WHEW! Wotta Week! Wotta DAY!!!
By Maggiepie
@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
October 8, 2010 9:16pm CST
I've had a hectic week, to put it mildly, & that's unusual for me now-a-days. Visitors every day (nurses, an x-ray & EKG tech, & of course Meals On Wheels people & Elic, by BFF & home attendant), but today--!
I overslept until 8 A.M., at which point I was awakened by a phone call, I forget from whom, as I was kinda groggy. Then I had about a half dozen more--one political (I begged off because at that point I was having a very late breakfast). During the early part of all this I had to juggle morning pills, test for blood sugars (still fasting), then help the visiting nurse, Anna (wonderful lady) to do blood-work (I basically only have one good vein--& amazingly she found it on the first try & took enough blood for all 3 tests!).
Elic arrived while Anna was still there, & she was all frazzled from doing my monthly main shopping trip. She fed me a big breakfast, & I ate every smidgen of it. All that fasting for the blood-work had left me ravenous! She later had to run to Walgreen's to pick up a new med to cure my dizziness (Oy. MORE pills...just what I need---NOT!), then my oxygen concentrator broke, sooo, back to the phone again to the company who owns it to get it fixed--fortunately it didn't take a visit; he fixed it by trouble-shooting on the phone.
Then I got some weird stuff in the mail I had to immediately deal with. Baaaack to the phone, especially re bank's new credit card I had received with the wrong number on it...got that straightened out out. Took another phone call, tested myself again, took my mid-day pills oh joy, "attended" a "Family Eldercare" (FE) half-hour phone session called "Brainaerobics (trivia questions, usually)," wrote a poem I'd been given as a writer's workshop assignment & which I'd been putting off all week. That only too 15 minutes, with revisions.
Then I had a late lunch & got some paperwork done. Before I knew it, it was time for my writer's workshop (also a FE thing) on the phone. Tracy, the lady who runs the thing liked my poem, "Jig," & we each read some of our fiction to one another, because I was--for the second week in a row--the only class member who showed up! Usually there are 5 or 6 of us!
I caught some of one of my favorite TV shows & my phone made its bizarre warbling ring--it sounds a lot like a cross between a drowning fish & a yodeler on LSD--& of COURSE it's my favorite male cousin, John, a conservative preacher, artist, writer & an engineer (so we can talk about quantum physics, politics & how religion affects them or is affected by them (among a host of other topics such as poetry & science fiction & art, you know, Life, the Universe, & Everything). He calls me at least once a week to yak while he travels interstate. I worried about that until he told me he has his hands free; he's got some gosh-wow headset... The thing is, when he & I get going, we can talk for literally hours!
But finally, Nature called (NOT on the phone...
LOL!), so I sawed it off. He promised to call back, but I hope it's not tomorrow, 'cause I have my cousin Freddie (my oldest cousin) coming by briefly from Houston (I'm in Austin).
It never stops!!!
I feel like Elic must feel. Her days are always like this--those of you who know her here can attest to that. I do know, though, that she was more glad than usual to get out of here at the end of her day! LOL!
Ah, well, you know the old saying: "It never pains but it roars!"
I'm pooped! How do people do this?! LOL!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
LOL!), so I sawed it off. He promised to call back, but I hope it's not tomorrow, 'cause I have my cousin Freddie (my oldest cousin) coming by briefly from Houston (I'm in Austin).
It never stops!!!
I feel like Elic must feel. Her days are always like this--those of you who know her here can attest to that. I do know, though, that she was more glad than usual to get out of here at the end of her day! LOL!
Ah, well, you know the old saying: "It never pains but it roars!"
I'm pooped! How do people do this?! LOL!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)3 people like this
4 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Oct 10
hi maggiepie long no time hearing from you, are you perchance another
of us diabetics with the great old finger stick to c heck your blood sugar and when I a m feeling show offy I will say blood glucose. YOU would be surpised at how many people do not understand me when I say blood glucose.I get pills at the morning meal and the evening meal. ohlife in a retirement center is so thrilling not. Oh we have a few activities like bingo now but the first year I was here we had some music classes and one dear to my heart, mental fitness as it was taught by a really great teacher and mostly was learning t o think outside the box.
We always had some fun things and sadly those here who need mental fitness never attended. I have a fairly high IQ and at 84 amaze a lot of people as I am not a doddering old gaga lady but still can think like I did at forty and sixty.It is all a matter of using your brain t o think with every day and using the computer is really helping me to stay mentally fit.Good luck with all the pills and the finger sticking and think of me when I take my 8 pills at breakfast and four at dinner .Good luck and G
od bless.
od bless.
3 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
9 Oct 10
Oh, I've been here. 
Good to see you again!
I am diabetic, but I test on my arm. I hated finger stabbing, whereas on my arm, I can barely feel it--sometimes not at all! Talk to your doctor about that.
I know what blood glucose is. I think it's not really hard to believe non-diabetics give you a blank look when you mention such. We who must continually deal with blood have the whole vocabulary on our minds, constantly. They don't.
