The Dackel Princess

A Very Busy Day

What a full day I had on Wednesday. It started when I left the house at 7:45 in the morning, and it did not end until I returned at 3:30 in the afternoon.

First I had WW class and it was a bit of a frustration for me this week, but after looking back at the things I ate, I think a minor adjustment will help me for next week.

After class, I headed out for a day of shopping and doctor’s appointments.

I went to a discount store called TJ Maxx and found the cutest dachshund dish towels for my kitchen. Aren’t they cute?

Then it was on to the big Tanger Outlet Shopping Mall. There are several stores I really love there and I went looking for some good deals. I got a new tunic sweater and a pair of Yoga pants. Heaven!

I ran into someone I used to know too. It was fine, I guess, but strange nonetheless. She had once been a good friend, but one day she just dropped me. It hurt me a lot back then, but then I remember this saying and it is something I just have to let go.

After that, I pumped my gas at 202.9 a gallon and went grocery shopping. I needed so much and since I knew I was going to be out for a while I had thrown the coolers in the back of the car.

I had 45 minutes to get the groceries I needed and so I grabbed a cart and into the store I went. I hit all the places I needed to go, got all the foods we required and then got to the checkout in 35 minutes!

Then, off I drove to see my Glaucoma doctor. I got there 15 minutes early and I checked in and sat down intending to make a few calls, but as soon as my fanny hit the seat, they called my name!

The short story is that my left eye (which is horribly bloodshot due to sensitivity to the drops) had a nice lower pressure of 16! Yay left eye! However, my “good” right eye still had a high pressure of 24. I was disappointed, but apparently this is common in the early days of treating high pressures.

My doctor decided to order a new drop, which I will have to use twice a day. She called the prescription in. Great, I thought.

I drove back to Meredith and went right to the Pharmacy. Only to find out that my Insurance Company had denied the prescription! It’s too expensive they said!

Then I recalled that I also have prescription coverage through the VA. I gave the Pharmacy Tech my card and she looked it up and bingo! Approved! So the drops are ordered and will be in tomorrow.

I picked up the last few things I needed at Hannaford’s and then came home, exhausted. But I did feel rather good about all I accomplished!

We are supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow today. I wonder what it will look like? A small amount or a fair chunk of the white stuff. We shall see.

Medical Histories

The other day I accompanied Jack to the doctor. They handed him a one-sheet paper on which he was to write a detailed medical history.

When he has had different operations, medical conditions, medications, etc.

I tried to get it all written down for him, but this required me to play “Let’s ask a million questions with him”.

As I sat there, I thought about my own situation. I simply do not have this problem. Why? Because a few years ago I sat down and wrote out a detailed medical history. I add to it, as needed, but it is all there. And all I need to do is go to my file on the computer and print it!

My history starts with my name, address, and phone number. My height, weight (I always lie!) and my blood type.

From there I start with the first of my unbelievable operations and conditions. In order, year by year.

I have been asked if I am a medical professional. No, I am not. I just got tired of having to write out my long history and try to recall all of the dates.

I also include my medications, and their dosage, and then my allergies, including any food allergies I might have.

Click on the image to make it larger and download it for your convenience. I also have it in a Word Document and let me know if you would like that one.

It took me 45 minutes to make one up for Jack so that now he can print this to take to future doctor’s appointments.

I encourage you all to do the same. It saves time and could save your life if you keep this information tucked in your wallet.

This & That

I’m not sure what I hoped Monday would be like, however, I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I got up and it was snowing. Again. And at a good clip!

The plows had started running on the road below our home at 4 AM! Thus waking me and the beasts.

At 5 AM I got up and let the dogs out and watched the morning news. The forecaster said “Broken clouds and sun” Huh?

No schools were canceled despite the rapidly falling snow. Which I was surprised at. Jack had an appointment with the Orthopaedist and although I did not want to go, we went and the roads were surprisingly clear. Our snow totaled close to 4 inches.

The Presidential Primary is today in our State. We will go and vote as we always do.

On Wednesday I go to see the Glaucoma Eye Specialist for a pressure re-check, as well as WW.

Things have gone well with the eating, so I am hopeful I will continue to be going in the right direction. Although part of me knows that at some point the weight loss will slow. I’ve been on the path before and so there are really no surprises.

I just hope that I can keep the momentum up. It is easy to get discouraged when the weight loss slows down.

Well, Happy Tuesday everyone! Enjoy the day!

The Weekend Wrap

This weekend was really mellow. Besides losing the electricity on Saturday and part of Sunday, we also spent an inordinate amount of time watching the TV.

Since Sunday night was the debut of Season 8 of Homeland, we spent both Saturday and Sunday watching season 6 and 7 to catch up.

I have actually watched all the seasons from Season 1-7 in recent weeks, and I have to admit that I found things I had missed the first time around.

Again, what a great show!

Seven Things I Love February 9, 2020

This week I am concentrating on seven of my favorite bird photographs. Since starting my bird feeding, I have been engrossed in watching them and photographing them. They bring such joy to my life. Here are a few of my pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

1. Mr. Cardinal
.
2. Mr. Blue Jay

3. Mrs. Downy Woodpecker.

4. Another Cardinal.

5. Mr. Hairy Woodpecker

6. Mr. Downy Woodpecker in the storm.

7. Mr. Downy Woodpecker. He is my favorite.

Lights Out

Just before I was starting dinner on Friday night our lights began to flicker. We looked at each other and thought, “Uh-oh!”

