A fine kettle of fish

Well, things seem to constantly happening with Mike. I couldn't reach him yesterday or last night, nor could I get an answer at the front desk of the nursing home. I really didn't worry too much about it since I'd told him that I probably wouldn't call on Friday, but I wanted to see if he'd gotten the 2nd pair of glasses I'd overnighted to him and if they worked for him (the first pair I sent weren't strong enough). Also, that phone in his room hasn't been working too well, so I just figured it once more wasn't working. Well, this morning I called and got no answer in his room or at the desk and had the same results this afternoon, so I really did begin to worry. Then tonight I got an answer in his room, it was a woman who said I'd called the wrong number, but I checked it on my cell and it was the correct number. So I tried the front desk again, and after multiple rings did get someone. She told me that he wasn't there and since she didn't have my name she said she couldn't tell me anything else. I pitched a little fit and she finally told me that he'd been taken to ORMC, but couldn't say anything else. Soooo, I called the hospital and finally found him. I talked with him. He had an abscess in his surgical area that ruptured yesterday, so they immediately sent him back to the hospital. They did a CAT scan yesterday and there is a second, deeper abscess that they are going to address on Monday with drainage, etc. Bless his heart, he's really been through the mill, but he says he actually feels much better now that the first abscess is draining...it relieved pressure and pain. He's actually happy to be back with "his folks", they know him!

Finally, a phone for Mike

When I got home from work today, I called the nursing home and the front desk still didn't know of a phone for Mike, but they put me back to the nursing station and the nurse went to his room to check for me. Sure 'nuf, he had a phone and she gave me the number, but couldn't transfer me, so I added yet another long distance call to the growing list. Bless his heart, once more I called during dinner, but we did take the time to chat. He says this place is quite different from the hospital, but he's not sure if it's for the better or not. He does have a tv, but no clock...he said someone is working on getting one for him and I needn't send one...I still need to call back again, I need the address to send his new glasses to.

I went by the house after work. The shingles are on the roof of the new double carport and they exactly match the roof of the house and look wonderful! It looks like the only things left to be done before I move in is the electrical work (door bell, carport lights, electrical outlet on the sun porch and it seems there's one other thing), finishing the interior roof of the carport and the soffits and then paving the driveway. It all seems so close, but so far away.

Work's okay...fleas are still bad.

I can't believe it's Wednesday!

Wow! Where has the week gone? I Suwannee it was Sunday yesterday...I've got so much going on and it seems so little time.

When I got home from work yesterday I called the nursing home hoping to talk with Mike. Damn it, he didn't have a phone in his room. I finally did get his nurse and asked what was going on. she said "he's in isolation". Duh! I said "he isn't ambulatory and is infectious and he doesn't have a phone in his room?". She thought about it for a minute and said "well, I guess that's not right, I'll call maintenance and get one put in". So I called back at 8:30PM and they still hadn't done anything, they said "maybe tomorrow". We'll see.

I may have to go down there.

I fighting a major infestation of fleas. I sprinkled borax outside and in yesterday. I bathed Shirley last night and flea combed Mercy. Goodness won't let me get near him with the flea comb, though I know it would help.

Mother called twice yesterday...for some reason she thinks I need to hear from her often. She did ask me to go by the house after work today and let her know if any progress has been made. Well...I don't have a key, so it'll be hard to see anything inside.

Gotta dress for work.

Things are happening

When I got home from work today I had a message on the machine from a social worker at the hospital in Orlando saying they were moving Mike tonight to a nursing home/rehab center tonight. She said they'll move him by ambulance, of course and on a gurney. I called him as soon as I put Shirley outside. I think he's happy about the move, he feels (and I do too) that things are finally happening! He's been quite bored in the hospital and sees this move as positive. I really do hope they'll be able to finally start some rehab for him, they didn't seem to do very much in the hospital. He also said that on Wednesday he'll go to some clinic for evaluation and that on Friday they are going to do a skin graph over the incision site.

Things are happening!

Work went well today. I came home for lunch...let Shirley out and was back in less than an hour. I sold 11 ads in 5 hours. I think that's ok.

