Shower stools

 Several months ago, I picked up a shower stool at my favorite thrift shop to use while gardening.  It was the perfect chair for letting me get down to pull weeds and such -- and still get up easily afterwards.  After my accident, however, I found it was too low to use in the shower so I picked up a second one from ECHO.  (an outfit that loans health equipment free)

I've since quit using it in the shower but this morning, I retrieved my original stool so I could study the settings on the back of my VCR to see why it wasn't picking up what I was taping.  Much to my dismay, the little gardening stool that I had originally hopped up from easily was now NOT WORKING for me.
Uh oh....  ever been in that situation where you can't get up?  It's happened more than once and you'd think I'd have a clue by now.

I sat there for a minute and studied my surroundings.  Figured there had to be some way I could get up on my feet.  Having sore upper arms and shoulders (along with a wounded knee) was causing me a little anxiety.  Now what do I do?  I wasn't about to call someone....HELP.  I'm sitting and I can't get up!  Yeah, just haul that old lady off to the home!

I managed to move the tv to the back of its table a bit so I could grasp the edge and pull myself up.  Whew!  That was a close one.  This living alone crap can be a hard road to walk sometimes.  I may have to rethink finding a live-in boyfriend.  Ha!

I did manage to make it to the hair salon this morning. I still look like hell but not quite as bad as I did before I had it chopped off.

Where to start?

During my long weeks of not being able to accomplish much of anything, I would lay in bed at night thinking about each room in the house and how I planned to dispose of "junk", organize papers better, sort through receipts and photos and cards, and make Goodwill trips to downsize.  As I look around at each room and closet, I'm overwhelmed at just how much work I'm looking at.

For someone who thought she was a fairly organized person, I think I got that wrong.  I've got so much to do, I hardly know where to start.  The closet in the hallway and the closets in the bedrooms will require using a stepstool to go up and down. I'm not quite ready for that.  Am even thinking about hiring Maddie to come over and retrieve items from high shelves for me so I can organize at ground level while sitting on the bed.

I don't know why I get these urges to clean when I'm at my lowest level of physical strength. Last night I laid in bed from 9 to 12 absolutely miserable from the shoulder/arm pain.  I finally got up and decided to try sleeping in the recliner.  Next thing I knew it was 4:30, then 7 a.m.  I wonder if my chiropractor appointments are doing more harm than good. It's hard to know.  Either I waited way too long and this pain is to be expected or I need to consider an alternative method of healing.  I'll be glad to talk to the physical therapist on Thursday as I really think I need another opinion on whether I'm walking on the right path to health.

Meanwhile, I think I'll concentrate on just this room for the next few days.  Even if I only do a small section at a time, sooner or later, I'm bound to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I think I need better organizing skills.  Sometimes you can get so many piles going, that it's hard to stay on track.  I guess that will be my challenge for November.  I need to stop watching the HGTV station with all its remodeling and storage ideas. Too much information and I need to keep it simple.

It's 9:05 a.m.  So far today, I've managed to shower, shampoo, dress my knee wound, wash a load of laundry, eat breakfast, unload the dishwasher, work a crossword puzzle, and blog.  Even though I've had my one cup of coffee for the day, I'm still feeling tired and all I can think about is heading to my recliner for a rest before I start round two.  I hope this is just the morning blahs.   I can remember when mornings were my high peak performance hours and I was a whirlwind of activity crossing off chores on my to-do list.  Now I have to force myself to get even the simple chores completed.

I know I'm 70 and I know that fall did a real number on my body but still....I want my energy  back to a level I can be happy with. I've got stuff to do, places to go, mountains to climb....yet my butt still ends up in the recliner.  Sigh.......

Last week of October

Sitting here watching for the mailman so I can ask him if the label I put on my book was done correctly. I took half a dozen to the postoffice this morning to make sure I knew the correct postage amount if I tried to make my own labels.  Sometimes dealing with computer settings, printer settings, and website directions can cause anxiety.

