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.