Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:31 pm on January 31, 2024 Permalink  

  No Words 

  No words can be found for this 57-degree day on the last day of January . . . well, I have a few.  Wonder of wonders.

  Our trip tomorrow for meeting a doctor in the pain medicine department should go well.  Dennis has been on Methadone for more years that I can remember.

  I asked Dennis last night how he would feel if he didn’t take it for a week, to see what symptoms it is suppose to take care of.  I didn’t get an answer.  I believe Dennis is afraid to try that.  Perhaps tomorrow this doctor will have some solutions other than methadone.  The methadone prescription pills have the hallucinogens taken out of them.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:41 pm on January 30, 2024 Permalink  

  Five Second Rule 

  I believe the five second rule was in place this morning in regard to the amount of time the sun was shining.

  Last night after supper my aunt Janet from Brownton and I caught up with each other for a long visit.  Her and I can share memories with each other as no one else can.  Janet is the only sibling left in my father’s family of eight.  Her and I are ten years apart and I have no one left to peel back the memories of the times when Crist, Laura and a huge amount of family members shared time and space.  Janet and I enjoy memories.

  When Dennis came home after taking his friend Dwayne to McDonald’s, I couldn’t believe the first thing he shared.  Bingo is played every Tuesday in the play area of McDonald’s.  I thought it was big of McDonald’s to allow coffee customers to being in treats to share around the tables.  Bingo seemed very unusual.  Does that tell me they are desperate to bring people in during the late mornings?  Hmm.

  With all the snow gone, the crows are hanging in all the trees and letting us know by their caws that they are going to stay.  Years ago when the kitty, Honey Bunny, was just a mite when she tried to follow me around in the gardens.   The crows would dive bomb her to within inches.  She would all but crawl up my pant leg in fear.  The crows are just as huge today as they were then. 

  May you all make your own sunshine and be happy in it.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:06 pm on January 29, 2024 Permalink  

  Monday, a Waste 

  Friday of last week, I received a text that Dennis had an appointment in Mankato for this Thursday.  By the time I read the text all offices were closed.

  Bright and early I called the number that had been left last Friday.  I was on hold for 35 minutes.  When I got through to a living being, I wanted to know what the appointment was for as we had requested nothing.  One of Dennis’ meds was referred to Mankato as St James clinic had no one that could fill it.  Wouldn’t you have thought that before letting a certain doctor go, they would have covered all the bases he had!  So to Mankato on Thursday we go.

  I then received a text that there were questionnaires to fill out before Thursday.  That took another cup of my precious breakfast coffee.  Good grief.  Dennis had not seen a doctor for some time so the questionnaires started from way back when.

  I still had an hour before twelve noon to tackle some Monday chores on the first level.

  The mail arrived and there was a letter from our prescription provider.  The same prescription that is sending us to Mankato needs a request for coverage determination.  Dennis stayed in the house while I phoned the number in the letter.  Though it was hard to understand her English, we were moving right along.  Dennis had to give her his permission for me to take care of this.  We were on the last bit where our prescription provider would have a form sent to our doctor here in St. James.  Bam!  It all blew up.  There is no box number affiliated with our clinic’s address.  It is Mayo Clinic – 1101 Moulton and Parsen’ s Drive.  That is it.  Any mail, bill or what have you, has no box number with it.  Without a box number, I would need to call back when I have a fricken box number.  Breathe! 

  By the way, the sun out bright with 52 degrees has taken some of the angst and that makes this Monday not a waste.  I have commented before, I wonder how many elderly fall in between the cracks with all the red tape that is mandated.  They have you over the barrel. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:51 pm on January 28, 2024 Permalink  

  Spooky 

  For some reason here on the 28th of January we are experiencing 46 degrees and the lawns have no snow on them.  Even when some enthusiasts pushed up the several inches of snow into a pile . . . it is fast disappearing.  It is kind of spooky.  Is there another shoe to fall?

