Earth Muffin's Mellow Coffee Shop

[Sharon]

TheOtherMe I'm glad you and kitties are safe and that the fire department responded so quickly.

My condensate pump is still running and hopefully a plumber will call me back today so we can get it thawed.  Today and most of tomorrow are supposed to be cold but nice before the snow comes back in late Tuesday.  Wednesday is supposed to be a wintery mix follow by more snow and then maybe some warming by the end of the week into next weekend.

[Opti]

I suppose its time to call the hospital again and see if I can get through. I forget when dad like to be awake, probably twenty mintues more my time I think so it will be 8AM CST.

I missed talking to my dad, as I didn;t realzie when YS said you can call but may not understand him. Meant I am at the hospital now and can help. But that's her under stress, or sometimes her usual. I am supposed to read her himd even though the last time we lived together or even in the same state is nearing 40 years agao. Sigh. Is it really my engineering backhround that would have led with,

I am at the hospital now. If you call b4 time X, I can help him hear you


or some such. But of course I have received no info that she has from the doctor because I might actually understand it or perhaps she doesn't think I am up to knowing. I am. I worked in a hybrid skilled nursing faciltity/ assisted living/dementia care. Its why I ask about nurse schedules and neither sis ever answers because they feel its unimportant.    Its very important, especially during low staffing and weekends. It gives me an idea when meals are served and likely times for med rounds. Both times nurses are unlikely to pick up calls. 


Only one day off left and too much to do. Am not looking forward to trudging to the bus stop to work tomorrow. Two to 4 inches of snow expected and neither of my shoe choices worked out, so I hope UPS is open some hours today so I can return the first one. Try number two on that might be a failure as well. I think the leather is not what I consider leather, but nubuck, which does not give enough so my ankles and these fashion hiking boots are a fail. Unless I can figure out how to stretch out only the ankle area. I'd post them, but I'd have to move the pic from Iphone to my MS laptop so that's not happening today. 

[Opti]

Well all UPS stores are closed for the MLK holiday so that plan is out for today. There are access points for UPS which is probably drop box no receipt. Would be my last choice. Called a store which I can't get to by bus but is nearby. They are open, but I'd need a friend to drive me there. I doubt I can get anyone on short notice so will call for possible options from a couple peeps on how to send these off this week if possible. 

Need to do clothes laundry, fleece laundry, taxes, food, etc. so I guess I will regroup. Need to order things too like socks for whatever boots I end up keeping. 

[toomuchreality]

Jan 15, 2024 9:27:45 GMT -5 Opti said:

Well all UPS stores are closed for the MLK holiday so that plan is out for today. There are access points for UPS which is probably drop box no receipt. Would be my last choice. Called a store which I can't get to by bus but is nearby. They are open, but I'd need a friend to drive me there. I doubt I can get anyone on short notice so will call for possible options from a couple peeps on how to send these off this week if possible. 

Need to do clothes laundry, fleece laundry, taxes, food, etc. so I guess I will regroup. Need to order things too like socks for whatever boots I end up keeping. 

I forgot, or didn't realize, today is a holiday. I tried to call my insurance guy. Ugh.

I hope your dad is doing well. Getting old isn't much fun.


I'm supposed to go to a big gymnastics meet today w/ my kids and grandkids. But the thought of showering and getting ready, sounds so overwhelming. Recovery isn't as easy, as I expected! The back spasms I developed, while in the hospital, are exhausting and make everything else so difficult. At least I didn't have a stroke. That would make it 10 Xs harder!

Enjoy your day, everyone!

[Opti]

Dad is actively dying. He is in his 90s and intentionally discontinued his antibiotics and even the IV for hydration. So he is trying to go quickly. Not sure how soon it will be. Probably not today but could be anytime. He doesn't hydrate much as it is and has chosen only pain meds. I did get him on the phone with the nurse nearby. His cell might be in the room, given the only clear words I heard which was H, my phone has fallen. H my phone is on the floor, etc.

The rest of it was mostly slurred words that I could not understand. I told him I might try to call him again today before or after dinner if I can. I'm not happy, but not my death, not my choice so I will endure and deal as best I can, 

Finding out any potential plans will be tough. YS and I can be oil and water under stress and neither of us are out of the bad work stretch yet. So added stress from that. Hoping YS will take my job and abilities to get back for a service into consideration but fear she might be like Dawn and stack for them and her niece and nephew. I could help with clean-up of the house, but it needs to be after the service not before. My time off is limited as I work 6 days a week, so Sunday is my only true day off. Personally, I'd prefer my three days be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Maybe fly out late Saturday if I can? Hope the service can be pushed to late January.

