Saturday, March 6, 2010

Another day out.

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"Gone shooting." I need a sign with that on it. Of course, no one ever visits, so whatever. It looks to rain, snow, or something tomorrow while today is sunny and almost 50 F. So, it is back to the range. One box of .45's and I think I will be taking my .22 pistol this time as well. Perhaps it will help me get back into pistol usage just as well, less expensively, and without worrying about brass. I feel downright foolish missing as often as I do. At 50 to 60 yards, I should not miss a pop can, let alone bottle, more than a few times a magazine, and then usually only when I get silly. And that is discussing the 13 round magazines. This last summer, I rarely missed even with the .357, it with a 2" barrel.

Of course, dinner after. Though I might talk my shooting partner into lobster here at my place. Two tails cost about $10, some baked potatoes cost little, and frozen broccoli or something is pretty cheap too. Plus, I could do double duty and buy the rest of items on my grocery list. I like doing double duty, cooking and eating rightly, and doing so on the cheap. Odd how little a home cooked meal costs, how much better it is from quality to taste to the freshness of ingredients. The main costs being time, clean up, and serving one's self. But I am on those last now, my kitchen is nice and clean dishes, pots, and pans are plentiful!

Well, I best be going. Time is running out, I said I would be there at 13:00, so, gotta go. Have a great day!

Friday, March 5, 2010

The spirit is willing...

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As they say, but the flesh is weak. It will take some time to get the body back into shape. I can do well on small things for short periods, but an afternoon of anything, or a morning full of calls and business, wear me right out. I see my doctor the 9th. I have been considering asking her about physical therapy of some sort. It would need to be as local as possible, but it could really help. When the body does almost nothing for months, flexibility, strength, and endurance disappear. Those things are necessary for simple life, and least life as most people know it. Just some thoughts.

I am very tired this evening. I am getting ready to hit it and hard. Good night!

Not too bad.

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I got busy today. I checked on the medicine, it was sent two days ago. Check. I made contact with my buyer broker, he is sending out new leads to the email account to which I have access and we will begin looking at houses next week. Check. I called my loan pre-approval agent. I did not reach him and he has not called back yet. I did let him know I was having difficulties knowing how to obtain my DD 214 (discharge papers). That is as much as I can do. Check. I made my car payment over the phone. Check. And finally I took care of a major worry. I realized I must be fairly late on my storage fees. I kept fearing that I had lost everything (you know how not knowing for sure how far behind you are when you realize you are behind but have been too... out of it... to think straight for a while?). I was two months behind, and had late fees for that. I explained my condition and difficulties, in apology. She went ahead and halved my late fees! I then paid for another six months plus the late fees. Now I have no worries until this July. Expensive, no doubt, but worth the loss of worry and there is a discount. That, if luck holds, will easily see me into my new house, perhaps with a rebate if I can move quickly and early. Check.

I still have things to do, but I ran out of nerve, energy, and will. Monday will be the day to move on getting my Social Security and V.A. checks directed to my local bank, check on two other bills, and attempt to contact the mortgage center agent again. Not bad, really, just not too bad. Calling and doing business is often a fearful thing, while I am in a funk or even while coming out of one. There is something strange about actually interacting with the world and people and money and all. That should improve. Actually, it already has. I would not have been able to do this a week ago. It only has not been done sooner because it takes time to get to things, and just having a few things at home taken care of first was primal.

I did make a wonderful meal with some of the beans I had recently cooked and some brots I had recently bought, thawed, and cooked. I had half a brot by itself, wonderful it was! But heating the beans with some of the brots in some of the cooking juice from the beans to make a mild soup, then adding a quarter cup of whole whipping cream and a little salt. Fantastic is all I can say. Plus, keeping up on dishes. Oh, and when I cook a large portion now, I feel no need to overeat. I have containers, the owners containers, which go from freezer or fridge to oven and back. So I have been eating well, the right amounts, having leftovers, and doing very well in this regard, thank you very much.

Life can be so simple. For me that means just the right medicines. For others, I suppose it means a little more attention to detail. Nice... That is all I can say. It is nice to be alive and well.

Oops!

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Or, thank God it's Friday (and not Saturday). I got nothing done, as I had written, yesterday. My friend called and suggested we go shooting. Well, we went shooting, then had dinner. Our shoot days are all day, at least from the time they start onward. As well, I got into a minor project and ended up not going to bed in a... timely manner. It was after 5:00 when I rolled my bones into the hay. I decided not to allow this to mess up my schedule, so I set the alarm for 10:30. And, I woke up at 9:00 without the alarm, and called it good. I think I will begin my calls at 12:00, instead of 13:00 though, as there is an hour or two difference between here and some of the places I may end up calling which favors an early start.

