Eureka!!! Computer fixed!!!

Richard found a computer fixer just a couple of miles from us. His name is Brian Wilson (Beach Boys any one?) and he called this morning to tell us that the only problem with the computer was a virus. It works well now, has virus fixer and malware programs and we wait for more memory to come in before it comes home. A lot cheaper than buying new junk. When Rich looked at the tower, it was all pop riveted, so he couldn't get into it. Found out that, miracle of miracles, the side slides off, and access is there. Couldn't figure out what the little "L" shaped thing-a-floppy (Rich's words) was supposed to do. Low and behold, you hold it down for the side to slide off. Boy was it dirty inside. Looking forward to his new high speed computer experience. Just need the education to go with it. (I was just told off. Rich and I each have just enough computer savvy to be dangerous.) We have Team Work.

CB & RB

Early morning-again

Yesterday seemed like 3 days long, when reality, all the "stuff" happened in the morning. After the machine went home, we went to Home Depot for grass seed and weed killer, but lunch was had before that at the Chinese place in Caldwell. After Home Depot, Richard wanted to check out some tool places. That is how good Richard's back was feeling! Maybe something went right after all. We shall see when he gets out of bed.

After we got home, we were on the computers, and I get a very welcome phone call. Whitnee is looking to talk to me! (youngest granddaughter) We made plans for me to pick her up today about 6 and go to Wendy's for some bonding time. Am so looking forward to that.

The Bi-Mart opens today. We might go later and miss their crowd, but my loving husband is not a fan of shopping, unless it is tools, so may not go for several days. He goes the the store with one thing in mind, what it is he wants, and there is no discussion about going somewhere else. So I have to hijack him when we go to Boise.

The big guy is up and looking for coffee, so catch you all later.

Cathy

This should be a Monday

Definition: A lawn aerator creates holes or cavities in the surface of the lawn and allows the soil to move and shift more freely.

Actually, this all started Sunday afternoon, when I got frustrated with the lawn. I was mowing and got madder as I went as the "grass" I'd worked so hard to get looking good, just keeps getting weedier and browner. I came in the house, vented a lot and Richard talked me out of killing what was left of the lawn and filling it with gravel. He decided to take a pro-active stance, and that it was cheaper for him to rent an aerator for the lawn rather than pay Scott's Lawn service to do it. So Monday afternoon, he went to Emmett Rental and picked it up figuring to take it back by 6 and save a lot of money. The best laid plans -- you've heard that saying, right? Two trips around the back 1/3 of the yard and he was huffing. It was 90 degrees outside, no shade and the machine goes like a bat out of hell, is self propelled, so it drags you along as you hold the handles. I know my limitations, and declined to try to make a circuit. Richard got part done, but no way was the machine going back by 6. We got up early this morning, and he actually got finished rather quickly. All that was left was for him to load the contraption back into the bed of the pickup. I have a bad feeling about this, question the logistics of how, and get my nose clipped as I had just stepped into Mr. Macho's territory. He hasn't remembered a thing about "16 year old ideas and a 60 year old body". He talks a good story, but don't you believe it. Now, getting back to the story, there are two metal ramps each about 6 inches across that the machine is supposed to go up and into the pickup. Picture this--Richard climbing up these ramps behind a machine that has a whole lot of sharp "hole makers" going around in a circle as this thing moves. The machine gets to the edge of the tailgate, slips, Richard tries to lift it up, and they both come backwards down the ramps! Scared the living crap out of me. I watch him roll backwards down the ramp, and this sharp thing is trying to come down on top as he is holding on to it. They land in a heap at the bottom, machine still running. I lift it up a little to get him out from under it, and it tries to attack him again (self propelling is still working). Richard had to roll up and turn it off before we could move it off him. Thank God he is okay. I chewed him out for being so stubborn (translate "CHEAP) as to not pay for a trailer to haul this thing in. I am shaking so bad, he is in shock, and the machine is upside down next to the ramps that fell off too. When the initial panic subsides, Richard sits on the step and Emmett Rental gets a call to come get this thing, Richard has regained a little of his mind and goes in to take a shower. As he is in the shower, the guy that comes to pick up the machine, does almost the exact same thing that Rich did. Ramp slips, machine slips, Tony slips, but he caught it and finished loading. As Richard gets out of the shower, I hand him 2 Tylenol, and a bottle of water. Checking for holes, etc. I tell him he has a little rash and that is it. God watches out for stupidity and macho-ism. I am seriously worried about his back, but amazingly, it seems better than before. Must have been the the backward rollover on the ramp thingy. The only thing sore now is his elbow that clunked as he landed. So that is how our day went. How was yours?

Cathy

Pain Relief

This a picture of Richard's new shoes. They are called Z-Coils. We had gone to the shoe getting place to place an order for me and have my feet molded for the orthodics. As we were waiting, we noticed these odd looking shoes that promised to make life better by helping back and leg pain. We went home, discussed the alternatives for Richard's back situation, and he decided to try some new shoes. There were actually two types of shoes to help his back, but these were the best choice for him. They are adjustable with the soft spot on the spring being movable. The Shoe man put the soft spot toward the inside as Rich runs over the outside of his shoes, and therefore the support is more on the outside to prevent that. The first day, he wore them home and immediately felt the difference. The shoes made him stand up straighter, and used different muscles than normal for him. He was a little sore the next day, but has not worn anything else since. You have to watch for stuff on the ground like cords and catches, but he is enjoying being up and about now.

