BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 18 Apr 12 - 02:42 PM

The Press Room! Good show!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Apr 12 - 07:15 PM

Sweaty and dirty...over half way through pulling up the section of particle board subfloor that will be replaced tomorrow by plywood. Yanking the nails, of course, too. And all from a standing position because I can't find my garden kneeler which would make life a bit simpler (and be easier on my back).

This is to make the house a bit safer for Tom when he gets home -- no rugs or worn spots in the floor to trip him up.

Breath caught. Back to work!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Apr 12 - 08:21 PM

It's up! And my back is still holding up okay. Quick sweep up tonight and shut off the cellar lights and I'm heading upstairs to bed to read and slow down. It's way later than I'd like it to be.

Just called Tom to say goodnight.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: maeve
Date: 18 Apr 12 - 08:24 PM

Sweet dreams, Linn.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 05:14 AM

Bed too late. Up too early.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 07:49 AM

Linn-

Way too early! I'm feeling achey just reading your posts.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: maeve
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 07:52 AM

Sorry your sleep was short. We're usually up by 3:30 or 4, so your short time is sleeping in from our perspective. Best wishes for the right sleep for your restoration!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 06:33 PM

But I didn't get to sleep until after 11... (Back in the '80s, we generally arose at 4 -- Tom to get to his teaching job in Massachusetts, me to get to work by 6 a.m. so I could leave at 2 p.m.)

This morning Jeff and I (mostly Jeff) got another section of plywood down. (I did my part before he got there.)

This afternoon Tom and I and three physical therapists (count 'em, THREE! -- I think they just wanted an excuse to be outside in the sun) practiced getting into my car from a wheelchair and back out again several times. It got a bit easier each time, too. Then I took Tom for a ride, a long loop to enjoy the weather and all the flowering trees and shrubs. Everything is over a month early, all blooming together. The trees that aren't white, or pink, or red were leafing out in chartreuse.

Headed first to Dover Point Road at the other end of the road that Langdon Place is on, then turned back towards downtown Dover, up past the hospital and on towards Somersworth. Then turned around and stopped at McDonald's to get Tom some coffee. He was tired by that time with his practicing and the PT workout he got this morning, so we headed back to Langdon Place.

Not sure if it was the weather or MY exertions of this morning, but I was pretty tired, too. Came home and took a nap.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 06:42 PM

more good news

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 06:54 PM

Even the good stuff takes a lot of energy, esp. when you've been dealing with so much uncertainty and other stuff as you have, Linn. Keep resting as often as you can. That ride must've felt so good for both of you!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 09:20 PM

It sounds like a wonderful excursion. How fortunate that you had the time and enough energy in spite of lack of sleep to do this on a day with such beautiful weather.

Again, sleep well. At home. In bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 11:53 AM

Another biggie accomplished -- got Tom's car (unregistered since last September) cleaned out and all of the important papers pertaining to it corralled.

Now we just have to convert it to little green pieces of paper with dead presidents on them.

1996 Saturn wagon, in case anyone local is interested. In really good shape, though it needs a little brake work.

Mostly going to wait to deal with it until Tom's home.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 07:03 AM

Left The Press Room at 7:30 last night -- way too tired to stay later.

Gotta get the rest of the stuff from Tom's car out of MY car so a wheelchair will fit in the back.

Hate to say it, but I'm tired already and I've been up for less than a half hour.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 10:58 AM

I called Tom at 8 this morning and, I think, he could tell how exhausted I was. He just called me back (10-ish) and suggested I NOT take him to The Press Room this afternoon, if for no other reason than that wheelchair is pretty heavy and I have to horse it in and out of the car (after I empty the stuff in the back of my car that I cleaned out of HIS car yesterday...).

Well, actually, I'm completely drained. My brain is fried and I think I may actually have picked up a bug, too, on top of everything else. I've been so completely exhausted...

Today I'm just incapable of doing ANYTHING or going ANYWHERE. The session will have to go on without either Tom or me. I'm going back to bed, turning the phone off and praying I can get back to sleep for awhile. Maybe it will help.

