A Death in the House

 I am enjoying being able to go to the drive-thru lanes at Mcdonald's & Starbucks for a coffee & treat once again! My favorite Mcdonald's closed down & reopened on the highway while I was unable to drive. I don't like the new location at all - no trees to park under for one thing & only one way in & out & only from one direction. The City put them on a busy corner in the wrong place for a morning coffee & then put a cement curb in front so everyone has to circle the block twice to get in & out in the morning .  .  .  .

 It must really cut down the morning take outs since it's on the 'other' side of the traffic. I have to say that it's so much easier to go up to the Hospital location a couple of miles away. If I get desperate on a crappy day, I let DoorDash bring me my order! haha

Meanwhile - my computer is dying, sigh. I have to admit it's given me good service but it was built almost 8 years ago & I haven't updated much of anything in 6 years. Speed & computing power aren't really necessary when you're doing bookkeeping & simple taxes most of the time. I used to listen to Audio Books or radio while working & occasionally played Solitare, Mahjong or did a jigsaw puzzle on the side. None of those required a lot of power. So the old gal just kept on going. But, even UTube takes a lot of juice these days & the programs keep getting bigger & more powerful so I have to upgrade.

 

Two hours later .  .  .  .  .  BOOM

 

My computer made a hellova racket & died on me a few days ago. I was lost without it. No access to my bank. No DoorDash. No email. I don't even have phone numbers for anything, I do it all ON LINE. Luckily for me, one of my old clients has 4 kids & a housefull of cast off electronics. I am now the proud possessor of a laptop with Windows 11. The kids say it's obsolete but it sure is an upgrade for me!!! Course, I have a mouse, keyboard, back up drive & printer attached so it isn't really portable. But that's okay. I don't move my computer around anyway. The only problem now is that I may have lost all my pictures & some imported Audio Books that I can't get on Auible. Damn!

Knitting - I am still plodding along with my top-down, raglan cardigan. I am down to the middle of the Upper Arm!!! I can't knit for hours anymore but I can knit - off & on - for an hour or so without my shoulders & elbows burning. I think winding the skeins into balls is the most time consuming, energy eating & shoulder killing activitiy. I don't have a skein holder/winder although I do have a ball winder which is impossible to use without a skein holder. I've noticed my hands ache more BUT I have more strength in them. I actually opened a jam jar by myself for the first time in ages!!! So, I'm carrying on even though it hurts. I'm wearing my latest wristers every day. No socks on the needles yet but I have two new cotton washcloths in the bathroom. I may even use some of the Stash before I die!!!

REMEMBERING

 

Alfred Zirk

Veteran of the First World War

Born in Southern Ontario around 1892 on a small farm. Left home at 14 to take horses by train to Regina, Saskatchewan. Stayed in Regina to work until he signed up for the Army with all his buddies. Cared for horses when he wasn't crawling through the Trenches. Spent a lot of time crawling under barbed wire at night, reconnoitering & drawing maps. Was one of the lucky men who came home to rebuild his life. Lived on his own to celebrate his 101rst birthday.

Spooks Were Out

 Haven't seen a kid Treat or Treating on my street in THREE years. Tuesday night they came in droves. Most of them came in one big bunch with moms attached & babes in arms. Most of them were under 8 with a sprinkling of older kids, probably brothers & sisters sucked into taking out the little ones to keep them safe when a door opened!! I was a bit of an attraction dressed in my best air-hose & purple polar fleece. One little boy wanted to know what was sticking out of my nose. So I had to explain to everyone. They thought it was a neat costume!! I was very grateful that I ordered a box of KitKats, Coffee Krisp & Smarties with my last grocery order!! I think I only have three Coffee Krisp bars left over.

Did anyone notice the Christmas commercials started just after midnight on Hallowe'en??? They sure aren't wasting any time! My Virtual Poppy notice arrived on Wednesday morning as well. Every year I now order a Virtual Poppy since my old Poppy seller at the local London Drugs died. I think he sold Poppies at that spot for over 40 years. I remember him being there forever - until he wasn't. I don't even want to think about Christmas .  .  .  .

Wednesday, Nov01, I drove myself to my doctor. I haven't been out in my car since last year, early in December, when I took myself to the Covid centre in the local mall to get my shots. 

It took 2 & a half hours to prepare for the damned appointment! I left 45 minutes early & made it with a little time to spare. I was able to get Frank, the walker, in & out of the car - with difficulty, walk from the car to the doctor's office & back - very slowly & get myself to the local Mcdonald's after for a coffee. I had to have that coffee & rest before I could get up the energy to haul myself & the oxygen cart up the ramp at home. While sitting & sipping, I cranked up the oxygen to give myself a blast for my heart & brain! Luckily, I was able to adjust my oxygen valve from high to lower, full on or pulse to suit my needs & work load. I think I was out for almost 3 & a half hours!!! 

I find it easier to drive the car than walk any distance so "drive thru" or "curbside pickups" are my destinations of choice!!! I'll tell you, when I got home, dragging myself up my ramp, into the house & to my chair was just about all I could do. I had a pee, a drink & went to sleep in my recliner. Four hours later, I woke up. I had another drink, took my pills & went to bed. And I could barely move when I woke up on Thursday. Good thing I had sliced meat, bread & fruit in the fridge. Made a pot of tea & spent most of the day quietly with a long afternoon nap to recover. I was still tired & achy on Friday but I think I'll live. I must get out more often, especially now that my new valve gives me about 4 hours of oxygen per tank if I adjust the flow as I need it. What will I do with so much freedom???? Wink, wink.

Knitting - I've almost finished the second pair of long cuffs. I'm taking it easy on knitting time since my arm & especially my shoulder muscles & tendons are complaining mightily. Not sure if I need higher arm rests or a big pillow in my lap or what. Maybe my shoulders have just atrophied somewhat. Karen, is this a Rotator Cuff problem??? All I know is that they burn & hurt like hell if I knit too much!!! Gad. I used to knit for HOURS just a few years ago. Anyway, I'm doing some knitting every day trying to improve the situation. 

I have a top-down, raglan, garter stitch cardi on the go in Briggs & Little Durasport yarn. I originally bought the Durasport for heavy house socks to keep my feet warm. But, socks have become impossible to put on - yeah, I tried a couple of those gadgets to pull on socks - so I decided to knit a sweater with it instead. I find I need a sweater all the time when I'm sitting & even in winter, I prefer a sweater going out in the car. So it's a good option for me.