Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Trials and Tribulations of Life

Good Morning Everyone,

I thought I 'd better post so everyone would not think that I jumped ship like a rat.  After a very upsetting and  aggravating week I had last week and Monday, and Tuesday of this week being equally difficult, I was just about ready to strangle something, and then jump ship.

I had to think a little bit before I posted these thoughts and issues as it concerns me, family and the health care system that will eventually affects us down the road.  I generally do not get political, and try to look at things in a perspective of both sides, but what had happened, angered me beyond anyone's imagination and it will affect all of us unless it is challenged and stopped.

Last Monday, I ran errands with my mother as usual.  It was getting close to 5 pm and so I needed to get home, and she was getting tired, so I got in the driveway, and my mother had an episode of some sort, was very dizzy, and unsure of herself, and then on top of all of this, she popped her artificial hip out of joint, which it does do, if she isn't thinking about how she gets out of the car.

I ran in the house, told my dad I was running her right into the ER, which is about 3 blocks away from my parent's house.  I was there in a flash, and got help to get her out of the car and into Triage.
Well, the ER doctor I am very familiar with.  A very compassionate, and caring man who has put my mother's hips in before a few times when they pop out.

They started to get her prepped for a light sedation to slip the hip back in, and so Dr Smith, escorted me to the family room and said he would come get me as soon as he was done with everything.
About 20 minutes later, Dr Smith came in.  My heart was in my throat, the look on his face was horrified, and it  was a look I had never seen on his face before.

Vicki, I need to talk to you very seriously about something...I am totally PO'd at this and this needs to be addressed.
I was sure I had lost my mother, and the tears started to flow...No, Vicki, your mom is just fine, its her primary doctor I am totally PO'd at, he said. Did you know anything about this? No, doc, I didn't.

He proceeded to tell me that mom told him that her primary doctor had not refilled her blood pressure meds at all for over two months, and when we got her into the ER, her blood pressure was 194/80.  My mother did not bother to tell me that the doctor was withholding meds, because they own a small $50 bill at the doctor's office,and because of it, they are now refusing to refill meds, period.

I was, frankly, beyond pissed.  I was livid.  And Dr. Smith was livid also.  So, with his referral, Dr Smith got us to a new primary care doctor, and I took her to her appointment last Friday.  This new doctor is just like Dr Smith, compassionate, caring and listened.  He ran blood, and then changed her meds, and change a few other prescriptions and as of this week, my mother is doing somewhat better. Mentally, my mother is showing her age, and cannot keep track of bank accounts and money, and bills, so I also had to do something that right at the moment, my dad is mad at me, by getting power of attorney for both financial and medical paperwork  work.  I also went over to the other doctor who refused to give mom her meds and I blew up in the office and made a scene there also. It wasn't pretty.

Needless to say, after I blew up at the old doctor's office, the next morning, I did not feel good at all.  I was having issues also.  Probably my blood pressure was beyond the sky also.  My stomach was knotted, twisted, and irritated, my head hurt, in fact, everything hurt.  So I had been on a little hiatus for a little while until I calm down.
I am in disbelief of the way doctor's are now working.  Denying medical help or medicines that people need, because of a small bill.  I did not think that I would see it here, but I am afraid its here now.

I also started this week on Monday, firing D's work comp attorney and finding a new attorney in Iowa to handle it.  The attorney handling the case before I fired him was compromising the case and letting things slide so I took matters into my hands again, and was the three headed dog. So I have had a lot of people really PO'd at me at the moment  and just because I was standing up for basic rights and situations. I also had several cats who were very ill, and I lost one a few weeks back to liver failure, so its been very stressful and unhappy at my house.

So as you can see, it was trying, and very stressful for me.  And I had to think about it before I posted as I don't like to post things like this, but the medical issues were too much for me to put up with, and I could not stand for any more treatment like that. I won't go into politics as that will send me over the edge right at the moment, still feeling a little rough around the edges with stress, but I will tell you, this will affect my vote all around. Enough said.