I have to work tomorrow, but I'll see if I need to arrange to take part or all of Monday off so I can cope better with working Tuesday. I really need to be in better shape when Tom comes home because that's not going to be what I'd call "easy" either. (Though it will involve a LOT less driving all over hell and gone...)

Sorry. This whole ordeal has made Tom's heart surgery back in 2004 look like a walk in the park. For me, at least. Maybe it's just that I'm eight years older...

I'm going back to bed.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: GUEST,Weaver
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 11:42 AM

Glad to hear that you got Tom out for a ride. Having a great trip, bu you two are on my mind. Sending good karma.
Dianne

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 04:52 PM

Slow down. Breathe. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of Tom.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 08:01 PM

The Press Room shanty session is over by now...but I'm as tired as I was at 10 this morning. Read, under-reacted, slept...only know I slept because I dreamed...at Pete Hale's, in front of a computer, looking at cassette tapes in a drawer while talking to Pete who was out of sight in the dining room eating something before going to an engagement...a female cat appeared with white gloves and a '50s-style white women's purse and a pillbox hat with a veil...and nobody found it unusual... Ach! Dreams!

There's a certain amount of guilt that I didn't accomplish anything today other than reading... That's my upbringing: Midwestern, Germanic, Lutheran and, yes, Republican, dammit. (But Papa, my maternal grandfather, was not only a Democrat, but idolized Roosevelt; he was a true New Dealer. And he looked a lot like Lyndon Johnson...)

I'm eating a second supper...a fried ham sandwich. Not quite 8:00, but I'm going back upstairs to bed.

Hope the session went well... Talked to Tom. Sorry that, not only did I not get him to the session today, but that I'm worrying him with my dragged-outedness.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 10:58 PM

Linn, it's to be expected. This is one effed up AFGO and it has lasted a LONG time. It's catching up to you and your bod is making you pay attention (I know you know this.:-) Do NOT beat yourself up...life goes on whether it ALL gets done or not. Rest, refresh, restore, rest, again, darln'. It's okay not to be superwoman!

luvyabuncheskat

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Apr 12 - 08:42 AM

well said, kat

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Apr 12 - 10:36 AM

I hope somebody reports yesterday's doings on the April Press Room shanty session thread...so I can report it to Tom as well. He's decidedly feeling left out...of LIFE, not just Mudcat and The Press Room sessions.

Me? I'm a bit more rested this morning than I was yesterday. Sigh. The better to go to work and deal with the retail world before going to see Tom after 5 p.m.

This ordeal is really dragging out way too long. And a lot of it is like being nibbled to death by ducks. And the other parts demand way too much attention to keep the medical/rehab establishment from killing him while in their clutches. Arghhhhh!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 22 Apr 12 - 12:54 PM

Keep the faith.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 22 Apr 12 - 07:14 PM

My work day went smoothly, made one decent sale early in the afternoon, got my weekly report and a couple little "housekeeping" chores done, and had a nice talk with an older man during the latter part of the afternoon. He was killing time, but made the passage of time until closing quite enjoyable for me, too. And no one interrupted us.

Drove through the rain to see Tom for a bit. He's now got a roommate, but that's not so bad because the room layout is much better than either the hospital or Clipper Harbor. You don't have to walk through someone else's space to get to Tom.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Apr 12 - 08:54 PM

Any progress on the dentures? It would be nice if Tom could have them before going home.
Any word on the release date? Not tomorrow I hope. Noah's ark is due in port any minute.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 08:19 AM

Tom's got an appointment the morning of May 11 with the dentist who did his previous dentures. Couldn't get anything before that. We'll leave right from there (Portsmouth) and head to Connecticut for the weekend.

I woke up this morning NOT feeling totally exhausted. What a concept! First time, I think, since Tom recovered from Clipper Harbor trying to kill him. Unbelievable how much that episode dragged me out. (Tom, since getting more blood inside him, has had a LOT more energy than I have.)

Guess I'm alone at work today, though, so it's a good thing I'm more or less back to normal energy level. Hope it's not a totally crazy Monday, though, as it so often can be.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 08:22 AM

Oh, Mary, for the past almost a week we've been figuring Tom will be released next Saturday, the day after his next appointment with Dr. Blitzer and another new cast. If there is a good reason why he's not ready on Saturday, it will be the following Wednesday, as I work Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 09:11 AM

Here's hoping for early release next Saturday.

