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Post by edindetroit on Jul 12, 2024 15:33:53 GMT -5
It poured buckets here but probably not as much as you guys got in Texas. There is a downspout on the wall outside our bedroom and when the rain kicks up it makes loud banging sounds that keeps us awake. I finally got out of bed in the wee hours, took the elbow off the end of the downspout and leaned a junk board I have against the wall to direct the flow away from the house. It worked and I was able to sleep. My wife slept through the whole thing.  |
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 12, 2024 17:22:02 GMT -5
Michelle fixed me thick bacon and two pancakes for a late breakfast. At least she didn't make me eggs unless she wanted to do an omelet. I had an omelet nearly every day for breakfast last year when I was in Ignite.
Got John to take out the trash. The big business room trash can hadn't been emptied in several days but then I wasn't putting stuff in it for several days. Need to get Isaiah to take my small trash can as it's full of pop cans and he recycles them.
About one o'clock, I ate two cherry ICEE Freeze cups and an eight-ounce can of HEB Fruit Cocktail. While I was in the hospital, somebody sorted out the pantry. Used to have all the fruit cans together but not now.
Decided to put off shower to tomorrow morning. My hair needs washing but the rest of me was wiped down with antiseptic wipes yesterday. If AJ insists that I take a shower I'll take a break from what I'm doing. He's fussier than I am about staying clean, he wants me to take a shower every other day while I'd be happy taking one before each doctor trip.
Fell asleep, missed the changeover to KPRC Channel 2 news and the early evening news.
Just got appointment with my podiatrist, they were calling about the appointment I missed Wednesday. Only appointment I need to make is with my internist. Also just realized I need an appointment with my psychiatrist, she said six months and it was six months from my previous appointment Tuesday. That one will be easy, it will be telemedicine so I don't have to depend on AJ or UBER to get me to her office. Just the grid and Xfinity which may not be as reliable as AJ or UBER.
Taxable brokerage account went up 1.01% today including an $0.03 dividend from a partial share of Keurig Dr Pepper. I've made profits on my Coke and Pepsi stock. They fed me a lot of Sun Chips in the hospital which is a Frito-Lay (PepsiCo) product. Which is fine with me because I like them. Used to get them frequently when donating platelets as my salty snack. PepsiCo would also agree with my selection of Gatorade Fruit Punch for my sugary fluid when I donated. Blood banks want you to have some salty and sweet liquid refreshments after donating. It keeps up your strength. When I donated the first time, I was woozy and they brought me something to drink while I was still laying down.
Downloaded my Discover Card statement. I'd paid it on the iPad Monday, probably on battery power, but I hadn't yet downloaded the E-statement to my ThinkPad.
Got three things left to do: watch the rest of the KPRC Channel 2 early evening news, have supper, and watch the Astros-Rangers game. Will likely go through and do some desk cleaning. The bags that held yesterday's three prescriptions just got thrown away.
Praying that power doesn't go off again. If something breaks, it may take a while for it to be fixed. News just said that the local hospitals are at capacity and they're discharging medically fragile people to a field hospital at NRG Park if they don't have air conditioning.
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Post by patty7841 on Jul 12, 2024 20:44:16 GMT -5
lorando: You said it --- Salem is too commercialized. Cape Cod has very heavy traffic all day and everyday and I could not put up with it. It is a major headache this time of the year.
Did you have bone grafts before you had your implants put in? Everything here is extracting teeth, doing a bone graft and adding a membrane, waiting 3-6 months, then doing the implant, then waiting 3 months and finally getting the crown portion of the tooth. About 5 to 6K for one implant. Very expensive as insurance does not cover these fees.
Uncle: When are you leaving for vacation? I was wondering, like lorando, do you have to be rehired every year for your school bus job? That is crazy as you stated you have just completed your 9th year. Do they give you an award after 10 years? They should as that is a very important job and a tough one at that. Of course, it depends on what kind of students you have to drive to and from school. Then the weather factor too. I give you a lot of credit doing what you do.
Hopefully after grinding down parts of your new crown, it fits well now. Good luck with that.
Soutxed: I hope you are OK as you did not write today. Not like you to not write.
Sneakers: So good that you are doing well. Hopefully you can keep your blood pressure in check. I have a blood pressure cuff here and it does not work well. I might get a free one through my insurance flex card benefits.
