Tag Archives: life

Five on Friday/Frugal Friday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, Credit cards, frugalism, husband, knee injury, Multiple myeloma, Myeloma, velcade, Walking by

Frugal-wise, I’m not in the Cotswolds like Mavis over at $100 a month. She probably should change the name of her blog. But she’s got the money, so why not enjoy it? Plus, she loves England.

Here in my neck of the woods, N. Ca, it’s been too hot to do much outside. The temps are much nicer in the coming week, but still some 90’s, and I saw it gets in the low 80’s, so that will be much nicer. I miss sitting outside in the mornings and afternoons.

Money-wise, just paying bills, and I had to pay the overpayment from SS. It’s ok, I’ll deal with it. It’s done, and I’m going forward. I just need to work the budget with the SS I’m getting. I’m still working on my credit card bill because I put the cremation on there. But I should be able to knock it down next month. I hate having a balance. But needs must.

After my Velcade shot, I stopped at Costco to pick up some lox for the bagels I bought at Noah’s. I also picked up some rose wine( my favorite) and a Gloria Ferrier champagne-type brut. I wanted Mumm rose, but they were out.

I gave my daughter $100 in cash to buy the paint for the studio. She’s really done a great job clearing it out and rearranging it to suit her. We might go get that today as long as she drives, since I’m on Dex. I don’t sleep well on Dex nights, and last night was no exception.

I also have a food bank donation to drop off and some more stuff for Goodwill.

I’ve almost finished most of my list of things to do related to B. If something comes up, it’ll be an outlier I don’t know about. I may take care of a few things today or not. It depends on my focusing on which Dex does affect. So we’ll see.

I’m still debating getting the next steroid shot for my knee. Mostly it’s ok. When I try and do a little extra walking or swimming, it acts up, but then I seem to recover the next day. The shot did help quite a bit, so there’s that.

Friday Things

Posted in budgets, California, cancer, Death, frugalism, husband, peritoneal mesothelomia, Uncategorized by

I’m still processing things from Barclay’s death. It’s very weird, honestly, to be the person left to keep on going. I take some comfort in that he lived a good life and got to be 74, almost 75. Look at those poor kids in the Texas flood who didn’t get past 10. Very sad. The last year has been so hard watching his decline, and the last 3 months were pretty awful. He really didn’t have a chance with peritoneal mesothelioma. It’s just one of those cancers that you don’t get over and go into remission. I got the letter already from SS, which I’m happy about, so I don’t have to go into the office. I’m losing over $1000 a month, so quite a hit. I’m sure there will be ways to figure it out. I cancelled his UHC, so that and his Medicare covers almost $500. Insurance is outrageous. The rest, I don’t know. I do plan on selling the Triumph in a few months, so that will, if it sells, generate a few dollars. The totally weird thing was when I called Allstate to take him off as a driver, she said our insurance WILL GO UP ANOTHER $125. WYF??? After talking to our local agent, she got it to go up only $65, so half. The issue is his good driver discount being taken off. JFC, really? Oh well, done is done.

I’ve gotten through most of my list of things to do. There’s still the bank where I need to take him off our account, but I’ll get to it eventually.

As I said, very weird to deal with this stuff. We all miss him so much.

My daughter ordered this from Shutterfly. We hung it out on the upper patio where he spent the last 4 months of his life sitting when the weather was nice.

Frugal wise, I haven’t been spending too much. I did order a new Speedo from Amazon on Prime since I need a new one. I go through a swimsuit about once a year, with the chlorine from the pool. It was 30% off, so it was a good deal. I also bought some black frames for some watercolor pictures my daughter has done, and some that B did too.

I signed my daughter up as a user on my Costco card, so she went in after work and did some shopping. I appreciate the effort. Mostly it was flavored waters, olive oil, coffee, and some wild cod. She’s very susceptible to histamine attacks, so she’s been on a low-histamine diet, hence the fish purchase. The total came to a little over $100.

Our weather is very hot, and the coolers are running most of the day. If I close everything up, I can usually wait till 11 am, and I always turn them off by 8pm, even if it’s still hot out.

I started going to LLS every morning to apply for my grant, but so far, there’s no luck with funding. I’m hoping the wait isn’t too long, as I depend on that money for my insurance.

My son is using B’s truck since his car( older Subaru) is leaking oil. So he got off work early yesterday and took a load to the dump. There are still 2 more to go with metal stuff, and then the old wood from the chicken coop. It was hot yesterday, so I appreciate him doing it and getting it done. I’m pretty sure we’ll keep the truck, but unsure about Rubi. I just don’t know if I can emotionally handle going out in the RV without him. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see when the time comes, and we can plan something. My daughter has volunteered to be the driver, which she can totally handle; it’s more me dealing with it. Plus, Rubi is really designed for a couple, not 2 people. It’s one bed, and the couch does fold down, but it is very uncomfortable to sleep on. So another decision down the road.

