Annual Physical

Yep, it was that time of year again.  Time for my annual physical.  That's one of those things that you need to do, but nobody really wants to.  I'll admit I had to giggle a little when I saw that someone had glued googly eyes to this turkey painting in my doctor's office.  

Overall, everything looks pretty good, but my blood sugar was a bit high, which I already knew. 

Ever since I got that flu/COVID/whatever it was back in February, my sugar has been high.  It spiked right when I got sick, and I still haven't gotten it consistently low since then.   I've had a few good days, but for the most part, it's been above 100 each morning.  He said being sick could trigger that, and we discussed some options to get it back down -- one of which was to just walk right after each meal.  It didn't take much, only 10-15 minutes.  I can't do that at work, of course, but I can after supper.    

When I said that my fasting glucose this morning was 114, he said stress could also trigger high sugar.  It's part of the fight or flight response, because your body says, "Hey, we need energy to fight or flee from this perceived threat," so it dumps a bunch of glucose into your blood.  That was probably it, because between when I took it, and when he did two hours later, it had actually gone up, and I hadn't had anything to eat.  

I was thinking that I may have overscheduled myself, because when you have a day off, you tend to want to get as much done as you can.  So, after I left the doctor's office, I went to the post office and finally mailed those hats off to the Seaman's Church Institute, then went to Walmart and got my oil changed in the car. 

But I'm getting ahead of myself...One more thing he said could cause high blood sugar is not sleeping well.  I mentioned that I never sleep well.  When he asked if I was taking anything for it, I replied, "Melatonin, but I'm fixing to stop because it doesn't seem to help."  He agreed, saying, "If it's not working stop taking it."  Then he suggested something called Magnesium Glycinate -- which won't interfere with my Crestor.  

I also mentioned some of my finger joints are getting stiff, and asked if it could be arthritis.  He said it could, but when he checked the joint, he said I could have trigger finger.  Either way, he told me to keep working it -- bend it and stretch it to keep it from stiffening up.  He suggested turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties, so while I was getting my oil changed, I picked up a bottle of that, along with the magnesium stuff he recommended. 

I want to try to come up with a turmeric - cinnamon blend I can put into my coffee or make tea out of it.  I'll have to do a bit of research on that.  Oh, and he said to take 300 mg of the magnesium, but Walmart only had 100 mg gummies, so when I got home, I got onto Amazon and found some.  I ordered some, and put it on Subscribe and Save, so hopefully it'll help me sleep. 

Last night, I hardly slept at all.  I fell asleep watching a Fat Electrician video, but then woke up and didn't get back to sleep until probably midnight.  Thank goodness I had today off, because Group Leader Shark told us to start coming in at 4:00 again.  

I'm dreading going in tomorrow and seeing what kind of mess second shift left of my stand.  Yesterday, oooh, it was awful.  It looked like a tornado hit it.  There were pieces of rod everywhere, scrap headers, and jigs left on the stand.  The weirdest thing was, I'd left an order all set up and ready to be brazed.  Whoever was on that stand on second shift moved the headers off the stand, but left the adapter tubes.  We looked all over for those headers, and finally I had the dispatcher to put in a rework order for them.  

Some two hours later, someone found them.  The second shift person had taken the entire bin off my stand, put them onto a different stand, then put some other bins on top of them.  No wonder we couldn't find them.  And I'm like, why????

But that's second shift for you.  They do what they want, and we have to come in every morning and clean up their mess...

Oh, and while I was at Walmart, I ran into an old coworker -- "old" as in from a long time ago, not necessarily age-- whom I hadn't seen in ages.  We had a little chat, but most of the people that were out there when she was aren't there any more.  Except for one of the tap fitting brazers.  I told her that I don't think he'd ever retire.  

On a similar note, when I got to the doctor's office, the receptionist greeted by name and asked after Cody.  The only problem with that is, I had no idea who she was.  I asked my doctor, and as soon as the told me her name, I remembered her.  I had gone to church with her for years, and her son is only a year younger than Cody.  I didn't recognize her at all.  Then, of course, the lady who works at the atomotive counter at Walmart remembers me from when she worked out at the plant, only I don't remember her.  It's kind of a shame.  I mean, I know her more from WM than work, but she said she wasn't out there very long.  I guess that's why.  They remember me, but to me it's like a constant stream of people coming in and leaving...It's a right regular revolving door out there.  

Speaking of messes, I'd thought I might call the clean up man and get him to help me straighten up the shed this afternoon, but as it's been drizzly and rainy all day, I put that off for a sunnier day.  It's supposed to storm tonight, but the worst of it should pass to the South of us.  I've already checked the Weatherwise app, and most of the storm chasers are down between Jackson and McComb -- with a couple of them over into Alabama.  