I went to the chiropractor at 9:15 for an adjustment on my neck and shoulders.  I know I probably need to be more patient but I can't see that these appointments are helping. At least so far.  My entire weekend was one miserable shoulder/arm pain that was 24/7.  After his manipulation this morning, I left the office aching even worse.  I'm hoping that's a good sign.  I know there are times when you feel especially uncomfortable after a session.  I stopped taking my prescription pain pills last week but this morning I popped one in to help take the edge off.

When I think about all the pain and suffering (and cost) I've dealt with since my July 28th fall, it makes me wonder about all the accidents people have everyday and how they deal with it. Car crashes are common (luckily I haven't had the pleasure of one myself and I hope I never do!) but you read and see all the time on tv about how car accidents kill or maim for life.  It's scary out there and getting more so everyday, which is why I avoid freeways.

Even watching the wrestlers go through their performances on tv makes me wonder how they must suffer in later life. They'd have to -- letting their bodies take poundings like that.  I watch America's Funniest Videos and I cringe when I see all the videos submitted of people falling down in one way or another.  They make you laugh but still.....they make me HURT!

My appointment calendar for this week is filling up. Wednesday I'm going to the casino to have lunch with friends and celebrate Linda Pedersen's 70th birthday.  Have already accepted the fact that I'm going to throw some money down the toilet.  Afterwards, I'm stopping at Discount Tires in Sequim to get four tires. They quoted me $460 while Les Schwab wanted $785.

The following day I have another chiropractor appt and then a physical therapy appt afterwards for my knee (and I'll ask them about my shoulders too). Friday is an appt to see my regular doctor and I'll have her look at my knee wound to assess if it's healing okay. One little section continues to bleed and of course, the longer I look at it, the more I think it's bad.  Which is why I bandage it quickly and try not to look.  I think I'll also get a flu shot while I'm there and see if I can quit taking prozac.  I don't think it helped me but then I think I know everything sometimes.  Ha Ha

While standing in line at the post office, I noticed Ray Charles and Johnny Cash stamps.  I don't need stamps too much anymore because of email and paying bills online but I may decide to send out a few Christmas cards this year, so I bought some Johnny stamps.  I often wish I had gotten into stamp collecting as a kid as I find them interesting and these past years they've had fabulous stamps for sale.

I set up a 300-piece  (I think) jigsaw puzzle yesterday.   Decided  I needed something to do besides knitting and cross stitch.  I've got a stack of crossword puzzle books too which I enjoy but most of them require I use a dictionary alongside me.  Especially when they start wanting me to  name rivers around the world or know foreign languages.  I like a challenge with my puzzles but I don't want them to make me feel like I'm an idiot either!

I posted a couple of pictures on Facebook that I had cut out of the Leader. Think I'll put them here too along with some others that caught my eye.  I'll have to remember to take pictures at the casino on Wednesday.

 Need IDs on some of these women from the Eagles. (1970's I think) Sitting in front in the middle is Lena Tyler and on the right is Norma Holz. Standing in the second row is Marie Bright, Dorothy Ocheltree, Anna Padia (4th one) and Helen Minish on end.  Mary Gaboury and I joined the Eagles back in the day. Good times.

 Soap box derby days from the 50's. Randall Comas and Dale Blankenship. Adult is Ray Lundgren. Anybody know the other kids?

 A view of the railroad Y from years ago.  I spent a lot of my youth at this beach.

 Picture in the Leader regarding the Redskins name going away.  Irritates the hell out of me too!

 Fire hall in Chimacum named after Wally Westergaard. Cool!

Wish I had a clearer picture of my childhood home. Shows the swamp and how big it was back then.

Love this aerial view of the courthouse neighborhood.  Three of my aunts lived in this area so I played all over those streets.

Well, the mailman arrived and said my printing of the label was good so I guess I can mail books from my house now.  Hint Hint.....send me your order.  $12.50 to 1822 W. 15th St, Port Angeles, WA 98363.
It's worth the money.

Hmmm....noontime already.  Guess I'll heat up last nights' dinner (chicken strips and fries). Was surprised how little it took to fill me up but makes lunch today an easy venture.

Guess it's time I posted something

Been over a week since I posted on this blog. Mainly because I just haven't felt much like being online. Also don't have much to say but then, that never stopped me before.  Ha!