Well, that wraps up what’s going on here.

How’s things in your world?? Summer plans?

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, camping, meal planning, swimming by

I am enjoying my new iMac. It’s so pretty and nice to work on. It was such a thoughtful thing my daughter did.

Yesterday, we ventured out to the pet bookstore. I picked up some old Hillerman, in which I always enjoy being immersed in the Southwest. After having lived in Tucson for 5 years and then a small stint in Santa Fe, the southwest does get into your being. I wouldn’t ever move there again, too many people, too much congestion, too many people using water that isn’t really there, etc, but we did love it when we were there. The smell of orange blossoms lining the neighborhoods is a favorite memory. Plus, riding our bikes all over town. Back then, you could still drive through campus, but that changed a number of years ago.

I also picked up a Japanese lifestyle book called Wa. I looked through it yesterday, and there are a few interesting ideas.

After the bookstore, we went and had some tacos.

I’m trying to stick to my routines as much as possible, but some days I just sit and do nothing. Today, I need to write my list for the week and figure out what I’m doing and when. I pick up Barclay’s ashes this week, so that day will be hard. I’ll probably just go down and straight back home.

I know I want to swim at least once. During my last swim, I felt much better, so I think I can catch up soon to where I was. Additionally, I want to go to the Maheny gym and the library.

Meal planning has gone out the window for now, and my daughter and I just figure out dinner daily. I do have lots of freezer stuff, so I am working with that. We did have a small BBQ on the 4th of some steak bits. That was yummy. We had a Cobb salad on the side. Mostly, I’m looking in the fridge, staring blankly, and then figuring out some game plan. Also, my daughter has been cooking meals up, which has been nice.

My son is coming up today to do some more dump run stuff. I hope he can get rid of all the metal stuff. ( old pool frames, carport frames, etc.) There’s still a load of old wood that needs to go too. In the past, B would just have a burn pile in the winter for the wood, but none of us want to do that. So to the dump it goes.

I gave away a few dozen canning jars for free the other day too. I’m not planning on doing a lot of canning so I figured someone could use them. They went very quickly and I will do another box soon.

Other than that, just hanging in there.

What wonderful things are you guys up to? I hope making the best of it.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, California, cooking, swimming by

We’re experiencing a bit of a heat wave. Mid-90s all week. I’ve closed all the windows and that keeps the cool in for a while. I think after this week it drops back down to the 80s. We are trying not to water too much, but just enough to keep things going. Our water bill always skyrockets in summer.

I finally got to the pool and loved spending 30 minutes swimming. Although I am definitely sore from doing it. With the 4th of July next week, I need to look at what day I can get a swim in without being stuck in ‘vacation’ traffic.

On a positive note, my kappa light chains came down a point to 19.6. High normal is 19.4, so all good there. I don’t even see Dr. L till August sometime. My LLS grant is used up, and so hopefully next month there’ll be some funding for myeloma. I haven’t heard that any funding has opened in quite a while, so I’ll just need to be checking daily.

My son came and took a load to the thrift store. That got rid of some old exercise equipment. I doubt he’ll get to the next dump run till after the 4th.

My daughter made a delightful black bean chili for dinner the other night. I froze 2 portions for later lunches. I’m using the Souper Saver cubes. They are really great, and if you freeze leftovers, check them out. I first saw them on Facebook, where Steve Sando( Rancho Gordo) was cooking basic beans and showed them. After the beans are frozen, you pop them out and store them in a ziplock or other reusable baggie.

Here’s a picture of a cholla cactus blossom.

You don’t want to get too close to these.

The news coming out of the white house and all the departments is so discouraging. It’s also so alarming. I’ve got my NYT sub, and I also do The Hill and The Atlantic. Some of the op eds are truly scary to read about where this administration is going. It’s hard to imagine where we’ll be in 3 more years.

Simple Sunday and some updates

Posted in California, cancer, Lake tahoe, Walking by

Today, Father’s Day, would have been the day we left for Tahoe for the week, so that’s a little hard for me. Barclay isn’t all that aware, so I don’t think he remembers.

Things are about the same here, maybe a little worse.

We had hospice come on three different days: one was the intake nurse, one was the RN who would be our nurse, and then the social worker. It was all good, although a bit overwhelming. The nurse set up getting a wheelchair, bedside commode, oxygen, a shower chair, and a walker. So, lots of stuff.

He’s using the oxygen, so that helps some. We’re all taking turns being around so he has someone here. We all gave him his Father’s Day cards this morning, too.

Overall, just being here.

We’ve had simple meals( my daughter and I) like Costco pulled pork on tortillas, salads, hot dogs, and one night just sandwiches.

