Parting is such wet sorrow

 

OK, "Wet" doesn't describe today's weather.  Yes, it drizzled most of the day.  But I can't say that I got wet.

- - - - - -

My plans for the day were to drop RQS off at the train station, and then to get new tires put on my car.  Neither of us had a good sleep the night before, as I was waking RQS up with my restless sleep.  So, both of us were tired when we got up.

I was up an hour before RQS, and could have easily fallen to sleep by the time RQS got moving - an hour later than usual for a Monday.  This was a day that I was "forced" to present as Mario, as I'd be dealing with folks at the tire store later on.   

Both of us were interested in reports of the rainfall from the Nor'easter, as we had seen a video showing that the parking lot at the local train station was flooded the day before.  Luckily, by the time we got there today, most of the flooding had subsided, and RQS was able to make it home without incident.

- - - - - -

After a brief stop home, I drove to the tire shop to buy 4 new tires and to get my wheels aligned.  I knew NOT to buy Original Factory Equipment tires, as they were both overpriced and underperforming.  The old tires may have lasted to 40k miles at most, while my new tires are rated for 80k miles.  And, the new tires were less expensive as well.  But there was 1 problem - 1 of the 4 tires in stock had a minor defect.  (The fellow behind the desk played down the nature of the defect, but the way he worded it implied that the tire might have been a problem in an accident investigation.)  So, they had to get a tire delivered from a sister store about 30 minutes away.  This meant that a store visit that should have lasted 90-120 minutes lasted an extra 90 minutes for the tire to arrive.

- - - - - -

Around 5:15, I was on my way home, and took a much needed nap.  It was a long day, yet not one where I exerted much effort doing anything.  At least, I'll be able to spend time as Marian tomorrow. 

In spite of the storm

 

On most weekends, RQS comes up on Friday afternoons.  Last weekend, she came up on Thursday so that we could go to the Dion concert together.  This weekend, she was scheduled to come up on Saturday so that she could see a friend from her former place at work for lunch on Saturday.  There is one glitch that factored into everything - the Nor'easter coming up the East Coast today.

- - - - - -

In the early afternoon, I started the day by looking at all the shoes I've accumulated over the years, and found myself creating another donation bag for a local charity. After a carbohydrate loaded lunch, I was a little sluggish, and would have liked to sleep instead of picking RQS up at the station.  Instead, I got showered, made up and dressed - ready to pick up RQS at the appointed time.

5:00 pm came, and I was off to meet RQS.  From there, we took a long drive on a rainy day, and went to one of our favorite Chinese restaurants.  The place was unusually busy with people waiting for take out orders and with Door Dashers waiting for takeaway for people who ordered their food for online delivery. As for us, we enjoyed a nice meal onsite, and then went to the ice cream shop next door for a sweet treat.

- - - - - -

Sunday came, and the storm wasn't as bad as it could have been up here.  The wind was blowing, the ground was wet, but one would never have known a Nor'easter came through the region.  Yet, if one looks at its effects on the NYC metropolitan area, and one would see a different scene.

A Tik Tok poster had a video taken at my local train station, and I was surprised to find that Commuter Train service was running.  RQS and I will see if the trains are running on Monday.

- - - - - -

We stayed in all day, and had Pasta with Mussels for dinner.  Yum.   It was a nice way to spend a gloomy day.  And we were able to schedule social engagements for the next few weeks.  Couple this with the two of us sorting through some of the clutter in my place, and I can say we accomplished things that have been postponed as well.

Monday will be a busy day for us, so it was good to have a Jammie Day today....

 

The calm before the storm

 

As I write this, a Nor'easter is heading for the East coast of the USA.  And this already has caused a baseball game to be played one day early, and for many outdoor events to be cancelled.  My plans are to hunker down at home, hopefully with RQS by my side.  

But first....

Today, I had a couple of things on my docket: 

1. An appointment with the Podiatrist
2. An appointment for a Covid shot.

I found it easier to present as Mario today, as I wanted the fewest possible headaches when I go in for the Covid shot.

- - - - - -

When I finally got dressed and out the door, I decided to take care of a couple of minor things: Lunch, Making a deposit at one bank to keep an account active, and making a withdrawal at another bank to have spending money for the week.

