Still Waiting----since late June

    Mike from DOT said his crew would do the driveway aprons ASAP, the week of July 26-31.     No sign of anything yet. (I heard activity out front early this morning, and had hopes. But it was somebody picking up freebies.)  One more week and I'm contacting the media. This is egregious.

Go, Walk out that door.

  When my mother was  a young girl, and left fatherless when still a baby along with her older siblings, she had to leave school and go to work. She found a job with a family, who obviously could afford to hire help.
   In the evening, the woman of the house would sit on the front porch, as was customary in those times. After the day's work was done, the woman invited the girl, "Mary, come sit and keep me company  on the porch." So she did, not sure how many times, probably not very many.
    One evening they were on the porch, and the woman, peering down the street, said, "Oh, here comes my neighbor, Mrs. T., to chat with me. So, Mary, would  you mind going around  and sitting  on the back porch."
    Mary obliged, sort of. She rose, walked through the house, grabbed her sweater or whatever, left though the back door, and never returned.
 

Alas

Don Lemon said he never thought he would use the words "Demon  Sperm" on air.

A Hornet's Nest Uh-Oh

   I just stirred up a hornet's nest, literally this time. Now I'm afraid to go outside. I hoped they would leave, but it seems they want to stay. What to do.

What to do.

They're trying to fix it. Oh, no.

Status quo, But Promises...This will be the week.

Seems as if the work contracted out by the DOT was not completed. So the DOT Maintenance Crew will work on it this week, weather permitting.Let's hope.

UPDATE, JULY 31, 2020----"We are scheduled to start the driveway apron this week, July 26-31, with the State Maintenance Crew, not the contractor."   ***The road repaving ended June 26., with DOT crew. Then the contractors were to finish the roadside work. They drilled out our driveway, leaving a several-inch "ledge."  That make sit bumpy pulling into our driveway. But here is the worst part:  When I back out of the driveway, I always try to use as much of the "apron" as possible, not wanting to back directly into the roadway. NOW, the wheels on the passenger side of  my  car (as I head toward the village) drop into the aforementioned ledge. The exit is not smooth. 

Driveway Ditch

    I'm getting sick of it. And it has to be hard on the tires:

Bower of Flowers---Dorothy called it...

What Lurks Below

Not since Elvis...

     "Thank you very much. Thank you very much."   Have you noticed:   people nowadays don't say this.  "Thank you so much!"  is the expression of choice. Usually with the emphasis on "so." 
       Not that there's anything wrong with that. Unless, that is, you're a dinosaur and student of the English language. Of course, there has always been non-grammatical usage deemed acceptable in colloquial language, such as "It's me," which is grammatically incorrect as the word "me" is a predicate nominative so should be , as the subject, "I."
    Just as the word "so" is a comparative. That used to be taught. "I am so sorry."  OK, You are so sorry that....What?  Finish the comparison.
  Elvis had it right:  the word "very" is an adverb, intensifying the degree of thankfulness. 
       Oh, Bless my soul. What's wrong with me?

Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV

    I took a cognitive  test once, kind of by proxy.  The woman I was with had the appointment for an assessment. I think the purpose was to determine if she was employable. The psychologist, or maybe a psychiatrist, asked if I would go into the examining room with them. She was more than willing to have me accompany her; she liked being around people she knew.
     I sat in the back of the room, as invisible as I could be. Among the questions asked was the memory test. And at the end of the session, the doctor asked her if she could remember the series of words.She recalled some, but not all. Then, for some unknown reason, he asked me if I could remember them. I did and he seemed pleased, but made no comment.  I guess I served as the  control group.

The High Road---with 'Luring"Shoulder

   Even those who take the freebies on the lawn will no longer pull off to the side of the road. Now they use our driveway. Good thinking too, because the shoulder "fill" looks like a trap..  ****And I don't know why the delay at the end of our driveway where they gouged it out as if planning to add some blacktop where the driveway  connects to the roadway. Sure, it's been hot and a little rainy, but the whole road resurfacing took less time than this. The new "drop" is just deep enough for one to turn one's ankle.  Ouch!

Moment in Time

   As usual, sleepless, I prowl the house at night, using the computer before I go back to bed. Last night, though, I went back to our old bedroom, where I haven't slept for almost five years. But it was still too warm in the house, and that bedroom is the one where I can control the temperature; the air conditioner in that room has a remote, so I can adjust the settings at will.
    I fell asleep there and when I woke early this morning, I could see the trees outside the window, a sight I can't see from my present bedroom. For a few brief moments, in the dawn of the day, I felt almost transported to an earlier time and place, an illusion if there ever was one. But with waking came reality, and the moment was gone.

Dry Corner., Moist Corner

Dead Mouse or Sewer Gas/

Highway work and Bad Vibes

I'll post the pictures and then my comments, and say why I have a bad feeling. And yes, I gather they're not finished yet, but what the end product will be, I don't know:

The first 2 pictures show where they have "edged out' the driveway. I expect they may pave over this section. maybe even before winter.