I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted to try out my new watering want I bought. 

It extends to 42" and I figure it'll be much easier on my back than bending over to get the water down around the roots of the plants.   

Instead, I sat inside and knit, while watching The Great British Sewing Bee, Time Team, and The Repair Shop.  

 Not a bad way to spend a day off, eh?  

Addicted

I told you it was like an addiction.  Canning stuff, I mean.  Yep, yesterday afternoon, I cut up, pickled, and canned those colorful peppers I'd bought Friday.  

I kind of wish I'd mixed the colors up a bit more when I was putting them into the jars, but I didn't think of it until just now.  But there they are.  I had just enough white vinegar left to do four jars, and coincidentally, I had just enough peppers to fill four jars-- with two of the yellow peppers left over to put into the chicken salad I'm going to go make here in a little bit. 

I had a bit of a scare when I opened the canning pot after the proscribed time to find one of the jars had tumped over in the water.  Nothing seemed to have leaked out of it, though, and it sealed up just fine, so I think it'll be OK.  I did a little research and some folks have suggested putting lidless empty jars into the canner to fill it up, so I might try that next time I only have a few jars to do.  

I've spent most of the weekend switching back and forth between watching an old BBC hospital show called The Royal and watching Olympic events.  I'm not going to comment of the controversy of the opening ceremonies because it's already been hashed and re-hashed to death, but I do want to support the American athletes.  They had nothing to do with what France cooked up, and shouldn't be punished because of it.  

NBC, of course, still has the absolute worst sports coverage ever.  I was trying to watch men's gymnastics qualifying rounds, and they only showed like one or two routines on each apparatus.  I wanted to see the whole meet.  If you don't have to work, you can watch events live on several channels, but I'm going to miss out on that because I do indeed have to work.  I think I'm going to have to stay off FB until it's all over, because there are results being posted everywhere for everything.  That's one advantage of having a memory like mine.  By the time I get to watch any of it, I'll have already forgotten. 

On the other hand, having to get up at 3:30 AM means I can't watch their prime time coverage anyway, because I'll already be in bed.  I guess I'll have to settle for highlight reels in YouTube. 

Anyway, I managed to finish another hat,  

and cast on a new one while doing all that TV watching.  

I've got enough ready to send, but since my printer is still on the fritz, I may have to contact the SCI to send me some.   

Speaking of work, I had a day off today to to my doctor for a follow up about my pre-diabetes.  I suppose I should call it insulin resistance, because my A1C has never really been high enough to be considered pre-diabetic.  It's close, but not quite there. 

Overall, he was pleased with my progress, and my bloodwork showed my A1C was down to 5.8, so apparently I'm doing something right.  I showed him the daily glucose readings and he said they weren't too bad, but optimal fasting glucose is around 80.  We talked about exercise and how important it is.  I said I have good intentions, but right now it's just too hot when I get off work and because I have to be there so early, I can't very well go before.  He suggested I do squats throughout the day, so I'm going to try that, at least until it cools off some.   Like in September. 

He also said I was down 8 pounds from my last visit in April.  I was surprised by that.  I knew I'd lost some weight, but not that much.  I'm not actively trying to lose weight; it's just coming naturally with healthier eating.  We also talked about Christmas and how that's where I struggle.  Every year, I always say I'm not going to go crazy with the sugar, but every year, I go crazy with the sugar.   Eleven months out of the year, I'm fine, but when those Cherry Cordial kisses and egg nog hit the shelves, I totally lose control.  I've googled and there are plenty of sugar free egg nog recipes, but those kisses....they're my Achilles heel.  

I'd had every intention of driving out to the lake after my appointment and walking a Pokémon Go route, but it was already starting to get hot, so I figured I'd better come home and mow before the heat dome settles in.  I got the front and side yards done, but the back will have to wait.  If I can ever get a fence guy to come out and put up my privacy fence, I won't be worrying about the back at all.  I'll mow it when I feel like it.   

Nope, I still haven't heard back from Bulldawg fencing.  I'm thinking I might have to take my friend's advice and go through Lowe's.  I wonder if I can use my veteran's discount for fence materials.  I don't remember there being any restrictions. 

And finally, I've been going through my old t-shirts and tossing the ones that need to be tossed.  That is, the ones with holes in them.  I'm keeping the ones that the design is just faded, as long as the neck isn't frayed or there aren't any holes.  Today, it's the shirt on the left that's going to the great beyond. 

On a whim, I also got the 25 and 30 year anniversary shirts and laid them all out for a photo.  I'm telling you, I never ever thought that place would still be in business after 30 years, but stranger things have happened.  

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd better get that chicken salad made. 

Laters. 

