Random Calls

I got some calls on my cell last evening, and another this morning.  They turned out to be nothing-- random calls from idiots with nothing better to do.

They did concern me, though.  My family and my aide companies are the only people who have that number, so when I got the calls last night I was worried something might have happened to Mom, or one of my nieces-- Shreve, Renee, or Callie.  That's what crossed my mind.  I couldn't work the cell fast enough to answer the calls before they hung up.  When the calls stopped coming, and when none of my brothers showed up here last night, I assumed nothing bad had happened, but having a cell phone might have a down side till I get better at using it.

Yodit's Lasagna

Yodit filled in on my dinner shift yesterday and brought me some lasagna she'd made for her family.  It was goood stuff.  Some lasagna has all kinds of stuff in it, which is fine, but this was simple and tasty.

Yodit seemed concerned that I wouldn't like it, but in fact it reminded me of the lasagna Mom used to make.

Pacers Even Up

The Pacers beat the Heat last night to tie the series at 2-2.  It was a good game.  The Pacers could have easily lost it, but they kept coming back.

The winner of the next game will likely win the series.  That game is in Miami, but the Pacers have already shown they can win down there.  It should be interesting.

Hot Air Rises

This winter, we thought my fourth floor apartment would be easy ro keep warm because hot air rises, so I would get the benefit of the heat from the three lower floors.  It seemed to work.

Now we're moving into summer, however, and hot air still rises.  My apartment has been getting quite warm, so I've had the aides turn the air on or open a window.  Then, it gets too cool, so we go back the other way.  We're still trying to find the happy medium.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a holiday set aside to remember those who have honorably served in America's armed forces, especially those who gave the nation their last full measure of devotion.

It's fairly commonly said, especially around days like this, that without the service and sacrifice of the military, Americans would not enjoy the freedoms we do.  While true enough, there's another side to that relationship.  Traditionally, as today, American forces have been volunteer forces.  People have volunteered to serve for various reasons through more than two hundred years, but mostly they've volunteered because they believed in America and its freedoms.  So the fate of America has never hung solely on the prowess of its military.  Rather, the nation has always relied on the devotion of its people, in the armed forces and out, to the cause of liberty.  That, too, should be remembered.

Long Wait

Yesterday, I urinated about 3 in the afternoon, and not again until well after 10 last night.  I wasn't overly concerned because I had no strong urge to go during that period, nor was I in bad pain.   Maybe I didn't have enough liquids.  Since last night, everything has been fine.

Still, I don't like going that long without going.  Since my bladder cancer, it worries me.  I'm a chicken.

Go Pirates

My beloved Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a good start for the third straight season.  Hopefully, this year they won't fall apart down the stretch.

The Pirates are my team because they were Dad's team.  They were his team because during World War II major league teams didn't hold spring training in Florida-- the war effort had commandeered the trains-- so the Pirates held spring training in Muncie, and Dad would go watch.  Also, when I was young, the Pirates were really good.  They won two World Series in the 1970s, and could've played in a couple more except for that Big Red Machine from Cincinnati.

Working Through My Problem

My urination is still a problem, but it's getting better.  Now, I can regularly go three or four hours or more between urinations.  That's progress.

It's still painful to go that long, but less so than before.  It worries me to wait that long, too, but I guess I'll just have to get over that.

Pacers In Eastern Finals

The Pacers start the Eastern Finals against the Heat tomorrow night.  I think they have a real chance to win that series.

There's a chance the NBA Finals this year could feature two old ABA franchises, the Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs have obviously done better in the NBA, but the Pacers were sort of the Boston Celtics of the ABA.  A Pacers-Spurs matchup would be fun.

Company Woes

I've had problems recently with one of the companies that provides me with aides.  Saturday, the company seems not to have been able to find somebody to cover my dinner shift, so it simply didn't send anybody.  I had to email Janeka that nobody had shown, and she got Yodit to come.

Today, the company sent no one for my lunch shift.  I called Janeka on my cell to let her know, and she called the company.  An aide finally came over an hour late.  Tiffany, the aide who normally has that shift, told me Saturday she wouldn't be here today because she had to take her son to the doctor, so the company had days to get somebody else.  It failed to do so.

Several descriptive words for the company come to mind, but I won't use any of them.

Back To The Monon

Johneice and I went back to the Monon Trail last evening.  This time, we went the opposite way from before.  It's a nice stretch, but so far I've seen no eating places along the Trail.

