Fat

My aide Yodit has mentioned twice recently that I'm getting fat.

Of course, Yodit thinks she's fat since she had her baby, and she's one of the least fat people I know.

Blood Sample

A lady finally came to take a blood sample yesterday, almost a week after it was ordered.

Late might be better than never, but I'm doing much better now on my own.

Bengals

The Colts play the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the playoffs this coming weekend.

In what may have been their best game of the season, the Colts shut out the Bengals in October, but I'll be happy if the Colts simply win this one,

Doing Better

I'm doing better today.  I ate my normal kind of meal last night for supper and today at lunch, and nothing bad has happened.

So, hopefully, I'm past the problem.

Doctor

The doctor came around last night.  I'm doing better today, but she ordered lab tests to see if I have a gall bladder issue.

Doctors do that/

Improvement

I'm feeling some better today, though I'm still going easy on eating.

At least I'm doing better than the Colts did Sunday.

Not Good

I've been pretty sick yesterday and today.

Hopefully, though, the worst is over.

Colts Test

The Colts play the Cowboys Sunday in Dallas.  It should be a good test of how ready the Colts are for the playoffs.

If the last two games are any indication, the Colts are in trouble.

Christmas Aides

It looks like getting aides to come here on Christmas is going to be an issue.

I can understand that, but I'm also beginning to dread holidays.

Sickness

I understand the flu and other stuff are going around now.  My brother Jon's family has it pretty bad.

I got a flu shot, so hopefully I'll be okay.

Surprise Aide

The aide I expected at the dinner shift last night didn't come, but another one did show up.

It worked out fine, but I hope we can establish a regular rotation of aides.

Struggling Colts

The  Colts looked bad this week even though they won to clinch a playoff spot.

If they play in the playoffs like they have recently, they'll be blown out the first game.

State ID

I got a state ID this morning.  I had to "sign" several documents.  Actually, my aide signed them by guiding my hand, and the signatures were all different.  Nobody could look at them and tell I was even there, except I guess my photo would go along with them.

It's a silly exercise, but it's the law.

Eating Supper

I have aides who work the dinner shift ask me regularly if I'm full, sometimes after I've eaten very little.

Maybe other people they work with don't eat much, or maybe they want to get through my meal.

Sinus Problems

I'm having sinus problems, as usual this time of year.  When the temperatures bounce between cold and milder, my sinuses have a hard time.

When it gets cold and stays cold, so we can also keep my apartment at a constant temperature, I'll be okay-- till spring.

Brad Stevens

I see the Boston Celtics are 7-12 now, and they haven't had notable success under Brad Stevens.

I wonder if Stevens ever regrets leaving Butler.  He was well on his way to building a program that could compete nationally year after year, in which case he could have made the hall of fame.

Now, Missing Donuts

I bought a box of donuts Friday morning, ate one Friday night, and by Saturday night, five more were missing.

Gobblin' goblins, perhaps?

Sea Gull

I saw what looked like a sea gull flying over the parking lot at Sam's Club this morning.

I'm not sure what a sea gull is doing in Indianapolis, except it probably came down from the Great Lakes.

Missing Sippy Cup

Somehow, we lost the sippy cup I usually use.  I used it Tuesday morning, and my aides haven't seen it since.

It's very odd.

Another Flub

I was supposed to have a new aide come last night at dinner shift, but he never showed, so I ate when my overnight aide arrived.

I don't know how that company stays in business.  I can't be the only one it does this to.

I LOVE LUCY

I just saw CBS is airing two colorized I LOVE LUCY episodes in prime time Sunday night.

That has to say something about the quality of work done in television 60 years ago-- and about the quality of broadcast network television today.

Lost Aide

I've lost one of my regular, trusted aides because she has lost her child care.

As I understand it, this woman was  trying to support herself and her kids. but had to quit because her child care ran out.  If that is accurate, it's really too bad.

Thanksgiving

Family came over yesterday, and we had a good time together.

They also brought food, which I'm still eating.

Bit Of A Fall

The aide here last evening had been here once or twice before.  In transferring from my typing chair to my wheelchair, I fell on my hip, and she stumbled in atop me.

It was no big deal, but it could have been.

Odd Name Occurrence

I'm reading a novel, and I came across a character named Janice Anderson.  That was Mom's name.

Seeing that name in print gave me a really odd feeling.  The character has appeared twice so far.  I hope nothing happens to her.

That Wind

The wind is howling today-- I hear it as I'm writing this-- signaling a return of winter.

It's among the things I dislike most about winter.  The wind just sounds cold.

Break Ins

I wrote recently that someone pounded on my door.  Now I've been informed there have been three break ins in this apartment complex lately.

That's not good news.  I have aides here overnight, but they're not here to defend me.

Baseball Offseason

I've been watching the MLB Network this week to get all the trade news and rumors.

It's fascinating to watch a club put a team together.  In another life, I would have enjoyed doing that.

Flu Shot

I'm getting a flu shot this week, and I'm likely getting a vaccination against shingles sometime soon, as well.

I didn't know until recently there was a shingles shot, but I see no reason to go through such a painful condition if it can be avoided.

My Conference

My conference in Hawaii last week seems to have been a success.  A larger group seems to be forming now to keep pushing the ideas laid out at Waikaloa.

I'm very pleased.

Colts Pounded Again

The Colt defense got beat up again last night in a loss to the Patriots.

If the Colts looked like Super Bowl contenders a month ago, they don't now.

NCAA Hoops

The college basketball season tips off on ESPN tonight.

I prefer the college game to the NBA.  The college guys play harder, and there's more strategy involved in the college game.

Pounding

Somebody pounded on my door several times this morning when I was here alone.

Whoever it was finally went away, but it was an uncomfortable experience.  I think it was a man, but I'm not sure.  Women have never pounded on my door like that.

Cold

Winter seems to be arriving early over much of the country, including here.  It's cold, and snow is in the forecast.  They're predicting a winter similar to last winter, which wouldn't be good.

Hopefully after this first cold period, we'll at least get a little Indian summer, though it's probably too late for that.

Same Old Gunk

I was sick over the weekend.  When the weather changes my sinuses go a little crazy, and sometimes it makes me physically ill.

Hopefully I'll be okay now till next spring, when the weather changes again.

The Next Giant Leap

The Next Giant Leap Conference, which I helped start up, is being held in Hawaii this week.

Hopefully it will go smoothly and make some contribution.

Sore Throat Season

Well, winter is coming on.  I know it because I have the little bit of a sore throat I get every year when the weather changes.

Time to start sucking on my Vitamin C tablets.

Anniversary

This coming weekend will mark one year that I've been living in this apartment.  It's the longest I've lived anywhere on my own.

The weather the day we moved me in here was really nice for November in Indiana.  I don't think this weekend will match it.

Ill Aide

My regular dinner shift aide has been ill the past two days, so we had to scramble to work something else out.

The agency wanted to send somebody who'd never been here, but I didn't really want that.  It's hard for me.

Vote

I voted this morning.  Actually, I cast a provisional vote because I didn't have any state identification.

They asked if I had a driver's license, which was odd.  I suppose, though, that I could've had a stroke or something after getting a license.

Tough Timing

Two space-related accidents last week make the timing of next week's conference in Hawaii a little tough.  I'm sure none of us involved in planning it imagined it would be held in this atmosphere.