Annual Physical

You know those people who just love going to the doctor?  They love getting all the tests and the poking and prodding, buying all the newest medical gadgets and all of that stuff.  Yeah, I'm not one of those.  

Those of you with better memories than mine may remember about a year ago, I went in to try to get my cholesterol numbers under control.  I'd tried and tried to do it naturally, but it just wasn't working.  So, to avoid surcharges on my insurance, off to the doctor I went.  He put me on Crestor, and wanted to see me again in 6 months.  Things were better, but not quite where I wanted them to be, so he told me to start taking Omega-3 and come back in another 6 months. 

Today was that second follow-up, so after spending a week fighting myself not to cancel the appointment, I took a day off of work and went in to see my doctor.  All in all, everything looks pretty good, except for a couple of things.  

First up, some of my liver enzymes were a bit high.  He thinks it might be due to fatty deposits on my liver because my triglycerides have been so high for so long, however we're going to schedule an ultrasound just to be on the safe side.  That was my call, given my family history with liver cancer and all.  

The other thing he's concerned about is my A1-C.  I forgot what it is --6 point something-- but it's high enough to be considered pre-diabetic.  I know my dad was also pre-diabetic, but I don't think he ever was diagnosed with full blown diabetes.    The doc is going to set me up with a diabetes educator, and I have to go back at the end of July to see if it's gotten any better.  My insurance has a program where they'll send me a free meter and support, but I have to have a diagnosis first.  I really need to get back to eating my oatmeal, too.  I used to eat a bowl every day, but have kind of gotten away from it when they started making us come in so [unwholesome word] early. 

Anyway, he said my cholesterol numbers looked so much better, I don't have to do another 6 month follow up for them,  so I don't have to go back for those until next year.  I just have to go back for my A1-C.

 After I was done at the doctor's office, I ran by Walmart and picked up a few things for the herb garden.   For my full-sun garden, I bought some purple basil and some sweet basil. 

And some cayenne and jalapeno peppers for Cody.  

Then, for my part shade garden I got Greek oregano.  

I've got two more spots in each one, so I'll have to see if there is anything else the kids want.  Cody is the cook in the family.  I just like growing the stuff. 

Then I went by Spain's and spent those two gift cards I'd been carrying around -- one of them for 18 months.  Honestly, I don't know why everyone loves that store so much.  It's cluttered, crowded, and expensive.  I was just walking around buying stuff so I could use that gift money up, and I picked up some Velveeta Shells 'n' Cheese.  It costs .50 cents per box MORE than you can buy it for at Walmart. 

Then I tipped the bag boy way too much, but justified it by telling myself it'll be another two years or so before I ever come back to this store.  Really, it was just because I didn't have any $1s on me, and didn't want to not give him anything.  So he got a very generous tip. 

And that was it.  I came home, ate a bit of lunch, then got out and dug up the last of those daffodils from the front yard.   Here you can see the empty spot where they used to be. 

Why I felt the need to show you that is beyond me.  I've long since given up trying to find an explanation for such things. 

I did not, however, begin re-planting said daffodils.  I laid them back on my potting table, a bit overwhelmed by how many there are. 

I guess I'll just plant a few at a time until I get them all back into the ground.  

In the meantime, I think I'll go take a shower and wash the sweat from my body.  Oh, and before I go, it looks like this year's fawns will be here before we know it. 

Progress

I had to go in to the doctor this morning.  Oh, nothing is wrong.  My appointment was for a follow up to check on my cholesterol and stuff.  I'd taken in the paper from my health screening last month, so he said we didn't even have to draw blood -- and after I'd skipped breakfast and more importantly, my coffee.   

Overall, he was pleased with my progress, but I mentioned that my triglycerides were still out of control, and I didn't know what else to do to get them any lower.  He reminded me that they're a whole lot better than they were back in January, when they were 283.  So 179 is a whole lot better, though it's still a bit high.  He said those levels could also have a genetic component and recommended I start taking Omega-3, which has been shown to help.  

He asked if I was exercising, and I replied that I had good intentions, but after an 8, 10, sometimes even 12 hour shift in the factory, I just don't feel like it.  I tell myself I'm going to go walk after work, but then I get into my car and my car just goes zoop and drives me home. 

All in all, it was a good appointment, and we went ahead and scheduled another follow up for April, and my next mamo for February.  As soon as I was done, I ran by Walmart and picked up those Omega-3 and splurged on some mixed nuts. 

They're good for your heart, you know. 

After going back home and eating a bite of lunch, I decided to go for a walk.  I'd originally wanted to go walk the Hasserway Wetlands Management Area trail out by the lake, but when I'd driven out there, I saw that it was closed, so I went to the Lee Tartt Nature Preserve.  I wanted to walk the new trail, but I didn't know where it was.  Instead, I walked one of the older trails, which was really nice, but not very long. 

