Category: Friday Five

This week has made me think of my place in this world. I am learning to appreciate things that I have always taken for granted. Here are my thoughts in my Friday Five.

1. I will never take vision for granted again. After nearly five days, I still have no vision in my left eye. I am hopeful that eventually the vision will be restored.
2.  I am fortunate that I have a sound support system. Here in Meredith, I not only have friends who will help me, but I have hired a few people to do the heavy work.
3. Miss Heidi continues to be my little nurse. She follows me everywhere and has such a calming effect on me. I am so lucky to have this little bundle of love!
4. During my recovery, I have been watching a great show on Netflix. It’s called “Somebody Feed Phil!” It stars Phil Rosenthal, who wrote “Everybody Loves Raymond,” as he travels around eating and learning the history of the area he is in. It is a happy, feel-good show and always leaves a smile on my face. There are eight seasons so far, with more to come!
5. Lastly, I feel incredibly thankful for all that surrounds me. I feel so fortunate in so many ways.

 

Here we are. Already the Fourth of July! Another year is flying by us! Last week was a busy one for me. Here’s what’s going on.

1. I saw my eye surgeon on Monday. After weeks of trying to get my records from Tufts, he had finally received them—fourteen pages of surgical notes. My inserted lens (following cataract surgery) is still shifting around. Some days, it is folded up like a taco, giving me double vision in the left eye; other days, it’s just sliding around, giving me somewhat distorted vision.
2. Surgery is set for Monday morning. It is a rather extensive surgery, but afterward, the new lens will provide me with stable vision.
3. The Puppy Nanny is standing by to take care of Heidi. The best part is that she moves right in, so Heidi’s world isn’t too upset when I am away.
4. I had ordered a wooden crate for Heidi. It’s a lovely piece, and it gives her a lot more room. I hadn’t counted on the assembly. I got out my trusty Black & Decker drill, and in no time, the new crate was put together.

   As you can see, it’s pretty, and best of all, she loves it.

5. I finally broke down and got a Keurig coffee machine. Since it was just me having coffee, using a 14-cup coffee maker didn’t make sense. I love having the ability to create just what I want. The 14-cup coffee machine went to a good friend, along with the coffee mill and beans.

So that is all from here. I will try to write on the blog when I can. I don’t know how long the left eye will be down and out.

Happy 4th of July!!!

I was minding my own business, then all of a sudden, 1975 was 50 years ago. I was seventeen then, and now I have entered my golden years!

With this in mind, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. 1. I had held onto a glass, hand-blown German Shepherd. I inherited it when I married Jack and moved into the farmhouse he had shared with his first wife. I also inherited their White Shepherd, Rex. He was a sweet old boy whom I fell in love with.
   2. I had watched over this piece for 35 years. I was talking to my step-son, and he was happily surprised that the glass dog was still around. I told him that it was his. I’ve enjoyed it all this time, but the dog was made for him by this glassblower. I tucked it away to protect it until Jon came for a visit.
   3. Yesterday, I started looking for it. I thought I had tucked it into my china closet. It wasn’t there. I tried looking in all the other places I put things to keep them protected. No go. I prayed to Saint Anthony for help, but even my prayers didn’t help me find what I was looking for.
   4. So I looked in a place I had never put anything. I opened the drawer and noticed a Ziploc bag that held Katie’s blanket. I opened the bag and carefully felt inside the blanket. Yes, there it was. How it got into that bag wrapped in Katie’s blanket, I will never know.
   5. What this proves is that at 66 years of age, I can now hide my own Easter Eggs!

   

It’s been a crazy two weeks. I finally went in to see my Nurse Practitioner, whom I have been seeing for a few years. Here’s what’s going on.

1. 1. I’ve been hit with terrible vertigo. It’s been going on for over two weeks. I’ve tried all my usual remedies, but nothing has worked.
   2. She found an awful lot of fluid behind both eardrums. Frankly, it’s been like this for a while; only the vertigo is new and quite debilitating.
   3. I’m on all sorts of antihistamines and decongestants. I feel sleepy, but in many ways, I think extra sleep may be what I need.
   4. My exciting news is that my A1C level is down to 5.3 from 9.3. Thank you, Ozempic!
   5. Another brisk wind and Lake Waukewan will be ice out. A Sure Sign of Spring.

This was a busy week for me: productive, frustrating, and exhausting.