Once done with these tasks, it was off to the podiatrist to have her look at my feet.  There was construction going on in Ossining, so it took an extra few minutes to make it through the town and to the doctor's office.  Shortly after I arrived, the doctor came in and she pronounced that my feet were doing well and to schedule another appointment in 3 months.

While at the podiatrist, RQS texted me to say that she's trying to reschedule lunch with her former coworker for an after work get together during the week. 

- - - - - -

When I finally got to the drug store for my Covid shot, I found out that the refill of anti-fungal cream I use for my feet wouldn't be covered by my insurance.  So I ended up paying twice as much for this refill.  (At least, I didn't have the problem that RQS had with buying supplies early - my pharmacy is staffed by people who are intelligent enough to do simple jobs.)  While getting my Covid shot, I struck up a chat with the fellow giving me the shot and gave him some advice.  Hopefully, he'll take it.

And finally, I was back home.

Around 5:00, Maria called.  She needed to vent a little in regard to her daughter, her sisters, and life in general.  I won't go into Maria's issues, save that her daughter needs to grow up and be a real mother to her children.

- - - - - -

7:30 came, and it was time to do laundry.  AARGH!  I was in pain coming up the steps.  When I bring up the first of 2 loads, I'll leave a heavy bag of dried, but unfolded sheets and towels in my storage compartment.  At least, I can minimize how many times I have to climb my stairs - and have RQS give me a hand later on.

Lunch with CCS and Zooming with the girls (a short post)

 

I had 2 things on the docket today, but not much else to do.  And yet, I virtually forgot about one of them until a reminder came on my screen.

- - - - - -

Not having enough sleep last night, I knew that I'd be taking a nap sometime between lunch and my zoom call with our Texas friends.  So, around noon (after several hours in bed which I couldn't return to sleep), I got showered, made up, and dressed to see CCS in Ossining for lunch.  

CCS arrived at the pizzeria shortly before I did.  (She was walking to the pizzeria while I was waiting to pull into a parking spot.)  Our conversation flowed like we had never had a month since our last lunch.  I talked about my recent cruise, while she talked about her new house.  And then, we got to world politics - where we share a similar worldview.

All too soon, we had to go our separate ways, and I went home to rest.  I was on the computer when a pop-up appeared.  My Zoom meeting with our Texas friends was about to begin.  So it was back on with a little bit of blush and lipstick, then I got dressed for the Zoom.  Unlike other Zoom meetings, RQS and I did 95% of the talking.  Neither of us enjoyed the meeting, as our two friends had nothing to contribute to the conversation.

The Zoom meeting ended earlier than planned, and it was just as well.  Neither RQS nor I were in the mood to carry on the meeting by ourselves. 

 

RQS had to go home, and I needed to rest a little

 

This morning, I let RQS sleep a little late.  She'd be rushing around for part of the week, and I figured that her last morning here should be restful.

- - - - - -

Around 10 am, the weekday alarms sounded, and RQS finally got up after a long sleep.  As for me, I was up earlier, and knew I'd need to rest sometime during the day.

Unlike most Mondays, where I'd get her to the station by noon, I got her to the station in mid-afternoon.  Things I have planned to take care of today got put off, such as scheduling an appointment for physical therapy, touching base with medicare in regard to the GLP-1 Bridge program, and doing another load of laundry.  (I could have done the laundry, but I was too tired to bother with it.)

It was nice to get out in a summery dress again, as I know that within a couple of weeks that I'll be wearing my autumn wardrobe.  There are new dresses I want to buy, but I have to limit myself - every dress I buy means that another goes into a donation bag for a charity.

- - - - - -

When I was home for the night, I rested for a while and watched the Vidiot box.  It keeps me occupied without having to think much.  Eventually, I made something to eat.  Nothing memorable, and that's a compliment to the dish.  I just needed calories, and I got them in the quickest way possible.

RO contacted me to say that our lunch was off for tomorrow.  I didn't mind this, but I did mind not getting a response from her afterward.  Could something be wrong?  I'll have to try and touch base with her tomorrow to be sure.  At least, this gives me time to take care of some of the things I didn't take care of today. 