It was a beautiful day for being outdoors -- warm, but with a nice breeze blowing to keep it from feeling too hot.  The trail wound its way through the woods and along the Yalobusha river. 

I think tomorrow I'm going to drive down there again and see if I can find the new trail.  I hear it's really nice. 

I spent the rest of the day knitting and watching a bit of TV, and working a bit in the yard.  I've been cutting my roses back bit by bit.  I think I'm going to cut them down completely because they're dying.  I don't know how to take care of roses, and they're going to have to come out for me to replace that fence anyway.  

The last thing I did was stack up all the bits of privet and stuff I'd cut out of my fences, and it made a nice little stack of wood. 

I know privet may not be the best quality firewood, but hey, it was free.  All it cost me was a little sweat. 

On a similar note, I finally contacted the guy who'd put the ad on Facebook.  I told him I'd like to buy a cord of wood, but I'm still waiting for him to get back to me.   It's been nearly 3 hours, so I'm not holding my breath that I'm going to have any wood this year. 

I'm beginning to wonder, is it something I said?  

And Now For Some Good News

I took today off of work to get stuff done, and what did I get done? Not much -- other than laying in bed bed past 4:30 AM, I mean.  Other than that...

Really, I took the day off for my follow up doctor appointment to see if the Crestor was working, and ...we'll get to that in a moment.  First, a little background for those of you who may be new here, or those of you with memories like mine.  If you already know the story, you can skip these next few paragraphs.  

For the last 15 years or so, out at work we've had to do health screenings for our insurance.  They an optional, but if you do them, you get to pay a lower premium on you insurance.  One of the things they checked was cholesterol levels.  Mine have always been high, but I was kind of getting mixed messages about it. 

The nurse doing the screening would tell me I needed to be on medication, but when I went in for my next physical, my doctor would just say, "It's a little high.  Let's just keep an eye on it."  The next year when I did my screening at work, the nurse would tell me I needed to be on medication, and I'd reply, "Well, my doctor doesn't seem that concerned about it."  

That's part of what prompted me to choose a different doctor when I decided to get proactive about my health back in January. 

It was after my brother had his heart attack in 2018 that I decided I needed to start taking this stuff seriously.  I wanted to try to lower it naturally, so I tried all the stuff.  I cut back on sugar, tried to exercise more, even lost a bit of weight (most of which I've gained back) -- all the stuff you can read about on the internet.  I mean, changes in diet.  Eating more oatmeal and walnuts, and healthy fats like in avocadoes, and the like.  None of this kookoo bird stuff.  

I'd go in for a screening and my numbers would have improved and I'd think, "Yay!  I'm doing well!" But then the next year, they'd have gotten worse.  It was last fall I finally decided I just couldn't do it on my own.  It was time to go to the doctor.  

I waited until after the holidays, then made my appointment.  It was during that appointment, he prescribed Crestor.  And today was the day I went back in for my follow up.  

I must step a bit outside my story right now to tell you he did fuss at me for canceling my colonoscopy, and said if I didn't get one before my next follow up in October, he'd really fuss.  

And now back to the main event.  I did mention about how sore my hands are getting, and he said that's pretty normal.  He recommended the CoQ-10, and said it seems to help.  He also said he'd do a test when they did my blood work to see if the Crestor was causing muscle damage.  That one came back normal, so the soreness is just something I'm going to have to live with.  Although it does seem to be lessening as time goes on, so maybe it'll get better eventually. 

OK, OK, I know you've all been waiting with baited breath to see my numbers.  *insert eye-roll here* So, without further ado, here you go.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty chuffed about that.  Especially my triglycerides.  Those were the numbers I never could seem to get ahold of.

The plan was after my doctor appointment, I would run by Walmart and pick up some plants for my front flower bed, and though I did go browse a bit, I ended up not getting any.  Maybe I'll pick up some Vincas or something when I go in for my regular shopping trip on Friday.  Today, I was so hungry by the time I got there -- fasting for my blood work, you know -- all I wanted to do is come home and eat something.  And that, Gentle Reader, is exactly what I did.  

I'd made some chicken salad yesterday evening, and used some of the wild onion from my back yard to season it.  I'd originally dug four, but only used two, because they seemed to be quite a bit stronger than the ones you buy in the store.  It was quite delicious, that chicken salad was.  

What I didn't do was boil down the carcass and make broth.  I've got so much chicken broth anyway, plus two more carcasses in the freezer that I need to use up, I just didn't feel like fooling with it, so I tossed that one. 

Despite having the rest of the day to myself, the only thing I really got done was to move these 4 X 4s back into the old chicken coops. 

