he was preaching to the choir,and I have heard these same complaints from him for 32 years. ....and for some weird reason, hubby discussing the communication problems in the health field .... set Nannie off into talking about how she has trouble getting her lap-blanket on "right". She thinks it is only 'right' if it is on so that if you are looking at her, the words and pictures are NOT backwards, and NOT upside-down. I told her it doesn't matter what it LOOKS like, as long as it covers her the way she likes it to. (P'd her off to have that pointed out to her.) It isn't as cold today (yay!) but when the wind picked up it still felt too cool to me, but not as freezing-cold as it felt yesterday. Nannie is enjoying the sun being out but has mentioned several times that she is puzzled why the backyard is muddy. Hmmm. Will have to have a scientist explain about water (melted snow and ice) mixing with dirt. Or not. Probably 'not', because there ain't no explanation that sticks with her for too long. It is Chicken and Dumplings Day at Ye Olde Homestyle Restaurant. Hubby is about to go get us some now, because, he says, "the roads might freeze when the sun goes down." The roads are all clear and dry, except the usual places you might see run-off from melting, but not enough that it'll cause 208-car pile-ups. Yup-yup-yup, all of us here are having spasms of Cranky-Old-Folks'-Moods lately. Pfftt!

And my authorization for an MRI is denied until I have 6 weeks of therapy. So I have to do the last visit, which is essentially an eval where she tells me I am still symptomatic. Ack, American Health Care.

Good morning. Another shower-y day here, in the 40s, which is normal. I usually have the thermostat at 66, but sometimes I bump it up to 68 for the dog. When I am sitting, I usually have a fleece blanket across my lap. The thermostat is set to go down to 50 at night, but it seldom cools off that much. And I usually wear jeans, a T shirt, and socks inside. We have a few shortages here, but it seems like weird things, like saltines. We have plenty of milk, but dairy is one of the main products here. I keep stocked on a few items, mainly in case we were to have a prolonged power outage. I have some large bottles of water, a large bag of rice, and a case of chili. I figure that would get us through a few days. Tweety, I am glad you got your hoodie back. It seems weird that someone would walk off with clothing items. I saw good reviews for Licorice Pizza. I may go see if there is football this weekend. I snapped at the physical therapist last night, because I am frustrated that I my symptoms are worsening, despite the daily 45 minutes of exercise I do daily. She gave me a bunch of gobbledy gook about neuro-muscular re-education and insisted it takes 6 weeks to increase strength. She asked about imaging, and said if there was no improvement after next visit (#6) she would recommend going back to doc, but insurance may require 6 PT visits. And what ever she did to me last night, I woke with an aching hip and a limp. If that approval comes through sooner, I'm not going back. Dianah, that spaghetti looks delicious! I shall have to try it some time. Today, I will try to run, in the ache in my hip subsides, and I work in the afternoon.

Good morning! Stars, sorry to hear about yet another storm coming through. Obviously you can't stock up on milk, but the pandemic and the supply change shortages have turned me into someone of a hoarder. I have coffee to last a year, toilet paper probably for two years, beans for years dog food for months, etc. Dianah, thanks for that recipe. Exactly up my ally. Would be good with some vegan feta cheese but that would make it less healthy. I put it on my Pinterest to look at later. Our cold weather looks to be lasting into the coming days as the 10 forecast offers no relief. Feel bad for the tourists. BC, hope the puppy settles down. I hate they have no sense of time. Amo, my thermostat is set at 74, and when I wake up if I'm feeling cold I crank it up to 76 for a while. Which northerners would consider to hot. I wear shorts, t-shirts and flip flops (hard tile floors) inside and refuse to dress like it's a cold winter day indoors. Right now it's a cold 53 outside. My boss texted me that someone put my hoodie that I got for Christmas in her office. I sent out a mass text to my coworkers that it was missing, along with two other jackets. I have no decent light jacket to wear. I've lost three at work. Doesn't make sense. I know sometimes I wear them in the morning and forget about them because it's warm in the evenings when I leave, but really they should be were I leave them. The hoodie was a Christmas gift from best friend and was missing for several days and mysteriously appeared in my boss's office. Saw the movie "Licorice Pizza" in the theaters (which I found out was slang for vinyl record and the same of a record store in California). Very good movie. Very few people there on a Tuesday afternoon and I took off my mask. I ordered my free home covid kits from the government. I thought why not, they are free. I hope my financial advisor put some money in these companies. Sheesh. Never ending. But I'm slightly encouraged that cases are beginning to drop. We went from 60,000 cases a day to less than 50,000 the other day. Working today and tomorrow and the weekend.