I did manage to play a little in some seedling dirt and plant some lettuces, and bunching onions.  I have mesclun lettuces coming up now, and I thought I seen a tiny onion seed coming up, so that brightened my day a little.  A little plant has such power.

In a few days, I am going to post about something else that I have just received in a new homestead magazine.  I need to sit down and read it, but it is concerning people who keep poultry flocks and this included backyard flocks.  Its something like the animal identity that the USDA started, but they dropped it, but it looks like now, the powers that be are starting up a new system to track who has birds, and how many. Another control and restriction planned.  I will read this and post in a few days.  It is in my new Countryside and Small Stock Journal magazine, for March/April 2012.  I went to their website, (www.countrysidemag.com), and they still have the January/February 2012 magazine  still up.  The article is called "chicken crimes". If they get it up soon, please go through and read it.  I am sure it will affect everyone who keeps poultry.

Well, I think that I belly ached enough.  I don't know if I feel better.  And I probably shouldn't of blabbed, but I was angry about this, and I am still angry about it.
I wish everyone a wonderful rest of the week. and I will sure try to find something else to be happy about. Til then, keep on, keeping on. Be Safe all. And stay warm.

Hugs

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone

Good Morning Everyone,

I just want to post to wish all of you a most wonderful Valentine's Day.  Your readership, friendship means so much to me, especially after a most trying and difficult last week and a tough week this will be.
I will post later as I have a very full, week ahead with life and I will fill in later.
Hugs to all of you, you mean so very much to me.

Hugs

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Not like it was cracked up to be.

Good afternoon everyone,

I just thought I would pop in and tell you all that, yes, we got a snow storm, a little wind, and about 9 inches of snow, BUT...it did not have the 35-45 mph winds behind it to give it the punch it needed to be a full blown blizzard.  This was a baby storm compared to some I have been in, drove in, and lived through. I do know that Colorado got dumped on, and some parts of our area got over 15 inches, but here, it was a considerable baby storm, with a squeak instead of a roar.

Right now, its melting outside, about 32*F and probably by Monday, will be pretty much gone.  It has been too warm here, to keep it on the ground, so its soaking into the ground, which my trees, and my garden need it so badly. So, I'm happy that it was the storm that wasn't.
So, I am ok, everything is as it should be.  I am going to tackle my broth tomorrow (Sunday), and just kinda vegetate for a few days.
Everyone, take care and we will think of something to blog about next week.

Hugs to All

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Too much of a good thing or Be careful what you wish for

Very Good Morning Everyone,

Its a little early for me this morning, BUT, I needed to get up and start things early as we are in a BLIZZARD WARNING! Yep, first one this year, after all of the spring weather we had been getting, SEE, told ya so.  I knew that we would pay for the nice weather.

Why a blizzard warning instead of a winter storm warning or an advisory, is because we are supposed to have 35-50 mph winds behind this snow, and with 8-12 inches like the weatherman is talking about,  will make it worse than Saturday night at Dodge City.  When you get sometimes gale force winds behind snow, you get a mess. So, guess what I;m doing this morning......

I am pretty much prepped anyway.  As usual, I have pantry, fuel, and lamp oils etc. etc.  stocked anyway, just because I do as part of my household anyway, nothing new in this. My snow removal guy is ready and will show up after all of this splats on the ground probably on Sunday, when this is supposed to quit and move out of the area.
I am just going out this morning to get some cat food, litter, and just a few items and I'm done and ready to hunker down for the long weekend.  With the winds that they are talking about, I may lose power, so I may be down on the computer, but that is just part of living out here in hillbilly hell.

And for some of you who asked about if I am getting any quilting done.  I am afraid that I need to start a stash.  Money has been so tight, and I can't afford fabric at the fancy quilt shop we have here.  Good grief, some her fabric is $12 a yard!  I have been thinking that I may just start with a denim quilt, my name sake, which I love denim anyway, and just cut patches out of different colors of denim, which I have plenty of around here and do a bed quilt for D's bed.  I need to haunt the second hand shops too, but I just cannot eake out money, even small amounts for cotton shirts.  But I do have a small amount of shirts from my closet and I have been washing these and slicing them up and stacking them in a small plastic box with a lid and I'll work until I get something saved up to start something small, like a table runner or something.  Thanks to all of you who sent links and ideas and suggestions, its just like everything else, you have to start out small and work up. This weekend would of been a wonderful time to quilt on something.  Oh well.