I'd put them beside the shed to stack my firewood on, but since my firewood guy ghosted me, I figured I didn't need them any more.  I'm probably going to cut that blackberry bush down, and I don't know what else I'm going to do here.  Maybe I'll just let the clover spread to fill it up. 

I spent the rest of the day watching documentaries and Time Team episodes and knitting.  I got this far on my latest hat

before I ran out of yarn.  As luck would have it, the skein I joined just happened to also be in a stretch of black, so the join was pretty seamless. 

I guess that's about it for today.  I think I'll go take a quick shower then find a movie to watch or something.  Oh, speaking of movies, I watched The Book Thief last weekend.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  

You'll need tissues.  

Consider yourself warned. 

Dang It!

Dang it!  I knew there was something I was forgetting to discuss with the doctor yesterday!  And I remembered what it was in the middle of the night, when I was in the throes of it...insomnia. 

Sigh, maybe I'll remember next time. 

The thing about it is, it's not so much that I can't sleep.  It's that my work schedule demands that I sleep during hours other than the ones my body wants to.  My body doesn't want to sleep from 6:30 to 2:30.  It wants to sleep from 10:30 to 6:30.  When I'm off for a few days, say over Christmas break, I sleep just fine.  Mostly.  I mean I do have the occasional sleepless night, but I'm pretty sure every body does.  But I sleep much better because I'm able to sleep when my body wants to.  

Speaking of the doctor, they got back with me about my lab results shortly after I posted yesterday, and yes, my cholesterol is very high.  He prescribed Crestor, and we'll re-check in three months. 

They also said my A1C was like 5.1, but I wonder if that's because it's just after Christmas.  When you eat pretty much nothing but sugar for a month, yes, your levels are going to be higher.  

One of my liver enzymes was a bit on the high side as well, but apparently not high enough for him to be overly concerned with it.  I don't know why it would be high, but it's something we can keep an eye on.  

Since I had to run in after work and pick up my prescription, I went ahead and did my weekly shopping. I really didn't need much this week, so I splurged on some frozen fruit to make smoothies with.  I'd made a smoothie with my salad greens and carrots yesterday, but it wasn't very smooth.  Clearly, I need to practice more.  Still, it tasted good, and was healthy.  

Plus, I hit three miles on my pedometer today, so yay for me!

Finally, here's a photo of my with some of my crazy coworkers. 

The guy taking the pictures took about six, but didn't manage to get a single one where everyone was a) still, b) smiling, and c) looking at the camera.  Alas, I couldn't both take the photo and be in it, so it is what it is.

And that's all that it is. 

All Is Well

Today was the day. 

I'd taken off to go to my doctor's appointment, which wasn't until 9:45, so the first thing I did was to lay in bed until nearly 6:00.  Let me tell you, it felt wonderful.  If only I could have turned off the alarm cat...

After a leisurely morning, I got dressed and went down to the doctor, and we discussed a few things.  My blood pressure is lower than it was last week, but it's still a bit high.  I told him about my little episode last week, about how paranoid I'd gotten about having a heart attack, and he wants to keep an eye on my BP to see if it comes down a bit more before diagnosing me with hypertension.  He told me to keep monitoring it at home, as well. 

I mentioned that it had been high last week, and said I thought it was because I had the flu, but when I described my symptoms, the doc said he though I'd had COVID.  I replied, "Huh, I never would have guessed that, because I didn't run fever, or lose my sense of taste and smell."  But he said, yeah, it sounded like COVID to him, even the diarrhea.  Which I am so glad is over....

Anyway, I brought up the spells of lightheadedness I've been having and asked if they could be related to elevated blood pressure, but he said it wasn't likely.  He said they're more likely because I'm getting older.  He said that some people develop an arthritis like thing on the bones in the inner ear which could cause dizzy spells, or it could be allergy related, or even something caused by wearing ear plugs every day for 28 years.  I said, "That's why I'm here, to find out if something is wrong, or if I'm just getting old."   I told him I used to come all the time, but for some reason, I just stopped.  He said, "Well, you're here now, and we'll get you back on track."  

We also discussed my cholesterol levels, and he said that given my family history, we'll probably need to take a more aggressive approach.  He ordered blood work, and pending lab results will probably put me on cholesterol lowering medication.  Last thing before I left was to set me up to start getting my mammograms again, and oh, yay, my first colonoscopy.  I'll have to have a driver for that one, since they put you to sleep. 

Really, I need to find some local friends so I don't have to keep asking Cody to take off work and drive me to these things. 

Last but not least, I mentioned that I wanted to start walking again, and the Doctor said that'd be great.  So as soon as I left I ran by Walmart and bought me some walking shoes.  