It's been a month since my knee replacement.  One small part of the incision continues to bleed a bit so I have to keep it bandaged and doctored up with ointment.  Doc says I had a staph infection in it so I was taking antibiotics.  (which I'm pretty sure made me feel crummy)  Anyhow, I've got two days to go on those so I'm hoping my tummy will get back to normal.

The knee doesn't really bother me much and I'm walking around the house with no cane or walker. I do take a cane when I leave the house, though.  Am thankful I can drive so I don't have to depend on Jenni to chauffeur me.  I thought I'd feel a lot more chipper by this time but I suppose it's the drugs I'm still on that are keeping me down.  I feel tired most of the time but then I'm not sleeping much because of the shoulder/arm pain. Started going to a chiropractor this week as the discomfort is just plain not improving.  I'll be starting physical therapy for my knee next week, I guess. Doctor didn't want me to go with an infection.  Which makes sense.

I really need to work up my energy level to go get a haircut. I look like hell most of the time. Takes all my resolve just to make a Safeway run.  I know how to use the motorized carts now but I'm terribly jerky spinning down the aisles and more than one person has eyed me suspiciously.

I mailed off three of my TOWN KID books the other day at the local substation near me.  They have about 4 or 5 people who wait on you depending on the day and I can always count on the price being different depending on who's weighing the package.  This irks me because they should all be the same. The kid who waited on me a few days ago was a total jerk.  Didn't open up at 9 a.m. like they're supposed to and took his sweet time opening up the window when he knew I'd been standing there for over 10 minutes.  When he told me what the price was, I told him I didn't think everybody was getting properly trained at this job because the day before the price was different.  His answer was:  Well, I wasn't here yesterday so I don't know about that.

I decided I'd had enough poor customer service so I called the PA postoffice to complain.  They said they were going to look into it although they didn't seem that upset that my price was coming up different; they didn't like that the window wasn't being opened on time.  The postmaster also told me if I sign my book before mailing, then it's considered first class and I can't use book rate.  What a bunch of baloney!  For one thing, how are they going to know if I signed the book or not?  Sometimes I do; sometimes I forget.  That's just NOT RIGHT!

I woke up a little nauseated again this morning.  Kind of reminds me of morning sickness days of long ago. I'm thoroughly sick and tired of being sick and tired!  I forced myself to run a load of laundry, run the dishwasher, and clean the shower and toilet in my bathroom.  That was about all I could muster up.
Been trying to get a "group folder" set up on my gmail so I can send out emails about my book but it's a slow process and I probably won't get it done until next week.

A friend of mine who has the bead shop in PT offered to throw a book signing for me once I'm up and on my feet again.  I'm so relieved.  She's in a good spot down on Water Street too.  Thanks Lois!

Daughter Sue and her husband are in California visiting his folks. Daughter Jenni is at Ramblewood Camp at a 3-day scrapbooking retreat. She goes every year and really has fun.  I hope she does this time too although I know she's feeling a little under the weather and threw up yesterday.  My sister has the flu too so perhaps the bug is going around.  I'm going to get a flu shot when I see my doctor on Nov. 1st.

Mary Gaboury called me from Yuma a few days ago and said a friend down there is taking her to LA to be a guest in the audience of The Price is Right and Let's Make a deal.  I don't watch those shows but I think I will now to see if I can see her.  Sure would be cool if she was picked to be a contestant.

I signed up for AARP drug program but I haven't been told by medicare yet what my penalty fee will be.  The AARP program is $29.50 a month and $310 deductible.  Which I could manage BUT since I didn't sign up in 2008 when I was first eligible, medicare gets to tack on a PERMANENT FEE.  I have no idea how high this fee is going to be but if it's too much, I'll just cancel out.  When I was eligible for medicare, I was only taking one drug and it was $3 a month.  Course I had no idea that falling on my face was going to completely alter my budget.  The prescriptions I've had to buy since I fell total about $476.

On the other hand, if I had been paying a drug premium these past five years, my out of pocket dough would be around $1800.  It's hard to know which way to go; especially if you're relatively healthy most of the time.  One way or another, though, THEY will take your money away from you!