We'll just have to do a good job of arguing our case and putting it in the proper context.

Snow On Halloween

Weathercasters are saying there might be snow flurries tonight during trick-or-treat hours.

I really hope this is not the start of another bad winter.

Talking Luna

Representatives from NASA and the European Space Agency are scheduled to attend the conference in Hawaii, and officials from Canada and Japan might come, too.

Hopefully, such a gathering can encourage talks about an international lunar base program.

Seventh Game

Tonight is the seventh game of the World Series and the final game of the baseball season.

I'm still picking the Giants, but any single, specific baseball game is totally unpredictable.

Colts Blitzed

The Colts were thumped yesterday as their injury riddled defense couldn't deal with the Steelers.

Clearly, at some point this "next man up" business doesn't work.  The Colt defense probably reached that point in Pittsburgh.

Warmth Gone

The temperature here hit 80 yesterday, and a television weathercaster saw fit to say that will be the last 80 we see for months, noting we didn't reach 80 this year until May.

I wouldn't especially care if we didn't hit 80 again until next summer, but I am rooting for a mild winter.

New Aide

A new aide is coming today to see how to work with me.

By now, after all the aides who've been here, I wouldn't think they'd need to use new ones, but I guess they do.

Founding A Foundation

The group that is putting on the conference in Hawaii next month is looking at creating a foundation to continue the work.

I've been able to contribute to that so far, and I hope I can continue to do so.

Giant Win.

The Giants took the first game of the World Series last night, 7-1, in Kansas City.

I expect the Giants to win the Series, maybe easily, not because they're the far superior team but because they seem to know how to win postseason games.  Some teams are just like that in sports.

Half A Banana

I had an aide ask me recently if I wanted only half a banana.  Who eats only half a banana?

Actually, I guess some people they work with might, but I'd hope there'd be an obvious physical difference between those people and me.

Dad

Today would have been Dad's 82nd birthday, and it's the first one his kids have spent without either him or Mom.

Dad was very much the head of the family.  He is still missed after eleven years.

Ali

My friend Ali, who lives in Sydney, Australia, might be visiting her American husband's family this winter-- which, of course, is summer down under.

Whether they visit me or not will largely depend on the weather.

Akita

I saw a guy with an Akita in the apartment complex the other day.   The Akita is a large, powerful, handsome dog known for its loyalty and toughness.  That guy can sleep well at night.

I'm surprised at how many big dogs live in this complex.

Basketball

We're halfway through October, which means, among other things, that basketball season is gearing up.

If the weather is better this winter, I'd like to take my power wheelchair to a game or two.

Idiotic

On the way to the dentist yesterday we saw a fellow riding a motorcycle down a wet highway.  It was raining, sometimes pretty hard.  He wore no helmet.  And he was texting.

What some people will do is totally amazing.

Dental Visit

I went to the dentist this morning, and everything is fine.

He said he'll fill a tiny cavity my next visit, but he's said that before and hasn't done it yet.

Colts Win Again

The Colts won their fourth in a row last night.  Now they get a couple extra days of rest before their next game.

Barring any more major injuries or suspensions or whatever, I think this Colt team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Bathroom Stuff

Yesterday I urinated about 2 p.m., and not again until going on 11 last night.  It was the first time in months I hadn't been able to go on schedule.

It wasn't bad.  I didn't feel like I needed to go, and I was never in real pain.  Still, I hope I can continue going when I want to.

Browser Woes

I'm having problems with my Internet browsers.  I've been using two, for efficiency's sake, but one hasn't been working lately.  Plus, AOL has been acting up.  I'm nut sure whether that's related to the browser or not.

I hate trying to outthink my computer.

October

Today is dark, chilly, windy, and rainy-- a typical October day in Indiana.

The easy part of the year is pretty much over; we're heading into the tough part.  I hope this coming winter is not as bad as the last one.

Cakes

Yodit came over on her own time Saturday, with her daughter, and brought me a birthday cake.  My sister Kim also brought me a birthday cake.  My brother Jeff brought me a box of Ding Dongs and my favorite candy, Reese's cups, and I already had a box of cupcakes.

So, I'm set for sweets for a while.

Aging

Today is my last day in my fifties.

Hopefully, in the decade or so ahead, I can wrap things up with some kind of flourish.

Pirates

My Pirates lost the wild card playoff game last night, so their season is over.

They had a second straight good year, however, establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the National League, and the future looks bright.

Hair

A couple of my aides seem to have a thing about short hair.  I've always kept my hair short, and they often suggest cutting my hair before I ask them to, so it's no problem, but it is curious.

Last night, one of them asked me if I wanted her to shave my head completely.  I declined that offer.

Yodit

Last night was my aide Yodit's final time with me before going on vacation for a couple weeks.

I will miss her.

Go Colts

The Colts pounded their second straight opponent yesterday, putting themselves in good shape in their division.

Neither team they beat is very good, but the Colts seem to be getting on a roll.

Squirrels

I've sometimes seen a little animal scoot by my patio.  It has moved so quickly I couldn't tell what it was.

This week I saw a squirrel go by.  There are some big trees in this complex, so I guess squirrels are to be expected.  Maybe I've been seeing squirrels whip past, though I still think it could've been chipmunks.

Bathroom Strangeness

Three times lately, my urine has missed the toilet and ended up on the floor.

I think I'm doing the same thing each time that I've always done, so I'm not sure what's wrong.  I'll just have to be more careful.

Pirates Are In

My Pirates have made the baseball playoffs for the second year in a row after twenty consecutive losing seasons.

The Pirates did it by getting on a good hot streak.  If they can stay hot into the postseason, who knows what might happen.

Living Till You Die

Dr. Ezekiel Emanual, an architect of the Affordable Care Act, has said recently that he hopes to die at age 75..  He reasons that will give him a nice long life while, hopefully, avoiding a slow mental and physical decline.

Deciding that for himself is one thing; making it public, however, is curious.  Many Americans already think the ACA will ration healthcare. especially to the old and ill, in effect deciding when Americans should die by deciding when the quality of life is no longer worth supporting.  Dr. Emanual's musings will only reinforce the feeling that the ACA seeks to limit healthcare costs by limiting the lifespans of those unfortunates who linger too long in the final twilight.

Sports Weekend

Ball State lost its football game Saturday, but the Colts finally won a game yesterday, and my Pirates are close to locking up a spot in baseball's playoffs.

Overall. I'm pretty happy.

Christmas In September

At Sam's Club this morning, I saw a lighted Christmas tree.

It's still summer, for pity's sake.  Halloween is still weeks away.  Baseball is still in the regular season.  I know retailers love to hype Christmas, but September is really early.

Hawaii

My conference in Hawaii is moving right along in its development.  Buzz Aldrin is scheduled to speak, and Mitch Daniels has been invited.

Daniels is not only president of Purdue-- the mother of astronauts-- but he also recently co-chaired a study of the future of U. S. manned spaceflight.

Clemente

I'm currently watching a show on Roberto Clemente, the great Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder.  He was, and remains, my favorite all time baseball player.

I liked him, way back when, because he was an extraordinary player with a unique style and a flair for the dramatic.  I've learned since he was also quite a man.

Colts Lose Again

The Colts lost a game they probably should have won last night.

They looked better than they did against Denver.  They finally ran the ball effectively.  Unfortunately, Andrew Luck had a bit of an off game.