I stayed in a state-run nursing home for 4 months to recuperate a few years ago. It was awful, & if I must renter one, I'd run away; I'd rather live on the street with a shopping cart than stay again in that sort of horror show!
I've never been of the opinion that old = brainless. I, too, keep my brain active daily, so I'm not worried. All bets are off if I get hit by a Mac truck, though! 
I take 3 rounds of pills, shots & topical meds every day! Oh, wheeee, it's just sooo much fun, as I'm sure you know. Ha! Anyway, hang in there, laugh whenever you have the slightest thing to laugh about, & God bless!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
Good to see you again!
I am diabetic, but I test on my arm. I hated finger stabbing, whereas on my arm, I can barely feel it--sometimes not at all! Talk to your doctor about that.
I know what blood glucose is. I think it's not really hard to believe non-diabetics give you a blank look when you mention such. We who must continually deal with blood have the whole vocabulary on our minds, constantly. They don't.
I stayed in a state-run nursing home for 4 months to recuperate a few years ago. It was awful, & if I must renter one, I'd run away; I'd rather live on the street with a shopping cart than stay again in that sort of horror show!
I've never been of the opinion that old = brainless. I, too, keep my brain active daily, so I'm not worried. All bets are off if I get hit by a Mac truck, though!
I take 3 rounds of pills, shots & topical meds every day! Oh, wheeee, it's just sooo much fun, as I'm sure you know. Ha! Anyway, hang in there, laugh whenever you have the slightest thing to laugh about, & God bless!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
9 Oct 10
er...that's diabetic meds. I AM on meds, just not for the diabetes. heeheee
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
9 Oct 10
Well, sometimes I just don't! I can be overwhelmed, & when that happens, let me tell you, I can procrastinate 'til doomsday, if I want to! For instance, I get a ton of mail--largely charities (to which I have no money to donate, but they still keep asking...), political, which I often answer (but to which I rarely donate, & then it's only $5, which I can usually scrape together if the cause is really important), & the rest a motley assortment of actual personal mail & odd stuff.
Now, I just can't bring myself to toss unopened envelopes. More often than one might realize, there is MONEY--actual cash--in those envelopes! Usually no more than a dollar, more often coins, but hey, it adds up! I keep a little beaded purse handy for putting them all in. As of last night, it added up to $3.02. Not a fortune, no, but with another 48 cents, I have a co-pay for a bottle of meds! More than one bottle sometimes, if the meds are cheap enough!
The point is, sometimes I don't have time, or I just don't feel like plowing through the 12 or so pieces of mail (average) which come daily, so I pull out everything that looks as if it's really, immediately important, rubber band the rest, & set that aside, with the intent of tackling it the next day or so.
But sometimes, tomorrow comes & something prevents me from doing that task. Visitors or being ill...whatever. The first thing I know I have a week's worth of backlogged mail, & I become uneasy with the size of the stack! And when that happens, I ask Elic to find a box for it, & put it out of reach (& sight, if possible), & eventually I do go through it all on some quiet day on the weekend. Today is unusual, as I've already had 2 visitors--from Meals on Wheels with the month's dry groceries (beans, rice, oatmeal, can goods, etc.). They always come in pairs to deliver that bag; don't know why....
Also, in an hour or so, my cousin Fred's coming in from Houston to buy some family heirlooms (he insisted on paying for them, & would NOT take no for an answer. I wanted the items just to stay in the family--not sell them to strangers! And Fred's family, not a stranger!). Anyway, he'll be visitor 3 today, & as it happens, I have a stack of older mail, & today, even if I weren't busy, I just don't feel like it! Maaaaayyybe tomorrow...
Thanks for writing! I must return to bed, now, as I'm violating doc's orders by sitting here! Back later after Fred leaves to answer everyone else! :o)
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
I can be overwhelmed, & when that happens, let me tell you, I can procrastinate 'til doomsday, if I want to! For instance, I get a ton of mail--largely charities (to which I have no money to donate, but they still keep asking...), political, which I often answer (but to which I rarely donate, & then it's only $5, which I can usually scrape together if the cause is really important), & the rest a motley assortment of actual personal mail & odd stuff.
Now, I just can't bring myself to toss unopened envelopes. More often than one might realize, there is MONEY--actual cash--in those envelopes! Usually no more than a dollar, more often coins, but hey, it adds up! I keep a little beaded purse handy for putting them all in. As of last night, it added up to $3.02. Not a fortune, no, but with another 48 cents, I have a co-pay for a bottle of meds! More than one bottle sometimes, if the meds are cheap enough!
The point is, sometimes I don't have time, or I just don't feel like plowing through the 12 or so pieces of mail (average) which come daily, so I pull out everything that looks as if it's really, immediately important, rubber band the rest, & set that aside, with the intent of tackling it the next day or so.
