Nature Songs ~~~~

DECEMBER,1999, continued

December 7,1999 - Wes called about supper time last evening to say that he was on the way to the doctor's office with BusyKid. He was running a fever and not eating. That meant that Wes didn't get over to do anymore preparing for the big event of the week; repairing the water damage. He called later to say that the little one had both ears infected. That's a scenario repeating itself, but in a different part of the family.

Today is beginning as one of those days! Not just one of Those Days!, but ONE OF T H O S E! DAYS!! How some people can go through life full of a monotone sameness everyday, I shall never understand. Life around here is always full of the unexpected, the risqué, scene changing and challenging events. And it is not my imagination causing them. This time, it happened to be an early morning call from Wes. He needed me to come to his rescue, just as I have done often throughout practically all of his life. This time is yet one more unexpected variation of events just as each of the others have been.

This one began Tuesday, past. Wes was on his way back to the office after visiting one of the factories to do some work. He was driving on a city street and one of those stranger than fiction events unfolded before his eyes. ER! Under his truck, rather. As he was driving along what better way to describe the events than to say that quite literally, a manhole cover attacked him! What kind of damage can such a round piece of metal inflict? A whole bunch of expensive damage. At first viewing, his rim was badly bent and the tire was flat. He called the police and filed an accident report, thankfully, before changing the tire and rim. He was not far from his insurance company so he stopped and talked with them, thinking that his comprehensive coverage would take care of the repair work. Not so! He was told to report it to the city and have them to take care of it. They were the ones responsible for the proper care of the manhole cover and that apparently someone had not locked it on when it was replaced. Sounds simply enough. Again, not so!

A call to the street department and the summation, "Well, since that cover had not been reported as broken, we are not responsible. There's nothing we can do about it." He informed them that they should be getting a call because he filed a report with the police. "YOU DID!" Sure enough when he drove back by, there they were working on it. He made a few more calls with no good results. The best answer he received was, "I'll call around and get back to you." Checking about the cost of replacing the broken hubcap didn't help the situation any - $420 to replace it and that does not include the tire.

His truck has two gas tanks and at the time he was using the front one. When he put gas in the back one on Saturday, there was a strong odor of gas which he should not have. Climbing under the truck, he saw a freshly dented place on the tank. Apparently it had been damaged by the manhole cover, too. He still had not heard back from the city.

Bright and early this morning he was driving in Burke County to one of Broyhill's plants there. He was in a 45 MPH zone. As he turned into the parking lot of the plant he heard a strange sound; felt something, and wondered what in the world? The truck would not move. Looking in his mirror, what should greet him, but his wheel and spare tire laying in the road behind him. The axle had broken! Some metal piece laid on the pavement there beside the wheel. A tow truck had to bring them back to our garage repairman's lot.

I met him there with my truck so he could get all his work tools and stuff changed over and continue with his work for the day. Mr. Repairman took one look at the truck and the first thing he said was, "See it caught your bumper and bent it, too!" Wes hadn't noticed that yet. He called the insurance company from here and once again, they informed him that the city should take care of the repair bill. Of course, the city is still giving him a run-around, saying it is all his fault. He is responsible for all damages because the manhole had not been reported as broken. Sounds like there may be a battle brewing in the area. Wes feels, "Well, if they are not going to take care of things and expects others to be responsible, the covers should not be placed in the middle of all the streets. They should be over at the side or on the sidewalks. The past few days he has become very aware of just how many manholes and covers there are in the city streets. There are a lot. It would take people a lot of extra time to slow down and avoid running over each and every one to keep from causing any damage to the covers or to themselves.

December 8,1999 - Lady was unable to come help out with the house last evening. She is in the middle of getting things finished at her own house. She bought the house her Dad started some years back. There was much to be done on it before the closing date of her loan which is the 22nd of this month. I probably looked a sight trying to get some of the things moved and out of the way before the workers came this morning, but I just hated to have to make Wes do it all. He had already taken the electric heat units out of Mother's room and still had to cap off the electric lines and pull them through to the basement and we had forgotten about the heat units in the den hidden behind the couch. He got them out just before the Floor crew brought the new oak flooring by so it could acclimate to the house temperature. Then there was the china cabinet to empty, putting my three big dolls, the china and crystal and my little dolls for the perpetual calendar in a safe place until after the flooring was installed.