He is now feeling so good he is undressing the "Princess". That is our '65 Dart convertible. He is sanding and fixing and getting it ready for a repaint. This car was the first one he did, ever, and he is finding out how many "oops" there were and correcting those. The paint color will be the same, but the body work is going to look a lot better, and it gets him out of house! Too much togetherness is not good for anybody. We were starting to get on each others nerves, and with his back getting better, life is good.

We are going to take Little Man to the vet tomorrow. He is having some problems moving, can't lift his leg to pee, so pees on his front legs and all over everywhere else. If he is in pain and will cost a lot to fix, we will have to consider putting him down. As it is, we will have to take the laundry room down to bare studs and sub floor just get rid of the smell. We have used bleach, deodorant sprays, chemical stuff, enzymes, just about everything we could think of, nothing works for very long. Hate to put him down for that, but the health issues for us dictate.

"My tits up went computer!"

Those are Richard's exact words, meaning, no computer stuff for him. No e-mail, no facebook, no Internet, etc. You get the picture. Until he either gets it fixed (7 years old) or replaced, every one gets to communicate the old fashioned way, YELL!!! Or phone home. Smoke signals anyone? This is what happened. He calls me from his cell phone, tells me to look up the lottery info, tells me I'm full of BS cuz his computer won't come on, then hangs up on me. Actually, the phone went dead cuz he didn't bother to recharge the darn thing. Still, he thinks I'm lying to him about the monitor not coming on, so when he gets home, still in a bad mood, he goes in and pushes all the buttons again, to find out that IT DOESN'T WORK!!!!!

Richard says:
Now, on another note...your mother is back on oxygen again and down to 113 pounds. Don't know what or if she is eating, says she is but you never know. A piece of toast and coffee with meds for breakfast does not make for a good eating habit. I suspect that she doesn't fix much because "nothing sounds good" and she has no appetite. So here's a thought for everybody to contemplate... and I know Ma will fight tooth and nail against it, but I'm thinking sooner or later she will have to bite the bullet and get into an assisted living place. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pushing the panic button, and I don't think anything has to be done right away. But I would appreciate every one's input on this or other options. Because if something happens, I will probably have to make a decision quickly and won't have time to call to ask for input or other options. I'd rather not talk to mom about this until I've heard from each of you. I know this is a delicate situation, and I really don't want mom pissed off with me, so let's see what we all can come up with before we mention anything to her. Well, this is what I've got on my mind and it just amazes me what goes through your mind when you are all screwed up on pain meds.

Later
RB

Richard Floating

Richard has been seen for his back ache, and the drs are referring him to a pain clinic. In the mean time, he just floats along about three feet off the floor due to the Norco, muscle spasm preventer and steroids that we picked up on the way home. He is slow to react to everything. Speech is slow and non-continuous (he starts to say something and forgets what it was he wanted to say after 2 words), eyes are glassy and he has this shit eating grin on about half the time. The other half, he's sleeping. Now we play the waiting game again. Dr. has to make the referral, correctly, Tri-West has to approve the referral, we get notice by e-mail, have to figure out how to sign on to Tri-West site again (they keep changing password) then we will call to make appt. We have learned to jump thru the hoops pretty well.

New car works well for us and your mother. We can all get in and out without a boost. Had to bite the bullet and traded in the Toyota pick up along with the Mazda van. The van qualified for the clunker stuff, so we came out a little ahead this time. The car is a Kia Soul Plus. Richard says it looks like a Mini Cooper on steroids. It has more room than the PT Cruiser, and a lot better mpg. So far about 30 mpg. The color listed is "Molten" which translates to really really red. It even has blue tooth in it and I finally sat down, took the time and got my phone to connect. That was interesting. Never done that before, so was a new challenge. Then I had to call home to see how it worked. Richard answered the phone, laid down on the bed to talk and promptly fell asleep. (When I got home, he was still asleep and stayed there for another 3 hours.) Can't get a photo to transfer, so if you want to look at the new car, check out www.kiasoul.com.

Catch you all later!
Cathy

Eventful Friday

We had yesterday all planned. (After your mother called at 7:30)Rich's dr appt for his hand, then lunch with my parents, then stopping at Heather's and drop off birthday present for Whitnee. Long story short-all goes well until Richard tries to tie his left shoe. This is nothing unusual, foot on chair to reach laces. But as he reaches for laces, there is a sharp pain, pop, and instantly, everything changes. He is in so much pain. I got him in the car and we headed for Meridian ER. When is all is said and done, 3 shots thru IV for pain, x-rays, we get to go home about 2:30. Stop at McDonalds to get something to eat (no breakfast as we planned a great lunch), find a place to pull over to eat the gut bombs, stop at Heather's, drop scripts at Albertson's and home. Pain pills work great and help him sleep. Now he is sitting in his chair with dogs, watching Spike TV (Trucks!; Extreme4x4; Muscle Car) high on Norco. No worries! Referred to Spine Intitute for pain management as not enough damage to warrant surgery, thank goodness. So, how did your weekend start out?

Cathy