We also saw a balloon in the air.  Johneice called it a blimp, but I think it was a hot air balloon.  Of course, her eyes are younger than mine.

Bingo

They hold regular bingo games in this building, and my aide Johneice suggested I might want to play.  She said it'd be fun.

Well, no.  You don't really play bingo.  Bingo plays itself.  You just sit there.  The game would play out the same way no matter who was watching the cards, as long as everyone paid the required bit of attention.  It's boring.

Small Mall

Last evening, Johneice and I continued our travels by going over to the little mall across the street.  We were scouting out eating places, and found a Penn Station sub shop.

I'm a little leery about crossing the street in my power chair because I lack real speed at the moment.  I feel like a bit of a sitting duck.  Johneice tries to turn up the speed, but hopefully we can get it going even faster.  That would also increase my range.

On The Monon

As I recall, the Monon Trail was built when I was in college, or around there.  Since then, it has been mentioned on Indianapolis television news broadcasts fairly frequently, and not always in connection to good things.

Last evening, my aide Johneice and I went through the small exit in the back of this property and reached the Trail. It's a nice place.  Fairly dense vegetation runs down both sides of the section we were on, at least, making it quiet, peaceful, and attractive.  Bikers and joggers left me in their wakes, but it was a good time.

Mother's Day

My sister Kim, twin brothers Jeff and Joe, and Mom all came over yesterday, and we spent a large part of the day together.  I think we all had a nice time.

Kim made us a homemade pizza, too.  Mom made them for us regularly when we were kids, so I guess it's sort of a comfort food for us.  Kim did a good job with it, too.

Sippy Cup Issue

Lately, I've been having trouble getting my lips around the spout of the sippy cup so I can suck the liquid out.  It's extremely frustrating.  I'm to the point now that I try to pull my lip down with my hand.  Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't.

I'm sure it's CP-related-- simple muscle control-- just as my bladder issue seems to be.  They are further related in that I try to get plenty of fluids to help the bladder situation, but as drinking becomes more frustrating, that gets harder to do.  Sometimes I feel like I'm falling apart.

Split Decision

I didn't go out to eat last evening.  I had another problem urinating, so I ate supper here.  After eating, I was able to use the bathroom, however, and after that took my power chair outside.

Johniece and I went all the way around my building on the sidewalk.  I was looking for the way to get to the Monon Trail, so I'd know where to go next time.  I only saw one small exit off this property in the back, so I guess that's the way.  We also got caught in a shower, which is not good for the power chair.  Happily, the shower only lasted a few seconds, but I decided I'd best get the power chair back inside.

Monon Trail

The Monon Trail is a popular walking and jogging trail in Indianapolis, and it runs right behind my apartment complex.  I might take my power chair on it this evening and go to one of the several eating places along it.

That will depend on my bathroom situation, and on the weather.  I can't go if it's rainy because I can't get water in the electronics of the chair.  So, we'll see.

Doing Better

Yesterday went very well.  My bathroom issues weren't a problem.  The things I was working on with the computer went well, and Yodit even gave me a haircut.

Hopefully, that will turn out to be the start of a nice, easy summer.

The Case Of The Second Stool

I have two stools at the island in my kitchen, but late yesterday there was only one.  Neither Janeka nor I could find the second one, nor figure out why anybody would take it.

Well, nobody took it.  I spied it on my balcony this morning.  The question is why was it out there?  Maybe an aide wanted to sit in the fresh air out there.  That would be fine, but why not bring the stool back in?  Very odd.

The Courtyard

After supper yesterday, my aide Johneice and I spent some time in the courtyard of my building.  My apartment overlooks it.  The evening was soft and pleasant, and we both enjoyed it.

I took my power chair down and had no problem at all.  The courtyard is a nice area, quiet except for singing birds and far off televisions.  The grass needs to be cut, but I assume they'll get to that shortly.

Hot Times

My apartment got really hot yesterday-- up to 83 degrees, according to my aide, Johniece.  I had my office window and my sliding glass door open, but Johniece said it was hotter in here than it was outside.

So, the air conditioning is on today-- so much for trying to save some money.

Very Odd

Last Friday and Saturday were tough when it came to using the bathroom.  Saturday, for example, midnight to midnight, I urinated 12 times.  Since then, however, not only have I gone less often, but I've had a minimum of pain or even urgency.  Sometimes I've gone into the bathroom largely because I knew I should.

So, I don't know what happened.  Maybe Saturday was some sort of biological crescendo that re-set my system for a while.  I hope so.