The workers came early and began a task that took them until after dark to nearly complete. With backs aching the last of the boards were hammered in place on top of the felt which was on top of the linoleum, on top of another oak floor, on top of a subfloor, held up by solid oak beams. Kiddingly, one of them say that the floor was strong enough to use as a garage or park cars on. I dare anyone to try such a thing. It is much too pretty for that. Surprisingly, it matches up well with my oak flooring in the two rooms adjacent to it. We will have to refinish them to match now.... "Wes! Hope you can get it done before too long. Maybe as a Christmas present?"

I left right after the workers showed up for a short while. Charlie, sporting his sweater to get him warm and toasty, and Oreo were confined to Mother's room while I was gone. Allie and I had our day at the Q4L again. Neither of us felt up to going, but we decided we would go regardless of how we felt. That's the beauty of doing it with a friend, you can prod and encourage each other. We both took more time moving around by resting in between things we did. She walked around the track one more time than I did, but then, I did the peddling longer than she did. My summary at the end of both times I did it came back as poor. That must have been because I had my heart rate up around 120 for most of the time. No, I didn't get hot, sweaty or out of breath. In fact, it made me feel pretty good getting those endorphins flowing. The pool is still not open, but we tried our skills at doing some warm-ups with the aerobic group. I was surprised that I could do some of it - but did I ever feel the effects after I got home!.

I lost Charlie while the workers took a lunch break. I thought it would be a good time to let them out in the house and to take a break in their own private yard. Charlie had other ideas. I couldn't find him anywhere in the house, but when I went into the sunken room, I saw exactly what had happened. The workers had left open the sliding glass door with a drop cord running through. Mr. Charlie would never pass up such an opportunity. I knew where he was. The question now was how far has he gone and will he listen when I call? It was interesting that when I asked Oreo to find Charlie, he ran to that room and barked. Once outside, I asked Elsie Dawg where he went and she looked toward the field. Listening, I could hear him in the leaves, not far from her. He was in no hurry to go anywhere, and at his own speed, he ambled back to the house and a tasty treat waiting for him.

December 9,1999 - Mother must have called at least ten times, if not more, yesterday. Every time I turned around I was having to answer the phone. Considering the other calls that I took, I spent a lot of my time on the phone. If I included the computer and online time there - - - That would be better left unsaid....

The two workers are definitely of the modern cellular age. They each had their own cellular phone. All during the day one of them would make a musical jingle and they would answer the call and walk around working and talking as they worked. One phone would sound and they would ask each other, "Is that your call or mine." No it did not bother me, because they were working by the job and not the hour and they did keep working.

This morning I was in slow motion and seems that the workers were as well. Three of them came in the big truck with the rugs and padding about mid-morning. They had said it would only take three or four hours to install the carpet. There was still some molding to install around the edges of the new floor and two doors to cut off before hanging, but that takes very little time. One wall of the molding is left off, because Wes will have to pick up a piece of wood to finish up the wall where he took the electric heater out of that room. The wiring there was easy to do. That particular line had been disconnected at the main panel, and he was able to cap them and just stuff the line back into the wall to be patched over before adding the baseboard and molding.

It is good to get the water damage control finished and ancient history. I am thankful that we had a third option for repairing the upstairs and not having to move everything out of the front of the house. By choosing the oak flooring, the workers were able to scoot the heavy china cabinet, sofa, table and piano to the side in the same room. They did have to lift them back in place on the new floor. Instead of putting a runner back on the steps, they said it was just as easy and the same cost to cover the whole steps. That is better for me, so I said, "Go for it. Carpet it all." This carpet is so much nicer than the runner was. The runner was a dark green pattern. The new carpet is a lighter beige color with small flecks of color throughout. Now just to get the rest of the house updated to match the new. Wonder what my own kids would do if I asked their help in redoing the rest of the house! Maybe some things are left better unspoken, or at least said in a joking manner. Nearly forty years of accumulating leads to a lot of unused paraphernalia strewed from hither to who knows where.