Sometimes I get light headed too. Sometimes it is my sugar levels and sometimes it might be my blood pressure. I don't take any medication for blood pressure, at least not up to this point in life. It can be on the low side at times.
I hope Isaiah can get his teeth fixed before it is too late. He is too young for mouth problems. He should be able to get cleanings and fillings through state insurance, I would think.
Ed: Good thinking so early in the morning. You need your sleep.
Have a good weekend Everyone!!!
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Post by Unclebal on Jul 12, 2024 22:06:05 GMT -5
lorando (NW PA), you're a good penny. At the dentist, they kept getting me to bit down on a special kind of paper. With that and what I told them, they knew to grind down a corner. I can't say I've noticed it while eating something. Only when there isn't anything in my mouth, but I think it's going to be okay. Towards the end of the school year, they send out an email asking if you want to keep your route. If I wasn't planning on returning, I'd tell them then. The week of August 19th, they will have a number of 1 1/2 to 3 hour meetings where you start over again. You can fill out the paperwork ahead of time and just hand it in at the meeting, which sure speeds things up. It's a Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines meeting as well. You have to have A PPG meeting once a year to be eligible of a safety award. So they get it out of the way first thing. patty7841, I fly out on Tuesday. Yes, the drivers get re-hired every August. Usually the same kind of paperwork, but that is the way it works. I got a name plate after 5 years. Not until I was in my 6th year though. So perhaps in a year and a few months, I'll get a 10 year name plate to wear. I think the name plate I wear all the time at work, is how everyone knows my name and I don't know as many of theirs. Most of the drivers park their buses in the other yard. TGIF! Take care everyone.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 12, 2024 23:09:24 GMT -5
Sneakers: So good that you are doing well. Hopefully you can keep your blood pressure in check. I have a blood pressure cuff here and it does not work well. I might get a free one through my insurance flex card benefits.
Sometimes I get light headed too. Sometimes it is my sugar levels and sometimes it might be my blood pressure. I don't take any medication for blood pressure, at least not up to this point in life. It can be on the low side at times.
I hope Isaiah can get his teeth fixed before it is too late. He is too young for mouth problems. He should be able to get cleanings and fillings through state insurance, I would think.
My blood pressure was way too low. When I was in the ICU, they were infusing medications to raise my blood pressure. Once they were done with that, they moved me to a regular room for the last two days. I'm now taking and omitting doses of blood pressure medicine depending on what my blood pressure and pulse are. When I checked my blood pressure and pulse after supper, I was 124 on top with a pulse of 85, so I got my evening dose of carvedilol. If I was under 100 on top or had a pulse under 60, I am supposed to skip the dose. The blood pressure pills I'm taking now aren't much bigger than dust.
The hospital had an IV in my left arm that was secured by a Coban wrap. The wrap was quite tight. I can still see the marks on my left arm.
AJ is wanting me to clean up my bedroom. There are a number of used diapers on the floor, tossed in the direction of the trash can. Most of them missed the trashcan. Also need to do a few loads of laundry. I want to take a shower but when I do the air conditioning will temporarily be turned off. AJ's master bathroom doesn't have a cold air vent flooding the room with icy air, but I don't like the master bathroom bathtub because it's well off of the floor. I used the towel rack as a grab bar once and it came off in my hands.
My home health agency is planning to come see me tomorrow about noon. The first time they've come to see me on the weekend.
Finally listened to cousin Martha's Church service from last Sunday. I was out running around last Sunday getting ready for Beryl so I missed it. I think if I would have gone shopping when I wanted to go shopping I would have gotten home in time to see it live. But AJ does the driving. It took about an hour after I was ready to go for AJ to get ready to go. And he had this compulsion to buy batteries and candles at a dollar store. He went to more than one dollar store to find batteries and candles. I probably could have gotten them quicker at HEB.
Isaiah's teeth are a disaster area, I had a friend in college who had bad teeth at Isaiah's age. I think in Texas if you're indigent you go to one of the dental schools and have dentists in training train on you.
Just took my bedtime pills. So, I should head toward bed.
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Post by edindetroit on Jul 13, 2024 6:55:50 GMT -5
Finally listened to cousin Martha's Church service from last Sunday. I was out running around last Sunday getting ready for Beryl so I missed it.
Did the pastor say why he is leaving? |
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 13, 2024 8:17:17 GMT -5
Finally listened to cousin Martha's Church service from last Sunday. I was out running around last Sunday getting ready for Beryl so I missed it.