Easy Weekend

I had an easy weekend just past.  I only had to deal with three aides, all of whom I like and trust.

Hopefully, that will be the pattern for the future.

Grace At Home

The Grace At Home doctor or nurse or whatever was here this morning and decided I needed a new stool softener even though I've never used the stuff that has been here.

It's as if she needed to put her mark on my treatment.  I suppose that's okay as long as they don't order something crazy-- I have no idea why she thought I needed a stool softener-- but a more skeptical person might wonder if they order things for other than medical reasons.

Storm

We had quite a storm here last night.  Heavy rain and consistent lightning ruled for maybe an hour.

I even lost my television for a few minutes.  That might be the first time that's happened since I've lived here.

Kindle

My brother Jeff showed me his Kindle recently, and I'm thinking about getting one.

I have trouble handling thick books, so the Kindle might solve that.

Robert Mathis Out

Robert Mathis, a big key to the Colts defense, is out for the season.

The defense wasn't the strength of the team before this, so Mathis' loss will put more pressure on the offense to score and score and control the ball and score.  I'd say the Colts can still have a good season, but winning the Super Bowl will be tough.

Colts Lose

The Colts again fell way behind early, and this time they couldn't come back to win.

You'd think the guys would be getting tired of this pattern.  They need to blow somebody out.

Tiffany

My aide Tiffany told me she was ill earlier this week and even went to the hospital.  She certainly seemed under the weather.

I had visions of her passing out while I was on the toilet, but everything went okay.

NFL

The NFL regular season opens tonight with a game between the Packers and the defending champion Seahawks.

Preseason disasters notwithstanding, I think the Colts have a reasonable shot at the Super Bowl.

Four Years Ago

Four years ago this week my life changed.  I urinated blood, which led to the discovery of my bladder cancer, and my life has been on a different path since.

Hopefully, the next four years will be calmer.

Fireworks In August

Sunday night somebody was setting off fireworks around my place.  I didn't see them, but I heard them.  It lasted about twenty minutes.

Who knows why it was being done.

Cook Out

My siblings and I got together for a cook out Saturday, and we had a good time.  It still felt a little odd not to have Mom with us, though.

My sister hasn't had cancer, but three of the four brothers have, and both our parents essentially died from it, so it's good to get together.

Pirates

My Pirates are still hanging in the National League playoff picture.  They're playing pretty well going into the final month of the season.

I'm not sure they quite have the horses to make the playoffs, but they should have their second straight winning season after twenty consecutive losing ones.  That would be a really good achievement.

Yogurt Wars

I was having a little trouble eating yogurt with fruit in it-- it was a sinus issue-- and an aide suggested I get plain yogurt.  So, we got this Gogurt stuff.  It's not great.  Last night, another aide told me I needed to tell them I wanted to go back to the yogurt with fruit.  She even said she would call them for me.  She was fairly fired up.

I know these aides are trying to help-- it might even be part of their jobs to suggest things-- but I really do know what I'm doing.  Honest.

Books

I haven't received books from my book clubs recently, so I reordered one yesterday.  It seems to have had the wrong address.

Hopefully I'll get new books soon.

Hawaii

I'm feeling better than I have in years.  If I keep improving to November, I probably could make the trip to my conference in Hawaii.

However, that assumes the flights there and back would go smoothly and on time.  There's also the matter of bringing an aide-- and then there's paying for the whole thing.  It probably won't work out.

Watered Down Coke

I have a particular aide sometimes who is no doubt very good at his job, but also very fussy.  Saturday he decided regular Coke was too strong for me after I coughed as I was drinking a can, so he added water.

Some aides, though they mean well, make decisions based upon too little information.  Had I wanted watered down Coke, I would've bought Pepsi.

Rainy Times

We went shopping in the rain this morning.  It brought to mind the times, forty years ago, when I went to high school football games, sitting through rainy evenings.  Those times were often in October and November, and the rain was cold.

It's a bit sad to realize that the boys who played those games are older men now, no longer capable of making the long run, or the great catch, or the crushing tackle.

Heat

Heat and summer storms are finally hitting the area.  So far, it's been a nice, mild summer.

There's some evidence that an El Nino might be forming in the Pacific, which could lead to a mild winter in America.  We can only hope.

Renee

My niece Renee is in her first week at Indiana State.

This is her first time living on her own, but I know she's up to it.  She's terrific.

Sinus Problems

I've been having sinus issues lately.  I get them regularly, especially when the weather changes.  It's annoying.

Sneezing and getting the stuff out might help, but I've never been able to that when I want to.

Self-Driving Cars

I saw a report this morning that predicted self-driving cars will be here sooner than expected, perhaps in only a few years.

That will still probably be too late for me, but such cars will certainly increase independence for the disabled.

Razor Vs. Shaver

When my aides shave me, they generally use a razor with a blade.  Recently, however, Yodit has started using my old electric shaver.

I don't know why she switched, and it doesn't matter, but it is curious.

Renee And Callie

My brother Jon brought his daughters Renee and Callie over for a visit yesterday.  Renee starts at Indiana State next week, and she wants to become a nurse practitioner.  I'm extremely proud of her.

Callie, on the other hand, has just started kindergarten, and she told me all about that.  She is a piece of work.

A Bit Of Diplomacy

The fellows running preparations for the conference in Hawaii that I had a hand in creating are inviting nations that have expressed interest in participating in an international lunar base program to send representatives to the conference.  Spreading the cost of such a program among several nations would reduce the burden on any one nation.

We are hoping that informal talks in Hawaii among the representatives could lead to something more substantial.

Animal

Every once in a while I see a little brownish thing whiz past on the ground. It moves so fast I can't tell exactly what it is.

Maybe it's a chipmunk.

Stock Pop

One of the stocks I used to own made a huge upward move this morning.

I understand why I had to sell my stocks and put the money in trust so I could be covered by Medicare early, but it seems to me that law needs changing.  As people live longer after retirement-- whenever they retire-- it'd be better for them and for society if they could maintain control of their property even when receiving government aid.  The argument against that is that if people have funds they should pay for their own care.  True enough, but that eventually puts added strain on government programs as they have to pay all the bills.  Allowing people to keep resources and having them pay some of the bills would stretch out the aid.

Field Of Dreams

Yesterday I watched a show on the 25th anniversary of the baseball movie, FIELD OF DREAMS.  While it's about baseball, the movie also tells the story of a son's relationship with his late father.

When I was a boy, Dad and I would go into the backyard summer nights, and he would toss pitches I'd try to hit with my plastic bat.  I think that's a big part of my love of baseball.  I really don't know what it's like to be on a football field or a basketball court, but, thanks to Dad, I have seen balls coming at me that I've tried to get better at hitting over the course of a long summer season.

Life Patterns

I have established a daily pattern that allows me to function fairly well.  I also have a stable aide situation at the moment, which is good.

Hopefully, I can maintain these patterns for a while.

Hiroshima

Today is the 69th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, an event that truly changed the world.

The bombing did horrifying damage, but it also helped end the war without the necessity of an American-led invasion of Japan.  In so doing, it probably saved tens of thousands American lives-- and, ultimately, more Japanese lives than it took.

Big Blow

My Pirates are losing their best player for a few weeks to an injury.

Hopefully they'll be able to stay in playoff contention until they get him back.