My back is relentlessly reminding me of that little attempt at aerobics yesterday morning. The instructor that will be over the pool once it is opened used to be at the Aquatic Center when I took the water exercise there. I remember how she would wear a pair of leotards under her swimsuit to help combat the coldness of the water. She was talking with us today as we prepared to leave. Her suggestion on regular aerobics was that we could do better in the water with less pressure on the joints, and that we would be better off sticking with the water. I would agree with her today.

December 10,1999 - Okay, so it is a rainy, prainy day I awaken to. Not to be deterred, Allie and I keep our pact to workout; no matter what. A call to Q4L lets me know that the pool is still not officially opened. That means I have time to exercise and still make my doctor's appointment this morning. Not to worry about arriving to the doctor's office on time. I had to wait an hour because he was running behind. That's why I like to get the first appointment after lunch, I can get in and out so much quicker. I left with eight prescriptions; three of them new. My blood pressure was down some, but still up. The nurse took it twice just to make sure. It was 140/92 and that was still better than the 154/112 and so the new medicine dosage was upped. Along with the prescription for renewing the Diabetes medication, I was given a prescription for the equipment for monitoring my blood sugar twice a day. Funville! What a joy that I will get to stick myself twice a day!

Wendy, Wes and the boys came by to visit for a short time. Wendy offered to do some Christmas shopping for me if I made out a list of who to buy for and how much to spend. Once the list was completed it looks as if she will be spending in the neighborhood of six hundred dollars on family. Mother so wants to give all her grandchildren something. She doesn't realize how expensive it is for me to help fulfill her wishes sometimes. She thinks in terms of how things used to be way back when she was at home and working to bring in money and able to make things for presents. Being in a nursing home is not inexpensive. I have asked all those I talk with to try to get her gowns, clothes or suitable footwear for gifts this year. Her array of possessions at this time is becoming frayed and worn. I need to go through and discard a lot of her wardrobe making room for new and better. I also need to get her hair cut and shaped. She looks sort of bedraggled with her hair cut the way it is now.

After they left, I drove to the drugstore to pick up my personal stash of drugs. While in the store, I picked up some Christmas cards to send out. I have some at home, but with everything pushed everywhere; packed, stacked and stored to empty the rooms to work on the floors, they will be used next year. The workmen replaced the heavy stuff, but left much out of place. (They missed replacing a door downstairs. When Wes started to put it up, it would not fit. It has to have some cut off the bottom to fit over the new carpet and padding.) I bought a Japanese chicken meal for supper and headed home where I looked over the new equipment for checking blood sugar as I ate. All the directions sounded like a lot of mumbo-jumbo; so I opted to wait till morning to start on my new way of life and keeping an account of my blood sugar.

December 11, 1999, blood sugar and I am left with a bruise on my finger! The very first time I tried the new monitor, my blood droplet was not enough to work the machine and an error popped up on the screen. I had to discard that test strip; adjust the needle to pop my finger a little deeper and try again It was the second one that left the bruise. The tips of my fingers are numb and cold. They do not want to share even a respectable drop of blood for the monitor to process. Wonder if there is another way to get it!

There is a ceramic church and snow scene here at the house that was made for Mother by two of her granddaughters several years ago. It has stained glass windows which can be lit up. I plan to take it over later today and fix a display for Mother in her room so she can enjoy it for the next few weeks.

With a week of exercise behind me, my balance already feels much safer and I am using the cane less. I will take over the church today and leave the cane behind. I have a little more of a limp when I don't use it, but hopefully that will improve as I keep up the exercise. I told the doctor yesterday, that I would like to be able to throw away the cane. He said that sounded good to him, as long as I was careful and didn't get hurt.

Of course, being my same self-forgetting person that I am, I got together my Christmas cards, names, pen and stuff to go over and spend time with Mother while I addressed the cards and what did I do? I forgot to take her church over! I forgot to take her TV Guide for the new week as well. Another day; another time - she will just have to wait a litttle longer.