Did the pastor say why he is leaving?
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soutxed
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Post by soutxed on Jul 13, 2024 8:42:30 GMT -5
Lorando--Good to see you back on. Wondered what happened to you. Thanks for the condolences. It has been difficult. Hard part now is the Medical Examiner in Corpus Christi hasn't released the cause of death so there is no death certificate. Without it, wife cannot get his VA benefit and a release of funds from his bank.
Patty--Just got busy in the morning and too many interruptions. Doing well. I agree Salam may be too commercialized.
Sneakers--Medical facilities in the Houston area are known to be best in state. Had a co-worker who would go to Houston for all medical needs, even a visit to a family practice doctor. One year, the school district insurance covered only doctors and hospitals in Harlingen-San Benito. She was not a happy camper, but still went to Houston and paid out of pocket. Hope your appointments go well. Did see that patients were being released to NRG field. Wonder if Joel Osteen opened his church as a shelter. Astros doing well.
Uncle--What do you mean "other yard?" Is there more than one place to park buses. Is the meeting before the start of school interesting or the same old thing. The majority of our August in-service was not that good. Occasionally something interesting happened.
Ed--Good thinking so you could sleep. The apartment complex next to us has an aluminum roof over the parking and a heavy rain gets loud. But it has to be a bother to the residents of the apartment.
Yesterday was good and bad.
The bad, tried to get tickets from Ticket Master for a concert wife wanted to attend. I haven't used TM since before Covid. Click on ad for the concert and got the tickets for a decent price. Also TM has insurance is something happens (illness, death in family) if you can't use them. Then I see I have to put the tickets in the app to use them at the gate. So I load the app and find my account, except I couldn't log in as password hasn't been changed in years. Tried to change password but never get the email with the code number. Went online to customer service and got no response. Called the number in hopes if talking to a human but was sent to a site where I corresponded with a tech, but it was a computer who told me the same thing. Finally gave up, tried the phone number but go nowhere. Opened my e-mail this morning and found the code but it was too old. Will call and fund a way to talk to a human. Told wife this is the last time I get anything from ticket master. We can skip the concerts and ball games where TM is the only way to get tickets. That may include the Astros.
Daughter called in the middle of my efforts with TM to say the Medical Examiner in Corpus Christi has said they don't know when they will release the cause of death of our son. More government bureaucracy. Our daughter in law is so disgusted that once this is settled, she is ready to move back to Ecuador. Don't blame her. At least the politicians there admit they are corrupt.
Ended the day with a get together with the gang from the old winehouse. Had a good time so it ended the day on a good note.
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Post by lorando (NW PA) on Jul 13, 2024 10:25:25 GMT -5
Good Morning, soutxed. Sorry to hear the ME in Corpus Christi is dragging his/her feet. Let's hope it gets settled soon, so you and your daughter-in-law can get on with your lives.
Ticketmaster doesn't seem to have many fans. Didn't the Justice Department have them under investigation for monopolistic (I think that's a word) practices? Don't know if anything ever came of it. Sounds like you'll be spending some time today on the phone. That's when a headset would be handy!
Hello, Patty. Oh, yeah -- Traffic & Cape Cod to go together, don't they? The only time I was there was in September, so it wasn't too bad. I think it was when the schools were closed for a long weekend - probably the Jewish holy days.
No bone grafts or membranes for the implants. I think it's because they were rear bottom molars, where the jawbone is still pretty solid. But you're right. It was a 9 month process, mostly waiting for healing. It wasn't terrible, but I'd prefer not to go through it it again.
Hi, Uncle. I bet you're checking your list of what to pack for your trip. Are you driving up to Calgary to catch your flight. I'm sure that two hour drive in July is much less stressful than it was in December!!
I agree with Patty. Anyone who drives a school bus for 9 years deserves a lot more than a name plate. But being recognized by your students outside of school, and getting to know their parents is a nice bonus!
Yep, my dentist used that same paper to find the high spots on Tuesday. It's nice to be chewing on both sides again.
Hello, Sneakers. How lucky you are to have world-class medical facilities close by. Sounds like they're super busy if they are discharging folks into a field hospital in the park. Hope things return to normal in your area soon.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 13, 2024 10:36:58 GMT -5
Sneakers--Medical facilities in the Houston area are known to be best in state. Had a co-worker who would go to Houston for all medical needs, even a visit to a family practice doctor. One year, the school district insurance covered only doctors and hospitals in Harlingen-San Benito. She was not a happy camper, but still went to Houston and paid out of pocket. Hope your appointments go well. Did see that patients were being released to NRG field. Wonder if Joel Osteen opened his church as a shelter. Astros doing well.