Uneasy Saturday

I had a touch of diarrhea Saturday, which wasn't fun.  Luckily, I was able to wait until an aide was here.

It was better yesterday and so far, so good today.

Injuries

There seems to be an inordinate number of injuries in major league baseball this season, and even though NFL training camps have just opened, teams are already losing guys for the entire season.

I don't know what's going on-- maybe physical training standards need to be changed.

Big Trade Day

Today is the trade deadline in major league baseball.  Actually, it's more complicated than that, but I won't get into those details.

Hopefully, my Pirates will get somebody to help them down the stretch.

Chest Muscle

I did something to a muscle in my chest a few days ago, but it's much better.  I've done this before, and I think it took weeks to heal, so this time seems to be going well.

Last night I sneezed after trying not to, and I thought I strained that muscle again, but it's no worse today.

Cool Summer

The weathercasters on television are saying this might be the coolest July on record in central Indiana.  Few people seem to be complaining.

Hopefully, however, it doesn't lead to the kind of cold winter we had last year.

Dachshund

Lots of dogs live in this complex.  Over the weekend I saw a guy walking a little red dachshund.

I had a beautiful red miniature dachshund as a boy.  Gus was my buddy.  I miss having a dog around.

So Far, So Good

I had a couple accidents yesterday right after the scope, but everything seems fine today.

My brother Jeff thinks the accidents were the result of all the water pushed into my bladder for the scope, and he's probably right.

Good News

I went to the urologist today for a bladder scope, and everything is still fine.  I'm cancer free.

Now, I only have to get the scopes once a year.

Tomorrow

I go back to my urologist for another scope tomorrow morning.

I'm feeling fine, and my urinary stuff is working very well, but I'm still dreading tomorrow.

A Little Excitement

My aide accidentally stepped on my emergency button this morning, and a fire rescue unit came barreling out.

All is well, however.

Tough Weekend

Not only did I pull a muscle Saturday, which was really painful and limiting. but Tendercare failed to cover four of the six shifts for which it was responsible, which made me have to improvise.

It was not a fun weekend.

Baseball

The second part of the baseball season starts today, and my Pirates are in the thick of their pennant race.

With luck, they'll make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Agent Push

Yesterday afternoon I queried five literary agents about possibly representing my novels.

We'll see what happens.

Cool Days

We're having a run of cool days for July this week.  I doubt many people are unhappy about that.  Weathercasters say it's a polar air mass dipping farther south than usual.

I say better now than in January.

All Star Game

The major league baseball All Star Game is tonight.  It's a game I look forward to every year.

I don't even watch the NFL Pro Bowl or the NBA All Star Game.  The guys don't take those games seriously.  In baseball, though, the level of play is more like a regular season game.

Next Week

Next week I go back to my urologist for another scoping of my bladder.  If everything checks out then, hopefully we can cut these scopes down to yearly events.

I'm feeling better now than I have since this cancer thing started, so I have high hopes.

Fixing My Sweeper

My aide Tiffany tried to sweep my carpet Wednesday, but the sweeper wasn't picking up.  So, over two nights, she took the sweeper apart, cleaned it, got a lot of gunk out of it, and put it back together.

Now, it works much better.  Tiffany is clearly willing to work.

Dad's Eleventh

Today is the eleventh anniversary of Dad's death, not the tenth as I mistakenly wrote last week.

All his kids still miss him.

Out Of Books

I have some books on order from the book club.  I got an email last week saying two of them have been shipped, but they haven't arrived yet.

Hopefully they'll come today.

One Email

When I got online today, I had a grand total of one email waiting for me.  One.

That's fine-- most of the email I get is junk, anyway-- but I can't remember the last time I only got one.

Fireworks

I saw some fireworks over the building across the way Friday night.  It was pretty nice, even though they didn't seem to get very high.

I didn't hear explosions into the night, however, so maybe fireworks are banned from this complex.

Aide Ultimatum

An aide last evening told me flatly that if I haven't had a shower in some time when she comes next week, she will give me one-- presumably whether I wanted one or not.  She also asked me if I would tell her the truth about the last time I had one.

I don't doubt she's a good aide and a good person, but I didn't appreciate being talked to like that in my own home.  I try to remember these aides probably deal with people and situations when they have to be more assertive, but I am perfectly capable of deciding when I take a shower and who gives it to me.

Dad

We are coming up on the tenth anniversary of Dad's death.  His family has been through a lot during that time.

I wonder sometimes how things might be different if he'd been here to guide us, but of course that's one of the unknowables of the human condition.

Battle Of Gettysburg

Today is the 151st anniversary of the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, which stopped Lee's thrust into the North. At the same time, Grant's army captured Vicksburg, giving the Union complete control of the Mississippi River.

Together, the two battles formed a pivot in the Civil War.  Together, they struck blows for the cause of human freedom and independence.

Taquisha

Recently, an aide named Taquisha has been coming.  I like her.  She's calm and competent.

I don't know if she's going to be a regular aide with me now, but I won't mind if she is.

My Bucs

My beloved Pirates finally have a winning record this season, and they seem to be getting on a roll.

A nice winning streak here before the All-Star game would put them in good position for the pennant drive.

Hawking

I recently watched a television biography of the physicist Stephen Hawking.  It pointed out, among other things, that he was divorced in 1995 after a long marriage to the mother of his two children.  She could no longer deal with the public side of his life.  He got remarried in 1996 to one of his aides.

By then, Hawking really couldn't move at all on his own, but the show suggests they had a satisfying physical relationship.  I wonder how.

Philip

My aide Philip is away for a few days because he's moving, so we're having to mix and match aides in the meantime.

We'll see how it goes.

Dentist

I went to the dentist yesterday morning, and everything is still fine.

I had a different hygienist than usual, and she whizzed right through the cleaning, but my dentist checked afterward, and he said all is good, at least in my mouth.

Another Aide Failure

The aide who was supposed to be here for the dinner shift last evening didn't come.  No one came.  I had to wait for the bathroom and for dinner until Folorunso got here after 8.

I've not named the company involved in these foul ups in this blog yet, but, if they continue, that could change.

Cruising

My aide Yodit and I took my power chair out and around my apartment complex last evening as we've been doing regularly since the weather has improved.  It's a big complex.  I'm not sure we've seen all of it yet.

We've also seen many people with dogs, including many large dogs.  That surprised me.  I thought most dogs in apartments would be little guys.

Hawaii

I'm not sure I'll be going to Hawaii.  There seems to be no direct flights out there from here, so getting there would take most of a day, which would be hard on me physically.

We'll see.

Sleeping

I'm now regularly sleeping through the night and getting more rest, which is good.  I'm also establishing a pattern so I can use the bathroom regularly throughout the day, tied to my aide schedule, which makes things easier.

Some people are still telling me I need to drink more water, but I'm getting control of my bathroom needs again, which is important as I can't go just whenever, and I'm perfectly able to decide when I need more fluids.

Blogging

I don't know why, but this blogging software has been acting up this week.  I've had to fiddle with it to keep going.

Hopefully it'll straighten out.

Hot

Today will likely be the first 90 degree day in Indy this summer.

Hopefully. this summer won't be as fiercely hot and stormy as last winter was bitterly cold and stormy.

Spurs Win

The Spurs pounded the Heat to win the NBA title.