This evening is another of our Civic Center programs. I'm looking forward to attending. It is to be Christmas music and should be good. Just hope that there is good attendance. The good people of Lenoir often times does not take advantage of the cultural side of life which is a pity. They know not what they are missing when they choose to do other things. For me and my friend, we two shall go and enjoy.

December 12,1999 - A new routine to add to my day . . . so, the easiest for me is first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening . . . to prick my fingers ever how many times it takes to get a drop of blood to obligingly present itself for testing. I am quite stingy with the droplets and end up having to prick twice for one testing. I've already learned that it is best for me to get everything ready, prick and then insert the test strip into the slot; otherwise an error pops up if enough is not ready in 15 seconds and the test strip is wasted. That is sort of expensive to say the least.

My aunt gave me some lancets this morning when we met for breakfast and coffee before attending church together. She also gave me some information and the phone number for a place that will take care of sending me what I need each month without my having to take an extra effort to keep them supplied. They take care of the billing as well. Trouble-free testing is not exactly what I would call it, but at least everything would always be ready when needed.

Tbird brought over her children this afternoon, and BingoKid came to stay while his parents went shopping. They actually took the lonely empty tree in the sunken room and transformed it into a Christmas tree once again. So what if it has spent the past 11 months waiting there in its appointed place unadorned for this season to once again present itself. It is the handiwork of my grandsons once again and is truly a tree of youthful exuberance. They placed an angel on top this year instead of the traditional star used for many years past. After all was done, Tbird and her children had to go to their church for the Christmas program practice. BingoKid and I drove up to Little Caesar's for pizza for him, and took in the endless display of glistening flashing, twinkling, chasing and motionless icicles adorning dwellings this year. Each house is endeavoring to surpass the house next door with the abundance of icicles strung crosswise, in circumference, on top of and adjacent to each one. The electric company will reap a batch of benefits from all the displays, indisputably.

When Wes brought BingoKid by, he took time to help Tbird rearrange belongings for me since the work on the flooring has been completed. I finally got the table moved out of the center of the room - in fact, it got moved out of the room completely. A rule for one and all; this will not be a place for drinks and eating. Another rule; take care of the floor and do not slide chairs or other objects on the floor . . . I just wonder how long that one will last!

December 13,1999 - Rain has once again brought the prain. There have been better days, but true to our promise, the two of us kept our time schedule and did Q4L this morning. I wonder which of us would hurt the most? Probably me simply because I am larger than Allie and therefore there is more of me to hurt. I did two five minute periods peddling the bike and the arm extensions before we headed up the elevator to do walking laps and some more exercises on the Mezzanine. I walked around two laps while Allie made it about six this time with some rest periods in between. While she walked, I worked out on the machines tucked off in one corner hidden from the view of others. There I did my leg extensions and worked my knees and thigh, as well as upper back and arms. We opted not to do the bikes again before leaving for the day. What we did about did us in today. I'm the designated driver for the week and when I dropped Allie off, she brought out a video for me to bring home and play. I promised I would return it this afternoon so she would have it in the morning to do her stretches and toning at home. Wendy came by and saw the tape and mentioned that she had that same one. She is going to let me borrow her tape so I can do the stretches at home, too.

Bed never looked so good as when I got back home from Q4L! The endorphins didn't help out too much today. In a way, I felt better and yet the energy to move was missing. Ms. Jay and I were supposed to go to the Quilter's Christmas Luncheon today. I begged off and did not go. I did not have a food fixed as my carry-in for the lunch. I never got out to get a small present to use for playing "Dirty Santa. My material and cutting supplies are not when I can easily get to them for cutting my charm squares. It will all have to wait for next month and the new year.

I had to meet Tbird at the Valdese Hospital again late this afternoon to bring home her brood and keep the for the evening while she went to her school party. Giggles jabbered away at me throughout the late afternoon and evening. She didn't drop off to sleep until nine this evening. Her crib is in the computer room for now. When I placed her in it, she reached through the side and pulled off a bunch of papers from the top of the dresser. She also has paperback books which were stacked within her reach strewed on the floor of room. There is a mess for me to clean up before she returns . . .

