Just need to talk to my friends (219)

My mother used to talk about "puttering" around.

Yes, Lorita, your plan sounds good. Did you say you got a blood count the other day? It should indicate if your body is responding to an infection or not. Keep monitoring for symptoms. I hope your roads will be drier by Monday.

Iris

Beth….fabulous poppy!

I have heard of "In like Flynn" all my life, but I never knew it was related to Errol.

I have heard of puttering and piddling all my life too, but I never heard it pronounced pottering. England and USA, two countries divided by a common language. 😁

Beth, Kathy and I both liked to garden, and in our early 60s we dug up and planted some pretty good-sized flower beds. Now I'm almost 80 and I'm not keeping up very well. It's thundering and raining right now, and more is expected tomorrow. Saturday is expected to be nice, so maybe I can do some catch up then.

Lorita, a thunderstorm just passed through. Another is in SE Kansas and headed our way. And yes, we expect heat indices above 100 degrees F next week. Summer is officially here.

Lorita, that's interesting about Waterweld. I told a guy today I was impressed by all he knew about fixing things. He said he grew up on a farm in the Midwest and that's where he learned to fix things. I never heard of Waterweld. I don't know how to fix much because I grew up in apartments.

Good night.

Good morning. It's gray and damp here today. On the plus side, it meant my room wasn't flooded with sunlight at 5:30am so I was able to sleep until 7am.

Judith— I've heard pottering on occasion. My dad lived with his grandparents for a time after his mom was widowed and his grandfather Percy was from England. My favorite of Percy's expressions was "mooch". Having a mooch/mooching is shopping without an intention to buy. Related to pottering, I've heard puttering, piddling and putzing (which loses its sexual connotation but is more wasteful or avoidant in nature).

Iris— So true about farm people. One of my dear friends grew up the only son on a potato farm. I don't think there's anything he can't fix or do. Welding and cars are his main hobbies, but he's a good cook and can sew at an intermediate level.

Lorita— How long will the Waterweld hold? I've seen things like this advertised on late night TV, but never really believed it would work long term. I'm glad this did the trick.

Eagle— Did you have hot tub repair issues last year, too? I recall somebody here complaining mightily about a delivery issue on an accessory or something.

Carl— That weather doesn't sound fun. DH has been texting his old high school buddy in Bloomington, IN— the weather's been wild where he is.

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Mom's procedure is at 1pm today. I hope it improves her energy level. She was pretty miserable on the phone yesterday. She's prone to depression and anxiety as a baseline, but yesterday she was the worst I've seen her since her second blood cultures came back positive. It's dawning on her that the POC is permanent and she is struggling with it. Her vision is worsening and I think that's impacting her mood. Plus, she's really lonely. She was complaining bitterly about eating all her meals alone which makes me feel guilty. On the days I spend dealing with her many appointments, I'm too exhausted to make dinner usually bring home some sort of take-out.

I gingerly asked if she'd want to tour a CCRC. She balked at the kind of people who would live there. There's a Quaker community near me that has open talks and events for seniors— perhaps I'll create a ruse to get her to the July discussion about decision making or senior yoga.

DH and I will get her settled at the hospital, have our skin checks and then pick her up after. Maybe we'll get a late lunch at the farm store's little lunch counter. They make an exceptional smashburger— better than any of the local restaurants. Plus, they have ice cream and an onsite bakery.

Next week looks crazy busy. Tuesday, she has an endo appointment, Wednesday hair for me, Thursday her pulmo follow-up (I had to move my hair appointment as this was the only available time. I'm pretty salty as it means I mess seeing niece for dinner) and Saturday niece is throwing her annual 4th of July party which means I'll likely have to drive her. DS is planning to go to the Navy Yard that day to see The Big Boy. Personally, this concerns me. Philly is crazy town on any given 4th of July anyway with Welcome America and such. The Navy Yard is a mere mile from the sports complex where they're hosting a FIFA round of 16 match at 5pm. I don't think the subway can handle the ridership this will generate.

Have a good day.
HB

Good morning.

Afternoon all.

The heat is on, goodness. Temp is only 96 but the index is 108 and its not noon yet. I've noticed when Madison goes outside she goes to the edge of the cement then tries to zoom the next 10 ft that is stone. I put my hand on it and know why, its hot. So I've put an outside run on the stones for her to walk on and moved an umbrella to help shade it. Did I have to do that, no. But I always have, so there you have it.

Yes I've got hot tub repair man issues! In the summer months I have the heater turned off, so its swimming pool water warm. I need it for the jets. Just something else to deal with.

I've only heard of muck, as in mucking the stalls out.

My daddy could fix anything. I remember telling people that he could "fix anything big or small like your pinky nail." And he could. And I'm pretty good about fixing things myself. Although the hot tub is above my pay grade & involved electricity, I don't mess with that.

Let's be safe everyone.

HB, I'm sorry your mom is not doing so well and that the procedure wasn't helpful.

HB, are your mom's legs edematous? Do you think she could wear compression hose to help manage her fluid? Is she on fluid restriction? Did the doctors offer any change in the treatment plan? I hope she will feel better.

I grew up in apartments and the extent of my "fixing" is changing a lightbulb. But I am proud of myself now. Last week I managed to read up on drain cleaners and chose an enzymatic drain cleaner and managed to clear my slow drain. I didn't have to call a plumber! Yea, me!

The cold storage fire in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles is finally under control, after six days. Firefighters were assisted by a huge water crane borrowed from Texas. Also water-dropping helicopters were used. Modern firefighting is complicated!

Iris

@Iris L.
We see pulmo for follow-up on Thursday. That's the thing, she doesn't appear to be retaining fluids— she has no leg swelling and the addition of diuretics to the mix didn't result in a weight change. No fluid restriction.

She seems worse than she was even a week ago. I'm anxious around this as the pulmo is headed on vacation for 2 weeks Friday.

HB

Judith, how exciting! Hope all goes well!

GG, that spinning back kick is something…something I don't think I'll be doing anytime soon. Good for you!

I took a few garden photos this morning.

Beth, what pretty flowers! Are they native to your area?

HB, is your mom coughing? Some medications, such as lisinopril, cause coughing as a side effect. That might affect her breathing. I hope the pulmonologist will have answers for you and her.

Iris