A couple of nice days out as Marian (a short post)

 

Both RQS and I took it slowly on Friday, not just because my legs were misbehaving, but because RQS was aroused by an unexpected phone call.  The person she was supposed to visit at the end of the month would be unavailable due to health reasons.  And that would mean we have more time together.  We're both glad that I didn't book a 5-day cruise to Bermuda as I once planned over a month ago.

I got moving slowly, and we had a bite to eat before visiting the book store.  It took a while to get there, as I didn't want to go to the store nearest me.  Instead, we drove down to Hartsdale, and RQS found the magazines she wanted to buy.  Then, it was back to the house to rest.

It was not much of a day.  But after the day before's rush to take care of things, it was nice to spend a day without a schedule.

- - - - - -

Saturday came, and it was time for us to see the legal case of the millennium: 

Coyote vs. Acme

Although the opening says the film is based on a real story, this is pure fiction and inspired by a story in a magazine. It is a fun film, and well worth seeing.  Most of the major Looney Tunes characters appear in the film in one form or another - including Bugs Bunny leaking information to Coyote's attorney. The film is a David vs. Goliath story, and an indirect indictment of the corporate structure that caused this film to get shelved for tax purposes.

We went to a mid-afternoon showing of the film, and we noticed that half of the multiplex was being torn apart.  Modern seating was being installed, and it appeared as if the multiplex was being reconfigured for these seats.  There were only a handful of people in the theater, and it made me wonder - will people return to the multiplex when the renovation is finished?  I'm not sure.

The weekend started early with a visit to the theater

 

I'm not sure how many of us will recognize the lead performer in this picture.  He has told the story about The Day the Music died (February 3, 1959), and has had an active career since then.  He still makes records today with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Marc Knopfler, and Paul Simon.  If you haven't guessed his name by now, this is Dion Di Mucci, the singer of such hits as "The Wanderer", "Runaround Sue". and more.  And in his mid 80's, he still puts on one heck of a show!

But first....

It's a Thursday, and RQS was scheduled to come up a day early for tonight's concert,. Our plan was for me to visit my doctor in the morning, to change into Marian Mode, and pick her up at the train station 3 hours later.  

First, I went to my GP/Internist, and he hectored me about my weight, while checking out my leg problems.  He was much more focused on my weight as if it were a moral problem, never having recommended a dietician to help me plan my food intake.  Yes, he did check out my muscle responses with his rubber hammer.  But I felt I got much more out of last week's visit to the podiatrist, with recommendations for physical therapy (for lower body strengthening) and to an Orthopedist (to check for Spinal Stenosis).  Needless to say, that if a foot doctor is giving me a better path for dealing with the problems I'm having with walking, then it's time I start looking for another GP/Internist.

Next, I went home and took care of some minor cleaning up I had to do (my place had become a pig sty due to my leg issues), then picked RQS up at the station.  Stopping to pick up food for the weekend, I met someone with whom I worked at the census.  We had a nice chat, and then it was back to my place to put the groceries in the fridge, and to rest before going to dinner. and the theater.

Around 5:30, we left for the theater, and I was very glad to have prepaid parking across the street from the theater.  (There was no way I wanted to hunt for a parking spot in Port Chester, NY on a dreary day.)  Then we found a nice restaurant across the street, Inca Gaucho, were we both feasted on seafood.  Around 7:30, we walked over to the theater, climbed up 3+ flights of stairs to reach our seats in the nosebleed section.

The show started at 8:15, with Chazz Palminteri talking about the music heard in his Bronx neighborhood - Dion and the Belmonts.  (BTW: Chazz would be performing his one man show the next evening.) And then Dion came on stage. Dion put on a solid performance, opening up with some of his newer music (great and mature stuff) before transitioning to his hits.  He closed with "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer", where people were either standing up or dancing in the aisle.  For a man in his mid 80's to get an audience rocking this way, it's a miracle.  But then, so is much of Dion's life. 

 

Finally, a day out as Marian. (a short post.)

 

 

I had only one "Must Do" on my task list for today - Lunch with Vicki.  And this was the only reason I had to go outside today.