The shooting was good. I only shot one box in the .45 though. It is too slushy to retrieved cases, so I simply do not wish to pick them up. In many cases, I cannot pick them up. My shooting is improving, though it will be slow because of the one box limit I have self imposed in the wait for easier retrieval of cases. But that Henry .22 is a golden gun. I am shooting sub-quarter sized clay remnant shards at 60 yards and more. S A W E E T! I think that is how it is said?

I have, however, been keeping up on the dishes and I did get the regrowth off my face. After shaving my beard a bit back, I had failed to managed the fuzz until it became an ugly 'tweener' man-face-hair... thing! And, I have taken control of finger and toe nails, and the wretchedly dry skin on my feet and toe nail areas. It takes a while to get nearly bone hard skin out of the cuticle areas once that sets in.

Bit by bit, one thing at a time, one day at a time. But I am coming back online. Wow, all I can say is wow. You have no idea how nice it is to be coming back to life. I know many people take this for granted. And, I think that is good to some degree. We cannot be down on our knees all of the time or we would not produce the things that make life amenable, let alone survivable. If nothing else, my illness allows me moments of retrospect in which I get to see all of the grandeur of the wonderful thing that we call life. The price is high but the view is gorgeous.

Be well!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

A day at the museum.

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Yesterday was a bit odd, health wise. I ended up not taking my medicine, any of it, in spite of having it with me. I look for "the right time" to take things when out of the house, and with everything going on, that time simply never happened. With things going on, driving, and such, I simply lost track. Still, my friend and myself had a fairly decent day. We visited the Browning museum, which includes trains, guns, and cars. We viewed a good bit of the train part and the guns of course, but ran out of time so did not view the automobiles. Next week, very possibly, we will do a return visit. We also had lunch there. I was getting grumpy from being overly tired on the drive back. I did not grump at my friend, just at typical drivers. Then again, I am a moody driver anyway. I do not go overboard, I merely grump and adjust my driving to avoid bad and stupid (yes, talking on a cellphone while driving and driving poorly for it will get someone on my "stupid list"). When less tired, I just adjust and forget, not bothering to grumble.

While we were in Ogden, as is our want, we ended up at one of our favorite gun, ammunition, and reloading shops. I found bullets, if not what I had hoped to find. I was looking for full metal jacket 230 grain round nose bullets for reloading. They had 230 and they had round nose, they just did not have them together. I ended up walking out with 500 200 grain round nose plated bullets, and 300 230 grain truncated full metal jacket bullets. I still have 200 round nose 230 grain bullets, so I guess it is all right. Of course, my friend bought 100 of the 200 grain plated bullets when we got home. He found some used 9 mm cases. It is good to have more.

I was very tired when I returned. We had a few beers. We had thought about supper, but were both still full from lunch. I took him on home and tried to stay up a few hours more, but at 20:00, I was finished. I woke up at 2:00 or so, and almost could not get back to sleep. I knew it would ruin my day schedule, so I eventually settled down and got back to sleep. Waking at 7:00 or so, I got up and began tinkering. Gaming on the machine to begin the wake-up process. I fixed a little breakfast, too much actually. Now I am gaming again, and blogging, and waiting until about 13:00 to begin a slew of business processes. Checking on the medicine, contacting my broker, contacting the loan agent, trying to figure out how to get my checks to my new bank, paying a bill, checking some other bills, and then maybe some cleaning and shopping after a couple hours off after I have done what I can on those scores.

Not only is my mind just coming into it's own, with all the fuss that goes with it, so too is my body. Food is like a new thing to it. Regular food requires regular bm's. My body is so used to being fed very irregularly that it is having to figure out how to pass waste again. It is not as easy as it might sound. Though I must admit, it is a pleasure to once again be biologically more functional. It is just knowing when one process or another is what is needed, both for me and my body, that can be a bit harrowing. Gas, as I am coming to understand, is not always gas. This is only a problem during restarts, but it is one I often forget about. No mistakes yet, just some funny facial expressions and a bit of a weird walk hurry mode rush to the nearest facility.

My kitchen is staying even, so far. I clean after each meal. Which allows me to cook with a clear conscience. As I said, by Sunday or Monday, I hope to have the whole of this house up to specs again. I think I can do this, and I will feel so much better about it. There is nothing like being in a clean, kempt, concise house. The mind and spirit become settled and new tasks become easier to take on and complete somehow. When this is done, I will begin my studies in calculus. Then perhaps physics.