I had dinner at the Press Room Sunday evening on my way back from NEFFA. It's just not the same place without the gang, although our favorite bar tender described a lively gathering the day before (which Ernie has described in more detail on the Press Room thread). Incidentally, this evening Steve Carrigan interviews me (7 pm on WSCA) about my songwriting and singing.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 03:06 PM

Interviews you on the Western Silvicultural Contractors' Association website?

Ya gotta link? Can we hear it?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 10:47 PM

gnu-

I'll provide a link to the radio program recording when Steve Carrigan posts it to Facebook. My wife said the show sounded quite good. Well, it felt good to me as well, and Steve is certainly familiar with my songs.

I'm finally back home. Our two cats seem quite pleased to have another slave available.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 10:53 PM

Too late to post -- didn't get home until after 8 (after work, seeing Tom, errands, etc.) Again gobbled supper in front of the computer. I think it was the Chinese I picked up on the way home.

Job problem shaping up for tomorrow. I don't officially even HAVE my schedule for past tomorrow, but unofficially (and accidently) I've found I'm scheduled for Friday -- a surprise, as I've not regularly worked Fridays since a year ago in June -- and I CAN'T as I need to take Tom to see his surgeon and get his cast changed.

I don't see why this is MY problem.

Probably a shoot out with the district manager tomorrow -- this is the guy who threatened to fire me for calling out 3 shifts in a row when Tom broke his ankle, despite my calling my manager (who has since fired for totally unrelated issues) before following the EMTs and Tom to the Emergency Room.

I'm getting really tired of all this unnecessary bullshit. I am sick to DEATH of all this unnecessary bullshit.

I am really trying to calm down enough to sleep to be well rested before going to work tomorrow.

Linn

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 08:56 AM

not easy to sleep with such bullshit in your life.

I hope by now you have managed to rest & start to recouperate.

love from sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 09:53 AM

I'm not sure I'll start to recouperate until after Tom is home...and, maybe, a bit more mobile again.

I've been dealing with the job bullshit since the beginning -- remember, the district manager threatened to fire me for calling out three shifts in a row (including calling my manager at 8:30 at night before following the EMTs and Tom to the emergency room).

Since several days later he fired my manager (for unrelated reasons), things have been somewhat chaotic since.

Wish me luck today with keeping my cool while talking to him.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 08:34 PM

Didn't kill anyone today.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 09:15 PM

That's a start.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Apr 12 - 10:09 PM

Well, that's good news!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 08:25 AM

It's a new brighter day!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 06:49 PM

Spent today decluttering -- sorting out some of the BIG stuff that's been building up in the wrong places. Originally it was so I could move the table, map chest and small bookcase that's on top of a piece of subflooring so that could be replaced, but I think, after re-assessing the situation, that the damage can be suitably fixed for Tom's arrival home without actually doing that.

Anyway, it was satisfying. Threw out some of the cellar stuff to make room for some of the excess chairs and stools from upstairs. Schlepped flower pots and planters up and out onto the deck because I have several friends interested in them. Pretty much cleaned out the corner in the kitchen, which means it can be temporary (and I DO mean temporary!) storage for some small antiques we plan to sell.

All of this should have been done long ago. Glad it's getting done now.

De-accessioning some of Tom's tools, too, that he won't be using.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 05:21 AM

well done.

last week I had friend visiting & moved stuff so she could use no. 2 chair (normally a storage space) & straightened up the stuff which needs to live on the floor (mountains become lava flows!) & vacuumed. Place was so lovely, I should have taken a photo!!

After she left I started bringing back stuff I needed (like pen & pencil containers that live on the table, crafty stuff I'm doing ...)

Today I stepped carefully over the jigsaws & other stuff on the floor ...

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 07:14 AM

Oh, Sandra! Your home sounds sooooo much like ours!

I just KNOW people do not truly LIVE in all those gorgeous, uncluttered rooms in the shelter magazines.