Pics # 3&4 show the "fill" they laid down after the road was paved and marked with center and side striping. It appears finer until the approach to our front lawn, mailbox area. Is that permanent or is it to be covered over or squashed down? Pics#5 & 6 The fill or whatever alongside the edge of the road consists of broken pieces of blacktop and some ROCKS. And they spill off onto the lawn or grassy area. . To me the raised highway and the the stuff piled alongside seem like a problematic situation. If a car were to pull off roadside, there would have been a drop, for sure, but will the graduated side of the road serve to pull a car down and in, maybe even cause a rollover. I'm waiting to see the final product.

A long time ago, but still in my memory, I recall one day hearing a disturbance outside my house. I opened the door to see a surreal scene; a  number of  people wailing and walking all around our lawn on the village side. They appeared to be surrounding an overturned car, a convertible no less. In the time before cell phones, we brought them into our house, a woman and several children, including a few really young ones. They sat on our couch while we called for help, and some were slightly bleeding onto our couch. I went to call for help. I think then we had to call the number of the Rescue Squad, in the time before 9-1-1. I tried to dial the number from our green wall phone, but I was too nervous to do so. The driver, mother of all the kids, took the phone and made the call. The ambulance came, and fortunately, no serious injuries. The woman, Mrs. Badger, told me her car was making a noise and she stopped at a garage in Johnsonville where they taped or tied some rod or other up, but  approaching our house, the rod loosened and was dragging. She pulled over by the lawn on the side toward the village. The broken rod stuck in the soft ground and catapulted the convertible completely over, landing on its roof, or where the roof would be. The kids were all thrown out, no doubt in shock, scattered around, and so were wandering and crying.

  When I look at the "elevated blacktop road," edged by an expanse of soft gravel-ly like filling, it seems like a car driving onto it could slide down the incline and also flip over. I hope not.

   

Is it me? Or Climate change?

   
      Early this morning, the temperature seemed neutral, not too warm, not too cool. Then around 10 a.m. I felt chilly and put a sweatshirt on. I went outside, did a few things and felt overheated. Off with the sweatshirt, and, back inside, turned the fan on. Okay for  while. I went back outside, watered flowers, pulled a few weeds, attempted to sort out stuff in the basement, and was sweltering. So I came back inside and turned all 3 air conditioners on to cool the house. That worked for  a while, and then I felt it was too cool and turned everything off.
     I decided to watch TV in the bedroom , and covered up with a blanket, but now I'm too warm again. Oh, what to do, what to do...

The Waiting Room

I spent 3 hours today in a waiting room that looked like the place dinosaurs go to die.

Update to "The Facts, Doctor"

    The consult with Dr. G. was positive in itself, if not the medical unknowns.  He was interested, respectful, provided details, and said he would look further into the situation. He answered all my questions, and further elucidated on the procedure. We will follow up in the near future. (And he was kind.

Rock and Roll Waltz

   It was 1955 and the song was "The Rock and Roll Waltz."  My father had a good ear for music, being a self-taught musician, owning several violins and playing fiddle at local dances, which is where he met my mother.
   He appreciated the old tunes and the newer artists, the ones who could sing, he said. He liked to listen to Kay Starr, among others a favorite of his.
     I guess I thought "One -two  and then rock, One-two and then roll" were catchy lyrics, and was surprised to find that my father hated the song.
      " Only one thing was wrong. They were trying to waltz to a rock and roll song."   Oh, it looked so cute to her, huh.  Old people, parents, attempting to stay current, are patronized by the next generation.
      He was ahead of his time as far as ageism was concerned.

To Nothingness

"When I have fears that I may cease to be
  Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain..."

The facts please, Dr.