Got appointments with cardiologist and podiatrist. Need to schedule appointments with internist and psychiatrist next week. Cardiologist will look at the data I'm supposed to be collecting. Podiatrist will do his thing. Internist usually defers to my other doctors but he may order a thyroid panel. Don't expect psychiatrist to do anything because I'm euthymic. Suspect at the rate I'm going I will have a million dollars of billed medical charges by the end of 2024. Skin grafts are fiendishly expensive.
Lakewood Church was opened as a cooling center as was Gallery Furniture. Lakewood got a lot of heat after Hurricane Harvey because they didn't open as a shelter then but Gallery Furniture did.
Astros won last night. They are now only one game behind the division-leading Mariners. When they were well ahead, I decided to watch the streaming video from last Sunday's service at cousin Martha's church. Their senior pastor is resigning. Cousin Martha said that the pastor has a special needs son and he felt that his son would best be managed if they lived in an urban area. I know Martha goes out of town for her medical needs.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 13, 2024 11:32:32 GMT -5
Hello, Sneakers. How lucky you are to have world-class medical facilities close by. Sounds like they're super busy if they are discharging folks into a field hospital in the park. Hope things return to normal in your area soon.
The people going to the NRG Park field hospital are medically fragile people without power at home.
I never went to bed last night. I fell asleep in the business room task chair about two o'clock in the morning and woke up after six. Usually wake up about every ninety minutes for a comfort stop but I didn't this morning. I slept about a dozen hours Thursday night and Friday morning.
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Post by Unclebal on Jul 13, 2024 18:24:56 GMT -5
soutxed, my company has two yards or places to park our buses. I'm at the one where the office is. Which is convenient, but it is also the only place in town they can fuel a propane bus. So it gets a bit of traffic. The other yard holds perhaps 70 buses and the office yead has 28 parking places. Seven of those are for maintenance. They are about 12 blocks from each other. The "start-up" meeting is about two weeks before the kids head back to school. I don't expect anything different, but you never know. That meeting will give us time to adjust to changes with our route or drive the route if it's all new. On August 27th, we'll do a dry run. Do our route like normal, but without students. It will be the quietest ride all year! Sorry to hear they haven't release the cause of death on our son. Ticket Master sounds like a pain in the behind. I've clicked on buttons to send an email for confirmation that never comes. Talking to a human can be good, if you can get one. lorando (NW PA), I do have a list on my phone I started a few years ago. It sure makes be feel good about remembering stuff. Yes, I am driving up to the Calgary airport for my flight, about a 2 1/2 hour drive. A much lower costing ticket that way. Summer is so less stressful than winter, with the exception of a tornado, which isn't likely. Glad you can chew on both sides again. Take care everyone.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 13, 2024 18:53:56 GMT -5
Summer is so less stressful than winter, with the exception of a tornado, which isn't likely.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 13, 2024 23:44:21 GMT -5
Friday afternoon, I watched the KPRC Channel 2 news until 6:30 PM.
At that time, I switched to Space City Home Network to watch the Astros-Rangers game. Watched it for a while.
When the Astros were comfortably ahead, I streamed last Sunday's service from Cousin Martha's church. I didn't see it last Sunday because I was getting ready for Beryl to barrel in.
Supper last night was three chili cheese dogs wrapped up in slices of bread (no hot dog buns around here).
When I got done watching the service (at the end, the senior pastor announced that he was resigning and his last service will be the 21st). Cousin Martha says the senior pastor has a special needs son and he decided to move to an urban area so he could get better care for his son.
Then, it was time for the ten o'clock news. Watched ABC 13. Then, I kept watching ABC 13. Watched it until about two in the morning, then I fell asleep in the business room task chair. Usually make a comfort stop every couple of hours when I'm in bed, but last night I had just the right amount of fluid onboard that I didn't wake up to 6:30 AM.
My business room TV is designed for streaming, and it stops streaming after four hours unless you poke any button on the remote. When I woke up, the TV was off. Michelle was already up at that time.
Watched the ABC 13 Saturday morning news. When the news was over, I turned off the TV and told Alexa to turn on SiriusXM.