  Sitting upon my cherry red chair in the bright sun of my bedroom porch, it seems as if everyone left town today while the going was good.  Bless their hearts.  There is no traffic to watch.  Even the train’s whistle isn’t very loud.

  Take heart everyone and know that a higher power is guiding us along in this 2023-2024 winter season.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on January 27, 2024 Permalink  

  You are My Sunshine 

  It was a little timid at first, but by gum we have sun this afternoon.  If the sun begins to participate every day, soon the studio will glean the sun’s heat on the studio’s south wall.  I have enjoyed all the reading and cross stitch sewing . . . but.

  This was our once-a-month spa day.  It happens right here in downtown St. James.  I don’t know about Dennis, but I feel like I have happy feet.  My haircut is done so that over a month’s time, the hair may grow in length, but the way the hair have been cut, it has staying power in its shape.

  I received a wonderful message from Stewart in regard to the quilt that arrived to their farm yesterday.  It was a good thing to do for family.

  We have a mechanic here in town.  I would put his meticulous work ethic compared to Kevin’s.  Loren looked over and took apart the ignition column of the little red pickup.  The results are that . . . it is what it is.  A brand new part or parts would most likely be as stiff as this 2005 ignition.  So be it.  We accept rather than expect all things to remain as it was when brand new.  Loren did not charge Dennis for the shop time.  A very nice fellow.

  I have just finished putting together an oven meal for us.  We have not had one for some time.  Dennis has offered to wash up the prep dishes as well as cleaning the stove top.  A few dried potato buds get away from Dennis when he whips potatoes up for us.

  No one I know takes a three in the afternoon coffee break.  I knew decades ago, that if I needed to hear my dad’s voice, especially in the winter months, all I needed was to call at three in the afternoon.  Great memories.  After mom and dad were gone, my sister and I would do a phone call at three in the afternoons to visit.  Again, great memories.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:57 pm on January 26, 2024 Permalink  

  Tiny Bubbles 

  There was no hint of any sun today.  I looked out at the clothesline beckoning me.  I could very easily stand on the sidewalk to pin up laundry as there is no snow there.  Not today and not for some time.

  I decided the tiny bubbles were going forward with the laundry of the bedding.  Slow and steady in getting two loads going and swapping out in due time.  Fresh flannel . . . what’s not to enjoy.  Dennis’ winter heavy jacket from nephew Brett was in need of more than tiny bubbles.  I had some Shout to spray certain spots as Dennis had fallen.  Concrete in winter has a lot of grime.  Dennis got up with no injuries.  The heavy insulated nylon does not take on water well.  Out came my tiny plunger to help keep the jacket down to get soaked up with the soap.  I never put in fabric softener when doing some jackets as it prevents the surface from shedding rain, heavy snow and all things wet.  

  Today the little red pickup is in the shop.  The ignition has been sluggish to say the least.  Any helpful spray had no effect.  There is no point in delaying what is needed.  

  Our city crew is out trimming trees.  With no snow removal they need to work off some of their mandated hours.

  37 degrees with lots of humidity is chilly.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:08 pm on January 25, 2024 Permalink  

  No Doom and Gloom 

  Gray days stay outside here on Stauffer Avenue.  I do not need the sun to shine to feel like getting my up and . . . going.  I had a small sign on my office over the years.  “It’s not the altitude that we fly at, but the attitude.”

  Dennis’ daughter from up the street stopped in this morning for a long visit.  Denise is an assist manager at one of our three Casey’s here in town.  She apologized for being AWOL over the holidays.  Knowing what Kersten went through when she was at Casey’s in Fairfax, I totally understood and could in no way hold it against her.  It was nice catching up.

  When Dennis came home from getting a package scanned for UPS yesterday, he had a tail to tell.  Dennis was there at four . . .the  designated time.  He had banged on the depots door until someone came.  They no longer take parcels.  Dennis had to go to the Fleet Farm store where that is being handled.  No special spot in the store.  Right up by the cash registers with people lined up to buy a bag of bird food.  Hmm.