Well, I guess I've ranted enough for one day. I don't get out often enough to take any pictures.  My phone camera is a pretty good one but the phone has been acting up something awful lately so I switched back to my little blue cell phone.  Unfortunately, though, it's on the blitz too. Yesterday it just went black right in the middle of a conversation and it was hard getting it back up.  I think I'll switch phones again and try this third one I have.  (Mary:  I am ready for something new -- and will be more than happy to pay for it!)

Just another bump in the road

I'm getting mighty weary on this journey.  On the other hand, I know my little health tribulations and trials are minor compared to what others are going through.  My favorite saying is: From the ride in the cradle to the ride in the hearse, nothing's so bad that it couldn't be worse.

I went to my surgeon doctor the other day to have my achy shoulders/arms x-rayed to see if maybe a cortisone shot might help.  She said I had an old bone spur near or on the rotator cuff but didn't want to give me an injection just yet because of how my knee was looking.  I mentioned that it was draining and bleeding a bit but I didn't know if "a bit" was a big deal or not.  I did know I didn't like looking at it.

She prescribed an antibiotic and a special antibiotic cream. Told me to cease physical therapy and to rest. I think that cost was around $60 or so.  This morning I get a call that the culture they took of my knee came back for mursa.  MERCY!  I've heard of that crap!  How'd I get that?  Yep. Panic setting in 'cause it's what I do!  Meanwhile, google tells me that mursa is a staph infection and it doesn't mean I have the flesh-eating variety. That's comforting.  I guess.

Doctor says to discontinue the antibiotic (that I've only taken for a day or so) and to go get this NEW prescription.  Needless to say, I signed up for prescription coverage this morning.  Drugs are ruining my life or at the least....my pocketbook!

I have a doctor appt with another P.A. at 4:15 this afternoon to see if I have a urinary tract infection.  I felt something was amiss last week.  Google says the staph infection I have from my knee can cause UTIs.  Interesting.  I'm at the mercy of one damn bug after another.  I knew something was off because I continued to be tired, depressed, listless, and just plain "off."  If she ends up giving me another antibiotic, I'll have to be sure it doesn't clash with the latest antibiotic I'm starting today.

One thing that especially annoyed me is that I wasn't told specifically to use a q-tip to apply the ointment to my knee.  I just used my finger and then put on a fresh bandage. Apparently, that's a no-no.  That may be an obvious procedure for the medical people but it didn't occur to me that touching the wound was something I shouldn't be doing.  I was told to clean the wound with soap and water and/or hydrogen peroxide before putting on the cream.  To make matters worse, Jenni was helping me dress the wound and apply fresh bandages. She naturally had concerns that the staph infection was being passed on but the nurse seemed to think that just washing your hands after was good enough and to not touch it again!  Am I a tad annoyed that I was expected to know all this?


Safeway pharmacy just called and told me the 20 pills the doctor prescribed this morning is going to cost $2444!  Suggested I call the doctor to see if there's something else I can take or if I can apply for help from the drug company.  I called the doctor and the receptionist said she would discuss it with the doctor and they'd get back to me.  Meanwhile, what's the solution? Walmart wanted $2800 for the same drug.

I called the surgeon's office back and told them I read online that if I was taking prozac, I shouldn't take Zyvox.  The nurse said their records didn't indicate I was on prozac.  What?!  Meanwhile, the doctor prescribed bactrim DS instead...although....she said it wasn't her first choice. What's that mean?  Will it work or will it not work?  Kind of left high and dry here.  Safeway says the Bactrim is a very inexpensive prescription so at least that's a comfort.  I kind of feel like I'm being jerked around.  You feel an obligation to follow doctor's orders but yet if you don't have the dough to buy overpriced drugs, what's a person to do?  I suspect that even if I did have prescription insurance, they'd probably pay only half.  I don't like being at the mercy of drug companies!  We've got one lousy medical system in place in this country...but then we all know that already!

I did sign up for the AARP drug program called Saver Plus. It cost $30 a month with a $310 deductible.  And, medicare will stick their nose in once they're notified I sign up so they can charge me each month with a penalty fee for not signing up in 2008.  Quite the little racket they got going. Who says it doesn't pay to be on welfare?!