 

Vicki and I haven't had the chance to get together since before my recent cruise, and I'm almost always dressed as Marian when we get together.  So, around 11:00, I got dressed, and went to a local diner to have lunch with Vicki.

 

- - - - - -

 

Vicki has lost a lot of weight over the past few years, and she has what they call "Ozempic Face".  There's a certain lack of fat in her face which normally thin women don't have.  Assuming that I eventually get my GLP-1 drug prescription fulled under the Medicare Bridge program, I'm willing to suffer that change.  (Of course, if I'd keep the weight off for several years, I'd get skin reductions to look "normal."

 

But I digress....

 

For the most part, I was the one doing most of the talking over lunch.  I had stories to tell, and Vicki was in a listening mood.  Both of us ordered the same dish for lunch - a mango steak wrap that dripped juice.  The dripping was the big problem with the dish - it ruined the wrap, and we both were eating the contents of the wrap without the wrapper.  We enjoyed the taste, and might order it again - if there wasn't a juice puddle below the wrapper.

 

Around 2:15, we left the diner and went on our ways.  I proceeded to the supermarket to get food to last me a day or so, as RQS will be up here for a concert in Port Chester tomowwo night. 

 

 

Another weekend with RQS (a short post)

 

It was the first weekend in New York after returning from our cruise, and I wasn't sure if my legs would hold up.  If I were sure of when I'd be meeting Maria to notarize my FBR paperwork, I'd have gone to RQS's house as Marian.  But, as is often the case with Maria, I couldn't count on her schedule to work as planned.  Since I'd possibly be driving to Maria's on Monday, I decided to present as Mario through the weekend for convenience.

- - - - - -

On Friday, I had a visit with the foot doctor, and that scotched the idea of me driving to RQS's place on Friday.  Instead, I planned to leave on Saturday morning.  But first, I had to stop at the bank and change my account relationship from "private banking" to "generic customer".  This would allow me to free up money I have in the bank, so it can be moved to my investment account at another institution.  Although the banker I dealt with made the change (or so he claimed), the private banking relationship still showed up on my account later on.  (It's something that may have to be fixed with another visit to the bank.)

Once done with the bank, I drove down to RQS's place.  There was virtually no traffic, and I made it to RQS's place in roughly an hour and a half.  Since I was up early that morning, I took a nap on arrival.  Sadly, one of our favorite places for dinner was closed (probably permanently)  so we were stuck with ordering a pizza for dinner.  Now, this is not much of an event, but the quality of person who does delivery these days leaves a lot to be desired.  In this case, the person was trying to deliver the pizza to an apartment across the street from RQS's place.  (We got that fixed.)  All too often, many of the last mile delivery services/personnel screws up delivery - the gig economy attracts the lowest skilled workers and pays them what they're worth - almost nothing.  One gets what one pays for.

- - - - - -

Sunday came, and we stayed in our Jammies all day.  The only reason I bothered showering was because I had to apply an ointment to my feet twice each day.  So, if I have to clean my feet, then I might as well clean the rest of me too.  (I certainly sound like an old geezer saying this.)  I did make it outside, only to do two things: (1) Make sure that there were no temporary no-parking signs on the street which would force me to leave early, and (2) to pick up a 12-pack of soda that I could drink on my next visit.

- - - - - -

Monday was a day of movement.  After showering and treating my feet, I loaded my car with my heavy suitcase (left at RQS's place following my cruise), then drove RQS to a donation center where she could drop off some stuff.

On my way home, I got a call from our co-op's site manager.  She needed copies of two months' of meeting minutes, so that she could be fully prepared for a lawsuit in which we were involved in landlord/tenant court. The woman affected by this dispute has been a problem to the co-op and its residents.  In April, she disrupted our yearly shareholders' meeting, and I wanted for the co-op to be rid of this person as soon as possible. (Where is the fictional Don Corleone when a friend needs a favor?😃) Although I couldn't get the paperwork to our site manager in a timely manner, it appears that we will be able to win our case by this time next week.   

 

 

A visit to the foot doctor, with more medical appointments to come.

 

Sometimes, I feel like the old lady pictured above.  I had one main thing on the docket for today, and I made sure to visit the foot doctor on schedule.

But first....

