Category Archives: Gratitude

Thankful Thursday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, cooking, Gratitude, ikea, swimming by

I’m thankful for a nice swim yesterday and that the pool was so nice too. It was a little busy when I got there, but then it emptied out some. Waiting to go just a smidge later is the key. The pool closes for lap swimming at 9:25. They are pretty strict, as the pool is used for a big water aerobics class. So even if I’m there at 8:45, I’d still get my 30 minutes in.

I’m thankful for the AC unit in the window my daughter put in last week, knowing it was going to get warm this week. I held out until about 4pm and then it was too stuffy and warm in the front room, so I turned it on for a while. Today is also a warmer day, so I’ll probably turn it on for a while.

I’m thankful for a fun trip to IKEA with my daughter. We had fun looking at kitchen stuff and couches. The couch I had planned on getting down the road wasn’t as comfortable as I thought it would be, but the upgraded Ektorp was, so I’ll probably go with that down the road. We didn’t stop for lunch, as neither of us felt like anything.

I’m thankful that my new settings on my CPAP machine are helping keep my SP02 higher at night. I’m still seeing a dip into the high 80’s, but I’m not going to stress about it. Last night it said my score sleeping was 87 -93. But I was only down for a short period, and if I’m rolling over or moving, it can give a lower reading. Overall, I think the pressure change has made a difference. I did have an awful night sleeping, though, on Monday night. Not sure what was up. My Airsense score was still high, 98, but it was not a good night, and I think I’m guessing that it was still DEX doing its thing. I’m also guessing that if I really wanted to get supplemental oxygen, I’d do the in-lab test. I think since I will see him in 6 months again, I’ll leave it as is for now and revisit the whole thing then.

Today is a home day unless we decide to go over to the pet bookstore.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgets, California, Gratitude, velcade, Walking by

I’m thankful for a nice walk this morning. We had rain yesterday, and everything was fresh. It’s still cloudy, though, but not cold. It snowed in Tahoe, and all I could think about was how much fun Barclay and I would have had, all tucked in Rubi. It made me sad.

Today I have Velcade, and even though it is chemotherapy, I’m grateful it goes quick and easily. The nurses are always so nice. I plan on breaking up taking dex between today and tomorrow. Last month it totally wiped me out, and I’d like not to repeat that.

After that, I plan to go down to the library, as I have a few holds that need to be picked up. I am always grateful for the library.

I plan on coming straight home unless we need something at Winco, but I think we’re ok, although I’ll check before I leave.

I am very thankful my appt with the sleep doctor went well. It’s a PITA to get to this facility, and I dislike the building and the whole complex. But the appt went well. He raised my minimum pressure and lowered the maximum. This is supposed to help keep the airway open, so theoretically, my SP02 wont drop. Unfortunately, it still dropped last night for a bit. Plus the extra pressure was a bit difficult to adjust to. He said there was no hurry on the in-lab test, and it’s really to see when and how much the oxygen is dropping. Medicare will not pay for supplemental oxygen without the titration test. I’ll see how I feel in a few weeks. I did bite the bullet and bought an 02 oximeter ring for $159 on sale. It should be here tomorrow. The whole point is to figure out how long these drops are. Also, losing weight will help, so there’s that on the table too. Overall, I was happy with his approach, and it felt much more like we can figure this out together. If I want the supplemental oxygen, then I will have to do the titration test.

When I got home yesterday, my daughter had taken down all the fence that was falling down. Barclay put that fence up 30 years ago so the yard would be enclosed and have privacy. Those redwood boards really held up. Actually, we’re going to reuse them and add to the fence blocking the hoarders’ yard. But that will take a post, cement, and cross boards sometime in the future.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, Gratitude by

I’m very glad the temperatures are lower than last week. High 80’s is crazy for this time of year. We’re back in the 70s and low 80’s for a while. My daughter put in the LR cooler just so we have it when needed. But our PGE bill has been so great, I hate to start using coolers.

I’m grateful for my daughter who does so much around here and actually likes doing all that stuff.

I’m grateful for the beautiful flowers in our yard. The poppies are so colorful and I love how they’ve spread. The rose campion is spreading everywhere too.

I’m grateful for my CPAP machine that has virtually cured my sleep apnea. Unfortunately, I still have some blood oxygen issues. The BO is still hitting a low in the 80’s, probably during REM sleep, from what I’ve read. So that is going to need to be addressed. sigh???