Most Pacer fans were probably happy to see the Heat so thoroughly beaten, but it also indicates how far the Pacers have to go to become a championship caliber team.

Weed

An aide was telling me last night that new people have moved into her apartment building, and they smoke weed.  She said she can smell the stuff in her apartment.  She's also concerned those people will bring trouble and danger to her home.

It's a shame people who try to live the right way have to put up with such things.

Stocks

I've been keeping an eye on the stocks I used to own.  I had to sell them to become eligible for Medicare.  Medicaid.  Whichever.

Anyway, by my rough calculations, if I had simply kept all of them to now, I'd have over $100,000.  Not a huge portfolio, but not bad, either.

Go Spurs

The Spurs pounded the Heat in the NBA Finals last night, going ahead two games to one.  They could easily have won all three.

I'm hoping the Spurs can wrap it up shortly.

Janeka

We had the quarterly meeting of my aide people here yesterday, and it went fine.  Actually, there's not much to them, but I'm told they're required.

Janeka was here, as my new case manager.  I hadn't seen her in a while, so it was good to see her again.

Folorunso

Well, it seems my aide Folorunso was in the hospital for a while, which is why he didn't come.  I don't know what happened, or why the company wasn't contacted.

Anyway, he's apparently fine, and he's coming back to work, which is good.

Lunar Return

The National Research Council is releasing a report that says returning to the Moon should be the near-term goal of American manned spaceflight, with going to Mars being the "horizon goal."

The conference I'm involved with to be held in Hawaii will argue for moving quickly to begin settling the Moon, so maybe we can help build some momentum on that front.

Rose Bush

A fellow was outside my apartment this morning cleaning things up, and he cleared out the dead parts of my rose bush.

It's not half as big as it was, but it looks healthy now.

Junk Email

I used to get over 20 pieces of email about every day, most of it junk.  Lately, however, I've been getting about half that, or even less.

I don't know what's happened, but it's okay with me.

Aide Rotation

We finally seem to have a dependable aide rotation during the day.  The night shifts would have been solid, too, except for Folorunso's disappearance, but I'm hoping the aide taking his shifts now can stay permanently if he's not coming back.

All in all, I'm happy with my current situation.

Folorunso

Folorunso was supposed to work here last week, but he never came.   He also never called the company, and the company hasn't been able to contact him.  It's a fair bet, therefore, that he is gone for good.

It's too bad.  I felt I could count on him.

Roses

Roses are blooming on the rose bush outside my apartment.  After such a hard, snowy winter, I wondered whether the thing would just die, but it obviously hasn't.

The outer part of the bush is still just sticks, but the inner core has red roses.  Maybe new life will continue to spread up and out.

Pacers Still Kicking

The Pacers eked one out last night, staying alive in their playoff series.

I'm not sure any team could beat Miami three games in a row, and the Pacers certainly haven't showed the consistency to do it.  However, if they win in Miami to get the series back to Indy, who knows?

Replacement Aide

I had a replacement aide for the overnight shift last night.  The company doesn't seem to know where my regular aide is.

Last night went just fine.  That aide had worked here before, and she's very good.  I don't know who'll be here tonight, and I don't like that uncertainty.

Another Aide Issue

The aide who was supposed to be here overnight last night didn't show.  Team leader Jeff Davies had to fill in.

This sort of thing, when it happens, generally involves the other company.  I certainly hope such lack of dependability doesn't spread.

Plugging Away

I queried another literary agent about one of my mystery novels yesterday.  Hopefully it will lead somewhere.

I've read novels not better than mine, in my opinion, which is frustrating.  We'll see what happens.

Philip

While I was eating supper last night, my aide Philip had what seemed to be a fairly severe pain in his right side.  I was concerned, first because he's a good guy and secondly because he's now my main daytime aide.  He's here virtually every day.

He seems fine today, though.

Home Games

Watching baseball on MLB Network is fun, but it has an odd definition of home game.

I don't get to see home games of the Reds, Cubs, or White Sox on MLB.  I assume it's because Indianapolis is considered to be in the home market area of both Cincinnati and Chicago.  Anyway, I am getting to see more Pirate games, which is good.

Pacers Fall

Well, the Pacers lost at home last night.  They play all season to get homecourt advantage in the playoffs, then they can't hold it.

The good news is that the Pacers have shown they can win on the road in the playoffs, including in Miami last season, as I recall.  Now, they'll have to.

Another Aide Issue

The aide who was supposed to do my dinner shift last night forgot to come.  When she finally arrived, well over an hour late, she apologized to me several times because she knew I needed the bathroom, and she made me a nice supper.

However, she was still here when the next aide arrived, and she told him had she known he was coming so soon she wouldn't have come at all.  That would have left me without the bathroom for about another hour.  That statement didn't strike me as being entirely consistent with her apologies.

Folorunso

My aide Folorunso is due to come back to work tonight after his trip to his native Nigeria.

The aides who filled in for him were just fine, but I'll be glad to have Foley back.

Pacers Prevail

The Pacers were able to beat the Wizards last night, winning that series.  Now they have what they seemingly have been wanting all season, a rematch with Miami in the conference finals.

The Pacers, at their best, have shown they can beat the Heat in big games.  The problem is they haven't played their best in a while now.  Maybe the Heat will bring the best out in them.

Getting A Shower

I asked one of my aides to give me a shower Tuesday, and it turned into a struggle.  He was willing, but he didn't know how to use the shower chair.  We got that worked out, but then he couldn't get hot water in the shower, which has happened before, so, since his two hour shift was running out, we abandoned the effort.

Next time will be better.

Pacers Blow It

The Pacers could have wrapped up their playoff series at home last night.  Instead, they were blown out.

Sometimes, this team simply doesn't seem interested.

Getting Out

My aides and others often urge me to get outside, but the current schedule seems to make that tough.

As I understand it. aides from the company here during the day can't go outside with me-- yes, it's a bizarre rule-- and the aides who could go out with me are only here overnight.  That limits the jaunt options.  Hopefully, the next schedule will restore the evening hours to the aides from the right company so I can go out more.

Pacers Win

Well, I started watching the Pacers game last night, and they were getting blitzed again, so I switched over to baseball.  I switched back, though, in time to see the very end of a Pacers victory, giving them a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Hopefully, such a loss, at home, will break the spirit of the Wizards, and the Pacers can wrap up this series quickly.

Geese

We're getting towards mid May and the weather is heating up, but I still hear and see Canadian geese.

I thought they spent the summer in Canada, and they still might, but at least some of them are still here.  Maybe they're race fans.

Pacers Pull One Out

The Pacers are struggling through the NBA playoffs after being the best team in the league for much of the season, but they won a big game last night.

Hopefully, they're struggling because they're looking ahead to Miami, and they'll play better then.  If not, if they get past Washington, the Heat would blow the Pacers out.

Doing Better With The Mouse

For a while, I was having a hard time manipulating the computer mouse.  It was becoming a chore.

Recently, however, I've been doing much better.  I've found it's partly a matter of where my chair is positioned.  It needs to be over near the mouse so I don't have to reach for the mouse.

Odd Question

This happened again at supper last night.  When I turn the television to, say, a baseball game, an aide will often ask me if I like baseball.  Or football. or basketball, or westerns, or whatever.

If I didn't like baseball or whatever, why would I put that on my television?