Okay. I'm done ranting for today. Gonna walk out to the mailbox and see what kind of junk is sitting there to entertain me.

Weekend's comin'

Saw my surgeon this morning for my 17-day post-op visit. She's pleased with my progress and how I'm walking with a cane already.  I mentioned to her that my shoulders were causing me a lot more grief than my knee so she scheduled me for an x-ray on Monday.  She thinks it's very likely I injured my neck/shoulders in the fall, and told me again that the knee was a real mess when she opened it on the operating table.  Once I can get a handle on the shoulder pain (it's causing me to lose sleep), I know I'll heal even faster.

Wednesday I start physical therapy with an outfit downtown.  I'll ask them to work with the shoulders as well as the knee. Luckily, I was released to drive so I can get myself around a little easier now and not have to rely on Jen or Sue.

Stopped at Safeway after my doctor appt this morning to practice using one of their motorized carts. Wouldn't you know....I walk in and there's none available.  Grrrrr....

One of my goals today is to try and connect with medicare (or AARP?) to see about signing up for prescription insurance.  So hard to get through on the phone so maybe I'll try online and see if I can figure out what I need to do.

Was watching the food channel the other day and saw Sue in her store's commercial.  It's only on locally but it was kind of fun to see her.  Stepped on my scale this morning and it said I was down 25 pounds.  My scale has always been a little off from various doctors' scales but I'm saying mine is close enough.  My appetite continues to lag but I'm fine with that.

Mary,Andy, and Catie are coming over tomorrow and will spend the night. I was able to unload my treadmill (thanks to Facebook) so I think I'll have Mary help move my sewing stuff out to the kitchen area.

Well, I guess I'll head into my motion machine for a couple of hours and give my knee the exercise it needs. I'm more comfortable sitting in this chair with a tv  table to get online but I still can't sit for too long.  All in time, I suppose.
Have a good weekend.

Trying out a new place to sit

It's been so uncomfortable to sit at the kitchen table that I haven't been able to get online for more than a few minutes on "good days." Yesterday, I had an especially bad day because of both upper arms/shoulders/rotater cuffs.  It's been ongoing since the fall but I assumed it was caused by me using the walker incorrectly.

Well, I'm using the walker a whole lot less now and the pain is only increasing.  My guess is that the walker was not to blame and I most likely injured my shoulders when I fell.  Google says to rest, ice it, heat it, and see your doctor.  Getting in to see my doctor is next to impossible.  Her first available spot is Oct. 25 so I signed on to see a P.A.  Doubt she'll be able to help but I can get my yeast infection checked while there too (if that's what it is).  Yeah, this has been one fun journey.  Cut lip, 4 dead teeth, root canal, infected kneecap, shoulder injury, panic attacks, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, difficulty sleeping, constipation, nausea, and oh yeah, the only good thing -- loss of appetite and weight.

I'm sure had I gone into this knee replacement healthy, my body would have improved sooner.  But I manage to do things the hard way.  Yesterday I had about three crying jags. Mostly because one of the knee exercises (bending the knee) was so painful, I wanted to die!  I had purposely not done that particular exercise as often and as strong as I should have.  Now, I'm forcing myself to bend it, hold it, cry it out, cuss it out, and pray.  Lots of praying going on around here.

My physical therapist told me to use my cane using my left hand and not the right. I'm also focusing on not using my right arm to reach for things or to lay on it.  I knew my recliner was causing me difficulty because I have to push hard to get the handle up and I have to push myself up using the arms of the chair.  Now I've transferred to a upright chair (my old computer chair with arms but no wheels) so I can sit to watch tv  and get up easier afterwards.

Not as comfortable but necessary.  I moved the laptop over here on a tv tray and I think it's allowing me to type longer than I could at the kitchen table.  At least for now.  Maybe I can even get back into my crossword puzzles.  I had Jenni take a picture of me walking yesterday.

Oh my, here comes the rain again.  Actually, I don't mind the rain or the storms when I'm housebound. Makes it easier to cope.  Friday morning I see my surgeon for my post-op appointment. Am hoping I won't have to go back again but I probably will as I'm still kind of broken.