I’m actually grateful to AI Gemini for giving me some really valuable information about the blood oxygen levels and the appropriate tests to ask for.

I’m grateful as always for the pool and being able to swim. With gas prices so high, I am adjusting how often I go down to Roseville, but still, I love it when I’m there.

Today is a home day. I went for a walk and have baked a sourdough loaf. I need to mop the floors at some point.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, decluttering, Gratitude, Uncategorized by

I’m very thankful to feel ok again. Whatever it was, I’d prefer it not to happen again. Next time, I will be sure to drink some electrolytes. AI seemed to think that the need for them was contributing to my overall yucky feeling.

My labs came in at 30.4, so up from 29.1, but not too bad. .7 increase, and my ratio came down to 2.65 from 2.95, so that was positive. Another month of just keeping on.

I’m thankful for a day with nothing planned. I don’t have any plans for the day, so I’ll see what I get up to. I’ve been decluttering a few random items that I’m not using and will take to Goodwill once I have a few bags.

Today, I plan on making a chicken salad with leftover Costco chicken. The rest I’ll just freeze. Plus, at some point, make some chicken broth. I think this time I’ll pressure can it, so I don’t take up so much room in the freezer. But that’s not today.

We had a dead deer in our upper yard near the pond. We’re not sure if it got hit by a car or what. My daughter called animal control, and usually, if it’s on private property, they won’t get it. But since we said we had no way to move it, they took it. Why couldn’t it die on our neighbor’s property? I’m thankful they took it, though, as a number of years ago we had a dead deer down in the woods, and it just decomposed and certainly smelled for a while. We think that one, though, was a mountain lion kill, as there were only pieces left. Anyway, it’s gone.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, Gratitude, Uncategorized, Walking by

That are temperatures are going back up. I had to make a fire during this spell, and that is using up our firewood. I guess I need to check when I can get some more.

I’m thankful to have enough energy to do things most of the time, although my legs always give me problems. Specifically, Dex affects muscles, and my leg muscles always feel a little weak. That’s even with doing squats, weights, walking, and swimming. I just live with it and get on. I did just buy some compression socks from Amazon, and they seem to help.

Flexibility. Today is my normal walk day, but I have to leave at 8am to get to Sacramento, so I’ll skip it this morning. I may go later after I’m back home.

I have to give a lot of gratitude to Pope Leo for standing up to the orange idiot.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, Gratitude by

I am thankful my kappa light chains at least went down a little, 2 points. So that does show the Dex had some influence. At least there’s no increase, so I’ll take it.

I’m thankful for a day to be home and do some more reorganizing. I’ve made some progress. I’m also going to see an estate planner today to find out what needs to be done for the trust. She is not an attorney, but a legal aide( or something). Still I hope to get what I need to file the trust with just my name on it.

I’m thankful to see the new baby geese at the park. they must have just hatched.

There are way fewer pairs of geese this year, so it makes me wonder if the park is doing something to keep them away?

I am relieved and thankful that the AAA house insurance and Fair plan got figured out, and now have me as the insured. What a PITA>:(

In the whole political arena, it is such a shit show with the orange idiot saying he’s going to wipe out an entire civilization. Why doesn’t someone do something about him? It’s a disgrace for our country. Well, there’s nothing I’m thankful for there, that’s for sure.

I started watching a fun show my son recommended called Resident Alien. It’s on Netflix and really is quite funny. If you’re looking for something new, that could be it. I need a break from the intense ones like Dark Winds, which I adored.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, Death, Gratitude, velcade by

Well, after spending more than 2 hours at the AAA office and running over to the county recorder’s office, most of the problem is handled. The young man helping me was spectacular and really handled the issue well and with confidence. We still need to wait 5 days for them( California Fair Plan) to process and approve. Why wouldn’t they? But who knows, they needed not only the death certificate but the trust record, hence the trip over to the recorder’s office. Hopefully that’s all. What a pain in the ass.

So I am thankful I followed through, and it’s done( I hope). Nothing will change with the mortgage, even with his name still on the loan. (As far as I can gather, it can stay there, and the loan remains the same. I think from what AI said, it would take doing a ‘new mortgage’ to do that, and I am completely not willing to do that. I will need to have an estate lawyer update the trust, though with just my name, but I’ll get to that eventually.