Although I'm feeling better than I have been feeling for the past few weeks, I know I'm operating at 50%. I've only had one opportunity to go out as Marian, and I'll likely be more limited in my outings due to appointments that have to be scheduled.

I started getting ready to visit the foot doctor around 1:00, and accidentally cut my big toe on a disposable razor.  AARGH!.  But if I was going to do some damage to my foot, this was the day to have it happen.  So, after a quick lunch at a local diner, I drove to the doctor's office.  And I couldn't find the office, as it was in a corner of the building that I hadn't been in before.

After checking in, I met with the doctor.  She told me that I might have spinal stenosis (based on other information I've given her) and said that I should see an Orthopedist. And whe prescribed a regimen of physical therapy to strengthen my muscles.  For my feet, she prescribed an antifungal, and scheduled an appointment for two weeks from now.  (I showed her a picture of me as Marian, and told her not to be surprised if she sees me this way next time.)   I'll discuss this and more when I see my GP next week.

This left me with a free afternoon.  I didn't feel like running off to the bank to change my account status.  I can do that tomorrow before I go to RQS's place for the weekend.  If I'm up to it, I'll do some laundry tonight. 

My upcoming cruise - will I survive it? (a short post)

 

 

This is a port intensive cruise which will either strengthen my legs or ruin them.  Either way, I'll be away from home, and I'm not looking forward to it.

- - - - - -

Normally, I am a little apprehensive about overseas travel, and I'm more so regarding this trip.  I had to struggle to get my bags to RQS's place, and still not be sure if I packed everything for the trip.  My doctor has advised me NOT to drink alcohol, and I may have a single glass of wine with dinner, and stick with "Near Beers" for the rest of the time.  

When we get to London, our plans are to rest on the day we arrive, and on the next day, visit the Jack The Ripper museum a short walk away, then see my niece for dinner.  It's not exactly what we want to do.  But with my legs, playing it safe may be the wisest thing we can do. 

Once on the ship, I'll try to stay as active as possible, knowing that inactivity may make things worse on my legs.  And then, I'll have to deal with the headaches of previously planned and paid for shore excursions.  At least, I know we'll have good food for the better part of two weeks, as we have unlimited meals in the ship's specialty restaurants.

- - - - - -

I'll write more once I'm underway.  Hopefully, you'll enjoy my upcoming posts. 

 

Getting things ready to go to RQS's place. (a short post)

 

I'm getting ready to leave for my upcoming cruise.  My bags are packed, and I've been taking care of last minute errands today.  For example, my cable box died last night, and I might as well go down to the cable company's offices to get a replacement box.  So many things to do, and so little time left to do them.

- - - - - -

Well, it was hard to get moving this morning, as I must have slept in a way that put pressure on the wrong spot on my spine.  Yet, I got myself moving and by 12:30, I was out the door and off to the cable company store to exchange my cable box.  This took less time than expected, so I took time out to go to the "Mexican Phone Company" (read: Taco Bell) for lunch.  After a short stop at the bank to pick up some cash (I decided not to change the status of my account relationship until I return), and then I was free to leave for RQS's place.

Once at home, I connected the new cable box, and decided to relax for a while.  I had no wish to travel through Manhattan during rush hour, so I made plans to leave Croton around 5, and arrive at RQS's place around 7:30 or so.  This would give RQS time to make dinner, and for me to cool off after getting to RQS's place.

- - - - - -

Normally, I'd have more to write about the day.  But my laptop was already at RQS's place, and I wanted to use my desktop machine at home instead of my Chromebook.  So, this entry would need to be shorter than I'd normally write before going on a trip. 

 

Returning home with an empty car. (A short post)

 

Whenever I think of the problems I now have in getting around, I should think of our former president (pictured above).  He had polio in middle age, and yet, that didn't stop him from becoming one of America's greatest presidents.  So, if he could do that, I can handle the aches and pains I'll encounter when RQS and I leave on our next cruise.

But first....

It's hard to believe, but it was the first day in ages that I woke up around noon.  My body is telling me something, and that is to take it easy.  And I'm trying to do this before my upcoming trip.  RQS cooked me some breakfast (she's a great soul!) and I proceeded to get showered and dressed shortly afterwards.  Unlike most days, I wasn't going to risk slipping and falling just to shave my legs and other parts of my body.  That can wait until I get home.

