The Ivy Bush - General Chat

[shireling]

Wow, lady! I agree that you don't realize just how much you do until you have to show somebody else !

Both Allegra and you are lucky to have been with the same companies. I guess I might still have been at Fairview General, birthin' babies , if I hadn't met Duane. That would have put me at 39 years this fall. It was my favorite job of all time .

I'm sure you must have thought of this, but what if your new colleague assisted you in your tasks and learned the trade that way, instead of having her own jobs, and you still having to do all your stuff, in addition? Maybe not what the bosses want? But I'm glad you're being paid overtime. Btw, I do love your bank holidays! We don't have any of those off at all - I mean, no religious ones, except Christmas and New Year's, and they're considered national. Thanksgiving is national, also, but it's directly connected to the States. As for some others, we have Memorial Day on May 28th, this year, and our Labo(u)r Day is on September 3rd.

I'm very sorry to hear that your knee is still giving you grief . Do you still use a brace at times, like an over-the-counter sleeve for your knee? I hope you can rest it as much as possible. It's wonderful that you'll have help with the yard work. And I'm so glad to hear about Larissa . I like her choice of profession, and that boyfriend sure sounds like a keeper .

And then there's His Majesty, Timothy. *FANFARE* Lord of the Garden! Slayer of Meeses! Grantor of Gifts! Insister of Caresses!

Speaking of my own furry supervisor, she's napping behind me at the moment. Lately Amy's been more affectionate than ever (I'm wondering if it's the kitty pate,) though Duane gets the most attention. And he does absolutely nothing for her except pet her - when she's looking up adoringly and he has be reminded at that! It's not fair . Anyway, it's so very good to hear from you, Paddy !

[Padfoot]

Hello once again! I'm so stressed out, I could do with a month-long holiday and it wouldn't be enough.
Just to let you know I'm around - I just arrived home from work - and when I switch on my laptop there's a certain cat who jumps right up and places his butt on the keyboard. Took me half an hour to persuade him to grant me 5 minutes here.

IMG-20180612-WA0000 by Martina Immel


IMG_20180612_204356 by Martina Immel

IMG_20180612_204412 by Martina Immel

IMG-20180612-WA0008 by Martina Immel

[shireling]

I can't see your pictures, Paddy . Flickr won't let me .

[Padfoot]

It should work now! At least I hope so. Flickr and I have yet to get used to each other.

Btw, Paddy, how do you say "German potato salad" in German? Is there such a thing in Germany, or do I have 10 cans in my pantry of sliced potatoes in a vinaigrette, with parsley and ham bits, that are aspiring to something greater than themselves?

Kartoffelsalat

And there are countless recipes. Cold, warm, vinaigrette, mayonnaise...

[shireling]

Kartoffelsalat. I buy it in cans, and we eat it hot, with cheddar brats sliced and tossed in. I looked up the recipes after your post. I had no idea there were so many ways to make it.

I can't get over how much Timmy looks like my Tasha did. She had that beautiful face, just like him. Same eyes, same striped tabby, big bat ears...

Speaking of cats, Amy's going to the vet on Tuesday morning - I'm telling her it's "summer camp" - because Duane is having a 131 radioactive iodine swallow for his over-active thyroid. I want her to stay out of here until Friday. We have to keep away from little kids, and pregnant women, among others, for 72 hours. They're saying it's only a precaution, but I think the term nuclear medicine is king of the oxymoron.

Thank goodness we have two full baths and our own beds, so he's assigned the one across the hall and his bedroom. We have to keep outside of three feet of each other; they say brief contact is okay - I say the hell with that. Anytime I have to take care of something before the time's up, I'm gloving and masking. He's got to keep his laundry separate from mine, and I have to wash them all separately, so there's a bag I can hang on his closet doors for that. He's not allowed in my bedroom - that's my rule - until we are the full three days done.

He makes his own breakfast, 'tea' and supper, and can do the cleanup from those. He loves fish & chips with hush puppies (those little round balls of cornbread), so we're eating those for lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I bake them in the oven; he'll get his own jar of tartar sauce. I like this because there aren't any utensils, outside of the spoon for tartar sauce jar, and I can just dish up my plate and go to my room with it. He'll have the living room television; I have a small one in my room.

He thinks I'm being ridiculous. Being ridiculous would be my dropping him off at home and going to a hotel (don't think I haven't considered it.) But having Amy across the street - literally, that's where the vet's office is - takes such a load off my mind. I've been told it won't hurt her, but I don't trust anybody when it comes to this. It's worth the expense, and she'll get her senior checkup and shots while she's there as well.

[Padfoot]

He's allowed to stay at home during the treatment??

My Mom had the same treatment a couple of years ago. She was practically locked away in a Special ward at the hospital for 7 days. Wenn weren't even allowed to visit her.

[shireling]

He's allowed to stay at home during the treatment??

Yep, that's how we roll in 'murica . Oh, and not only that, I've been made to feel like a fool for being upset.

My Mom had the same treatment a couple of years ago. She was practically locked away in a Special ward at the hospital for 7 days. Wenn weren't even allowed to visit her.

Did your mom find that food had a metallic taste to it? If she did, how long did it last?

[Padfoot]

Did your mom find that food had a metallic taste to it? If she did, how long did it last?

I remember her saying that she lost her appetite because of the food tasting metallic (and hospital food tasting the same every day), but it didn't last that long once she returned home.

[shireling]

Thank you, Paddy, that helps. So, for probably a week at least, that'll be the situation. We still tried to find a thoracic surgeon as of last night, through Medicare, but the only name close to the one we were told, had four reviews listed, and all of them bad. In fact, one accused this doctor of killing her mother. *sigh*

Anyway, today, I'm going to buy him a new pillow and spread for when this is 'over'. These he has are so old they're like they came from the bedroom of Tutankhamen. I'm going to triple bag them before I throw them out. I'm keeping everything new in the trunk of the car until I want them come Friday.