I’m thankful I got a swim in, and when I got there, it was not super busy, but later it did get very busy.

After the pool, I went to Costco for coffee, and I saw more lavender plants, so I bought just one. I also picked up the Dawn power wash, some breaded chicken on sale, and some Easter chocolates.

My Velcade is this morning, and I’m grateful it’s not raining. It was raining quite a bit yesterday, and driving in the rain is not my favorite thing to do. After my shot, I plan on going down to the library and dropping off the books because they are due in a few days. I won’t use the gym as I usually don’t try to exercise after the chemo is in my system.

From there. I’ll come home and tidy up a bit. My daughter leaves for work early, so usually there is stuff to do, like emptying the dishwasher. Otherwise, same old same old.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, Gratitude by

I’m thankful all my appts are over for this week. Next week I still have the dentist for a cleaning, but that’s all then till my next Velcade.

I’m thankful, though, both appts went well. My retinal scan showed the same as before, so that was good. I mentioned again to him that I have very teary eyes, and so he tested my tear ducts and they were fine, so he’s going to try an eye drop( prescription and see if that helps.)Today

I’m enjoying this great weather by BBQing and just sitting outside for hours. I did get a bit of pruning of the wisteria done and will do a bit more today.

I’m thankful that my bills are paid for the month. Still not much left over, but I make do. Of course, with that said, I just got the renewal for car insurance that’s due in April, so it just keeps going. sigh:(

Today, I plan on staying home and then tomorrow swim. I miss the pool this week, but it just didn’t fit in at any other time.

All of our cats have had a virus that Mama cat brought in. They’ve been sneezing and sniffling. I’m hoping that it’s mostly over, but Chester seems like he’s been hit hard. They’re still eating and drinking, so that’s a good sign. My daughter is the one who would deal with the vet if necessary, but she said as long as they were eating, it was ok for now.

Well, that’s it for now. What things in your life are you grateful for? As we age, I think being thankful for good health( or as good as it can be) and mobility, and just being alive, is a good thing.

Five on Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, frugalism, Gratitude, Uncategorized, velcade by

I slept ok last night, but at least it wasn’t the Dex sleep, which is where I sweat. Also, I don’t have the super red Dex face. Plus, I feel fairly normal. So the big question will be how my numbers will respond. 🙁

I have to drop off a return to the post office. It was a pair of sandals I thought my feet would like. No, they didn’t. I have terrible feet in that I have a high arch and need extra support. I guess I’ll just keep to Birkenstocks.

Sunday time changes, and the evenings will be nice, but mornings will be darker at 6:30am. That’s ok for now. I do just wish they would pass legislation to end daylight savings.

I plan on meeting up with my library friends for a quick coffee. I don’t want to be there too long, as there are some things I want to get done around the house. My one friend is going in for breast cancer surgery next week, so I want to say hi. Fortunately, it’s a lumpectomy and not radical. I think it’s been a bit of a shock as she is over 80, and honestly, you’d think by then nothing like this would happen.

Our warmer weather is back starting today. All next week it looks to be in the 70’s, so very nice. I may get out webi the BBQ and do something.

I’ve been having fun getting my orchids to rebloom. I usually toss them after they dry up or look awful, but this time I watched some YouTube channels on getting them to rebloom. I ordered some orchid mix to try and repot them, too. I have a few buds on some, so I’ll be excited if it actually works.

I guess that’s six!

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, Gratitude, Political things by

The sun is back and our temperatures are going to be almost perfect at 70 degrees.

I love this spring weather!! and am so thankful to live in California.

The pool was very busy, but I’m thankful I waited to share a lane. The Coast Guard was there, and they were using 4 lanes. Regulars were not happy about that. I only had to wait about 10 minutes, so not too bad.

I’m thankful for coffee in the morning and that the daybreak is much earlier, like at 6:20 or so. I have chicken DNA, so probably I’ll be getting up earlier as the sunrise gets earlier. 🙂

I’m thankful for all the nice comments I get from people who read my blog. It feels like we’re good friends even though we haven’t met in person.

I’m going to tidy up some and then go sit outside.

Oh, I’m very thankful I didn’t torment myself by listening/watching tRump go on for one hour and 47 minutes and tell lie after lie. I swear he needs to be put away somewhere.