Shopping

Jeff Davies and I went shopping SAM's Club Friday.  By car, it only took a couple minutes to get there.  I could get there in my power chair in a reasonable time except there aren't any sidewalks along the way, and the connecting street seems fairly busy.

Maybe there's a back way.  We'll see.

Citizen Yodit

My aide Yodit and her husband were sworn in as U. S. citizens yesterday.  She told me the government holds such swearing in ceremonies when there are enough people to justify it.  It so happens she didn't have to wait too long for hers.

Yodit is happy, and I'm happy for both of them.

My Bucs

My beloved Pittsburgh Pirates made the playoffs last year after twenty years of losing seasons, but they're struggling so far this season.  They aren't hitting.

Hopefully, they'll get things turned around.

Folorunso's Return

My aide Folorunso is due back at work in about three weeks.  Till then, my aide schedule looks a bit makeshift..

I'll be glad when he's back.

Bunny Time

While I was eating supper last evening, Yodit and I saw a rabbit right outside my porch, happily munching away.

There are dogs in this complex, including some big ones, so rabbits around here probably have some interesting times.

Almost

My regular aide couldn't make it this morning, but the scheduler, Jordan, who used to be my aide, got my main guy to come early, so all was well.

I knew I could count on Jordan to see that staff was here.

Out Again

Yodit and I took my power chair out again last evening, and I saw more of this complex.  It's a big place.

Poor Yodit, though.  She has a bad tooth, but doesn't want to go to the dentist because she has no insurance.  She told me she had trouble filling out the application on the website, and she had to wait a month.  Fortunately, the month is almost up.

Going To Hawaii

I'm told that to take my power chair to Hawaii, I need to contact the airline to be used, and it will take care of everything.

That's fine, but there's still the money issue, the aide issue, and my health to consider.  We'll see.

Duration Issues

Yesterday, I urinated shortly after two in the afternoon, not again until after ten last night, and not again after that until nearly five this morning.  It's a much better situation than I had a few months ago.  I wasn't in pain, only discomfort near the end, and stretching out the interval is a good thing.

Still, the next step is to get control of it so I can go when I want to, not just when I need to.

More Sleep

I'm getting more sleep lately because I can go longer without needing the bathroom.  Now I cam go almost all night without having to get up.

It's a good development.  I'm feeling more rested.

Another Aide Glitch

My one aide company again failed to provide staff here yesterday.  My other company covered up, but this happens with some regularity.

It especially tends to happen on holidays.  I understand people don't like to work holidays, but that is the nature of this kind of job.  I'm beginning to dread holidays.

So Far, So Good

Folorunso has been away about two weeks now, and so far, so good.  It's taking at least three aides to replace him because the company wants to keep everybody below overtime-- fair enough-- but the ones I've had have worked out.

Still, I'll be glad when Folorunso gets back.

Selling Novels

I'm still trying to sell the novels I've written.  I try to keep my literary agent into getting my science fiction novel out to editors, and I still have four mystery novels I'm trying to sell.  Hopefully, one day I'll be able to live on money I've earned.

We'll see what happens.

Loud Aide Revisited

Last week in this blog I mentioned an aide was singing the night before while I was trying to sleep.  Well, last night that aide was here again, and he apologized for the singing.

The apology wasn't necessary, but it was a nice thing to do.

Still Snowy

Forecasters said the snow that fell last night wouldn't stick, but it sure did at my place.  Not only did it stick-- on roofs, on cars, and on the ground-- but it stayed until noon, at least.

This is getting very old.

April Snow Showers

Snow is predicted for tonight after a weekend that felt very much like summer.

The snow isn't expected to stick, but still.  This is a prime example of the changeability of Indiana weather.

Yodit's A Citizen

My aide Yodit and her husband both passed their U. S. citizenship test this week, so now they're in the same boat as the rest of us.

Their swearing-in ceremony will be held in a few weeks.

Finally, Nice Weather

We are well into April and finally getting some nice weather.  No cold, no snow, no rain, no thunderstorms.  Temperatures are supposed to reach the 70s.

Midwesterners earn the good days by enduring the not so good.  The strength, patience, and optimism people around here have learned have helped shape the American national character.

Loud Aide

Last night, the aide who came at midnight was in a good mood.  He belted out the happy birthday song, presumably to his girlfriend on his cell phone, for maybe fifteen or twenty minutes.  They were full-throated renditions.

Other aides will be talking on the phone, get excited, and get loud.  They generally don't turn the television volume down.  If I do before going to bed, they sometimes turn it up again.  They seem to forget I'm trying to sleep.

So, I Was Right... And Wrong

I was right that the NCAA championship game would largely pit UCONN's backcourt against the size and power of Kentucky.

I was wrong about the outcome, however.  The UCONN guards were able to barely hold off Kentucky in a really good championship game.

UCONN-UK

UCONN and Kentucky play for the national championship in men's college basketball tonight.

I think it will come down to the UCONN backcourt against Kentucky's size and power.  I'm taking Kentucky.

MLB Network

I'm really enjoying the MLB Network since the major league baseball season opened.  It's had a game or two every day, and it's usually the broadcast and announcers of one of the teams involved, which is interesting.

Hopefully, I'll get to watch more of my Pirates' games.

No Jaunt Tonight

I was thinking about taking my power chair out for a little tour of this complex since Yodit will be here from dinner through  the night.

Alas, we've had heavy rain since last night, and the rain is supposed to continue through tonight.  I'm not supposed to get the power chair wet, so taking it out will have to wait.

More Aide Stuff

I've met the two aides who'll be taking most or all of Folorunso's hours while he's away.  They are both nice ladies who seem to know their stuff.

Hopefully, everything will go smoothly until he returns.

The Final Four

The Final Four of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament is a collection of state universities-- Florida, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

Florida has already beaten Kentucky twice this season, and Connecticut is the latest team to have beaten Florida, doing the deed early in the season.  I think this Final Four is wide open, but I'm rooting for Wisconsin.

Missing Aide

No aide showed for my morning shift today.  Somebody tried to get in at 7:30, failed, and didn't come back.

Luckily, Yodit was here overnight, and she did everything necessary before she left, but she's not here every night.  I need to be able to count on somebody being here that early shift.

Baseball And Snow

This weekend marks the beginning of major league baseball's regular season, but, wouldn't you know it, light snow is forecast for this area.

Baseball games are occasionally snowed out, especially in Denver, but I hope this is the very last of the white stuff this go 'round.

Nephew Aaron

My nephew Aaron is graduating cum laude with two degrees from Miami of Ohio in May.  He's into ornithology, the study of birds, and he's already done field work in both Australia and Alaska.  The last I heard, he wants to be a college professor.

Good going, Aaron!

Davies, Not Davis

The name of my new team leader is Jeff Davies, not, as previously reported in this blog, Jeff Davis.  So, as far as I know, it's not a particularly historic name.  Yet.

My apologies to Mr. Davies.

Folorunso

I understand my aide Folorunso is returning to his native Nigeria for five weeks to adopt a baby.

I don't know yet who will cover his shifts with me, but Yodit tells me she is willing to do some of them.  I hope she gets them.

Aide Accident

Saturday morning, on his way to me, my aide Troy was in a traffic accident.  He was not seriously injured, but the  company had  to scramble to cover his shifts here,, which it did.