What really upsets me is that if I didn't ask if there was any pre-op preparation, I don't think anybody would have volunteered it. For example, when I asked the office of the specialist, I was told no. But when I asked nuclear med, I was told light breakfast two hours prior, and no food two hours after; water is fine. They made quite a show of all the after care, which neither one could readily agree on in total, but not this.

As soon as this is over, we're finding another endocrinologist. I am beyond pissed off.

[shireling]

We just had lunch.

Duane drank the 131 at 10 AM, and so far, so good. He said his throat's a little sore, but doesn't want anything for it. Amy's at the vet; she was not happy at all to go, but I'm glad I did it. The main thing is not to be within three feet of each other, and since he's not going out of the home until after 10 AM on Friday, we'll be okay - at least according to the paperwork. I've been up since 2 AM, and now I just want to sleep.

[Padfoot]

The Great Mousehunter sends his regards to Amy!

I hope all goes well for Duane. Get some sleep, you'll need your strength!

[shireling]

The Great Mousehunter sends his regards to Amy!

I've often wondered how they'd react to each other .

I hope all goes well for Duane. Get some sleep, you'll need your strength!

Thanks! I finally did!

He's been okay, not complaining about anything. I was able to get the un-radiated wash done starting at 4:30 this morning, and just woke up about 20 minutes ago. We're in the home stretch now. Actually, it's been nice to have my own personal space back after 36 years . Duane's forever crowding me; he gets single minded, like "I'm thirsty, I need a drink", and no matter what I'm doing in the middle of in the kitchen, he's right on top of me. Now, I just remind him that he has to keep back.

And, this is going to sound awful, but Amy also crowds me . I trip over her and I step on her paws, because she always feels the need to show me where her food bowl is! She's right at my feet, where I can't see her! So this has been a little vacation from the claustrophobia .

[shireling]

I was telling Duane, how much I'd love to know what the Founding Fathers would have thought of this dreck. Especially Franklin. Nobody could touch him when it came to the clever.

I feel like wearing a black armband today...

[Padfoot]

Happy belated 4th of July, nonetheless.

There's a lot going on here as well. I feel like we might have our current government for not much longer, there's too much friction in this coalition. To be honest - a lot of old men are having enough of a woman telling them what they have to do, they can't bear it anymore. That's the simple truth.

One week to go until my holiday - and I sooo need it.
My knee has gotten worse again, and I finally made a doctor's appointment last week. He said it's a meniscus injury, probably a contusion. He prescribed a knee bandage and hydrotherapy, so I signed up for a group that offers water gymnastics once a week. Fortunately, my health insurance covers the costs (50 appointments!!) I only have to pay the entrance to the swimming hall. I've been wearing the bandage for a week now, and I feel it's getting better. At least it doesn't give way anymore.

The Great Mouse Hunter keeps on bringing me presents and deposits them right beside my pillow on the bed.

We haven't had a drop of rain in weeks. It's hot and all dry and there's not much of a harvest to expect in Mom's beloved garden. She's not amused. And frankly, I'm worried. The garden looks like someone has burned it down - and there's a lot of fires in the area. It's hay season, and quite a lot harvest machines overheat and burn, and so does the hay. And the woods. So far, we have been spared the fires, but if it doesn't rain soon, I don't know.

[shireling]

Happy belated 4th of July, nonetheless.

It was nice. We were finally able to see Star Trek: Beyond, and we loved it.

There's a lot going on here as well. I feel like we might have our current government for not much longer, there's too much friction in this coalition. To be honest - a lot of old men are having enough of a woman telling them what they have to do, they can't bear it anymore. That's the simple truth.

That's a shame. I really like Chancellor Merkel. Hey, I know! Trump's old man was German. Maybe we can just switch .

One week to go until my holiday - and I sooo need it.
My knee has gotten worse again, and I finally made a doctor's appointment last week. He said it's a meniscus injury, probably a contusion. He prescribed a knee bandage and hydrotherapy, so I signed up for a group that offers water gymnastics once a week. Fortunately, my health insurance covers the costs (50 appointments!!) I only have to pay the entrance to the swimming hall. I've been wearing the bandage for a week now, and I feel it's getting better. At least it doesn't give way anymore.

I'm so sorry about your knee . That water gymnastics sounds like a plan though . 50 appointments!!!!!! Oh, that's wonderful, Paddy! I hope it all helps

The Great Mouse Hunter keeps on bringing me presents and deposits them right beside my pillow on the bed.

When he gives them to you, have they all moved on to that big cheese in the sky, or are a few still twitching? I'm sorry, I've had mice as pets, and I know Timmy means well, but I just don't think I could handle it as well as you do.

We haven't had a drop of rain in weeks. It's hot and all dry and there's not much of a harvest to expect in Mom's beloved garden. She's not amused. And frankly, I'm worried. The garden looks like someone has burned it down - and there's a lot of fires in the area. It's hay season, and quite a lot harvest machines overheat and burn, and so does the hay. And the woods. So far, we have been spared the fires, but if it doesn't rain soon, I don't know.

That's not good . We have had loads of thunderstorms - gone right from winter to the monsoon season. Some power outages, and trees toppled because of the soggy ground; I sincerely hope you get a nice soaking shower soon. Our western bits are burning again , and I don't know how people keep rebuilding out there.

Speaking of rains, I hope they're able to get those kids out of that cave soon. Thank God they found them! But now, how are they going to get them out? My heart just breaks for them and their folks...