Speed Limits are a Joke! (and so is current-day merchandise)

At least around here, they are. I drive Rt. 540 (outer beltline) frequently. The speed limit is 70 MPH....but I tell you....if you are not going 75-80.....you will be run down. Are you finding that to be true where you  live? I have also noticed too many people passing on the right, or on the left in lanes that are for turning. Yesterday, a woman came from behind at a great rate of speed, passed me in a left-turn lane, passed in front of me and went two lanes to the right all in the space of 2 minutes. I was flabbergasted. This was just after 3 pm, when schools were letting out and traffic was getting busy. 

*****

I have written before about how towels and sheets were so much better quality when I was growing up in the 50's. In fact, I am still using towels that were my moms (and some are marked with my name (used at summer camp), so I know they are over 60 years old. They are in better shape now than some I had bought in the 90's.

Plastic hangers are another commodity that are made much more cheaply then they used to be. I have some older hangers that were my mothers, and they are noticeably stronger than more modern ones, which break easily. You can tell to look at them which is which.

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What modern-day conveniences/merchandise cause you grief? 

Two Left Feet?

I have been having trouble with my feet since July, when I wore a pair of sandals that put blisters on top of all my toes. After I got the blisters healed, my left heel and the areas surrounding it began to hurt really badly when I got up in the morning. It eased off after a while, but it still hurt off and on throughout the day. Almost simultaneously, I noticed that my toes on my left foot were curling downward. I have had trouble with that foot since I cut 1/4 off my big toe off in a lawnmower back in the 70's, and then raked my second toe on the side of a concrete pool in the 80's, causing a scar tissue lump that took it's sweet time going away.

I began to wonder what on earth had caused all that trouble? Had I kicked someone important in a former life?

Today, I went to see the same podiatrist I saw 10+ years ago, when I had Achilles tendonitis and a bone spur. At that time, they put me in a huge, plastic boot that I had to wear 8-10 hours per day. I fully expected to have the same thing today. But......he gave me a fabric brace for my ankle and a splint for my toes. He said that both of them can be attributed to that fact that I had a small stroke after my heart surgery in 2014. The latest problems are a manifestation of that stroke - since the muscles in that leg and foot are weak. Well, damn. I can't win for losing. Since I have to walk a fair amount during the day, taking care of my husband, the cat, the house and everything else....I have no opportunity to rest that foot as it should be. Any advice?

No, not two left feet.....I can barely handle the one I have.

Happy New Year!

My sincere wishes for a very happy new year for all who stop by here! We are hoping that

2020 will be a much better year for us - at least health wise. And we hope that for you as well. 

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Wherever you may be, we hope you will have a great Christmas Holiday or Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate. 

Keep to the spirit of the season, and love one another!

Home Again, Home Again.....Jiggety Jig

Jim left the second rehab place on 11-1 and he was at home for 5 weeks. Then he developed a fever of 102* and it was obvious he had a UTI and needed help....so we called EMS and they took him to a hospital ER.....and after testing, he was taken to Wake Med in Cary. 

He was there for 10 days and then taken to Hillcrest Rehab in Durham. As luck would have it, one of his good friends was there also and he enjoyed a long conversation with him, but that guy left the next day to go to surgery for his hip. Jim's room there was much smaller than any of the others he's been in since July 25th....with only one chair and not much standing room. It wasn't conducive to company at all. It is no wonder that he was champing at the bit to come home. He wants to take up where he left off with home health physical therapy, which has been very good for him. 

He will come home this morning, and I am very happy about that - and so, of course, is he. Keep good thoughts for the future....we need help.

He's here!  And he is very happy about that.  

Too Old to Cut the Mustard

I was excited to hear that our usual crew (Mel Day's Dogwood Tree Floral) was going to decorate our Governor's Mansion again this year (the 19th for me). I love being there, and helping to decorate that gorgeous mansion for the Holidays.

But after a few hours of standing up to make 2 wreaths, I realized I had no business being there at my age.  I also made one arrangement, a small one...and then I sat to make 64 bows. Sitting is fine, but after 50 bows, my hands were aching and my back was still in spasm. 

We were given a nice lunch:  both regular and sweet potatoes with vegan chili and all the trimmings, plus salad and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I prefer their oatmeal raisin cookies, but I'll have to wait until another time for those. 

I go back for the party next week, and I am looking forward to seeing what was done after I left to go home. I will take pics then, and try to post them here for you. 

Our New Normal

Jim had a doctor's appointment this morning, one that was made six months ago, before all the recent trouble. It is a "new" doctor (to us)....his regular doc, the one who he had for the twelve years after his stroke, had quit the practice and moved to a new one at the end of last year. We had only seen this doc once, back in May. 

God forbid we ever make another appointment for 8:40 a.m., especially before Jim is able to walk again. We had to hire a wheelchair transport van and they wanted to pick him up at 7:30 a.m. I wanted to get up at 6:15, but I didn't hear the alarm until 6:30, which made us have a late start getting ready. It was stressful...but we got him ready to go by 7:15. I wish I could sleep in my hearing aids...

I drove my car to the doctor's office, as I had an appointment for a haircut at 10 a.m. When we were done at the doc's, I left and the driver of the van was called to come back. She said to give her 20 minutes for the pickup.

I got my haircut and started the trek home. I texted my daughter, who was with her dad, and they were still waiting for the van. Luckily, another van from the same company was driving around the parking lot of the doc's office, so they got him to drive them back home, albeit an hour late.   We don't know what happened to the original van driver.  But it is scary to think what might have happened if the second guy had not been in the area. I hate to think we have to rely on that company for the duration. Jim can't get into my van because it is too high off the ground. We may have to buy a new car and I am not looking forward to that!