[busymom]

I'm so sorry Opti.  At least he is able to make his own decisions.  It really hurts when you have to, as next of kin, make those awful decisions on "how much care is enough" when it comes to end of life stuff.   

[Opti]

Jan 15, 2024 14:46:16 GMT -5 busymom said:

I'm so sorry Opti .  At least he is able to make his own decisions.  It really hurts when you have to, as next of kin, make those awful decisions on "how much care is enough" when it comes to end of life stuff.   

He served in North Korea. I think all of us know the choice would be let him go. His son reminded me his dad died of sepsis, which dad has now with the UTI. He knows what he is doing. Timing was awful because of the storm but its possible this wouldn't have happened now had there not been a rapid weather change.

Thanks for the virtual hugs. Wish I had some in RL. That was a huge plus of my old non denominational church.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 15, 2024 13:23:55 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Jan 15, 2024 9:27:45 GMT -5 Opti said:

 

I forgot, or didn't realize, today is a holiday. I tried to call my insurance guy. Ugh.


I'm supposed to go to a big gymnastics meet today w/ my kids and grandkids. But the thought of showering and getting ready, sounds so overwhelming. Recovery isn't as easy, as I expected! The back spasms I developed, while in the hospital, are exhausting and make everything else so difficult. At least I didn't have a stroke. That would make it 10 Xs harder!

Enjoy your day, everyone!

You are recovering at home?  Feeling a bit better every day?  Did the doctors say you can do whatever you want or whatever you feel up to?   Please take care of yourself.   

[Sharon]

I'm back in hot water, yay.  It wasn't as big of a fix as I thought it would be.  Today was a fairly nice day but I stayed home waiting for the plumber.  Tomorrow shouldn't be too bad so that will be my grocery run day.  Then we have several days of alternating snow and freezing rain.

Where I used to live is expecting a huge ice storm on par with the one they had a few years ago.  That was the one where Mom and I spent quite a bit of time in my trailer.  I was without power for 3 or 4 days and Mom was without power for over a week.

[busymom]

Good Evening Kids!  It is colder than a well diggers butt here tonight at -3, and the wind chill at -22.  While I wish we had a wood burning fireplace right now, the added heat in the basement IS helping.  For some weird reason, the coldest part of the house is now the main floor (this is a 3-level split).  Usually the lowest level is the coldest in most houses I've been in, so I'm wondering if the vent guys put too many vents in the basement.  

[toomuchreality]

Jan 15, 2024 17:21:22 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 15, 2024 13:23:55 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

I forgot, or didn't realize, today is a holiday. I tried to call my insurance guy. Ugh.


I'm supposed to go to a big gymnastics meet today w/ my kids and grandkids. But the thought of showering and getting ready, sounds so overwhelming. Recovery isn't as easy, as I expected! The back spasms I developed, while in the hospital, are exhausting and make everything else so difficult. At least I didn't have a stroke. That would make it 10 Xs harder!

Enjoy your day, everyone!

You are recovering at home?  Feeling a bit better every day?  Did the doctors say you can do whatever you want or whatever you feel up to?   Please take care of yourself.   

Yep, that's pretty much what they all said. But they suggested I don't go up and down 3 flights of stairs, any more than I have to. That I get help doing things, for a few weeks, at least. But I specifically asked about going to the gymnastics meet, before I left the hospital. I didn't stay for the whole event, but I did go. Just rode in a wheelchair.
"Best of Utah". The U of U won.

I'm doing so much better today. It's amazing, to me. But it was exhausting. Much better than being in the hospital though. And much better than when I had the heart attack and all the procedures. I'm happy to be "home". ❤

[toomuchreality]

Jan 15, 2024 20:14:09 GMT -5 Sharon said:

I'm back in hot water, yay.  It wasn't as big of a fix as I thought it would be.  Today was a fairly nice day but I stayed home waiting for the plumber.  Tomorrow shouldn't be too bad so that will be my grocery run day.  Then we have several days of alternating snow and freezing rain.

Where I used to live is expecting a huge ice storm on par with the one they had a few years ago.  That was the one where Mom and I spent quite a bit of time in my trailer.  I was without power for 3 or 4 days and Mom was without power for over a week.

That sounds horrible!

Stay warm.