It’s been nice weather and not too hot at all.

Today, my son is coming up to do some yard work and take some cardboard to recycle. He still needs to plan the dump runs, as there is a lot to take to really clean up around the barn. My daughter has the chicken coop almost all the way down. She’s done an incredible job, really.

I’ve had a few nice walks and am rotating my PT exercises so that continues. My knee seems to be doing better overall all and I’m not using my brace anymore, just a compression sleeve.

This coming week I have Velcade, so that’ll be interesting. My daughter had to change her work week so she could be here for me when I’m gone. I don’t have any plans to go to the pool or the gym till we’re done with hospice. No sense trying to add something else in right now.

I hope your world is a happy one, and on a positive note, the No Kings demonstrations were a huge success. Let’s hope the orange man starts to act like a president.

Midweek Musings

Posted in California, cancer, cooking, hospice, peritoneal mesothelomia by

We met with the hospice intake nurse yesterday. I was so impressed with the efficiency and information. She was so obliging with everything. She made a list of what B needs, like oxygen, a shower chair, etc, and by 5:30 that evening, it was being delivered. I was kind of blown away. They showed us how the oxygen works, so when he needs it, it’ll be there. He hasn’t really needed it yet.

Today, I need to go to town to pick up his medication. All of his meds now will be through hospice, but his pain med had already been filled yesterday. I couldn’t go get it because my daughter headed down to work.

Last night I did the big salad of spring mix, tomatoes, cucumbers, and the leftover polenta. Then I pan-fried the Costco breaded chicken(freezer), which, by the way, is quite good. B ate some polenta and a bit of salad.

The nurse gave us a binder with info and a 24-hour call number if anything comes up. My biggest concern is B falling. Especially because it most likely will be his low blood counts that he will succumb to. When his hemoglobin drops too low, then that’ll probably be it. The drop in hemoglobin will cause him to be even more unsteady.

I’m continuing to putter around the house, and I have a nice little load to go to Goodwill. Any duplicates of things are what I’m focusing on. Also, in the kitchen, I have a number of OXO containers I’m not using and don’t foresee using, so I’m passing those on. As always, I am looking around for ways to streamline the house. It makes it so much easier to tidy up, clean, and maintain.

I hope these days find you well and living your best life. Life can turn on a dime, as they say.

Simple Sunday

Posted in budgets, California, cancer, Death, husband by

First, I want to thank subscriber T for a generous donation to help us through our rough times here. I’m always so humbled that people would consider this at all. Maybe it has to do with feeling insecure about my value or even this blog. But T, thank you for thinking of us.

Another warm day here in N. Ca. I’ve been closing the house down by 8am so the cool stays inside. We turned the coolers on a little earlier yesterday and will again today.

I walked yesterday and today in the park. I’m still not quite up to the .75 mark, but close. I got to .68. No one has been there, which has been very nice. Just me and all the Canada goose families. I’ve done really well this week, not using my cane and trying to walk steadily. I’ve done my PT exercises every other day, and I do think, especially, the ones on the massage table are helping. I just need to keep it up and not think that if my knee feels better to stop.

Now, for some recapping of the situation. B’s doctor said there’s nothing more to do. The PET scan showed disease progression, so the immunotherapy is not doing anything. She was very compassionate about it all. Now we wait for hospice to call us, which should be tomorrow or at least early next week. It is incredibly sad and feels a bit surreal. I’m sure those who have lost a spouse can relate. My son is taking it particularly hard, and I hope he feels he can talk to me. All in all, it really just means waiting, which is also incredibly hard.

We had reservations to go to Tahoe for Father’s Day week, and that will be tough to realize we won’t do that anymore. I haven’t cancelled the reservation yet, probably because of denial. But I will do so this week.

I’m trying to do my ‘normal’ stuff to keep things normal, I guess. Once we meet with hospice, we’ll know more about how to proceed. I don’t have a clue, really.

I hope you out there in blog land are having a Simple Sunday. If you want to share what you’re doing today.

A picture of the coreopsis and a cactus

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, California, cancer, knee injury, swimming by

Actually, it’s a very, very sad Sunday as our resident fox got Ms Chicken right in our yard. We ate dinner inside because it was so hot. We usually put Ms Chicken away at 7, but with it being so light out still, she’s not ready. So last night, it was 7:30, and my daughter went out, and there was a fox and a dead chicken. I was devastated, to say the least. I am so sad. Speaking of animals, the sweet little black and white cat hasn’t been around for a week. It was a male and was in search of girls, but he never stayed away this long, so we figure something got him too. More likely a coyote.

Today is not so hot out, and that will be a bit of a relief. My son is coming up to get his camping gear for a work trip next week. He might get some weed eating done, too. I think next year we will have to hire out the weed eating because it’s a lot. My daughter has kept up on most of it around the house, but there’s still a lot out by the barn and down the property into the wooded area.