Around 2 pm, I dropped RQS off at the drug store while I drove home.  I wasn't feeling too bad, but I knew that I wouldn't walk much further than up my steps and into my apartment,  For the rest of the day, I rested, and ordered a pizza for delivery around 7:30 pm.  Yum!  But by then, I needed my cane to walk to the doorway to get my pizza.

As you can guess, I can't wait to call my doctor's office and find out the next step I need to take for recovery.  More tomorrow.... 

Waking up without extreme pain (for now)

 

Last night, I tried resting on my side to minimize the type of pressure on a section of my spine that comes from laying on my back.  And I can't be sure that it helped.  However, I was functional when I got up, and had few problems when closing up my large suitcase and getting it ready to go down to RQS's place.  And I hope I can feel this way for the next few weeks, while waiting for doctors to figure out how best to relieve my pain for the long term.

- - - - - -

Don't think that I am not feeling "fine" today.  My legs won't carry me for long, especially with heavy luggage.  But I had to get my suitcase to RQS's place, and I had to move slowly to do so.  So, I lugged my suitcase down my staircase, one step at a time, and tossed it in my car..  And I started down to RQS's place at 1 pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Normally, I take a simple path to lower Westchester county, and then take the Hutchinson River Parkway to the Whitestone bridge.  Not today.  The Hutch was backed up, so I took local streets to bypass the jam, and get back on the approach to the bridge.  And then, traffic moved until I hit the area where I had to make a go/no-go choice: Do I take the Jackie Robinson Parkway to RQS's place, or do I drive through Forest Hills on local roads to get to her place.  Given that traffic started bottling up around Jewel Avenue, I took local roads.  

Now, driving through this section of Forest Hills is almost pleasant on a Saturday.  The Orthodox Jews are not driving their cars because it's Shabbos.  This means that half of the usual traffic isn't there.  And I made it through this bottleneck with relative ease.  Then, I was on predictable local roads the rest of the way to RQS's place.

Next was the headache of finding a parking spot.  Like many older, more densely populated neighborhoods, there is never enough parking for residents, much less their guests.  I was prepared to drive around for a while, but I found a space less than half a block away from RQS's place - I was very grateful for that, as my legs were weak, and I couldn't walk far or long.

- - - - - -

Once at RQS's place, I knew we weren't going to go far for dinner.  Luckily, there was an old standby 2 blocks away.  That put me at my limit for the day.  Tacos were the only meal in walking distance, and I could barely finish what I ordered.  At least, I will likely not eat too much while on the cruise.... 

 

You aught tp be in pictures. OUCH!

 

Now, I know what's likely wrong with my legs, and it has nothing to do with my legs, save for the nerves that lead to them and signal pain.

But first...

Today, I woke up early (and with pain in my legs) to get dressed and go to the x-ray location of my health care network.  Getting there around 11 am, I had to wait a little bit, and got up when the x-ray technician called for another person with my same first name.  Then, a few minutes later, I was called, and I was hurting.  Once the x-rays were taken, I was told (not officially) that I will likely need surgery on my back.  AARGH.  I'll have to suffer for at least another month before a surgery date can be scheduled, and then be out of commission for another 6 weeks or so.  

Once out of the radiology area, I called RQS to tell her the news.  I didn't want to say to her that I might have to ask her to go on the cruise alone.  But I'll make up my mind on this within the next week.  Then I went home to rest.  Later on, I ended up chatting with Vicki for a couple of hours, and then decided to go to dinner at the local diner.  Initially, she wanted to go into problem solving mode, when all I needed was an ear.

Around 7 pm, I met Vicki at the diner and we continued the conversation we started over the phone. From what I said, she has a low opinion of my doctor, and recommended a different doctor to try out after work on my back is done.  Hopefully, all necessary procedures will be complete by year end, so that I can start cruising again in the spring.

 

My legs didn't hurt when I got up, but....

 

OK, I'm not talking about pantyhose today.  But I figured my readers would want to look at something more interesting than my aching legs.

