Dackel Princess

The Weekend Wrap

In the last few days, I’ve been bogged down. It’s mostly in my mind, as I want to ensure everything is settled if I drop dead tomorrow.

My biggest concern is Lili. She has taken Jack’s loss so hard. And she is not a dog who could go to just anyone. She is shy but loving and loyal to her people.

I spoke to Heidi’s breeder, who would take Heidi until one or two of my friends felt they could take her.

But I think to myself, I will be sixty-five in less than a month.

There are things I want to do and places I want to go. Let’s start making a “Bucket List”.

I have carpenters working on the house on the trim. It looks so good already.

If only I could find a church that wants my Hammond Church Organ. That would really make me smile. If anyone local to me wants it, let me know. It’s yours free of charge; just come and get it.

The Friday Five ~ Happy Birthday, Heidi

You will not believe this, but Heidi will turn two years old on Saturday! The time has flown, and I can honestly say that Lili and I wouldn’t have made it without Heidi to brighten our world.

So Happy Birthday to my sweet girl, Heidi, and Maisie, one of her litter mates, and thank you to her Mommy, Luna, and Daddy Ralph!
As I mentioned earlier, I finally got my health insurance fixed, and now I need to find a new Primary-care Nurse Practitioner, as my time getting my healthcare at the VA ends.
I am also planning another clearing of the house. I ordered the dumpster, and now I am looking for several strong, youthful people to get the boxes out of the attic.
This morning, I woke up with a sore throat. Oh, how I’m not too fond of that. I’m drinking like crazy, and hopefully, it will be a 24-hour sore throat.
Ah, two years old. I can still remember when my breeder sent me a picture of a pup that would be my Heidi.

Baby Heidi.

The Weekend Wrap ~ October 17th

On Sunday night, I made up a list of the things I needed to accomplish on Monday. This list filled me with dread, but I knew I had to finish it. I am happy to report that I got most of this done, with just a few things left.

Back in August, I noticed that although Jack was no longer with us, we were getting charged for him. I called and thought I’d fixed the problem, but today, October 16th, I finally resolved the problem. I will not blame our insurance carrier. What I blame is the fact that Jack’s death occurred just a few months before my 65th birthday, thus throwing me into a totally different category for my insurance. I went from a family policy to a senior policy.

My second stop of the day was my plumber’s office to drop off a check. Call me if anyone in my area needs a good, hard-working plumber.

I have a few other things on my list but those were the top ones. I hope this week will continue to be a good and productive one.

The Friday Five ~ October 13th

Life is crazy right now, so I will jump in and write the five.

The health insurance drama goes on. They took payments directly from my bank and applied them to the couple’s account. Without telling me, they set up a widows account. So the widow’s account is in the red while the couple’s account is in the green. I have been trying to resolve this since August, but nothing is happening. I will engage a lawyer if I cannot resolve this on Monday.
I had a problem with the sewer system and had to call my plumber. He worked so hard, and looks like everything is okay now.
Things are very quiet here. I invited another widow lady to breakfast. They both were close to Jack’s age, and her husband passed away before Jack. It was a nice breakfast.
The air conditioners are out for the winter. Once the heat goes on, the air conditioners come out.
I will admit that I am very lonely. My grief overwhelms me at times. Not wishing Jack was still here. He was so ill, so that had to be. But I’m alone, and although I am trying very hard to fill my days, there are days I am not too successful.

Ah well, another week gone by.

The Friday Five ~ October 6th

Time is going by so quickly. Some days I look around and feel like it has been just the other day since Jack died. And then it feels like a long time since my life fell into a routine.

Thursday morning I went to the local diner and had breakfast. As I sat watching other diners a couple came in. They sat down and ordered. Once their food arrived the wife kept eating off her husbands plate. He just smiled and you could tell that these fun meal times happened between the two of them often.
My sister is home from her vacation to the UK. They started in London and then drove all around, including Scotland before taking a ferry to Belfast. They were gone for two weeks. So glad they are back, safe and sound.
We have a local country fair this weekend. Saturday rain is forecast, Sunday not so good, but Monday!!! My cousin is come up with her husband. I love these types of homemade village fairs. Best Jams and Jellies, Best Pies, and 4-H. So much fun!
Tomorrow I have a goal. To get all the paperwork on my kitchen table sorted and filed.
Lili seems a tad calmer on the Prozac for pups. And Heidi is also doing better on her meds.

Craziness

I wish I could report that all was settled and well. However, I think it will be a while until life as usual. Goodness, where do I start?

Over the weekend, the hair around Heidi’s right eye fell away, and she was itching and scratching like crazy. I sent the Vets a picture and called them on Monday.

She also had a spot on her little doggy lips. Allergy. She was presented with a cone of shame, but after she stopped scratching, I put the donut on her.

Notice was given that porky pig Heidi, weighing in at 30 pounds, must go on a diet!