A lot of our clutter is stuff acquired at yard sales and was intended to be resold...but for some reason, that never happened. Then there's the stuff that was just too good to throw away or, maybe, "we just might need that someday..." Both Tom and I are Yankees (him by birth, me by choice) and "waste not, want not" rules our life.

The table gets cleared off for Thanksgiving and Christmas...I can usually find a chair under a pile of something when someone visits.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 07:38 AM

I live in a 4 room apartment (bedroom, living room, kitchen & bathroom) so really don't have enough space for all my hobbies & interests.

not that I plan to have less interests, or less stuff

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 08:22 AM

There ain't no clutter around here!

Well, maybe on my computer desktop. And there's a pile of invoices from three years back that have not been sorted into their folders and placed in their cabinets which can't be accessed anyway because of all the CDs and boxes of miscellaneous patch chords and other electronic accessories blocking their drawers. And there's about a dozen books with post-it stickies awaiting scanning for a new and exciting illustrated children's book titled The Rodent Mariners piled on the futon. And more CDs are blocking access to the Cicely Fox Smith literary works which I need for final proofing of The Complete Poetry of Cicely Fox Smith scheduled for release by Little Red Tree Publishing in Mystic at the end of May.

No clutter here. Just essential work space!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 11:39 AM

I have two anti-clutter methods that work. Mostly. I got rid of stuff and I put up shelves.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 01:41 PM

I work on the theory that if you've got a lot of interesting stuff to look at, no one notices the house is a total mess. And stuff is neatly stacked and shiny surfaces are fairly often shiny. (It helps the illusion.)

Stuff expands to fit whatever space is available.

My other theory of housekeeping can be summed up in one word: tarps. Lots of things can be tarps -- tablecloths, bedspreads -- as long as they look nice and cover things us.

There is NEVER enough work surfaces or shelving for books.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: GUEST,ChanteyLass
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 05:51 PM

For a few moments I thought I'd wandered into the declutter thread by mistake! I'm avoiding that thread until I'm ready to deal with my own clutter!

I had lunch today with a group of people. One said she was trying to declutter. She had bought 3 new PJ sets and had thrown out 3 old, worn ones. I said that might be clutter substitution rather than decluttering! I also said that every time I cleared away a pile of stuff, it somehow grew back--with different stuff!

Anyway, Linn, I hope both you and Tom are having a good day.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 06:12 PM

The nice social services nurse is trying to convince Tom to stay in rehab for a couple more days of physical therapy after his cast is changed tomorrow.

He's REALLY ready to come home and I'm REALLY ready to have him home!

But we'll ask Dr. Blitzer for his opinion tomorrow after the x-rays and cast change, etc.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 06:23 PM

"The nice social services nurse is trying to convince Tom to stay in rehab for a couple more days of physical therapy after his cast is changed tomorrow."

Do it. She's a nurse.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 11:16 AM

Gotta go change out of my outdoor grungies and into something acceptable both to take Tom to Seacoast Orthopedics to see Dr. Blitzer, but also to wear to The Press Room after I take Tom back to Langdon Place.

I sincerely hope I don't have too many more meals where I unthinkingly shovel food into my face as I sit at the computer (as I'm doing right now)...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 12:26 PM

Linn-

I have to agree with Dr. Gnu.

But it will be a great homecoming!

Is the floor refinished?

Love to join you at the Press Room but I'm still recovering from energy output at the NEFFA gathering last weekend. It's amazing how adrenaline carries one through such a weekend and then you crash...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 08:13 PM

Well, it's been an eventful day, but I'm too damned tired to report fully until tomorrow morning.

Somewhat disappointing...new cast, but Tom still can't put any weight on the ankle for four more weeks. He's also advising against the Connecticut folk gathering over Mother's Day weekend -- too long in the car.

Good meeting and plans with the head nurse and his therapists. House visitation and assessment on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I'm exhausted. Bed now.

G'night.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 08:51 PM

Linn-

That's disappointing news but it's all important that ankle be properly healed.

Remember back when we were all immortal? Them was good days!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Latest Adventure
From: gnu
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 09:30 PM

Slow and easy, Linn. Take advantage of the support. Listen to those experts.

Yo, Tom.... you too. Get well. We're all pullin for ya bud.