- - - - - -

When I got up today, my legs didn't hurt much getting out of bed.  But they did remind me that I couldn't count on them too much.  Yet, they gave me an idea - if I keep getting up and moving around, the muscles that support me will stop degrading, and start building up strength.  Let's see what happens....

The key task I had on my docket for today was to start packing my suitcase for my upcoming trip.  Somehow, I have misplaced many of the items I depend on for long distance travel, and I've had to reorder some from Amazon.  Even with that being done, I still have to pack my bag and get ready for my trip.  And that's where I have the problem.  It's no longer something I can automatically do, the way I did last year.  I need to have the kind of "go kit"  with a dedicated place to store stuff, so that I can load a suitcase, and unload it as needed.  Clothing is easy.  It's the other stuff that can be a problem, as I'll always need travel adapters for electricity, chargers for my phone and tablets, etc. to leave the house for a week or two away from home.

I didn't bother bother rushing to pack my suitcase, as I have tomorrow to finish this task.  But I got a lot of little things done, and that's the important thing for me.  So, around 5 pm, I showered, made up my face, got dressed, and headed out the door for game night.  After a brief stop for dinner in a trusted diner, I was off to game night.  And then, I was in for a surprise - I was the only guest there!  Everyone else bailed out for various reasons, and I was caught by surprise.  Well, I ended up playing a couple of games (lost both) with the host, hostess, and their son.    It was a nice evening, and even "Murder Mouth" (their dog) was taking a liking to me.

All too soon, the evening had to end.  I called RQS on the phone and chatted for a while.  When I got home, I put a 25-pack? in a shopping bag and carried it upstairs.  It was at the upper end of what I could do.  But it gave me home for when I have to bring my bag to RQS's place prior to our trip. 

 

 

 

Snacking with a friend in the LGBT community

Today, I almost forgot that I had arranged to have coffee with one of my friends from the LGBT community.  This friend (who I will not name) is in financial trouble and wanted some advice.

But first....

I'm glad that I'll be seeing my doctor tomorrow morning.  Although my leg pain wasn't as bad as it's been for the past few days, I know I have to talk to the doctor about it, as well as whether I can get into the GLP-1 Bridge program that I likely qualify for.

RQS got up late, and yet, we made it to the train station on time, without any rush.  Things were working my way for a change.  Once RQS was safely on the train, I drove to Trader Joe's to pick up some food for the week.  On the way there, my friend called to confirm our meeting.  Luckily, I had the time to both shop at TJ's and to get to the diner on time.

Once I was done with my shopping mission, I dropped my TJ's haul off at home, then proceeded to the diner to meet with my friend.  We talked about many things, including some issues she had with her residence.  I made a suggestion that could help her, and paid the bill for our snack. We spent 2 hours in the diner, and I was glad that it was quiet time for the place, as I'd have hated to only order a couple of cups of coffee instead of the plate of nachos we devoured.

When we were finished at the diner, we went our separate ways, and I proceeded to get the mail out of my mailbox and go into my apartment.  I didn't realize it when I opened the envelope that it wasn't addressed to me.  So I resealed it, and marked the envelope "Return to Sender".  (The intended recipient does not live in my complex, and may not have lived here in years.)

My day was over - I was tired, and didn't feel like doing any laundry. All I wanted to do was take a nap, and I did just that.

A painful day at home (a short post)

 

It's the day after our drive to Hudson, and I ache. That's not an accurate description of what's going on with my body.  I'm not aching when I sit or lie down.  I'm simply in pain when I try to stand up or walk.  The muscles in the back of my calves simply do not want to support me.  There may be a set of pinched nerves in my back causing my problems, or it may be something else.  But I know that the doctor is going to ask me why I'm using a cane when I visit him soon.

Getting out of bed and taking care of myself lately has been troublesome at best.  I've put off doing a load of laundry for several days, simply because I'd hurt too much while going up and down the stairs. This weekend, RQS has been doing much more than I could ask of her to keep me out of pain.  And I'm grateful for that.  She has done all of the cooking, and a bit of the cleanup after meals - and more.

For the most part, for me to get around in my apartment, I need my arms for 3-point support.  At least, one of my arms needs to support my body in addition to the 2 legs that normally do so.  So, it hasn't been much fun for me to get around.  This is why I'm a little bit afraid.  I have a trip coming up, and I need to be mobile for that trip.  