[Opti]

I think Sharon and Busymom have worse weather than I will. However, I have to walk in whatever snow and mix we get to the bus stop which is non trivial. The going home stop is close to work and whatever we get is supposed to stop an hour or so before work ends. Worried about the walk and my safety given I am not walking on nice sidewalks in a residential area. Crazy people, semis, ambulances, work trucks etc. are common right next to me and oh and car carriers. I am near a very large car auction site so lots of traffic at times.

Worried and worried about how good or bad timing will be with the bus. I will change up my walk through the complex as well. Turns out a tree got uprooted due to the soaked ground and high winds, so it is currently covering a good portion of the sidewalk I usually take. If the snow wintry mix isn't too bad, I expect grounds mgmt. will cut up or move part of the tree out of the way later tomorrow. There is an evergreen tree near the entrance that looks like it will fall down in the near future as well. 

Got my fleece and work laundry done but need to put more of both away and adjust what is hanging up to dry. Did not get to my hair, packing up the boots to return, etc. Need to finish emptying the dishwasher. And maybe start loading in the dirty dishes etc. More to do but I also need to get to bed soon too.

[toomuchreality]

Jan 15, 2024 22:14:15 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think Sharon and Busymom have worse weather than I will. However, I have to walk in whatever snow and mix we get to the bus stop which is non trivial. The going home stop is close to work and whatever we get is supposed to stop an hour or so before work ends. Worried about the walk and my safety given I am not walking on nice sidewalks in a residential area. Crazy people, semis, ambulances, work trucks etc. are common right next to me and oh and car carriers. I am near a very large car auction site so lots of traffic at times.

Worried and worried about how good or bad timing will be with the bus. I will change up my walk through the complex as well. Turns out a tree got uprooted due to the soaked ground and high winds, so it is currently covering a good portion of the sidewalk I usually take. If the snow wintry mix isn't too bad, I expect grounds mgmt. will cut up or move part of the tree out of the way later tomorrow. There is an evergreen tree near the entrance that looks like it will fall down in the near future as well. 

Got my fleece and work laundry done but need to put more of both away and adjust what is hanging up to dry. Did not get to my hair, packing up the boots to return, etc. Need to finish emptying the dishwasher. And maybe start loading in the dirty dishes etc. More to do but I also need to get to bed soon too.

Even walking on good shoveled sidewalks can be hard, when you're catching a bus. I had a bus driver go right past me before, didn't even slow down. I was running to catch him. It was awful. He did eventually stop and let me on, but I thought I would die. And at some point, you have to stop and wonder which stop is going to be better for you to be at.

[Sharon]

I ended up taking a half day off today, it was needed.  Depending on which forecast you view we are supposed to have alternating snow and freezing rain until either Saturday or Sunday, so I made a grocery run.  I didn't really need much but I hadn't left the property since last Wednesday so I was going a little stir crazy. 

The errands have been ran, the cows have some fresh bedding in their shed, they have been fed and have the water trough filled.

[Opti]

Jan 16, 2024 12:15:29 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Jan 15, 2024 22:14:15 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think Sharon and Busymom have worse weather than I will. However, I have to walk in whatever snow and mix we get to the bus stop which is non trivial. The going home stop is close to work and whatever we get is supposed to stop an hour or so before work ends. Worried about the walk and my safety given I am not walking on nice sidewalks in a residential area. Crazy people, semis, ambulances, work trucks etc. are common right next to me and oh and car carriers. I am near a very large car auction site so lots of traffic at times.

Worried and worried about how good or bad timing will be with the bus. I will change up my walk through the complex as well. Turns out a tree got uprooted due to the soaked ground and high winds, so it is currently covering a good portion of the sidewalk I usually take. If the snow wintry mix isn't too bad, I expect grounds mgmt. will cut up or move part of the tree out of the way later tomorrow. There is an evergreen tree near the entrance that looks like it will fall down in the near future as well. 

Got my fleece and work laundry done but need to put more of both away and adjust what is hanging up to dry. Did not get to my hair, packing up the boots to return, etc. Need to finish emptying the dishwasher. And maybe start loading in the dirty dishes etc. More to do but I also need to get to bed soon too.

Even walking on good shoveled sidewalks can be hard, when you're catching a bus. I had a bus driver go right past me before, didn't even slow down. I was running to catch him. It was awful. He did eventually stop and let me on, but I thought I would die. And at some point, you have to stop and wonder which stop is going to be better for you to be at.

The good thing about my employer is they will close early in bad conditions at times. So I am home earlier than usual and barely made the bus. The sidewalk by the road was not really cleared in any given area and downright dangerous in others. Luckily total frozen precipitation is around two inches or less now after freezing rain and rain. I crunched through on frozen grass more than I braved the sidewalk.