If we keep the electricity up and going, I am going to just work in the kitchen and finish canning my chicken broth and chicken meat.  When I started hearing about snow on Monday, I thought I'd just wait and then heat up the kitchen when its cold. So everything went in the freezer and I will pull it out probably tomorrow or Saturday and finish.  I may also do another round of veggie broth.  I use a lot of both in cooking.  I won't be able to get to the store for beef  shanks until after this storm so that's on the agenda next week.  Also D and I are planning a trip to the small hometown meat processor about 50 miles from us so I can get some smoked sausage that they do and maybe a few other things.

Well,  I had better get going.  I am going to have a little breakfast, and then try to be out the door by 8:30 am and then get things done, as by the time the afternoon rolls around, people start getting off work, and decide that they had better get to the stores when its too late, and its a mad house around here when people are pushed.  It amazes me, living around here that some people wait until its too late and then cry that there is nothing on the shelves when we have storms.  Its usually very young people who are more worried about their smart phones working than keep their butts covered in a blizzard.
I will try to take some photos if I can. I never know about my little cheap camera.
I wish everyone a wonderful weekend.

Hugs

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Here Chick, Chick....There Chick, Chick.....

Good Morning To All,

I am sorry for the gap in posting.  It seems Blogger got its issues straightened out, and I can comment and read my favorites now.  I am not sure at all what went on, but I am glad its figured out.  I was afraid that I had issues with my blog from hackers or something.  Also, remember, I'm a boring life entity, and right now, its cold here, even though we are having 50's and 60's here with an average of 40's on a daily basis, with very little snow. Its supposed to be close to 60* F today, for pity sakes! Where's winter? But I still cannot do anything in the garden, period, everything is frozen solid, and even though I love the fairly warm days, they are sure deceiving and all you want to do is start gardening.  I can't even start some seeds yet, even though its starting to get a little warm.  I am planning on bringing a couple of my ghetto buckets around to the south side to start warming up.  It will  take most of February to do this, and by then, in March,  I can get my greens seeds in, and cover with my greenhouse plastic and just wait.  Something that I haven't heard of is the fact we are getting Sand Hills  cranes here now.  They usually start showing up the end of February, but they are flying and some are gathering west of town along the North Platte river and out in the corn (maize) stubble the farmers leave for the cows to graze in.  I have heard them overhead, way up high, but I have not seen them yet.  I am sure, we get a few nice days I will start to see them fly closer down where you can see them.

Last weekend, I pressured canned the broth off of the  turkey carcasses I had in the freezer along with the meat that was left on the bones.  I was so proud of myself, Miss afraid of the pressure canner here.  Today (Sunday, Jan  29th), I am having chicken dinner tonight, with the trimmings, and I am going to do chick broth and leftover meat and can that.  I look back thinking how much of a wussy I was with pressure canners, and how much I have missed out on not being able to do what I wanted to do years ago,  Funny how bad experiences with things alter your outlook, but then the need out ways the fear of getting things done if you have to provide food for your table, or need food for your health.  Payday, I am hoping that I can spare a little extra so I can purchase a box of beef shanks so I can process the meat and broth. I need to purchase shanks here as when spring rolls around my part of the country, I can't get shanks anymore until next winter.   My doctor wants me to get more beef  broth, since I am showing signs of bone degeneration, since I do not have a thyroid,  he urged me to take better care of myself, since I am caring for people, and I need to take time for me also.  That's hard to, but I am taking his advice. Like he told me, sometimes the caregivers poop out before the people they care for by just being like a shrew, and burning your candle at both ends.  Is that what it is? :-) I'm a shrew.  I feel like a hamster, sometimes, in a wheel, but not a shrew.