Sure am thankful I signed back up for cable channels.  Now, I'm watching a whole lot of stuff I couldn't tolerate before. Funny how that happens.  Watched The Barefoot Contessa on the cooking channel yesterday.  A lot of those recipes are unrealistic.  You need more money (and energy) than I have to afford the ingredients, the applianes, the dishes, and the pans.  Fun to watch, though.

Oh dear, I hope I didn't miss The Black List last night.  It's one of the few new shows I really like but I can't remember what night it's on.   Way too much attention being given to that spoiled brat, Miley Cyrus. I can't use my remote quick enough when she appears.  But I won't walk down that road today.

I'm off to my bed to do my exercises and I think I'll start off with the one that hurts me the most. At least I know what to expect and maybe this time, I can cut the tears off at the pass.  I'm such a baby.

Sunday

Uneventful day. Jen and Wayne had a good time at the Bon Jovi concert with the twins. Sammy waited patiently for them to return.  Wayne and Hunter came over to cut my lawn and trim the tree out front.

I've been watching the second season of Homeland.  Great show by the way.  Nothing much on my agenda this week. Physical therapist tomorrow. Follow-up doc appt with my surgeon on Friday.  And with that....well....I got nothin'!

Taking it easy

Physical therapist came by at 9 a.m. and I had her show me again exactly how I needed to do each of my bed exercises.  I had a feeling I was a little off as they hurt like hell.  She added one more routine to the mix as well. Basically, you just sit in a chair and slide your foot forward and backward on the floor.  Not that easy when the knee doesn't want to bend.

Definitely seeing a huge improvement in being able to walk, though. She didn't feel I was quite ready for a cane yet but I'm getting there.  Having more knee pain but I think that's to be expected as I increase my exercises.  Ice packs are my friends.

The p/t told me she had another client who tried out Crestwood first and she only lasted two hours.  Somehow that was comforting as I felt my overnight stay was above and beyond my endurance.  I am thankful daily that I'm recovering in my own bed, my own recliner, and with my own tv set and activities.

My upper arms and shoulders continue to cause me pain.  I suspected it was using the walker but I've been using the walker for weeks and the arms are only getting worse.  Either my neck and back are out because I'm walking lopsided or maybe I even knocked something out of joint when I fell.  It was definitely a hard fall and neck and back injuries are easy to experience.  I'll worry about it later.

Called my old neighbor, Yvonne, who has moved to Olympia so we could compare health notes.  She's in the middle of really bad chemo and we marvel at how our health paths both went down nasty roads along the same time.  She's thinking of moving back into her house since it's not selling.

Jenni stayed overnight with me last night. Was so much fun catching up.  She fixed me a baked potato with broccoli and cheese on top.  Yum!  She does make me laugh.  She helped me change the bandage on my knee but we were too afraid to take off the final gauze strip so the physical therapist is coming back at 5 to do it for me.

Jenni and Wayne are taking the twins to a Bon Jovi concert tomorrow so Sammy is coming to spend the night at Gramma's house.  And that is about the extent of my activities.  Mary Norton is coming by to visit in the next half hour so I'm looking forward to that.  More later...

Had a nice long visit with Mary catching up on news.  Therapist came to change my bandage. Jenni and I were afraid to take off the last bit next to my wound and she said it was a good thing as they had to stay on.Said they were steri-strips and were supposed to be left intact.  Okay. This is getting boring...even to me.  Guess I'll head into bed early.  Wish Wheel of Fortune would call my number. I could use that $5000.

Learning as I go

I think I need to do my bed exercises, THEN get on the motion machine for two hours.  It hurt like hell this morning to do every exercise (6 of them). I even cried but nothing new there. I've done a lot of crying these past weeks.  Am definitely walking better. Just use the walker most of  the time for a little balance.  Now if I can just find a way to sit at the laptop that doesn't hurt.

Yesterday was my 50th anniversary of meeting my ex.  Ha Ha   The things that stay in your memory.

Fixed myself a poached egg, bagel, hash brown, and coffee for breakfast so my appetite is improving.
My mail lady retires today. She invited me to her potluck party at the moose hall Saturday night but I'll have to pass.