While at the Vets, I talked about Lili. Recently, she came close to knocking me down the stairs, and a few nights back, she actually knocked me down as she nervously followed me everywhere.

We will try Prozac, and I will contact a trainer. She was with Jack that day, and in her little doggy mind, she was probably terrified I would leave her.

I have had this weird thing going on now for almost two weeks. During the day, my temperature is near normal, but by 8-9 PM, it’s up to 100.+. Minor cough, nothing big.

And then there is my Delta Medical insurance. They made me get a new number with a new card. Saturday, another card arrived; this was the sister card to Jack’s employee number. That made sense, but then the bill arrived, which was twice the cost of what Jack and I paid for the two of us. I have started a complaint. I sure hope they can resolve this soon. Meanwhile, my Dental Surgeon wants to be paid. I can’t say I blame him.

Halfway through the week, and things hopefully will come together soon. My sister arrives home late tomorrow from her vacation to the UK.

I have the best sister. She called on Messenger every day to check in with me. If you are lucky enough to have someone who calls just to say hello and check in with you, then you truly have it all.

Happy Birthday Uschi

Today is the birthday of my dearest friend, Uschi!

Oh, how I wish she lived just down the street and I could bake her a special cake and bring it over, with a bottle of champagne, and celebrate the day of her birth!

Friendship

There’s a miracle of Friendship
that dwells within the heart,
And you don’t know how it happens
or where it gets its start…
But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift,
And you realize that Friendship
Is God’s most perfect gift.
-Jean Kyler McManus-

So Happy Birthday, my dearest friend and sister!

Sending you all of my love!

The Friday Five ~ September 22nd

Another week has gone by. I made it! I did not just survive it, I reveled in all I got done. It wasn’t just a good week. It was a great one! Here’s what’s been happening.

I now have two new toilets, two new shower heads, and a new kitchen sprayer/faucet. I have wanted to do this for a while, but Jack always found excuses. But like any depression-era kid, he was pretty used to his folks saying it was fine just the way it was. In any case, it is nice to have these new items! Positive #1.
I got a quote from a carpenter to repair the trim on the house. Yay! I am so happy about this. Positive #2.
I went out three times for a meal. Once to Hart’s Turkey Farm, Vida Mexican. It was a great Taco salad.

And the other at George’s Diner. Poor Harts.

A very drunk driver went right into the front of the building. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. It was all pleasant and nice to be out. I learned to eat alone and played with my cell phone while I ate. Positive #3.
I got three loads of laundry washed, dried, and put away. And the dishes made it into the dishwasher. Positive #4.
After dying slow deaths, the replacements for my blowdryer and electric toothbrush arrived. Just in the nick of time! Positive #5

So, that’s the list for this week. Have a great weekend, everyone!

It’s All About…Finding Your Way

It’s all about…finding your way.

I’ve been part of a couple for a very long time. Even before Jack (35 years!) I was married for 11 years to my former husband. Quite honestly, before that, I lived at home as a teenager. So, I never really had a solo identity. Now, I am suddenly with no other halves or close family. (All at a distance)

The other day, I was walking around the grocery store and didn’t see anyone I knew. I walked around, and part of me felt invisible.

During the last few years of Jack’s illness, I did not go out much. I was on-call 24/7 as his nurse and wife. The last six months especially.

There is no right or wrong here. Jack needed the care, and he wanted to be home. Long ago, I had promised that, if possible, I would keep him at home. I did it. Despite how difficult it was in the end, I feel good that it was one promise I could keep.

So, I am trying to get the improvements made on the house and slowly make it my own.

The important thing is to keep moving and keep living. Make a new life for myself.

I know there is a place for me in this crazy, mixed-up world. I need to find it.

The Friday Five ~ September 15th

This week seemed to go on forever. I tried valiantly to stay on top of everything, but unfortunately, I failed. So here goes the crazy week that was.

First thing Monday morning, I was off to the Social Security office. The clerks there are very friendly and helpful. I fear the people operating the computers on the other end messed it all up. This was my third trip there; I hope it will be the last.
When I saw my dentist last week to have my stitches removed, they asked about my insurance. I told them that it should be okay now. Ha! I called Delta, and my insurance is all screwed up, despite paying the Cobra amount for myself. They also took a full payment in August for our joint healthcare, and let’s face it, in August, Jack had ceased to have any health at all.
I am fighting it all. Social Security and health insurance that I know I have. It all just needs to be fixed. I am feeling overwhelmed by all of this though. I stopped by the cemetery, walked over to Jack’s grave, and sobbed. I also yelled at him.
This is something that has surprised me. I miss him, I’m grieving, but I am so angry at him. I know that makes no sense at all, but I am. But since he left it’s all been so hard.
Today my plumber arrives to install some new things. After 23 years, a few things needed to be replaced. Call me happy!

So that’s it. I hope everyone stays safe as Hurricane Lee approaches. I am far enough inland, so all I expect is rain.