I went to sleep at around 1:30AM and rose at 7:10AM because of the screeching alarm clock finally penetrating my consciousness, note to self still need to replace alarm clock… ten minutes is too long to ignore the darn thing. Other people in the household get upset about the noise. Got fussed at for passwording the computer… Alex thinks he should have open access to mine, but not me to his. Took Alex to the bus stop with my eyes almost closed, not sleepy, contact malfunction. Barely made it on time because he was loading my music onto his iPAC. Came back and changed out of pajamas into jeans and my favorite smock. Tried to surf a little, but Mom wanted to leave for town so we did.
Stopped at Dollar General to return something Mom had bought. Wound up shopping. Got some cool blank books and an adorable stuffed lamb. Should not have spent any money. Am a shoppaholic… need control… obviously incapable of such. Will be the inevitable ruin of myself. I am a self-fulfilling disaster waiting to happen, or in process. I will worry about it when I have more time.
Bought two Kystal Sunrisers and ate the delicious little things on the way to K-mart. Looked around a little and was forcefully attacked by two blouses. They jumped directly into my shopping cart. They were clearance items, and now they have a new home.
Took Mom to her 11:00 appointment with her primary care physician. His nurse informed me she still wants me to paint her nursery when she has a baby. I look forward to this event, but it is not likely to happen anytime soon.
The doctor comes into the room points at me and says, "What is this?" I am befuddled for a moment then he says, "Nick-Nack Paddy Wack" and I realize he is talking about my smock. I smile and stupidly point at another phrase that says, "All Bark… No Bite." He laughs and I think maybe the moment of embarrassing revelation is over. He asks if Mom is still seeing her neurologist, we reply yes, he asks if we like that he is in this building. I reply, "Yes, it is much more convenient than his other office which was a long drive." Then I say, "And don’t you own this building?" He looks abashed, and says, "Yes, and where did you hear this." My turn to get uncomfortable and mumble, "I heard it when you had the flood." He says, "Oh!" This was the most personal conversation we have engaged in during the four years he has been mother’s doctor and I was quite amazed.
He asked about Mom’s major complaints and she told him about her neck pain and the pain going down her left arm. He said maybe she should go back on Celebrex and Mom asked wasn’t it hazardous, and he and I discussed the latest findings on the drug because I had read about it on the web. I agreed we should try it again and he seemed pleased. He also ordered an x-ray which was done in office, but we have to go back at 2:00PM tomorrow for an ultrasound on the artery in her neck. He must suspect the blockage has worsened from 47%, and that it may be the culprit in this ongoing severe pain. I am very worried that if this has occurred that she may require surgery… this is very scary to me. Mom and I do not always get along, but I love her dearly, and want her here as long as possible. I do not think she realizes how serious this might be, and right now I am not saying it to her. I worry…
We left the office and took the truckload of crushed cans to the recycling center. The man there wanted us to come back after his lunch because he had only had two customers all morning, but Mom said no that we could not come back. He gave her a really dirty look, then jumped off his truck and started grabbing bags off our truck and pouring them into the trashcans. He has never lifted a hand to help us with unloading before. We rushed. Mom received $60.30 for what were mostly my cans. She gets the money because she crushes them. I would, but my carpal tunnel makes hammering them a real pain. This is inequitable, but I have to play by Mom’s rules. Maybe she will buy me lunch, sometime.
Next we went to Wal-Mart to do the grocery thing. Today my right foot was hurting so I was trying to get through as quick as possible and she came up with things she had to go all the way back across the store for three times. Next time I read her list so we do not backtrack. Sometimes my lack of sense amazes me. I know she cannot shop in a organized manner, she gets confused, but I stupidly did not read the list today. I paid dearly for my mistake.
We came home and unloaded the truck. After everything was put away she called me from the computer to the kitchen to have a conference. She wanted to know if she could set Alex’s bedtime at 11:00PM over the weekend if he failed to do the outdoor chores she wanted done. I told her no. She said I never support her when she needs things done. I said that she should just ask Alex and then maybe remind him instead of putting some kind of condition which was sure to infuriate him on his doing the task. She was pissed… I went back to my room and she whined from the living room that I could tell him what she wanted done and if he did not she would do it. This she is incapable of, and was a ploy to guilt me. It worked somewhat.
When Alex came home she asked him to go get the mail, unload the fertilizer, and put the truck up. Nothing about the outdoor chores. I called Alex into my room told him about our conference and my response and asked him nicely to do the chores she wanted done. He was not happy about her ultimatum style approach, nor that she was mad at me and sulking, but he agreed to get it all done by the end of the weekend. Mission accomplished.
He went out and worked awhile and did all the things she had asked him to do.
We had chicken, ramen, and sugar snap peas for supper, used up all the leftover meat. You really should try sugar snap peas, they are delicious… and picky kid friendly.
Well, that’s about all for my day… Hope yours was happy!
Always,
Jo Ann
