Life Goes On

Hello,

 

On a personality study I am not as empathetic as some people. Apparently I do best when I experience the situation first hand. I realize now I was never as caring as I could have been when people are caring for a sick loved one. It is amazing how Leroy’s health and well being takes most of my attention. There is also a feeling of being so unsettled and helpless. The desire to make it better is strong, but not a clue how to do that.

 

This morning Leroy woke feeling better. He took one pain pill and by nine was feeling so nauseated that he could not watch the online church service, but had to go lie down. His head was not feeling too badly. After ten, he ate a snack and we walked slowly, very slowly around the block. At the end, he again had to lie down, but with ice on his head. I did read on the Mayo Clinic site that if used too much the painkillers can cause headaches. He can at least smile if I ask him to smile. We watched a movie last night and laughed as well as cried and felt quite a lot better. Laughing and crying are good for the soul.

 

While he was lying down, I walked down to the community garden which we have almost totally neglected. It needs weeding and much water. Unfortunately, the tap that we used for water is broken and hauling water is beyond my skills. All rains for many days have passed over us and stayed in the clouds to be released elsewhere.

 

There were some purple grape tomatoes that looked ready to eat. Leroy said, after I asked, “It is not very good, but maybe it is my taste buds.”

 

I too found it rather sour. I remember them from other years being quite delicious. I am still picking red Russian kale and enjoying the mild taste. The first time I tasted it I did not like it. That first taste was from someone’s garden and quite strong flavored.

 

Paula

Selling The Stereo

Hello,

 

We are getting a bigger TV and a new stand so we needed to get rid of some things that we have around here. In the old TV stand was a stereo receiver, a CD player, and two smaller speakers. We took it to an antique record place. He actually gave us money for these things, although he said it would be a while before they sell as he is in a season of others wanting to sell to him rather than having buyers come in. It is so wonderful to get something out of the house. If this had not worked we seriously considered putting it out on the curb to give away. We have not yet tried to eliminate our smaller, bit working TV and stand. Something in, something out.

 

While we were out we stopped at the grocery store so Leroy could get some more sinus medicine from the pharmacy. While he was in the store I stayed in the car. There was a table set up for voter registration application. As I watched, three people come up and apparently registered. I was happy to see that. Two others stopped and talked a bit before moving away. Could be they just needed information or that they did not have the correct documentation. It is nice to know that people care about expressing their opinion.

 

Leroy is about the same today or perhaps a bit less comfortable than yesterday. Each day seems to have some up and down times. I keep reading more about headaches and none of it looks fun, but much of it applies.

 

I certainly hope we can find some answers soon.

 

Paula

Online

Hello,

 

Leroy spent a good part of the day attending the synod convention at home. Because of his Covid test he would not have been able to attend if it had not been online. Also because of Covid it was online. Strange how all that works. He did not feel well much of the time, but interest in something else helped to pass the time a little better. There was an election for the bishop and he was able, along with everyone else, to participate in the experience. We now have a woman bishop.

 

He also called and got an appointment to see an acupuncture practitioner. That is also two weeks away. Guess many types of health practitioners are very busy. On that day he also has a breath test as well as an MRI. Hoping something brings answers and relief.

 

I did pick up a cream for me that was done at a pharmacy where they compound it. That local job lowered the cost from $100 to $50. There are certainly some problems in the system that we have set up in this country. They do or at least did not take insurance for this, but I would have still have had to pay the $100 with insurance, so I am way ahead.

 

I am not working much these days, one day this week and one day next week, because our children are visiting. Leroy tells me he is looking forward to seeing them. Hope that helps him to feel better. Does love and care cure or at least sustain?

 

Our downstairs friends have helped by sharing some things that help Leroy to feel that he is in a recliner. We do not have such a style of chair, but he feels it could help as he hurts much more when he sits up. Lying down and sleeping seem to be the best pain free position for him. They also had an “antique” metal book holder that worked out as a laptop holder as well. More generous care!

 

Paula

Leroy's Painful Head

Hello,

 

After four months, Leroy is still having headaches and they have increased in pain level. He is now basically just lying around and moaning. He does take over the counter pain meds, but he says they never did completely take the pain away. Now they do a bit less than before.

 

Yesterday we could not get to see his doctor so we went to urgent care, but they just sent us on to the ER. They did some blood work, gave him a chest x-ray, did a CT scan, gave him a headache “cocktail” IV and asked a lot of questions. He did feel better after the IV, but not for long.