(sigh) I'm so sorry. I will rattle some cages...

We keep our thermostat 66-68 for hubby, 68-70 for me. It is 30+ degrees outside right now, and he is sitting in his room with his window wide open! I just filled the hot water bottle and placed it under my covers where my feet will be while I read. I think wearing a hat helps keep you warm, but if my feet and/or hands are cold, it's miserable. I have 'Wristies' I wear to keep the cold air from snaking up my sleeves. I also have 'Turtle's-neck' which is a turtleneck minus a jersey or sweater....smaller than an infinity scarf.If it's real cold I also have my 1980's leg warmers!!!! amoLu, I'm here; gimme a call, maybe like after 12:30 noon or around 3-6-ish or tell me when to call you.

Hello all! It was a pretty smooth day today. I was in the office by myself, caught up with a few things, fielded phone calls and requests. I came across a short video showing a one-pot "Greek Spaghetti" recipe. https://www.fooddolls.com/one-pot-greek-spaghetti/ It looked good, so I stopped by the grocery store on my way home and bought most of the ingredients, plus a can of mushroom bits and pieces, vegetarian "burger," and fresh parsley and added them to the mix. Not much prep besides chopping up half a red onion (and the other half I chopped and made some cucumber salads with, for later). In 15 min the meal was done, and dh and I agreed it smelled so good we opted to eat it rather than our leftovers! It was yummy! A keeper for sure. Dh is practicing his trumpet noises. 😉 A friend posted this on FB, and I got a tickle out of it: Hope all sleep well tonight.

Hello to one and all~ They are calling for rain Thursday, followed by snow again overnight into Friday, and maybe into Saturday. 😑 < See how excited I am? Did the shopping today so I know we will not be running low or run out of the necessities (... like Nannie's always disappearing disposable products!). Walmart had ZERO milk, so it's a good thing Food Lion's milk case was fully loaded. I am actually the only one who drinks milk here; once in a blue moon Nannie has a bowl of cereal, but a gallon of milk lasts me a couple of weeks, so I get whole milk because the 1% and 2% spoil faster. I feel so DUDDY today. Don't know how to explain it other than that. Blah. Have not got a lot to say, I guess, so I will come by either later tonight, or talk whichyouse tomorry---

Good afternoon! Joe hope you're back online and that doesn't slam you with a back log of stuff. Stars, I can't drive in snow or ice. The part of NC I grew up in usually just shut down completely and I didn't drive much in the ice storms. I too made a donation to a local shelter in honor of Betty White. I've given to dog charities probably more than any other. Apparently nationwide shelters are seeing a huge influx in donations. Was productive this morning and mopped before yoga class. Stopped by to give a vegan food truck some support but it was cold (58 is cold to me) and I didn't have a jacket and he said he was busy working on some call in orders and would get to me soon. I decided not to wait as I waited 10 minutes for him to tell me even this. I'm happy though he has business.

Good morning. Yeah for more rain for Dianah! Hopefully your snow pack is renewing. We have had enough rain for my tastes, and yet, more is starting. Oh, well, it is better than ice. I don't mind snow, hate ice. Joe, that must be frustrating to have key systems down. It seems like your temps are much more tolerable than last week. Yesterday was ho hum. I went to the feed store and then dropped off bird seed, corn cobs and dog food to MIL. We had a little visit, but I didn't stay long due to she keeps her house so warm and I kept my N95 mask on for her protection. Afterwards I went for a run by the harbor, running past people with dogs, parents with strollers, walkers with hot beverages. Youngest ds had said he wanted to make a dump run when I got home, but he was asleep. I worked on repacking the Christmas decoration closet, and filled the garbage can for today's pickup. I read, worked on a jigsaw puzzle, took a nap. And I made online donations to the Humane Society and the rescue that we got Angus from, to honor Betty White. No plans for today. I am itching to ride my bike but rain is predicted. It will also be too muddy for yard work. I will do my 45 minutes of daily PT exercises, and walk the dog. I have a PT appointment at 5. I am hoping the insurance company will sent authorization for my MRI. I am feeling like the PT visits and exercises have been futile and am a little discouraged. Good day, all.