Troy was scheduled to be here first thing this morning, too.  He was late, but he made it, even though he probably should have stayed home.  He was not in good shape.

Boys In The Home

Currently, my staff of regular aides is dominated by men.  Yodit is the only woman in the bunch.

I don't know whether that's be design or it just happened, and it doesn't especially matter, but it is curious.

The Big Dance

The NCAA basketball tournament is well underway.  I usually do the brackets, but I didn't feel like it this year

President Obama did, though.  He has Florida, Arizona, Louisville, and Michigan State in the Final Four, with MSU winning it all.  MSU would certainly be my dark horse pick, but I don't know about the other three.

Dental Visit

Michelle took me to the dentist today, and everything is still fine.  Kara, the hygienist, is back at work after a few months off to have a baby.  She's really good at her job, and she's also a kind, caring young woman.

So, I don't go back there till June, barring a problem before then.

New Team Leader

I understand I have a new team leader-- a guy with the historic name Jeff Davis.

I don't know him yet, but hopefully we'll be able to work well together.

March Madness

March Madness gets underway this week.  It's a wonderful, exciting time for college basketball fans across the country.

I haven't gone through the brackets yet, but don't count out Michigan State.

Last Day For Janeka

Today is Janeka's last day as my team leader.  I'm sure she's looking forward to her new job, and presumably more money, but I will miss her.

I don't know who's replacing her.  She brought a guy out here. but I don't know if he's the one or not.

Big Ten Tournament

I'm watching the Big Ten basketball tournament.  Bob Knight used to argue the conference champion should be the team that wins the regular season, not a team that might get hot in the tournament.  I agree with that, but the Big Ten is not about to listen to either of us.

Anyway, winning two or three games in this tournament is probably IU's best shot at getting in the NCAA tournament.  Purdue probably would have to win this tournament to reach the Big Dance.

Snow, Snow, Go Away

Well, we got another covering of snow this morning.  Virtually all the snow that had built up this winter had melted, but now we have another coating.

It won't last.  That's the thing about time-- it's relentless.  Good times are fleeting, but tough times also pass.  Time itself just keeps rolling along.  We are approaching the time for spring, and shortly. springtime it will be.

Warm, Then Snow

I'm actually warm as I sit here-- even perspiring a bit when I'm working hard to get my muscles to cooperate with my brain-- but Randy Ollis says snow is on the way again.

Such is Indiana weather.  Surely, though, this snow will be winter's last shot.  Surely.

The Yips

I must be getting old.  My nerves, such as they have been, are even worse some days, making it extremely difficult to use the mouse.  It generally does get easier the longer I work, though, so maybe it's an excess of nervous energy I have to work off.

Whatever, it can be really frustrating.

Jordan

I got word yesterday that my former aide Jordan is now my scheduler at Tendercare.  She'll be responsible for seeing to it that each Tendercare shift is covered.

It's good news.  I'm confident Jordan will have somebody here every shift.  If she can't find somebody occasionally, she can come herself, which would be nice.

Into The Fifties

Today's sunshine finally has some real warmth to it.  Forecasters are seeing a few days with highs in the fifties ahead.

This long, tough winter may at last be fresh out of storms.

Jeff

My brother Jeff, in an email yesterday, felt it was absolutely necessary to tell me that at that very moment he was playing golf in San Diego.

Jeff will pay for that some day.

Janeka

I'm told that Janeka, my fearless team leader, is resigning as of March 17.  My case manager is also leaving, on March 6.

I've come to depend on Janeka a lot since leaving the nursing home.  She's a nice young lady who has always been willing to help me in any way I needed, getting me through a rough period with my bladder with her calm, steady support.  I will miss her.

At Last, A Break

The storm predicted for this past weekend turned out to be less than early predictions indicated, so we finally caught a break this winter.

Winter is not my favorite season, but it usually doesn't bother me.  This one, however, has been rough.  Hopefully, we can get through the next three weeks or so without another major winter weather event.

Curious Trend

My overnight aides have slept then, even though they're not supposed to.  I have no issue with that as long as they come when I need them, and that has gotten much better.  Also, I'm sleeping right through the night on occasion now, which is great.

I've noticed, however, that the aides in my daytime and evening shifts have begun nodding off on occasion.  That's no big deal for me, as I'm up and doing my thing, but it might be something the system should note.

Aide Story

I've had a particular aide twice on weekends.  She's a really nice young woman, but she has a peculiar approach to her job.  She would've stayed in the bathroom with me if I hadn't told her to leave.  As it was, I think she stood in the hall waiting for me.  After that, she sat on the floor in my office as I worked on my computer and watched the Notre Dame basketball game.  Happily, she's an Irish fan, too.

She seems to interpret her job as being by my side all the time she's here.  I'm used to more elbow room.

Client Service And Email

One of the companies I use, on its website, has a way for prospective clients to email the company, but, as far as I can tell, no way for current clients to do so easily.  I'm told that's pretty standard throughout the industry.  The message sent is fairly clear, even without email.  They want you as a client, but once they have you, they want you to shut up.

Reforming that situation to allow a client another option to communicate with his or her healthcare company should be simple enough.  Using email can be an efficient communication method.  It can also keep an accurate record of exchanges, which might possibly be why some companies shy from it.

Aides And The Bathroom

It turns out to be a good thing that my new apartment has two bathrooms.  My aides use the second one a lot.

Some of them, some days, are in the bathroom longer than I am while they're here, and while I'm in one bathroom,  the aide will often go in the other one.  I don't know if there's some psychological explanation for that or not, but on my tough days, it's good they don't have to wait on me.

Computer Woes

This post is later than usual because my new computer acted up.  First it froze, and then the mouse stopped working.

Fortunately, my aide Philip is computer savvy, and he fixed it.

Another Weekend

Through the week, we now have a pretty stable aide schedule, which is good for me, and weekends also seem to be becoming more regular, though there's still a mix-and-match element then.

We'll see what happens this weekend.

At Last

Bare ground is finally visible again around here as the snow is melting in a big way.  I saw one guy outside with no coat.

It's supposed to get cold again next week, but that won't last.  Spring is finally on the way.

Niit Picking

Janeka told me this morning an aide had left a note saying I needed face lotion.  Well, I don't.  I've never really used the stuff.  Body lotion yes, face lotion, no.

Aides regularly say I need this or that.  Generally, they're right, but sometimes it's this left field stuff.  I guess I'm not in the best mood right now, but these little things are annoying.

Bathroom Stuff

Going to the bathroom is becoming much easier.   I'm almost at the point that I can go when I want to, not just when I have to.

Maybe I'm beginning to move beyond the bladder cancer period.

Baseball

Baseball spring training opens this week. 

I'm always happy to see that, but this winter has been particularly long, cold, and snowy-- and for my family, sad.  Opening Day will be a relief for millions of Americans.

More White Stuff

Well, it's snowing pretty good again.  That's the bad news.

The good news is that major league baseball spring training camps are beginning to open.  Better weather is on the way.

Finally.....

The weather finally might be breaking.  Early predictions say the temperature could reach 50 next week.

That would be a relief, though one of my aides hasn't seemed to mind the cold and snow.  He's come through the winter in a coat, hat--- and sandals.  No socks.

Westminster

The last two evenings, as I do every year. I took a break from college hoops to watch the Westminster Dog Show.