   Joan Rivers died at age 81 during an endoscopy, attributed, rumor goes, to being over-sedated.
   I have an appointment scheduled this Monday with Dr. G. As I understand it, a "consult" to discuss the events of June 30.
  During this type of procedure, I have typically been mostly aware of what's going on. Last time I viewed the entire procedure on the screen, totally aware, with some positioning being implemented during the process.
    This time, I have concerns because I was not awake for any part of it at all, not even the presence of the doctor in the room, or any screen either.
   The nurse called M. after the procedure, saying it would take an extra 15 minutes before I was discharged. I think she said the doctor told her I was not clear on the questions I was asking.
   I would not agree with that. He told me 2 polyps were "big." And he said he was not able to perform the scheduled endoscopy because I was over-sedated.I would have asked why but it is the custom of that doctor to scoot out of the room in short order to perform another procedure. And maybe he was now 15 minutes late.
   I have a patient portal at St. Peter's Health Care System. All labs are promptly posted, as well as reports of procedures and pathology reports. Except for this particular doctor, who does not enter any notes or reports under the documented procedures. He does not believe patients can understand the patient portal entries, so he told me one time. Plus doing so would take his time, and leave a record of what happened, so I surmise.
I need to know what happened. My patient  portal list only the names of the procedures, with no explanation, as customary with Dr. G. But the medications administered are complete;
   fentaNYL  100 MCG / 2 ML        (Analgesic, for pain
   Midazolam HCL   2MG / 2ML     ( Short-acting Hypnotic-Sedative, Amnesic
   EPINE  1MG/ 10 ML                    (Adrenaline
Since I am like Karen, I access my prior reports of the same procedure. The dosages of the first 2 meds are the same. BUT EPINE is a new addition, not administered before.
     So I google its use during this procedure. It seems it could be useful if there is bleeding, but I detected not a single drop of blood at any point. The main use I gather  is when  the patient suffers a drop in blood pressure, which can impact the heart and breathing. (Think the late Joan Rivers.)
   His mention of my being over-sedated worries me, since dosages were the same as before, several times in fact. So why the adrenaline, I'll ask at  Monday's consult.I do not expect to receive a complete  answer. Even though it was 15 minutes out of his life.
    I hope there was a certified anesthesiologist administering the sedation,*but maybe that is not now necessary in the age of COVID. If the sedation was administered by either of the 2 nurse-persons responsible for the IV insertion, I would have no difficulty believing they may not distinguish between a dosage of MCG and MG, resulting in an overdosage and the resultant over-sedation.
      Unless there is a clear explanation, I think I'll be doctor-shopping next time.
 * Sedation for this procedure does not involve an anesthesiologist. The nurse present does the sedation. EGAD!

Hollerin' Down the Rain Barrel

  I read this to Maybe, since no one reads anymore. I forced it on another, whose only reaction concerned road salt.

Absence of Agreement

     A chronic truth of my life is that few are willing to say they agree with me. I don't gloat, but as the old Revue goes, "Nobody Likes A Smart Ass."  While  I would maintain agreement should be consistent in this example, no one seems to want to come on board with my conclusion of "ignorance in the time of surgery."
    The patient, in preparation for a surgical procedure, is in that awkward and ignominious position of lying in a bed, attempting to provide some sort of enlightenment that will impact the pre-surgical event.
       As the medical staff is hovering, waiting to spring into action,first order being to insert an I.V. needle, the patient advises, as often in the past, that, "I don't use my right arm."  This is standard medical advice from a trusted surgeon, based on prior surgery that involved lymph node removal. Nothing new here; meaning seems apparent, at least to me.
      But the nurse, or whatever version thereof, immediately proceeds to jab a needle into the patient's right arm. "No," says the patient, "I just said I don't use my right arm." 
      The other nurse person, who seems to be in charge, speaks up, evidently for both of them:  "Oh, we misunderstood, we didn't know what you meant."
     Patient asks, "What did you think I meant?" 
     Nurse responds, speaking in plural pronoun, "We thought you meant you don't use your right hand, like to write something."
    Unbelievably, again at least to me, a trusted and allegedly intelligent family member says he can follow the nurses' reasoning, justifying their reasoning.
    (My conclusion is that everybody hates me.

Medical Q and A

Question: What do you call someone who graduates last in Med. Class?
Answer:    A Doctor

Other Blog The Lottery Redux, Entry Nov.9, 2016

The Occupational Therapist, the most insightful I'd ever encountered, asked him,"What would you consider a good day?"

Without hesitation he answered, "Yesterday my daughter and her 2 boys picked me up and we drove over to a fish fry place for lunch, and when we went home, we stopped at my brother's house. She and the kids helped me up the steps and I sat and enjoyed a talk with him for a while."

Compare this, Efficient Neighbors:

For the first time ever, we have bested our efficient neighbors.Based on 90 similar homes. Efficient neighbors are the most efficient 20% of this group. What a cause to rejoice.

Gift Rosebush from Daisy and Carmen (About 10 years ago

Chipmunk Lore---Vermont Style

    Conversation----Yes, about chipmunks

ME:  Regaling Dave about various chipmunk incidents on the home front in Valley Falls

MEDICAL PERSON: Do you have  a BB gun?

ME: Maybe, but...

MEDICAL PERSON:  We have a lot too, and we shoot them with a BB gun.

ME:  Well, I don't think my aim is that good anyway.

MEDICAL PERSON: That's why we trap them in a barrel and shoot them there. We split them open, flatten them out, and use their fur to make things---hats and such.

ME:  But they're so tiny.

MEDICAL PERSON:   That's why we need a lot of them.

What you say?

This could be Roe v. Wade issue

MAROON Picture of Don as a Junior

"And Came The Spring"

We visited Dave yesterday, talked about graduations, and yearbooks and  stuff. He recalled his scene-stealing line in his Senior Play----"I'm stagging it."