The minute I got home, I went for a walk up and down the road...in my work boots.  I can't help it.  They're so comfortable.  I'm going to try to start walking some of the trails down by the lake, too.  There are so many nice places around her to walk.  I just can't seem to pry my butt out of the chair and get going.  Maybe if I go straight from work, I'll do better. 

I finally got a photo of the house up the road that burned down a while back. 

I don't know what happened, or even when it burned, really.  I just looked down there one afternoon after work, and it was gone. 

And I broke down and bought a magic bullet blender, and a package of mixed greens.  

I have some carrots and apple juice already, and so I'm just going to experiment and see what I come up with. 

The last thing I bought was some bright colored yarn to make my charity hats. 

I spent the rest of the day watching TV and knitting, but look!  Look what came in the mail!

Sigh...my little baby really is all grown up now...

Another Whelming Flood Day

 Whew, what a day!  

It all started yesterday, really.  Shortly after I posted, I realized I just felt awful.  I thought it was due to lack of sleep, so I went on to bed around 6:30.  Turns out, that wasn't it.   It would seem I've picked up some sort of stomach bug.

I don't really feel bad, per se, other than just a bit weak and shaky.  I just can't seem to stay out of the bathroom.  Even so, I got up at my usual 2:45 and went on to work.  I made it through the day, but I had to run to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so.  Sometime after lunch, ummm...TMI warning, things started to ...um....solidify just a bit.  I mean, I'd still consider it diarrhea, but more of the soft serve variety than the brown water variety. 

As if that weren't enough, I'd noticed over the last week or so I was having little dizzy spells, along with slight headaches across my temples and forehead.  Knowing hypertension runs in my family, I dug out my trusty blood pressure monitor and took said blood pressure.  Yep, it was a bit high -- 145/90.  I also noticed my heart rate was a bit elevated as well. And I know my cholesterol is high.  I've been trying to get that down naturally for a while now, but after my last screening in September, I decided it just wasn't working.  I'd need to go to the doctor. 

This afternoon, when I got home, I took my BP once again, and it was still reading in the 145/90 range, so I picked up the phone and called my doctor, the same one I've used for nearly 29 years, to make the appointment. 

Now, let me step outside my story for a minute to tell you I'm an introvert, and as such, hate making phone calls.  Last night, as I lay in bed having my nightly conversation with Jesus, I said, "Lord, I need you to keep poking me until I call the doctor and make this appointment."  Sigh, aren't I pathetic?  Needing divine intervention just to make a phone call. 

OK, back to my story.  I picked up the phone and called my doctor, only it's been so long since I've been, they'd deleted my medical records.   The receptionist told me they couldn't take me on as a patient without having my medical records sent over.  "But they were all there,"  I replied.  I explained to her that Dr. Armstrong has been my doctor ever since I moved to Grenada in 1994.  After a few rounds, she spoke to another doctor in the office, Dr. Reid, whom I've also seen as a patient, and he gave the OK for me to come in and see him.  We set up my appointment for next Wednesday morning.  

While I had her on the phone, I asked about my blood pressure, and if it was high enough I need to go to urgent care or something.  She asked a nurse, and the nurse said it would be OK until next week.  So, finally, after putting this off for far too long, I'm getting my old ticker checked out.  Really, I'd meant to go in after my brother had his heart attack in 2018, but kept putting it off.  I need to get it done, though, as I feel like I'm already on borrowed time.  I'm 58 years old, and my mother had already had 2 or 3 heart attacks by the time she was my age, my brother was 55 when he had his, and my grandmother had had a major stroke when she was 53 or 54.  I don't know why I thought I was going to escape all this.  I guess I hoped I'd be the lucky one, but it appears I was not. 

Well, the deed is done and the appointment made.  That's a load off my mind. 

But wait, there's more. 

There I was at work, along about 4:30 AM, when one of my coworkers came running over to the department in a panic, looking like she was about to cry.  

"Miss Mary done passed away!" she yelled to all of us. 

"Miss Mary?" we asked a bit befuddled.  

"Miss Mary who works right there!" my coworker said, point to the TXV table where Miss Mary had worked.  "I've got [her sister who also works at the plant, just in a different department] on the phone right now."  

We don't really know what happened.  She'd gone home early one day last week, so weak she needed her sister to take her home, but said she'd felt better and was going to come back to work today.  Her husband went to make her some breakfast, and when he went back to the bedroom to get her, she was gone. 

Nobody could believe it.  She was a bit on the odd side, but she was always nice to me.  

And just to add insult to injury, we've got severe weather expected tonight, including the possibilities of a tornado.  I'm feeling like I can't catch a break here...

What with all that has happened, this was what I call a Whelming Flood Day*, so I think I'm just going to go to bed early tonight.  