My complex does not look like it addressed that portion of sidewalk at all. Maybe they were waiting and ran out of time? IDK. We are expecting a flash freeze and NJ12 weather person said 'everything will turn to concrete that hasn't been shoveled or salted.'

 Thursday should be better, but tomorrow morning could be a horror.

[toomuchreality]

Jan 16, 2024 16:45:31 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jan 16, 2024 12:15:29 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Even walking on good shoveled sidewalks can be hard, when you're catching a bus. I had a bus driver go right past me before, didn't even slow down. I was running to catch him. It was awful. He did eventually stop and let me on, but I thought I would die. And at some point, you have to stop and wonder which stop is going to be better for you to be at.

The good thing about my employer is they will close early in bad conditions at times. So I am home earlier than usual and barely made the bus. The sidewalk by the road was not really cleared in any given area and downright dangerous in others. Luckily total frozen precipitation is around two inches or less now after freezing rain and rain. I crunched through on frozen grass more than I braved the sidewalk.

My complex does not look like it addressed that portion of sidewalk at all. Maybe they were waiting and ran out of time? IDK. We are expecting a flash freeze and NJ12 weather person said 'everything will turn to concrete that hasn't been shoveled or salted.'

 Thursday should be better, but tomorrow morning could be a horror.

I'm glad your employer pays attention to the snow and allows for you to leave earlier, when needed. I never had an employer do that. Although I do remember when I worked at the gas co, there was a huge storm once and they were really pushing employers to let people off early. In the 11 yrs I worked there, that was one time, they allowed us to leave at 3:30 instead of 5. Otherwise they pushed for more time, always.

[jerseygirl]

Opti hoping you remain safe on your trips tomorrow. Please remember to focus on safe walking you have a lot on your mind thinking about your Dad

[toomuchreality]

Jan 16, 2024 16:32:09 GMT -5 Sharon said:

I ended up taking a half day off today, it was needed.  Depending on which forecast you view we are supposed to have alternating snow and freezing rain until either Saturday or Sunday, so I made a grocery run.  I didn't really need much but I hadn't left the property since last Wednesday so I was going a little stir crazy. 

The errands have been ran, the cows have some fresh bedding in their shed, they have been fed and have the water trough filled.

I'm glad you were able to get some things done today. I'm sure the cows are happier, as well. You must certainly have some days that are both daunting and overwhelming. I hope they become fewer, in the days ahead. In the near future would be nice.

ONG, I keep finding myself in strange ( to me ) situations. Like the oxygen tubing wrapped around my neck, multiple times, in the night. Just now, I thought I had my oxygen on correctly and felt something weird on my face. Only one side of the tubing was near my nostril and it was turned, so it was digging into my face. 😳 I sometimes forget I am not hooked up to all that stuff anymore and I don't have to just put up with everything, like I was for a week or so.🙄 Just one of the pleasures of getting old, I guess. 😁

I hope you all enjoy a more pleasant day than you've been given recently.

Life is going to get better/easier, some day. Thanks for your continued support and friendship. ♡ ❤

[toomuchreality]

Agreed, @opti. Take care of you. You have a lot going on right now.
Hugs ♡

[Opti]

Jan 16, 2024 18:26:28 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Jan 16, 2024 16:45:31 GMT -5 Opti said:

The good thing about my employer is they will close early in bad conditions at times. So I am home earlier than usual and barely made the bus. The sidewalk by the road was not really cleared in any given area and downright dangerous in others. Luckily total frozen precipitation is around two inches or less now after freezing rain and rain. I crunched through on frozen grass more than I braved the sidewalk.

My complex does not look like it addressed that portion of sidewalk at all. Maybe they were waiting and ran out of time? IDK. We are expecting a flash freeze and NJ12 weather person said 'everything will turn to concrete that hasn't been shoveled or salted.'

 Thursday should be better, but tomorrow morning could be a horror.

I'm glad your employer pays attention to the snow and allows for you to leave earlier, when needed. I never had an employer do that. Although I do remember when I worked at the gas co, there was a huge storm once and they were really pushing employers to let people off early. In the 11 yrs I worked there, that was one time, they allowed us to leave at 3:30 instead of 5. Otherwise they pushed for more time, always.

I think its because it the kind of regional bank it is. We don't have excess staffing so when its bad out and customers aren't coming it can make sense to close. Especially since long timers have often worked many branches not close to where they live so endangering those people and their commutes does not really pay off. It is a very nice change from my prior employer. I think its been invoked only twice in my time there, although one branch went home early during the flooding as the flooding put them in danger of not being able to leave.