The Garden

Yesterday I went over to "the house". Out back is a raised 8'x8' bed that was horribly overgrown, so I weeded it. In the process I found a basil seedling, some old plantings of rosemary, a large clump of lemon thyme, lots of garlic chives, lots and lots of various mints and two seedlings that look like either squash or cucumbers...I don't know how to tell the difference until they bare (since I didn't plant them). There are three sagos planted in the bed that I'll move after I move in. Around the rather large patio are daylilies and what looks to me like yarrow. I even found several red impatients under an oak tree on the side. Since the house is 81 years old some of the foundation plantings are also quite old...some old camellias and many huge pecan trees...lots of dogwoods and red buds and old ivy and lots of lantanas, the front bed off the front porch is planted with the palest yellow lantanas...so pale that they seem almost white...pretty. The yard really hasn't been neglected, in fact it's in extremely good shape...not so much for me to work on, so I'll start things of my own. I'm looking forward to that!

I haven't talked with Mike for a couple of days...he keeps saying not to call for no reason. I'll call tonight.

I'm chilling three chicken breasts that I poached this morning. I'm going to make chicken salad and a pitcher of iced tea. The weather's so warm that it's hard to think of anything appealing to eat, and since I start the JOB tomorrow it'll be nice to have something for lunch.

I got up this morning at 4:30. There was an old white car backed in and parked out front. I went out for the newspaper at 6:30 and it was still there. The drivers seat was reclined, but I didn't look in, so I don't know if anyone was in it or not. Well, here it is almost noon and it's still out there. I'll feel a bit safer after I move. At once I feel quite isolated and quite exposed here. US 19 is within spitting distance of here and the train is maybe a ball field away...it'll certainly be quieter after I move!

My refrigerator still has that smell, maybe it's a good thing it won't fit in the kitchen of the new house. I'll have to put it on the glass porch (or tear out cabinets in the kitchen). My kitchen hutch won't fit either, so it'll either go on the glass porch or in the back hall, I'll just have to see.

I found out Friday that a friend of mine grew up in the house. Small world!

Stuff and things

Monday I met Mother in Tallahassee and we went on a shopping spree (on her Visa). We went to Talbots (for some reason she thinks that's the only place that carries petites). They had all of their new summer clothes out and it looked like a candy shop! The colors are bright, bold and very fresh this summer...so pretty! I ended up with several pairs of slacks, many tops, a skirt and two dresses! I don't remember the last time I wore a dress! We worked up quite an appetite with our shopping so we went back to her house and picked up Bert and went out to lunch at Marie Livingston's! It was wonderful and I brought home enough left overs for another meal. Yummy!

I had two job interviews Monday afternoon. This morning I got a call from one of them and I start Monday doing ad sales for the Monticello News. I'll enjoy that...it doesn't pay much and it's just 25 hours a week, but I was assured that I'll make more as I produce more...and it's 9-3 Mon-Fri with an hour lunch, so I shouldn't burn out like you do on so many 'phone jobs.

I've talked with Mike 'most every day for the past little while...out call today was quite short as they had just brought his supper in...I have the most uncanny way of calling either when he's eating or using the urinal. Usually we go ahead and talk, but I was only checking on him and telling him about my job today, so I cut it short.

They are working on the road out front and the dust is amazing...I think they bring it in just for the effect!

Something rather odd

This morning I turned on the morning news on TV while I perused the newspaper and had my first cup of coffee of the day. One of the first stories I heard was from Monticello so of course it caught my ear. There had been a shooting yesterday in Rooster Town leaving one person dead and one in custody. The dead man's name was Ricardo Fadell. That's the person who has been calling me for months and scaring me so badly. My stomach dropped when I heard that...such a mixed bag of feelings!

Movie

I just watched a wonderful movie...Finding Neverland...if you haven't seen it, do!

Nothing going on today that I'm aware of (so what's new?)...haven't talked with Mike since last night. Haven't talked with Mother for 2 days. Haven't talked with anyone today except Shirley, Goodness and Mercy and they don't say much!

Elvis has left the building

Tonight there was a wonderful special on TV called "Elvis by The Presleys". Two hours...and I watched every second of it! It took me back to pre-teen age and I salivated! I remembered a tabloid thingy that I read (we all read and talked about while wearing our crinolyns and saddle oxfords) about Elvis autographing some girls breast and she wore a band aid over it when she showered!!!! We all agreed that we'd do the same thing! Damn! we never had the opportunity!

Talked with Mike again tonight. They removed his feeding tube today and he took six steps! The damn hospital lost his glasses... moving him two doors down from where he was! I mailed him a package today with glasses and books and his sister's and brother's and my telephone numbers. He keeps loosing these things...and he asks for them and doesn't have a pen, so I included pens and a pad of paper. He said tonight that VA had accepted him into the rehab system...they now need to find a place for him. His infection is a major problem as it prohibits him from using communial equiptment or facilities in any place they may find for him.