It's great to see all the breeds, learn something about them, and cheer on my beloved dachshunds.

Difficult Day

Today would have been Mom's 80th birthday.  I had imagined her kids having a big birthday party for her....

This will be a difficult day for Mom's family.

He Man Me

Saturday, I had two aides-- one of whom had never worked with me before-- comment on how physically strong I am.

I can only conclude they work with a lot of elderly, ill, weak people.  The new aide took my blood pressure, too, and it was 120/65, which surprised both of us.

Grace.... Again

The nurse from Grace At Home surprised me with another visit this morning.  She said everything is fine and promised to see me again in four weeks.

If I'm fine, why do they need to come every month?

Dogs

Lately, someone has been walking what looks to be a beautiful young German Shepherd past my apartment.  I've also seen smaller dogs in this complex.

I'd like to have a dog for companionship and love.  I always felt safer when we had a dog, too.  On the other hand, a dog would be one more complication.  We'll see.

Storms

The storm hit pretty much as expected last night, and the worst is over.  Also, the storm forecast for this weekend doesn't seem to be a big deal.

Hopefully, we are turning a corner.

Another Storm

Still another snowstorm is due to hit later this afternoon.  Forecasters are saying it will dump 6 to 10 inches of new snow.  Yet another storm is expected this weekend.

I'll be so glad when this winter is over.

Not A Super Super Bowl

The Seahawks crushed the Broncos in the Super Bowl last evening.  The Broncos were never in the game after the first quarter, marking a sad end to what had been a dominating season.

Just to note, the Colts beat both Seattle and Denver this season.

Yet Another Storm

Another major storm, perhaps producing several inches of new snow, is forecast to hit early next week.

This has been a trying winter in several ways for me and my family.  I'll be glad when it's over.

Upsets

I spent last night watching the Big Ten Network.  It featured two huge upsets-- Penn State over Ohio State, and Northwestern over Wisconsin.

The Big Ten is an incredible conference this season.  The conference tournament in March could be spectacular.

Sippy Cup Frustration

One of my regular aides is on vacation, so I had a new guy last evening.  During supper, he'd put the sippy cup in my mouth, but just as I began to suck, he'd take it away.

It was really frustrating, but we got through the meal, and my regular guy is due back next week.

Hope For Spring

I had birds pecking around on the ground outside my apartment this morning, around the poor, beaten down rose bush.  One of the birds was a fat red cardinal.

I'm sure all the birds were the kind that stay here all winter, like cardinals, but seeing them after such a tough winter-- in more ways than one, for me-- still gave me hope for spring.  I hear the birds chirping as I write this.

Family, Friends, And Flowers

Mom's funeral last Friday went well.  Even though the day was extremely cold, most of Mom's family were there, as were many of her friends.  There were also lots of flowers.

Mom was loved by lots of people.

Tough Time

There will be no blog entry tomorrow, as I will be at Mom's funeral.

This, as you can imagine, is a tough time for me and my family.

Jittery

I'm having more trouble than usual operating my computer this week.  Handling the mouse is a particular challenge.

It's no doubt caused by grieving over Mom's passing.  My nerves aren't great anyway, and stress doesn't help.

Funeral

Mom's funeral will be Friday, in Muncie, where she grew up, and where she raised her family.

She'll be laid to rest beside Dad, her husband of almost fifty years.

Google

Google decided today was the day to make me enter my password before I could gain access to my blogs.  It's a pain for me because Google doesn't show what I'm typing, so I often make mistakes.

I don't need that hassle just now.

Mom Is Gone

Mom passed away yesterday afternoon.  She went quietly, holding the hand of her only daughter.

Mom was remarkable.   She was a woman of courage and strength and love.  She devoted her life to her family.  She took care of me daily for 57 years, and saw to it that I got an education.  She did a lot for Dad in the final years of his life.  She was always there for her kids, and for her sisters.

She was also a fun, friendly person.  She loved to laugh.  We liked to tease her about talking to a wrong number for 45 minutes, but the fact is Mom did that.  Maybe more than once.  It speaks to how she treated people, and to how people responded to her.

Greg, Kim, Jeff, Joe, and Jon will never get over losing Mom, but we will always be proud to be her children.

My Weight

Out of the blue last night, when Yodit was giving me a shower-- we ran out of hot water, by the way-- she said she thought I was gaining weight.

I don't know whether I am or not, but Yodit has taken care of me since I was in the nursing home, so if she thinks I am, maybe it's so.

Mom

Mom is in hospice care at the nursing home now.  The goal is to keep her as comfortable as possible until the end.

My brother Jon, who has been a rock through Mom's final illnesses, tells me Mom sleeps most of the time now.

Names They Call Me

The various aides I've had recently has brought up an odd phenomenon that started at the nursing home-- different aides call me different names.  Most call me Greg, but some use Mr. Anderson, or Gregory.  One even calls me Gary.

Who knows what else they might call me.

Rotating Aides

My aide Tiffany hasn't been here for a while because she has no reliable transportation at the moment, so various aides have been filling in.

It has worked well enough, but I'll be glad when Tiffany has some new wheels.

No Grace

Well, Grace At Home called Friday morning saying they'd be around that afternoon to give me a chest X-ray, but they never showed.  I don't know if they called and cancelled or not.

I'm just as happy they didn't come, of course.  I'm in no mood to deal with such silliness.

Grace At Home

Grace At Home called this morning and said they're coming this afternoon to give me a chest X-ray.  As if I'm not dealing with enough right now, they want to pester me with this.

I reluctantly agreed to this, but I want some new rules.  I went on their website intending to lay those out, but as far as I could tell, prospective clients can contact them via the website, but current clients cannot.  If that's the case, I find it interesting.

Good News

I went to my urologist today for another scope, and my bladder is still cancer free.

I don't have to go back for another scope for six months.

Cathy

My cousin Cathy passed away last week.  She was only a couple years older than I am.  The cause of her death was double pneumonia, but I don't think Cathy had been in good health for years.

This is an extremely tough winter in more ways than one.

So Far, So Good

The temperature is still right at 0 and the wind chill is well below that, but we seem to be past the worst of this winter blast.  A moderation over the next few days is predicted.

My aide companies have had to scramble, understandably, but they've done a good job of getting people here when I need them.

Big Storm

Indiana was hit by a major snowstorm yesterday, and now we have subzero temperatures and a dangerous wind chill until tomorrow.

It has caused a shuffling of aides and anxiety for me, but so far, I'm okay.

Aunt Mila

My Aunt Mila, one of Mom's two sisters, passed away yesterday after a long illness.

Aunt Mila was quite a woman.  Feisty, opinionated, and outspoken, she was completely devoted to her children.  A divorced woman, she worked hard and sacrificed a lot to give her kids everything they needed to succeed in life-- and succeed they have.  Aunt Mila was a woman of principles and passions, fury and fun.  She was terrific.

Snowstorm

A big snowstorm hit here overnight, making travel tough for my aides.

Janeka was here about noon, however, and she said the roads were getting better, so hopefully Tiffany can get home easily, and Yodit will be able to get here about 6.

Monday

Monday worked out fine.  After the exterminator was a couple hours late, Janeka took me to the house of another client of my aide company, where we waited.

It was the first time in a while I'd been in a house, and I enjoyed it.  We were also able to get back in my home sooner than expected, which was a big plus.