But enough of my venting for now....

This morning, I received a delayed reply from my Canadian pen pal.  She's doing well, but is very busy.  She doesn't live with her wife yet, but visits her every so often.  When her parents die, she and her wife will find a way to live together - either in one city or the other,  Until then, my pen pal will be taking care of her parents.  And that's the sign of a good adult offspring.

My brother is likely going to be out of a job soon, and has started interviewing for a new one again.  He works in a place which is in receivership, and doesn't think that the banks will bail the firm out a second time.  This makes me glad that we've sold the family homestead, as my brother has a small financial cushion to tide him over until finding a new position.  It won't be an easy time for him - he suffers the from the discrimination our society has against older workers.

I'm still waiting on New York City to send me a copy of my grandmother's marriage licence.  That's the hardest thing for me to get to complete the requirements for the foreign birth registry.  I'm still going to see if I really need this document.  But, I need to get on an online chat to do so, and I haven't found the time for this task.

As a wise person said in four short words:

"This too, shall pass." 

Antiquing on a dismal day.

 

Today was a day we planned to drive up to Hudson, NY and do some antiquing.  The big problem was with my legs - I couldn't walk far, and I was grateful to have my cane with me.  Thankfully, I'll be seeing my doctor in a couple of days, and hopefully he'll able to help me walk properly before my cruise.

But first...

We got up at our usual time today, and got out of the house around 2 pm.  I knew it was going to be a long drive to get to the Antique Warehouse in Hudson, NY - 80 miles away.  For the most part, we made good time getting to Hudson, stopping only for gas and a bio-break.  By the time we got to the warehouse, the heavens had started opening up, and we rushed inside to get out of the rain and explore the place.

Once inside, we were overwhelmed by the size of the place.  Half of the building was occupied by the warehouse, with a smaller section occupied by smaller, independent shops, and a small section occupied by an Amtrak maintenance department.  I could barely walk, and was glad I could sit on any chair I could find in the place.  However, our stay in the warehouse was short, as it was warm and humid inside.  I couldn't wait to leave the place, so I could get comfortable.

Our next stop was a restaurant that Vicki and I went to when we returned from our trip to the Flax barn sale.   Savona's is part of a 4 restaurant group operating in the Hudson Valley.  I have wanted to go back with RQS in tow, and today was our opportunity to try this place together.  However, we had to pay for 15 minutes of parking, and it took some time for me to use the app to pay for those minutes.  Once I paid for those minutes, we went inside and ordered our meals.  RQS said that I made a better Caesar Salad than the restaurant, but that's because I make the dressing from scratch.  When the main course came, neither of us could finish our food.  RQS loved the place and would go back in a heartbeat.

We got home around 8, and I was aching - my legs could barely support me.  But I was safe, and I was at home.  And that's the important thing.

Dinner at Lefteris - Even salad can taste good if done right (a short post)

 

Lefteris Gyro is a family owned chain of several Greek Restaurants, whose first store is pictured here.  It has been one of my go-to places when I want good Greek food and don't want to risk a bad meal somewhere else.  Tonight, RQS and I went to dinner at one of their other locations, and as expected, we had a tasty meal.

But first....

I finally changed the appointment I had scheduled with my doctor to take place one week earlier than planned.  My knees were telling me that I'm older than I look, and that I needed to have the doctor examine me while I had time to take care of things.  Yet, with uncooperative knees (and legs), I decided NOT to do a load of laundry.  Instead, I lallygagged until it was time to get showered, made up, and dressed.  And then, I picked RQS up at the train station.

The first order of the evening was to go out for dinner.  We saw the skies darkening, but chanced the restaurant in Hartsdale, NY.  We both had the Greek Salad with Chicken, and took home some leftovers. When we got in the car, we were lucky.  It had just started to rain, and we didn't get wet.  But that didn't mean we weren't affected by the rain.  Halfway home, the heavens opened up, and I could barely see the road I was driving on.  Luckily, I knew to drive slowly, and made it home without incident. 

Tomorrow, we plan to take a long drive.  Let's hope the weather cooperates with us.