  Be aware of melting snow turning to ice overnight.  This Grammie is looking from the inside out.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   

   
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  Noreen 3:37 pm on January 24, 2024 Permalink  

  A Chill in the Air 

  At 33 degrees I can feel chillier than when it was a minus zero.  It may all be in my imagination.  That does go off on its own sometimes.

  Dennis is doing what I so appreciate . . . running errands in his little red pickup.  Dennis had several prescriptions of his to pick up at Lewis Drug. There were several letters to pop into the mail.  The quilt that I have mentioned needing to be at the UPS depot will soon be scanned and ready to travel.

  Did anyone anticipate or expect that this quilt had been done . . . no.  Why wouldn’t I give back the fabric that had been intended to be a quilt.  Alex Trettin’s grandmother felt she had many more quilts in her.  Our tomorrows are not promised. 

  When Dennis had first mentioned putting a car cover on the Lincoln after it had had a wash and wax job, I didn’t know how I would feel about not being able to use the car when I felt like it.  It has gone well.  When I see cars going by covered in salt slush . . . it was a good thing.

  This is a chicken noodle soup and sandwich night for supper.

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:56 pm on January 23, 2024 Permalink  

  Tuesday the 23rd of January 

  All is well with my soul.  It may be a day where the temps in the 30s are wasted with the lack of the sun.  I just put my head down and took the day as it came.

  When we have stocked up on groceries that we use all the time, it is important to me that they get tucked where they need to be in the pantry.  October of 23 is a prime example. 

  We had purchased the huge container of toilet pater that has five packages of twelve rolls each.  Dennis had slid the huge plastic bag like a sled down the steps.  For several days, I was put off by Dennis as the huge plastic bag of tp was not getting on the shelves.  I finally decided to just get the deed done.  Unpacked and on the shelves in the cistern closet.  Tidy, tidy.  Two days latter we had water coming up the floor drain.  Hmm.  Talk about a heavy wet mess of tp that would have been.

  On that situation of October.  Today I received a follow-up from the city’s representor.  She was adamant that this needed to be followed up on.  In October of 23 the city had a huge project going at the waste water treatment plant.  The sub-contractor had errored in favor of us getting water back up on two separate days.  She had the documentation of the city employee that was at our home during the standing water as well as the information that the city employee felt bad that he couldn’t help us get the water soaked carpet up and out of the basement.  So . . . it is now in the hands of the sub-contractor to follow up and close this claim.  Interesting.  I plan on just letting this go and see where it takes us.

  We are having one-pan beef enchiladas for supper.  A new experience for the kitchen on Stauffer Avenue. 

  With that I take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on January 22, 2024 Permalink  

  A Road Trip 

  I am here to tell you this Grammie got enough retail therapy to last for some time in Mankato.

  There were several stops other than Sam’s Club for groceries.

  At Harbor Freight, we scored a container with which to keep papers and such securely.  Kevin and Kersten did a great job endorsing it.  In aisle 8 on the very top of the shelf, the box waited patiently for a store clerk to retrieve it for me.

  There is a quilt that needs to be sent off at UPS.  Not a box in the studio to be found.  Hobby Lobby was on my list for such a box.  I now have the box and white tissue to wrap it in.  I will put it in a plastic white garbage bag in case it would get wet in transit.  The quilt fabric was passed on to me by Rita.  There is now her grandson that married last January and will be a new dad in June that will be receiving the quilt that I am sure his grandmother, Rita, would have done up for him.

  A stop at Goodwill will have to wait until next time we do a road trip.  I was tuckered and would be more so if Dennis had not been following me in Sam’s in a motorized cart.  My legs serve me well while Dennis’ arm do him proud.  What a duo we make.

  It’s great to be home safe and sound with the objectives met.

  The sun can shrink a lot of snow if it just stays out.  At 30 degrees with little wind, there is dripping going on.  Sure enough, it will freeze this evening to make the drips into . . . oops!

  With that I take my leave.  ♥