Tweety hope the weather gets less gloomy Dianah rain is definitely better than snow Stars slush is one thing I really dislike about winter, though not as much as ice Used my sleep app last night, and found out that when I wake early I fall back to sleep quickly. Which makes sense as I was pretty sure I wasn't lying awake for long periods. So no more worrying about sleep for me Work was interesting...one of the systems we use got hacked so it was offline all yesterday, limiting what I could do. Coworker was out as well, so had to cover her stuff. Nonetheless it was a slow day as there was quite a bit of work I couldn't do. I'm hoping when everything is back online we don't get a flood of work. Exercised and had online Bible study. The chaplain who normally leads the study was on vacation in Hawaii but joined us anyway, which was nice of her Thinking today will be quiet unless we get all those systems back up. Need to run some errands after work Will get up to the 40s today but will cool off and be cold again by Thurs

We had very slightly 'warmer' weather~ mid-30's~ (HA!) because the sun came out a few times. Lots of slush out there on top of the ice. The snowplow came through and scraped the road once and no sand/salt truck followed. There was a little more melting and then the temp dropped; we are going down to the mid 20's tonight, so I guess the roads are going to be nasty in the morning. It is supposed to go up to 40 degrees tomorrow after 10 AM. Tomorrow or Wednesday we will have to re-stock, as they are predicting another storm to come through this next weekend. Oh joie and w00t! Tweety, I used to drive from Asheville to Black Mountain ~in the snow~ when I worked there at a retirement community where I did many PDN cases. Worse was when I worked North of Asheville, with patients who lived in condos high up on STEEP hills. Used to pray a LOT on those commutes! If I hadn't had the experience of living and driving in snowstorms when I was growing up in Massachusetts, I would've been much more of a chicken-sh*t about HAVING to drive in winter. I still don't LIKE it, but I can do it. It, naturally, is scarier because of other drivers who seem to think it is okay to go 35 mph in a curve/on a hill, or even on a straightaway, without thoughts of the possibility of encountering surfaces conducive to slipping or sliding....whoooopsie! I should do laundry tomorrow; should've done it today. Ditto for a shower and washing my hair. But, I'll bet you $2 I end up going to Walmart tomorrow, instead. It's a trifle early to go to bed, but I am going to fill my hot-water bottle, go up and read, and thaw my poor frozen toes.

Good morning all! Joe, hope work goes smoothly today. Brrrrr, 30 degrees is cold (to me)! Tweety, tonight is bowling, yes? Have fun! nursej22, you must have needed that nap! Sounds like you were productive before and after it! We woke to RAIN! It should rain most of the morning then be just cloudy the rest of the day. We'll take it! I'm sure it's snowing in the mountains, GOOD! Could not get to sleep last night, till after 3. Got up at 8. May take a nap, we'll see. I ordered some plant-based cheese product to try. It arrived, and I don't care for it. It's not bad, just not to my taste. We have nothing planned for today. Will look for a pet shelter to donate money to, in honor of Betty White's birthday. Have a good day!

Good morning! Joe, hope the day goes well. Stars, one of the neighborhoods in SW Florida was "Tropicana" so maybe that's where you got the "T"?? One on my online friends lives in Black Mountain, NC and got some pretty snow, as did our old friend that used to post here years ago Jnette. J22, sounds like a productive day with a nap. I had a similar day in that I had a nap, but got some laundry done, went to the gym and grocery store. It's a bit chilly here and going to stay in the low 60's. Not much in the way of sunshine right now. Bleh......

Unfortunately I work today Tweety hope the weather improves Stars hope the ice melts soon Hi NJ22 Was a quieter day yesterday since J and I didn't get together. Did the cooking in the morning before church since the laundry was done yesterday After church met with the minister to go over the assisting minister role. Then after lunch met with the capital campaign committee to discuss next steps. Rest of the day was pretty quiet except for exercise Sleeping fine just getting up early, need to work on that Think it's going to be in the 30s today