December 14,1999 - My nine a.m. appointment at Q4L for designing a therapy workout for me went quite well. The trainer had some pointers for me using the bike and gave me a goal to work toward for increasing the time slowly as my endurance increased. He mainly left me with the things I had already attempted on my own, but gave me a goal, proper settings for me to use the equipment to my advantage, and some stretches to end my sessions with. Over all, he wants me in the water for at least eight weeks before trying to attempt much of the equipment. The pool is still not open for use and many of us are disappointed each time we arrive at the front door and find that the notice is still posted, "Pool Still Under Construction". Actually, there are several things that need to be added and corrected. The pool itself is up and running. The contractor is dragging his feet coming back to do a few simple tasks - and we are waiting!

Ms. Jay's oldest son and his family are arriving today from the Midwest to spend the Holidays with the family. It has been a long time since he has been able to share this time with his brothers and sisters. One of his sisters and her family will be in Puerto Rico, but all the others live around here. This evening she had all her outside Christmas lights burning as a welcome for them.

Lady came early to work in the house this afternoon. She was pleasantly surprised to find the new flooring and carpet along with the changes in reorganizing the furniture. I think she was surprised to find that the tree had been decorated for Christmas after all the long months of standing bare. BingoKid was with me and she got to meet my daughter-in-law and BusyKid for the first time today when they came by to pick him up to go to his Karate Class.

BingoKid got to spend some time with Allan today and help to move part of an oak tree that had been cut down next door. While here, Allan brought me up to date on Buddy Boy and Social Services. As it stands now, as soon as the appeal processes are passed and things are settled, the adoption should be complete within 30 days since they have had him for so long and been under supervision of the Social Services. Of course the appeals could draw out for several years, but as things stand now, not much is apt to change with the decision the judge has already made. We are all prayerfully hopeful. He is such a happy well adjusted little tike at this time.

December 15,1999 - Some days are better than other days. Some days are just plain different and unexplainably different. This was one of the latter. I awoke to find a heavy fog clinging to the ground. Allie called to beg out of Q4L since she had so much going on today and had to take a friend on a short trip. BingoKid showed up at 8a.m. to meet up with Allan for the day. I decided to wait until the fog burned off before venturing out; which wasn't until midday. By that time too many irons were in the fire for me to let loose and do much of anything about going to exercise. I consoled myself by the fact that I had been there on Tuesday.

Wendy had brought to the Shaire Center some of the things she bought for our Sunday family get together at my brother's so Mother could feel that she had taken some part in getting things ready. As Wendy wrapped the presents using the bed a•'–' it and gave her some bangs again. It is off her neck and frames her face much better. (I told one of the CNA's that I am a jack-of all-trades and master of none.)

December 16,1999 - Dad called to see if I could keep busy little Miss Giggles for a little longer today than planned. He leaves again today for the North Carolina coast to help more with rebuilding houses damaged by the flooding. Many have already forgotten these people and the long road of recovery yet to be traveled. They have years of work ahead of them. Giggles was giving her Dad a challenge while he tried to pack for his trip. She is at the stage now that the world around her is only waiting for her to explore and enjoy. She constantly must be taking in anything around her to investigate or plunder. She attacks things in a way that neither of her brothers thought of doing. NascarKid was quite unusual in that he didn't bother magazines, papers and things laying around which are normally put up out of reach for most children. DynoKid didn't bother things so much, but he did have a way of throwing his toys and stuff over his shoulder when he was done with them. He could trash toys in a matter of seconds while looking for one special prize hidden deep in the toy box. Giggles on the other hand misses nothing. She sees; she moves; she explores. While exploring, things have a way of being moved anywhere and everywhere. She has to be watched constantly.

Tbird brought the boys over after school and they stayed with me while she went to a prayer group Christmas supper in Hickory. She took time to pick up some presents for the children in the family for our get together Sunday. Christmas is happening. It slips in so quietly that before you know what has happened, that special day has arrived. Some one in Senior Net mentioned feeling as if she was in a twilight zone looking out on the world of Christmas. I know what she was expressing. It seems as if all the hoop-la, giggling, child-like magic of the season is not really happening here. I am only a spectator looking on from the sideline, alone and remembering back to another time; another place; another child . . . another world.

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