Gracie

Friday night, my brother Jon's family lost a member.  Gracie, their 11-year-old Rottweiler, had to be put down.  Gracie was a great dog, completely devoted to my niece, Renee.  Gracie will be terribly missed.

I know Rottweilers have a bad reputation in some circles, but Gracie was a sweet, gentle, playful dog who never hurt anyone and never would have-- except in defense of Renee or other members of her family.  Though not huge for a Rottie, she had the classic Rottie look, so nobody in their right mind would've challenged her.  The family knew, though, that Gracie always saw herself as a lap dog.

New Case Manager

I seem to be getting a new case manager from the state.  From my experience so far, a case manager comes around every three months and spends a few minutes making sure the rules of the state are being followed.  As far as I know they are, so I don't expect changes with this new person.

I am pleased with the quality of my aides here.  At the nursing home, the quality was uneven-- some were very good, others weren't.  At TenderCare and Insights, however, I do have favorites, because we're all human and humans are like that, but all of them I've had over the past several weeks have been good.

A Year And Counting

When I first moved to the nursing home, I had trouble having regular bowel movements because I wasn't comfortable there, and I wasn't comfortable with the aides yet.  In fact, I regularly needed chemical help to go.

Today marks the first anniversary of the last instance of such help.  I was able to adjust to being there with those aides, and even with the move to my own place with a new set of aides, I've been able to stay on track.

Aren't you all glad I shared that? 

Bedtime Stories

Different aides have different ways of helping me into bed.  Most pull the spread and sheet down towards the foot of the bed, which I take to be usual.  Some, though, pull the spread and sheet sideways, front to back.  Others still just open the spread.  One aide didn't do any of that.  When I said I was cold, that aide went and got a comforter to cover me.

All these work, but it's curious how such a simple, every night thing can be done in so many different ways.

First Big Goof

While practicing in my power chair this morning, I had my first really big problem.  After maneuvering through the area twice with no problem, I ran afoul of a table and chair and also knocked over a potted plant.  I'm still not sure what happened.

Anyway, it was the first time Janeka had to help me get out of a mess.  Hopefully, it will also be the last.

Tammy

Tammy was back as my overnight aide last night.  It was good to see her again.  We get along, plus she sometimes brings me food.  Last night, for example, she brought beef stroganoff, which I had for lunch, and a couple brownies.

Tammy will be back later this afternoon, too.  Today is the first day of my new aide schedule, and it seems to still have some bugs in it, so she is doing another long shift with me.

Super Bowl Pick

The Super Bowl has taken on a brotherly theme the past few years.  Both Manning brothers, Peyton and Eli, have quarterbacked their teams in two Super Bowls, though never against each other.  That still might happen, though.  This year, the brothers Harbaugh, John and Jim, have coached their teams into the Super Bowl and will go head to head.  Mathematicians could work out the odds of brothers becoming NFL head coaches at the same time and reaching the Super Bowl in the same year, but I'm betting those odds would be way long against such a thing happening.

My prediction:  49ers 21, Ravens 17.