Dream or nightmare?

Mother called today and wanted to come over. She said look nice and wear makeup. Oh joy! When she got here she came in to talk for a while and brought up how miserable this house was this past winter and asked "Do you remember when I said you'd never have to spend another winter in this house?" Well, I played along, but actually didn't remember her saying anything of the sort. Well it seems that while I was in Orlando with Mike she bought a house here in Monticello. It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath on a huge lot in town. We went to see it...she's in the process of having a double car carport built and the driveway paved. The house is 81 years old with beautiful hardwood floors and ceilings that have been dropped to 10'. There are big windows and a fireplace, a dining room and a large windowed side porch and an absolutely wonderful front porch with a swing. There' a gigantic patio out back and a small storage building way out back. The master bedroom suite was added on and is quite large with a huge, deep jacuzi tub and a walk-in shower with a double sink vanity and a linen closet. It's quite nice. It's mine for the taking and I'll receive it in total at her death. Wow!

Now, for the strings...she's calling it her house. She's decorating it in her mind with all of the stuff (all new, of course) from her condo in Waynesville, NC. She said I could put all of my junk in the shed out back. She said a lot more, but when she started talking about my junk I sorta tuned out. My hackles are up and I'm in a dilemma. She's paying the rent on this place (I don't even have a job) and will stop when the house is ready for occupancy.

You reckon I should go for it?

The hospital called while I was gone with Mother. Mike is stable and ready for rehab. They are trying to find a place for him...it'll have to be a hospital...I'm hoping for VA.

The Derby and other things

Today is the running of the Kentucky Derby...I've probably watched on TV or heard on the radio at least 40 Derbys...Probably more. How exciting it is to watch or hear those magnificent animals do what they're bred to do...To run for the roses!! The coverage today started at 5pm...I don't think they run until 6pm.

Yesterday was the first day since I've been back fro Orlando that I felt half way decent. My legs and back have given me such fits...I guess from a lot of standing, walking and driving. Oh well, except for my back, most everything is good.

My friend Kathy in Orlando has been by to see Mike everyday since I've been gone. She calls and gives me an update, and each day is better. I'm talking with him also, but Kathy sees and hears things that I don't get from a 'phone call with Mike. Bless his heart, he sure doesn't sound like himself, his voice is soooo different. Of course he's talking through his trac and I guess I should have expected this. It is so good to hear his voice again! For what seems such a long time we didn't think he'd make it at all.

I just spent 2 hours in the back yard with an electric weed eater and a 40 foot cord. I've had this weed eater for several years, I got it when we had the house, just to trim up and do the edging and keep things neat after Mike mowed. It sure wasn't made to clear an area with 2-3 foot tall weeds, but it did a remarkable job considering that it only cuts an 8" swath at a pass. And adding to that, I was tethered to a 40 foot cord that was actually shorter than that, because I had to run it from inside the house, so I probably lost 15 feet! Anyway, the back yard really looks good! Now, tomorrow the front!

Mother seems better, she and Bert have gone to his beach house for the weekend. That should be good for her! She tends to do too much when she's home. Now she can sit on the porch and watch the waves and maybe even take a walk along the beach. Boy! That sounds good!

Shirley lost so much weight at the vets! She went from 11 1/2 lbs to 8 lbs! That's a lot for such a little dog!

I hope to put out some annual seeds tomorrow, but I haven't dug the bed out yet. There are a couple of spots that had trees taken out some time ago and the roots and stumps have rotted and they look promising...I'll see.

Mike

Tonight Mike had his fourth surgery...his third was Friday night.

Friday they were able to close his surgical site down from a 12 inch gap (in width) to a little less than an inch. They also closed it from his breast bone completely about an inch and a half and up from his pubic bone completely about an inch and a half. However, this was only the skin and fat layer, no muscle. They tell me that he will be facing a surgery in about a year to close the muscle layer and in the mean time, there will be a hernia in the entire abdomen area. Tonight's surgery was to close the remaining ten inch area. As far as I know it was successful, I've only talked with nurses, not the surgeons.

This surgery was the hardest for me to go through, I wasn't there and had to call and call to get any information. I did talk with two of the surgeons (that I know) yesterday and they felt very confident...that in turn gave me comfort.