1. On Monday, I had a meeting in Concord. I finished my business quickly and then called my Toyota dealer because of two problems. He made an appointment for the next day.
2. The next day, I was up early to get my hatchback reconditioned. They looked up, and there was a recall for my car—one of the onboard computers needed to be reset.
3. I have been looking for a table for the screen porch that fits my bar-height chairs. Now I can see the lake. Best of all, the table was on sale!
4. I also needed a patio set, as the snow shovelers broke my old one. The new one is not only beautiful but weatherproof.
5. My beautiful yellow roses, which I purchased two weeks ago, are still tight and look brand new. They have lifted my spirits.

1. On August 30th, I started Ozempic after being diagnosed as a diabetic.
2. It was Metformin or Insulin. I finally decided on the Ozempic.
3. I watched what Metformin did to Jack and didn’t want any part.
4. So, I changed my diet, and I now take this once-a-week injection. I have now lost 38 pounds. I will likely be on some insulin correction until I die, but this is just good.
5. No weighing of food, just eating right. Heidi is also at her ideal weight, as I measure her food intake. Not only is she perfect, but her energy level is back to puppy level.

So for now, things are looking up!

This was a quiet week. Severely cold and one of those weeks when you only want to snuggle up with a warm doggy. And so it was.

1. As you recall, I was diagnosed with diabetes in August. I was placed on Ozempic. I must tell you that people have not been kind about my having to take this drug. They claim this is like cheating to lose weight.
2. Well, I am not taking it to lose weight. I am taking it to bring my sugar levels down as well as my A1C.
3. Ozempic is also supposed to help with weight problems. Since the end of July, my sugar levels have decreased, and I have lost 34 pounds.
4. Diabetes causes your body to be unable to digest sugars correctly. Ozempic seems to be working for me.
5. Today, I have an appointment with my primary care to go over a few health problems. It is like you leap over 65, and suddenly, your body stops working.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm!

Here we are a week before Black Friday. Is anyone going out shopping before the sun rises? Not me. It’s good to be elderly without needing to fight the crowds. So, here we go with this week’s Friday Five.

1. 1. My plans were not set in stone before, but I can now share that I am going on a Princess Cruise over Christmas and New Year’s. I have a family moving in to care for Heidi and my home.
   2. My Itinerary is:
      Ft. Lauderdale
      At Sea
      At Sea
      St. Maarten
      St. Kitts
      Martinique
      Barbados
      Grenada
      Trinidad And Tobago
      At Sea
      Curacao
      Aruba
      At Sea
      At Sea
      Ft. Lauderdale.
   3. I have a couple of books, and my plans are to listen to music, read, swim, and hopefully relax—something I have not been able to do for a while.
   4. I must drag out my swimsuit to see how bad I look. I have lost 20 pounds since the summer, so I hope I look better.
   5. So, I am off to the recycling center. Have a wonderful weekend!

Another week has passed. Soon, November will be over, and we will be counting down the days until 2025, the New Year. Crazy. So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. I had to go to an appointment with my glaucoma doctor. Although my pressures were high, my vision was correctable to 20/20, and my eyes showed no damage. So, it’s back to using my drops diligently.
2. I went to Walmart today and ordered some sunglasses. The light is bothering me as the sun’s angle changes.
3. As I approach my sixty-sixth birthday, I have considered expiration dates. Many of our most loved singers, actors, and writers are in their 80s. I suppose this makes me think about this because of Jack’s passing at 85, but I look around and wonder who will be next.
   
4. In the past year, my health has declined. I became diabetic, had problems with my heart (minor, really), and, due to issues with my balance, have started to use a cane. I am handling it all, but it makes me wonder about my own expiration date.
5. Well, sixty-six isn’t so bad. I wonder what the next few years have in store for Heidi, my faithful dackel, and me.

Happy Friday, and Happy November first! Where has this year gone? Oh well. Here are this week’s Friday Five.

1. The Carpenters worked all week to transform the flooring in my kitchen and family room.

   It is not only beautiful but also brighter!

2. Now, I am looking to paint this space. I want to keep it light and bright.
3. Meanwhile, my dishwasher decided that this was an excellent time to die. I drove down to Lowes, and my new machine will be here on Monday!
4. I found a new home for all my Pfalzgraff. Not only do I have an essential service, but Jack was addicted to eBay and bought so much. I am one person. I do not need all of this.
5. I was getting Heidi up from her crate the other day, and I noticed that her dackel butt was pressing against the crate door. This girl is a long……dog. I had another crate that was a lot bigger, and she loved it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!