Also going to miss my cousin, Sue's wedding on the 11th.  Another disappointment.

Am looking forward to getting my book marketed but I can see it's going to have to wait a few weeks yet.  Be prepared for Facebook and email postings.

Well, back to my machine. Golf is on and I'm enjoying that.

GMA was a big disappointment again this morning. Giving more air time to stupid Miley Cyrus. They're so pathetic!

New physical therapist

So happy with the Home Health p/t that came today. She instructed me on what I was doing wrong with my knee machine, what I was doing wrong with the bed exercises, and eliminated some that weren't helping.  Also set up my machine on the bed so I don't have to worry about moving it each morning and night.

Gave me lots of confidence about what I'm able to do already and feels I'll be done with the walker in no time. Was especially pleased with the new way to exercise.  The others were hurting me so much, I couldn't hardly stand it.

Only sad news is that I paid bills today and balanced the checkbook.  Found a prescription bill at Safeway for over $300 which is a pill I take for a month at bedtime.  Jenni didn't tell me 'cause she said I was to fragile to deal with it.  Wish I had prescription insurance but I'll rethink that later.

Finally found a way to sleep on my back and fall asleep quicker.  I put a pillow under my bad leg (the full length of the leg; not the knee only).

Well, that's it for now. Can still only sit a short time at a table or the laptop. Time to head back to bed and do exercises.  I'm on the machine for close to 8 hours a day and I do the exercises four times a day. I also walk "the circle of the kithchen" a few times.  I'll probably have to go to physical therapy downtown for a couple of weeks once the home health lady signs off.  Got to figure out how to get a driver to take me there.  All workable.  I hope.   Maybe paratransit.

This physical therapist knows her stuff too. In the 70's she was a sports p/t for several pro teams, including the Rams and Dodgers. She also told me that Blankenship is a well known name in physical therapy. I'll have to google him.

It's October

Today will be better. My special passive movement machine (forget what it's called) is arriving this morning and I intend to spend a good two hours in it immediately to get my leg loosened up.  Two different people in two phone calls within an hour of each other both told me that knee replacement surgery rehab is much harder to get through than hip replacement.  I would have thought the opposite.  Both depressed me and gave me hope that the pain I'm suffering while doing these exercises is to be tolerated and expected.

Night sleeping is still difficult because of both shoulder and upper arm pain but I know that will end once I get off the walker or learn how to use it better.  Home health rehab guy should be coming one day this week and I can ask him exactly how I should be doing the exercises I am doing.  I knew the pain wasn't going to be insignificant but I'm a tad surprised at how much it does hurt.  Whine....whine....

On the plus side, I signed up for cable starting today and I'll have Discovery and History and HGTV to take my mind off things.  Sue is excited too as she misses watches The Bridge.

GMA is running a story on this couple with too much money who are building the biggest house in the country.  Does anyone really care?  They're going to use Sedgeways to get around inside the place. That's disgusting!

My mail will be resumed today too so that's something else to look forward to. Mostly, though, I'm eager to use my leg machine.

Watched The Blacklist yesterday that I had taped. Good show.  Sorry I missed Breaking Bad but I can catch up in reruns.  Same with Sons of Anarchy.

By the way, I've got a treadmill to give away if anyone wants to come pick up the heavy sucker. It's electric, works fine. I need the room for a sewing area again.  Will keep my exercise bike, though. I'll have to remember to take a picture and post it on Facebook.  The treadmill,that is.

Had to laugh yesterday.  Jenni fixed me some hash browns with a poached egg and a couple pieces of fried spam.  (I've always loved spam)  Anyhow, Sue came in and I asked her if she wanted a piece of Spam.
"Are you kidding?" she said. I never eat that stuff.
"Hmmm..  I didn't know that. Jenni doesn't like it either."

Sue:  You fed us that stuff all our life and I haven't eaten it since I left home.
Jenni:  Hey, Mom...don't you remember a food your dad fed you that you hate now and won't eat?
Me:   Yeah.... Velveeta cheese.

We all laughed.
 Well, off to my recliner to take my pills.