Our town is hosting its annual Pioneer Day today, so I didn’t go walk because the park will be busy with people sitting up. The Lions club does a big food booth, plus there’s all the stuff for the kids, like bouncy houses. We took our kids every year when we moved here, and it was always a fun day.

Today, I plan on doing a few extra things. Yesterday I cleaned the laundry room and wiped down the shelves. I still need to wash the windows, so I’ll put that on my list. Then yesterday, I also decluttered some canning jars from the garden shed. I plan on getting back out there this morning and doing another box. Since I don’t plan on making jams anymore, most of my 1/2 pint jars can go. I’ll keep a dozen or so, but that’s it. Also, it just needs a good cleaning and rearranging out there, too.

I haven’t been to the Auburn gym( I always went on Sunday morning) since I hurt my knee. I think I’ll plan on going next week and then decide whether to keep that membership. It’s free with our health insurance, but UHC still pays for the gym, and if we’re not using it, I think it’s probably a waste. I was there regularly on Sundays, so if I start that again, I’ll keep it. This week, though, I’ll go in and cancel B’s as that’s not happening. I’m not sure I can do it, but I’ll try, and if needed, he can call them.

The week ahead looks nice, not so hot. I’m planning on going to the pool once. I’m not sure what day, though. My plan is to swim 15 minutes, and that’s it. I want to start slow so I don’t hurt my knee. My very inexpensive massage table showed up, and it’s perfect. I did the floor exercises on it, and it’s just right. Firm and low to the ground( 24 inches). I have 4 exercises I’m doing on it, and I think I’ll Google what other Pilates-type exercises I can do to strengthen my core.

What’s happening in your world? Hope it’s good stuff.

These are the books I read this week, except the Isabel Allende, which I’ll start today. Most were meh, not great.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cooking, Walking by

First off I want to congratulate Kristen of The Frugal Girl blog on completing her RN. It’s a huge accomplishment, especially while she was enduring a very difficult divorce. She is so brave and persevered! Well done!

On to my stuff. Yesterday, B had his PET scan, so we’ll know next week how it all looks. I’m hoping for the best, but I also know it may not be good news. He has his next immuno on Tuesday, and I’ll be taking him.

So yesterday, after they took off for Sacramento, I did a bunch of odd chores, and it felt good to do those ones that seemed to get pushed back to the end of the list. I probably overdid it some ( Dex) and can definitely feel it today.

I did go for a walk both yesterday and today, but still holding at .5 miles. It’s not much, but better than not doing it. I’ve been fairly regular doing my PT exercises, and I ordered an inexpensive massage table that lowers to 24 inches so I can start the floor exercises on the table. Since I can’t get up from the floor with my knee, I thought this was a good option, and actually, the PT place used massage tables for patients to get up on, so I felt it was a win-win. Mostly it’ll be exercises like a modified plank, leg lifts, clam exercise, and a few more.

Yesterday I made a new recipe of cream of mushroom soup. I had the big container of mushrooms from Costco, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was really yummy with homemade sourdough. The recipe is from Magnolia if you’re interested.

Today is going to be a fun day for my daughter and me. We are going to brunch to celebrate her 40th birthday. Where have the years gone? I loved being a mom and everything that went with it. She’s an amazing young woman—smart, confident, a talented author/writer, a gardener, and lots more.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, cancer, Gratitude, peritoneal mesothelomia by

I am very grateful my Ortho appt went well. Here’s the scoop. The meniscus tear doesn’t ever heal, but strengthening the knee by exercises helps you regain some mobility. I started back in with the PT exercises and have slowly been adding one a day. The PA seemed to think I didn’t really need the PT appts since I can do what I have from before. But she did say she’d be happy to refer me if I wanted. She also gave me the steroid shot. She said there is another type of shot, too, if I wanted, but that requires insurance approval and takes a while. I said I’ll try the steroid shots for now. Overall, I was quite hopeful that I would be able to get back to my regular routine.

I’m thankful my son offered to take B to his appt. As it turned out, he needed a blood transfusion, so it ended up taking 5 hours. They didn’t even get home till 6:15. I would have been a basket case. He’s still declining, and his onc called yesterday, so I talked with her about how things are not going well. She hasn’t seen him physically, so she was concerned about how frail he is. She did say that the immunotherapy can take a few months to kick in, but the flip side is that the immunotherapy could be feeding the cancer. It’s all very depressing. She was going to get the PET scan moved up so we could see what is going on.

I’m grateful for the rain we had the other day. It helped water the yard and took down some pollen.

It’s a hard time right now, and I don’t expect things to get better anytime soon, but all we can do is be hopeful. And for that I’m grateful.