I have retired my in home chef-ing for a while.  A lot of my people are really cutting back on things, and expenses so all of us agreed upon stopping.  My clients were struggling with coming up with money, I was struggling with trying to get them their meals, and yet providing for my parents and my charges here, including me.  We all agreed that we were going to see what the spring brings and go from there.  If there is improvement in the economy, I sure don't see it, at least here.  I see so much poverty around me, funny that the rest of the community doesn't see it.  But 90% of the poverty that is going on here in my community is the fact that it is brought on by people who are drug addicts and alcoholics and would prefer to buy their habits with money that should be used to provide for their families, which the families lose out, and then it falls upon the community food banks and churches to provide for these people who, by choice prefer their habits before their families.  I shed tears for  these kids and families who have parents or a parent who waste their life away with something so very fleeting.  I sit here and thank each day I am able to wake up and be me, whether I feel good or not.  What makes me angry is the fact that these parents make everyone else provide for them, just so they can have their habit,  I am for giving a helping hand "up" but I do not like giving "hand-outs" to these people.  I have had incidents here where I live where the renters wanted me to give them produce from my garden, which I would be so very glad to do, BUT, I had a stipulation that they come over to help me weed or water or trim in the garden for about an hour to help me out.  The answer was always "no", and so I refused, simply on the fact that I feel you should work for your food, which I do as I have to provide as much as I can as I cannot go out and get help for my meals and no one is going to do it for me.  I will assure you, I have made many enemies while the renters where living here.  Oh well, off of my soap box.

Well, I need to get off of my fanny, and get my pans and chickens  ready to start dinner for this afternoon.  Then I will get my broth ready tonight, let it chill and then skim and can this tomorrow.  I will have more time tomorrow to do it. I like quiet and peace when I do this.
Well, until I can come up with something else.  I will leave all of you to have a wonderful, up coming week.  Please take care all.
Hugs

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Blogger issues

Just a quick note to some of you that I visit your blogs:

On some blogs I cannot comment or even come up with the blog, so I am not sure if is blogger or another hit I have taken from the blog vermin that are wanting to hack everybody's blogs again.
This just started over the weekend and so I am trying to figure it out. So If you do not hear from me, I am having issues again.
Please take care all.

Good Morning, Good Morning

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that everyone is doing well.  Its has gotten cold here, just a little dusting of dry snow, but chilly, its not January like it was last year, I'll tell you that.  I will tell you that I am happy as my natural gas bill is not bad at all, and I am quite happy about that.

Well, I am getting into my January blues bit.  It just weather, and being cooped up.  With the price of gasoline for the car, I just don't get in the car to just joy ride around, so I am trying to kick start myself and do some things around here.  I have been sand bagging around some blogs and if you go to my blog list and go to Mornings  Minion blog,  you will see her quilt that she started working on some years back, and now its finished. and I think that it looks superb. I am somewhat getting into the mood to try a simple pattern utility bed quilt.  Funny, my mother owned a quilt shop, she didn't work on too much quilts and neither did I.  I was designing needlepoint, rug hooking patterns, and working on rodeo queen divas and personally I wished I would of dumped the rodeo queens, they were not worth the trouble that they gave me.  I could of been working on learning some quilting. Now I am sorry I didn't learn.  So, if anyone could suggest some beginner books, or web sites to go to, to pick up something, I would really appreciate it, and maybe a kick in the pants to get started.

Our weather here is deceiving, first its 69* the other day, now it got to -12*F a few morning ago, now its supposed to warm up to the upper 40's and 50's, then chilly again.  Boy, the winter is worse than a woman's mind, I'll tell ya.

Well, I just wanted to jump in real quick to let you know I am still here in my very boring life.  I sure want to garden, real bad.  I may just be able to start some of my winter greens better this year,  I am planning on one of these nice days, to bring a few buckets over to the south side, since I can, and cover them up with greenhouse plastic and let them start the warm up for February and March greens.  I have been so hungry for greens and salads, but I do not buy them in the store,  they look pretty sorry anyway and I not going to spend $3 on a head of lettuce.  So I think that its time to get things rolling, and maybe me out of my slump.

Have a great rest of the week.

Hugs