But sometimes, tomorrow comes & something prevents me from doing that task. Visitors or being ill...whatever. The first thing I know I have a week's worth of backlogged mail, & I become uneasy with the size of the stack! And when that happens, I ask Elic to find a box for it, & put it out of reach (& sight, if possible), & eventually I do go through it all on some quiet day on the weekend. Today is unusual, as I've already had 2 visitors--from Meals on Wheels with the month's dry groceries (beans, rice, oatmeal, can goods, etc.). They always come in pairs to deliver that bag; don't know why....
Also, in an hour or so, my cousin Fred's coming in from Houston to buy some family heirlooms (he insisted on paying for them, & would NOT take no for an answer. I wanted the items just to stay in the family--not sell them to strangers! And Fred's family, not a stranger!). Anyway, he'll be visitor 3 today, & as it happens, I have a stack of older mail, & today, even if I weren't busy, I just don't feel like it! Maaaaayyybe tomorrow...
Thanks for writing! I must return to bed, now, as I'm violating doc's orders by sitting here! Back later after Fred leaves to answer everyone else! :o)
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Just a suggestion here but you could lighten your load of charity mail if you ask some of those charities to remove you from their list...either a written request sent to them in one of their return envelopes or via their website. Of course, I wouldn't get rid of the ones that send money to you as an incentive because I know how helpful that can be in your situation. It costs money for charities to send out mailings and it's also not fair that anyone remain the unwilling recipient of requests for donations.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
9 Oct 10
Good morning Maggie, lol, i think u have had a week. That's better than bot seeing or hearing from a soul, i guess. I have had sort of a hectic week to but nothing compared to yours. Take care & be thankful everyone loves u that much. Happy sat. to u.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Oh, you're right. I would rather have lots of visitors than none! I really don't mind it, but I was feeling uncharacteristically pooped after it all. Anyway, finally my cousin Fred came today & took the heirlooms, which turned out to be my Grandfather's, & no-one had ever told me! I'm just thrilled they're staying in the family, & that I now have a little more space, so to speak.
NOW I need to prepare to see another cousin, John, & his wife Mary, somewhere in the week of the 17th. I'm so happy! Yaaay! (Picture Magpie doing the happy Snoopy dance...hee!)
Yes, I AM loved, & I know it & I deeply appreciate it.
Have a good one!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Well, my friend, it sounds like you had a very event filled day! I think I got tired just reading about all that you did in a day! whew!
Makes my day sound pretty boring. All I did was sleep in til 7:30 bc Chris didn't wake me up to feed him (bc he was asleep too!) but got woke up with a phone call as well!
I drank my coffee then bathed Chris including pedicure and manicure. Then fed him again! I worked online a little bit then my daughter came and helped me get Chris up. she and her husband went on their "date" while I watched Chris and the grandbaby. (that's a handful too!)
Then they came back we put Chris to bed (happy for the help). I fed him once again and now he is resting and I am working! sheesh! And that's a pretty light day for me!
Makes my day sound pretty boring. All I did was sleep in til 7:30 bc Chris didn't wake me up to feed him (bc he was asleep too!) but got woke up with a phone call as well!
I drank my coffee then bathed Chris including pedicure and manicure. Then fed him again! I worked online a little bit then my daughter came and helped me get Chris up. she and her husband went on their "date" while I watched Chris and the grandbaby. (that's a handful too!)
Then they came back we put Chris to bed (happy for the help). I fed him once again and now he is resting and I am working! sheesh! And that's a pretty light day for me!1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Sounds pretty busy to me! Babies always seem to suck all the energy out of the room--they're a lot of work!
I usually wake about 7, not to an alarm, just habit, give Miss Minnie her kitty treat (or else have her mug me continually while I try to accomplish anything else, until I give up & just give it to her to get peace! LOL!), do my insulin (if needed), take my pills, hit the Pit Stop Room, then fix something to eat. Almost every day starts that way, for me, but I woke up late by an hour the day I posted above.
I normally do have light days, so the last week was surprisingly hectic for me!
Oh, & my next writing assignment is to write something about being afraid. That's a hard one for me, because the usual fears aren't my sort, but are of a more cerebral nature. I'm not sure how to write a piece that would be exciting to someone else.
Oh, well--I'll come up with something, but I hope sooner than that "Jig" poem occurred to me!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)
I usually wake about 7, not to an alarm, just habit, give Miss Minnie her kitty treat (or else have her mug me continually while I try to accomplish anything else, until I give up & just give it to her to get peace! LOL!), do my insulin (if needed), take my pills, hit the Pit Stop Room, then fix something to eat. Almost every day starts that way, for me, but I woke up late by an hour the day I posted above.
I normally do have light days, so the last week was surprisingly hectic for me!
Oh, & my next writing assignment is to write something about being afraid. That's a hard one for me, because the usual fears aren't my sort, but are of a more cerebral nature. I'm not sure how to write a piece that would be exciting to someone else.
Oh, well--I'll come up with something, but I hope sooner than that "Jig" poem occurred to me!
Maggiepie
To Do List: Pray. Vote. Buy More Ammo. ~ (bumper sticker)