Listened to SiriusXM until 2:30 PM, then I turned the TV on to watch the Astros-Rangers pregame.
I had a visit from a home health nurse late this morning. Usually don't have one on the weekend. She checked out my vital signs and rebandaged the wound on my left big toe.
For lunch, Isaiah fed me three puffy sweet baked items he had made. I also cleaned up my jar of extra crunchy peanut butter and had an eight-ounce can of crushed pineapple. Wasn't hungry after that.
Watched the Astros-Rangers game. Rangers won 2-1 in ten innings.
Michelle went out and got the snail mail. I got new vehicle insurance cards and a medical bill. Figured out that the provider saw me three times but only billed Medicare for two times.
It was a couple of minutes after six o'clock when the game was over. Looked at TV programming schedule and noticed that the ABC 13 six o'clock local news was on. However, it was pre-empted by coverage of the Trump rally shooting.
Supper tonight was a bone-in pork chop, scalloped potatoes, and French-cut green beans. Washed it down with a can of HEB 20 Calorie Dr B. Went in the kitchen and got seconds on the scalloped potatoes. Put plate on the floor and let Chalupa lick it clean.
Watched ABC News until about eight o'clock. Then, I decided I'd had enough of the news. Turned off the TV and turned on SiriusXM on Alexa. Listened to music until 8:51 PM, then I turned on CW 39 and made a comfort stop.
Called family. Talked to brother Allen. Couldn't talk to cousin Martha because she and her hubby are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today.
Decided to watch the ten o'clock KPRC Channel 2 news. The news is being pre-empted by coverage of the Trump rally shooting.
Didn't take a shower or clean up my bedroom today. AJ expects me to clean my bedroom and do laundry tomorrow. I'll probably do it before and after Cousin Martha's streaming church service.
Took my bedtime pills, set my alarm to 8:30 AM tomorrow. Hopefully will get in bed by midnight.
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soutxed
Champion Member
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Post by soutxed on Jul 14, 2024 8:25:09 GMT -5
Sneakers--We had a pastor who requested a move to San Antonio as he had a special needs child and SA was the only city that had a school that specialized in special needs children. Also, his wife never liked Harlingen or their schools and was vocal about it. For those of us who taught here didn't go over well. Summer here is the high heat. Winter is the cold and influx of winter Texans. Most are good people, but there are some who complain about everything, drive too slowly and the wrong way on our one-way streets. We were talking about the furniture guy in Houston who opens his stores during storms. Nothing like that here.
Uncle--Okay i see the need for two yards. Hopefully your route doesn't change much. Saw an article where a couple of school districts are having to combine routes because of a shortage of drivers. Also offering paid training and bonus money. In a time where the state in mandating more spending on security and stuff but hasn't raised what it pays school districts, it is a problem. When we would visit our son in Ecuador who drove to Houston and fly from there. Hope you don't have any tornadoes. Meant only one plane change and saved enough to cover the gas and a hotel. Ticket Master sounds like a pain in the behind. Yes, they are. Astros lost to the Rangers last night.
Patty--Yes, it is a pain that the ME is taking so long. One friend said their mother got a death certificate right away with "cause unknown" on it. But the ME is a county employee and problem doesn't care about our son's family since we don't live in that county.
Lorando--I remember TM getting investigated by Congress, but probably the two parties couldn't agree on a solution, so nothing came of it. They are a pain. How far was the shooting of President Trump from you. Not sure where that small town is. During Covid, the local hospitals were putting some patients in motel rooms as they ran out of space, so similar to moving them to a stadium.
Called Ticket Master and decided not to press 1 for this, 2 for that and finally a human named Nancy came on. It took about 30 minutes to resolve the issue, but it seemed that my app was defective so uninstalled and then reinstalled and everything worked. But still hesitant to use the app or TM in the future.
Decided to go to a bar last night to watch the Astros only to find it was an afternoon game. Instead they had ABC news covering the assignation attempt. By 8 Pm they changed the TVs to music videos, what the y normally show. Met couple. The husband was an army ranger and a graduate of the other HS in Harlingen. Wife worked with special needs children and a graduate of Weslaco HS. As we were leaving ran into a former student who owns a restaurant here. So we left late.
After church we will eat out, maybe with crazy lady. But the only restaurant she likes in Harlingen is Cheaders. So I guess that is where we go if she goes with us. But she usually eats with ladies from her exercise class.
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