Mr. Arnie braves the icy storm.

Our weather on Friday was quite simply, sloppy. It started with ice and then skipped over to rain and then back to ice pellets and because we had not had enough fun, it started to snow and the wind blew and then flicker, flicker, and the lights went out.

The ice was thick and on everything. Probably this is the reason we lost our power!

My cell phone was nearby and I used that to get over to the candle, which I lit and then used that to get the large flashlight.

It was then that Jack and I jumped into action! Jack took the flashlight and went down to set up the generator. When we built our home we had the generator hard wired in. So, off he went.

Meanwhile, I got three long extension cords so we could plug the TV, satellite dish, and cable box in. The next extension cord went from the kitchen down the long hall to the office where I plugged the computer, router, and wifi in. Thus giving us internet access.

Lastly, I plugged the two laptops into the third extension cord. Now we have everything basically working.

Of course, we also have the two fridges and freezer going.

My Downy Woodpecker trying to get some food in the storm.

The Friday Five

Here we are, the first Friday of the month of February! We all know that February is a quick month and I know it will go fast because it is filled with appointments. Anyway, here goes for this week.

This week was not overwhelming. Probably because this week the only appointment I had was to go to my WW Class.
Speaking of WW Class, I am really enjoying it. I simply adore the ladies in my class. They are so supportive and caring and each week I feel they are cheering me on!
So, here is how I am doing on the WW Green Plan.

I like the “Green” plan because it has forced me to plan out my meals and count my points. As you can see I am doing very well.
I have been doing some Spring cleaning. I deep cleaned the kitchen recently and bought new carpets. Well, that spurred me on and I ordered new carpets for the master bath. They arrived today and I deep cleaned the bathroom. Twice a year I wash down the walls as well as the usual stuff. With the new rugs, it looks rather splendid!
We had snow on Thursday and it appears today we will have a combination of snow and ice. Ugh. Truly, I am ready for Spring!

Cruising

Back in 2005 Jack and I took an Alaska Cruise. I had never been on a cruise ship. But when some friends of ours asked us to join them, we decided to go.

We set sail on The Diamond Princess. It was the largest ship that Princess Cruise Lines had back then. I recall getting lost a time or two. But we had a great and memorable trip.

I was so sorry to read the news below when I got up on Wednesday Morning!

The Diamond Princess cruise ship is seen anchored off the Yokohama Port in Japan. Ten people on board have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus.

Ten people a Japanese cruise ship that has been quarantined near Tokyo since Monday have tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus.
Medics started screening all 3,711 onboard on Tuesday. Nobody can leave the ship for the next 14 days.
The ten infected people, who are all over 50 years old, were taken into isolation at a nearby hospital on the Japanese mainland.
They include two Australians, three Japanese, three Hong Kong citizens, one American, and one Filipino.
The Diamond Princess was quarantined because a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25 tested positive for the virus on January 31.

Here I am, cruising Tracy Arm, Alaska on The Diamond Princess. It was a beautiful ship and I found I really loved cruising.

I simply cannot imagine being confined to the ship for two full weeks just waiting. I hope that they do not have more Coronavirus victims.

Chewy

I love the company, “Chewy“. I go on their website and I order the dog food I will need for 6 weeks. Then like magic, the food arrives via Fed-Ex and life is good for my furry friends!

Today my order arrived. I knew it was coming and I mentioned to Jack to see if the order had come. Yes, it had. The Fed-Ex delivery man had placed two huge boxes containing crunchy food and canned food and bottles of breath freshener, etc right outside our garage door. Had we not looked and simply backed up, both the boxes and our car would have been damaged.

Since the bottle cap had broken on one of the bottles, it had made a liquidy mess all over the cardboard box, I called “Chewy” to let them know.

They are gracious people and were very kind to me. A new bottle of breath freshener would be sent out and I filed a complaint about Fed-Ex with them. “Chewy” has always helped out when something happens to my order.

After the call, I set about putting all the food away. My little poochies now have plenty of food for the dreary month of February!

One note. I’m in a very rural area. I have not had great luck with Fed-Ex here. Things have been broken, drivers are ill-tempered and not at all helpful.

That being said, I LOVE my UPS Deliveryman. Kevin will walk the entire 600 feet of my driveway (since his truck wouldn’t make it in inclement weather) in a raging snowstorm to make sure I get my delivery. He is kind and helpful and I appreciate everything he does for us. In fact, I will see him next week when my new bathroom rugs come!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Honey

February 4th would have been my Grandma Honey’s 122nd birthday. It’s difficult to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next 36 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!

Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.

Here is a picture of Mel and me with our much loved, Grandma Honey, at Goodwill Park.

Grandma Honey and Papa Fred. Theirs was truly an epic love story! They met when they were less than ten years old. Grandma was friends with Papa’s sister, Katchen, and spent a lot of time at the house teaching Katchen to speak English. The family had recently arrived from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, and aside from the eldest sister, Hedwig, who worked as a Nanny, no one spoke a lot of English.

Anyway, Papa always said he fell in love with her then, and as a teenager, he would chase off any beau that tried to court her. My great grandfather eventually allowed them to become engaged but insisted that Mary finish college before they married.

They were married until Mary eventually passed from this life to the next. He joined her 8 months later.