*The Solid Rock, third verse

TMI

Yep, this is going to be another one of those TMI posts, so if that bothers you, stop reading now. 
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Still here?  Good, then.  Let's get this party started.

For those of you who may not remember, I've been having that constantly gotta go feeling for a while now.  I mentioned it to my regular doctor during my physical back in June, and he set me up an appointment with the urologist. 

Today was that appointment.  Well, when I got there, I had to give a urine sample.  Then they did a scan of my bladder to see if I was retaining urine. 

I was.  Even though I'd felt like I'd completely emptied my bladder, the scan showed I still had 108cc of fluid still in there.  He said that for women, anything over 50cc is retention.

The good news is, now we know what the problem is.  The bad news is, my allergy meds are probably causing it.  The doctor said that allergy medications taken over a long period of time can cause constriction of the urethra, which is why I am having trouble emptying my bladder.  I asked him if there was something else I can take, and he said no, they all do it. 

Oh, great.  I get to choose between running to the bathroom every 5 minutes and breathing. 

Breathing is kind of important, so he put me on a low dose of meds they usually give to men with prostate problems.  It's supposed to ease that restriction and...um...make things better.  He wants to see me back next month. 

So, I spent an hour and half in the waiting room, then another half hour in the exam room, and five minutes with the doctor. 

And it wasn't even this Doctor.

That would have made the wait worth it.

I spent the rest of my day off getting Jimmy's oil changed, and taking Jesse in for his annual vaccinations.  Then I came home and watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer until time for The Big Bang Theory. 

And that was my day off, and your TMI.

Some people may ask me why I would share something so personal, but I figure that if I share my story, someone else might have the courage to speak to her doctor about her own problems.

That's why.

Lots To Catch Up On

So, let's just jump right in there, shall we?

Today was the day for my annual physical, which usually gets done every 2 years, so I took the day off.  I always try to get the earliest available appointment, because they rather you fast for your bloodwork.  I know some people at work who will get 4 PM appointments, then go all day without eating or drinking anything-- at work.

Sorry, bub, I can't do that.

But I digress...

Anyway, I got a clean bill of health, but he did a few things he hasn't done in the past.  He listened to my carotid arteries, for one.  I guess as you get older, there's more stuff they need to check.  I still got a clean bill of health.  My weight and blood pressure are "perfect" as he said, and my weight is holding steady.  It'll take a couple of days for the lab work to come back, so I've still got to wait for that.

He did refer me to a urologist.  You know that "Gotta go right now" feeling the commercial talks about?  Yeah, I get that.  I feel like I need to pee all the time.  And I do mean all the time.  But half the time, when I go, I just get a little trickle.  Then 30 seconds later, I feel like I have to go again.  So, we're going to see what that's all about.

I know, I know, you probably didn't want to hear about that, but hey, maybe if you have similar problems, you now know you're not alone.  Maybe it'll give you the courage to bring it up with your own doctor. 

After my appointment, I went and had a sausage biscuit, which is also my after physical tradition.  Then I came home, ate lunch, then went fishing.  I got three bites at the river, but missed them all.  Then I went to the pond, but nothing there was biting.  I could see the fish swimming around, but they just wouldn't take my bait.  I'll say one thing, though.  If I keep on fishing I just might end up with a tan.

Last night, I finished the first of my Jaywalker socks.

I haven't cast on the second one yet.  I bought some yarn a while back in Cody's school colors, and want to knit him a hat and scarf set for Christmas.  That's kinda taking priority right now.  I wish I could find an old pattern for a ribbed type scarf and hat set I used to have.  I knit it for one of my nephews like 10 years ago, but I can't find it now.  If I don't, I'll just use a mistake rib, which is similar, but quite the same thing. 

Moving right along...

As most of my regular readers know, I frequently donate to Green Beans Coffee's Cup Of Joe program, in which I can buy coffee for troops stationed overseas.  Sometimes they have special promotions, like the Challenge coins I showed you a few days back.  This month, they are offering a t-shirt.  Mine came Monday:

And finally, I'm starting to get some flowers blooming in my wildflower beds.

I'm thinking that maybe next year, I won't plant anything.  I'll just see what seeds itself.  They seeded plenty in my yard, after all.

And on the other side, everything has perked up since I put the mulch down.  These are my Four O' Clocks.  No blooms yet, but they are really growing well.

I need to put some more slug killer out, and spray them down with bug killer.  My zinnias and marigolds are doing well, too.

And finally, finally, just one more thing...I've got another poem finished.  I'm just letting the words settle a bit before posting it on my poetry blog. 

If you want an invitation to my poetry blog, leave a comment, send me an e-mail or PM on FB with your gmail address and I'll send one out straight away. 

Well, that's about all I have for tonight. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

I'm Free!

Well, for a week at least.