 

We are learning that we do not know how to advocate for medical care. It has been a tough job to reach his doctor, although he did call back today. We have been so healthy that we have not needed much care.

 

Leroy went back on the blood pressure medicine although it is slow working. We are hoping for some improvement in the near future. We both think that by the end of the month when he took the blood pressure medicine for the first time, he was feeling better, but he thought it was not helping much because he still had pain. He will have an MRI in two weeks. We hope that has some answers. If you are praying people we ask that you remember Leroy.

 

Paula

People in the Library

Hello,

Yesterday was the first day that I worked when patrons could come in the library and browse. They come one person or one family at a time. All wear masks and use hand sanitizer at the door. Two people signed up for time to use the computers.

One woman came in and browsed. She was so excited. She commented on how much she has missed picking up a book, feeling it in her hands, and reading the end flaps. I sympathize with those feelings. Many of our older patrons have expressed that concern. This woman was not that old, but still must like tactile ways.

Many people do look at the photos that I post on three different social media sites. I did not get all this set up; I just push buttons to get it done now that I have been trained. I am good at following orders, but not so good thinking of and setting these things in motion. New items scroll past on the home page, but these snaps of four or six similar, or all in one genre, books get more hold requests. It is telling that people do check out a lot more when they can come to library because the new shelf is much fuller than it used to be. There are some patrons who only look at the new shelves when they come in. I usually do not read the newest books because there are a lot of readers for those. I try to remember what it was that I wanted to read when it goes off that new shelf. Course, that also means that I will have time to read it and I do not have three other books at home waiting patiently for the turn of the pages. I do not spend a lot of time looking at the books when I catalog them, because there are too many in line waiting for some attention. But as I am processing I do notice some things about them.

I wish I could hug some people as they come in. It is so good to see them. Happy, Happy, Happy!

Paula

Riding My Bike to Work

Hello,

Friday, the weather was fairly nice and I worked the right hours so I hopped on the bike to begin that eleven mile ride. I did not go far before I came home because of hearing something rubbing in the wheel area. After calling Leroy, who looked but found nothing in a short time, I decided to chance it and took off again.

I noticed that every time I went around a curve I heard that sound, but on the straight I was good. I tried to stay more upright when cornering and it was better than. However I could not manage that and stay upright some times.

On the way home I noticed that the front tire seemed to be low. Leroy agreed that could have been a problem. He also noted that the tire needed air. Hopefully it will be better now.

The ride to work was quite fine even though I did not have much time to spare. Not many people were out so I did not have to be concerned about running into other riders or walkers.

The ride home was a bit of a struggle because I was tired from a day at work, it was hotter, and I had not ridden so far in one day this year. That means my bottom complained a little.

I did see a deer go across the trail in front of me and I liked that. There were a few more people out, but not so many that the trail was crowded. I hope to get some more rides this year, but I will have to work on that. It has been so hot that it does not appeal.

Paula

Getting Rid of Excess

Hello,

Today I tackled random notes or papers on the computer desk. Clutter bothers my soul. I got rid of about half of them. I feel better now. One note that was on there was about a gathering of family in two weeks. I had wanted our grandchildren to have an in person visit with our siblings, especially Leroy’s sister as only two of the grandchildren have seen her. In fact when I said something about Leroy’s sister one granddaughter was surprised and did not know he had a sister. I feel that is not a good state of affairs. Maybe next year will be a better year or who knows what we can work out.

I also needed to make some phone calls about appointments and I got that done. I just don’t like to use the phone for that. In spite of not liking to use the phone, I am grateful for cell phones that still work.

Three pieces of paper are Leroy’s and I just gathered them in a heap and that reduces the space they occupy. I will have to make a couple of calls during the week because no live person answers the phone on the weekends.

I suppose I could become modern and safe all notes on my phone. For some reason that does not appeal to me. I like the idea of paper. I also could save it on the computer, but it is too easy for me to lose things in the depths of the machine.

Each summer library employees get two t-shirts. My drawer has 13 library shirts. A strong need is growing to eliminate some of these shirts. It is almost my summer uniform at work, but none of them wear out. My other summer tops languish in the drawer, wondering why they have been so abandoned. Devising a plan to get rid of the oldest ones, but how?

Paula