I worked in a healthcare facility that never closed, so almost never do workers go home early unless it was certain shifts and certain area like the kitchen staff do not work overnights at a Skilled nursing facility/AL. I have no idea about hospitals, but the facility I worked at only briefly had enough rooms or places to put workers up overnight. In this case it was when the assisted living was new and not yet fully populated with residents. 

[Opti]

Jan 16, 2024 19:17:41 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Opti hoping you remain safe on your trips tomorrow. Please remember to focus on safe walking you have a lot on your mind thinking about your Dad

I do try to be careful. The real danger is at home. I spilled a bunch of liquid from my canned chicken onto my sweatpants, my fleece top and the floor when trying to make my dinner of stuffing with canned chicken. Hope all that comes out when it is safe for me to brave the outside sidewalks and stairs to go to one of the laundry rooms.

Dad has been but into a different room and is formally in hospice care. I feel bad I missed the window to call him again today, but my body wanted to collapse after eating. Probably napped for a couple hours so I am up now cleaning my humidifier and getting in the hydration I did not get in earlier.

Not looking forward to tomorrow's commute. Will be colder and the state of the sidewalks are likely awful.  The bank on the corner hadn't even cleared their sidewalks off fully. I hope someone went out and either put down more salt or actually shoveled it before dark. 

[Opti]

And when the dust clears on that I need to add auditing coding of my healthcare visits to my to do list. Charges from the doctors office are at like $185 or so, and the alleged discounts or whatever dismal. My first patient responsibility out of three entries is just over $100. So I need to see how they coded it as the first one is my intake and physical. I should not be paying big money IMO over something that should be standard. So I will request to see ICD-10 codes etc. so I know how they submitted it.

Seeing the totals it makes sense now all the auto nags via text. Not sure if I can pay enough to make them happy, but I might try to pay off the first one if I can to show a good faith effort.

Made no progress on potential critter care if I am out of state for multiple days. Vet's office was unreachable. Got a telephony code which code have meant phones down or phone network form there to me was not working. The latter is common around here during storms especially big rain. 

[toomuchreality]

Hugs to whoever wants or needs them.

[Opti]

Ouch, returning to bed, With windchill, projected feel temp is 5 degrees for morning walk/bus wait. 

[busymom]

It's after Midnight, and I'm not tired enough to try & sleep just yet.  Wind chill here is -8 right now.  At least the "real" temp is supposed to be at least 20 degrees on Sunday.  I'm over Winter, and it's barely been a real one here.  

[toomuchreality]

Yuck. Although it's not sunshine and Rose's here, at least the temp is 21° and they say it feels like 22°. That's better than being in the minus digits!

Stay warm and take care.

[Opti]

Jan 17, 2024 1:14:14 GMT -5 busymom said:

It's after Midnight, and I'm not tired enough to try & sleep just yet.  Wind chill here is -8 right now.  At least the "real" temp is supposed to be at least 20 degrees on Sunday.  I'm over Winter, and it's barely been a real one here.  

I've been reading what the weather is back home in the NW Chicago suburbs is and it's not pleasant. One of my best friends growing up lives in Wisconsin so I have been following his weather as well. My long underwear pants arrived in the mail over the weekend. Not perfect, but I think I will keep them. May test them out today. Yesterday the morning temp was around 25 without wind. I don't want to look at today's weather, but I will before I trek out like Nanuck of the North for the bus.

Its going to be very cold. Years ago the very cold would hit here sometime between Christmas and New Years. 

[toomuchreality]

Jan 17, 2024 7:13:19 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jan 17, 2024 1:14:14 GMT -5 busymom said:

It's after Midnight, and I'm not tired enough to try & sleep just yet.  Wind chill here is -8 right now.  At least the "real" temp is supposed to be at least 20 degrees on Sunday.  I'm over Winter, and it's barely been a real one here.  

I've been reading what the weather is back home in the NW Chicago suburbs is and it's not pleasant. One of my best friends growing up lives in Wisconsin so I have been following his weather as well. My long underwear pants arrived in the mail over the weekend. Not perfect, but I think I will keep them. May test them out today. Yesterday the morning temp was around 25 without wind. I don't want to look at today's weather, but I will before I trek out like Nanuck of the North for the bus.

Its going to be very cold. Years ago the very cold would hit here sometime between Christmas and New Years. 

Good luck!

[toomuchreality]

I've been awake since 3AM. I'm feeling tired and cranky. Which doesn't seem all that attractive. LOL