Back a few weeks ago, they announced at work that the plant would be shut down all this week. So, I went and put in for vacation days, so I would get paid for it. My supervisor approved my vacation, even though the days were already full, so I figured it was true.

But, things have changed since then, and we ended up having to work this week. I thought about canceling my vacation, but Cody talked me out of it. Long story already told, I'm off this week.

We got out and worked on my heater again this morning. J, Cody, and I ran some more water through the heater core and a bunch of brown gunk washed out of it. We kept running water through it until the water ran clear, and I have heat again. While we were fiddling with it, we drained my radiator and put the flush stuff into it. By that time, Cody and I had to leave to go to our eye appointments.

We got through the eye appointments fine. Cody has just a touch of nearsightedness in his right eye, but it's not so bad he needs glasses. His left eye is fine, and the doctor said that as long as he can see the board in school, and isn't complaining about not being able to see, he doesn't really need them.

Me, on the other hand, my prescription has changed significantly since the last time I got glasses. Funny thing is, my eyes have gotten better. Even the doctor said that was interesting. Anyway, he adjusted my prescription, and gave me a slightly stronger bifocal, as well.

Other than that, I didn't do anything but knit today. Oh, and I made bread for the first time in ages. It was good. I'll have to do it again.

Oh, and by the way, when you decide to proof yeast, this is what happens when you forget about it.

I'd say that yeast was still good, wouldn't you?

After our eye appointments, Cody and I ran into the store to pick up a few things. While we were there, a total stranger saw Cody's LSU t-shirt, and before we knew it, we'd stood in that aisle fussing about that game for about 10 minutes. With total strangers, but we'd found common ground.

Oh and did anyone else notice that the Kansas City Chiefs, yes those same KC Chiefs that gave the Cowboys such fits a few weeks back, those same Chiefs that people say the Cowboys should have blown out of the water--yes, those Chiefs --those 2-7 Chiefs-- defeated the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday? And in overtime, too. Kinda makes you feel a bit better about that win there in week 5, now, doesn't it?

Checkup Time

No, not for the trees. For me. At the doctor. It was time for my annual physical.

It was actually past time, since I usually do them in April or May. I'd put it off over and over again this year. Life just seemed too busy. I'm mostly healthy. My blood pressure is good, despite everyone on my father's side of the family having high blood pressure. They'll get the results of my other blood work in a few days.

My dad wanted to protect us when we were younger. He didn't want to be a burden to us, but at times like this, I really wish he'd told us about some of his physical problems, especially the kind that tend to run in families. Like diabetes. I know at one time he was told he was borderline diabetic. The last few years of his life, he ate foods formulated for diabetics. He never took insulin, but some diabetes can be controlled by diet. I just wish I knew. My doctor and I are keeping an eye on my sugar, just to be on the safe side, but I wish I knew.

We discussed my suspected allergy to eggs, and I asked the doctor if it was really necessary to get me tested. He said there wasn't because there isn't any shots or anything to treat that. I explained that my concerns were not so much about eating them, but thinking ahead to the future when I would want to take the flu shot. How would it affect me then, and what my options would be. He asked if I'd ever had flu shots before and how I reacted to them. I replied that yes, I'd had to have them while I was in the Navy and got so sick from them. Of course, the corpsmen would always ask if I was allergic to eggs, and I always replied no because I hadn't made that connection yet. I thought I was just getting the flu from the shot, since my symptoms mimic flu symptoms. I can be a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. I also mentioned that I got kind of sick the last time I took aspirin, and he decided to refer me to an allergist. He said aspirin allergies can be a big deal. I guess that's because so many other medications are chemically similar to aspirin. That could also why the ibuprofen I was taking was making my chest and stomach hurt. Anyway, he said I can discuss my concerns with the allergist and decide then whether I really need to be tested, and also what my options on future immunizations are, etc. etc.

After my physical, I decided to get my oil changed since I was already in town. I spent more time doing that than I did at the doctor. Almost three hours I waited...That sort of threw my schedule for the day waaaay off. I did get two pecan pies made. The first one turned out a little dark, so I made another one. It looked a lot better, so we'll save it for Thanksgiving and eat the other one.


While I was dusting my Fall/Thanksgiving decorations, I noticed that Cody had added his unique touch to this fake pumpkin.


Well, the colors match perfectly, so I left it there.

Strawberry Jello Salad

1 box strawberry Jello

1 cup hot water

1 box frozen strawberries

3 bananas, sliced

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

8 oz sour cream

Prepare Jello according to box directions. Let jell slightly. Add strawberries, bananas, and pineapple to jello. Put half the jello into a serving dish. Smooth sour cream over jello and pour remaining jello over sour cream. Chill. I usually double this and it still doesn't last very long.