Life is coming back together nicely but slowly. Too much rush and I will overdo, which will cause a setback. And yet not doing enough will cause a slip into lethargy. And knowing which is which will take a little trial and error, a little patience with myself, and a little faith in myself, the medicine, and the world in general. Coming out of a coma in self-help mode is a tricky thing. And yet it feels so good. Like being trapped, seemingly forever, in a frozen no-man's land and then to finally begin nearing the borders of a safe place while at the same time feeling a breath of spring on the face. It is good.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Where to begin?

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Have you ever had a job which either upon taking or somewhere while in that employ in which you were handed a terribly botched assignment? The paper work was all wrong, time lines are all messed up with some events very overdue others simply corrupted and some still good yet all complicating the time issues involved, and a host of other difficulties? Yes, well, that is my life. When, where, and what do I start with. Okies, we have the when down. Now! But which project and how. I am only starting to live again, but I see the whole world of business and personal needs that have to be tended and I only have so much energy and 'togetherness' at hand and my skills at organizing and throughput are sketchy at best in the best of times.

Where to start? For me, there were several sure places. Home, it is where I live and breath, think and work, and all such. Home is much more to me than most, many might as well simply live in a hotel for all they have to do with their homes. I have little choice in the matter, so my home is my whole world. Outside is even a little spooky anymore (hence why I carry on boldly, usually, when leaving my shell). To that end, I have done two loads of laundry with more to go. Though there really is not much to do. I changed about as often as I showered and we will not go further into that. Still, after I did most of what was needed clothing wise, I think the bedding (sigh) needs washed. I never did wash the bedding after my lady friend visited, if she only slept in her bed proper for one or two nights, preferring the lounger until I figured out her issues and turned the heat up, took out the window insulation so some light got in, and a few other things. My personal bedding on the other hand... We will not go their either. At least it does not 'look' too bad. *sigh*

As well, I have been busy with dishes. You might be able to imagine the pileup there. But add that it piled up long ago and at best was soaking. I have done two loads in the dishwasher and two loads by hand and it is done, save one load from the dishwasher to be put away. This was no simple wash job. All of it got a fresh resoaking (or two), and even what went into the dishwasher was sort of hand washed first. It was a real chore but a happily completed one. Next I am eyeing the broom and mop, and searching for the vacuum cleaner (searching is not, yet, a do all at once project... it might be before long... still... waking... up).

Next, medicine. I have a little over a week left of the main medicine, Lisinopril. Worried, I called the V.A. today (meant to yesterday, but... today is better than tomorrow). It is a very good thing I did. They did not have it planned for me to receive those until April 28th! What is going on in there? The woman said she would do what she could to rectify that. The woman being a worker at the main V.A. in SLC. She said she would call back when she figured this mess out. I was too tired at that time to call further, but I plan to call the closer clinic I usually visit and ask them what the problem is, get them in on the solution, and give them a small piece of my mind. This is exactly what happened last time. I cannot let this simply slide. They are as much a part of the problem, now, as I am. I am too sick to look after myself half of the time, I cannot be expected or depended upon to look after them too. I am just a wee riled at the moment.

Next, some business. Since my banking has not become local yet, I have to pay many bills manually. The internet helps, the phone helps, but nothing is quite like having everything on automatic. That helps! So, I need to tend to some bills and check on a few others. I also need to get some cash into the local bank so that I may begin using it to some extent. As well, I can put a certain amount in and use that as a limiter on my spending. Much as I used to do with the savings and checking accounts. Further, I need to figure out how to get my DD214 and contact the company I am working with on a V.A. pre-approval for a housing loan.

Wow, just wow! So much to do, and that is just the half of it. So much more house cleaning is needed. So much more business must be tended. Groceries must be bought. And, while I am gearing up, I need to also tend the little things as they happen. Cooking means cleaning. Going out means laundry. Everything that one begins starts something else in a chain that is fundamentally maddening at first. Being a ghost has a privilege that frees one from the things of flesh, but at a damned high cost. If I am going to be forced to live, I want to be in the game with foot and claw. I have to be. Either in or out, that is how I play the game when given a choice at all. Actually, I will not wait to be given a choice, I always have a choice... a whole slew of them... even as a cripple I am no pushover.

The game is on! Be well.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Excellent!

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Not perfect, not yet completely well, but the situation does look much brighter.

The medicine is doing what I had hoped. Thankfully, for several reasons, she started me on a low dose, 5 mg twice a day, as early in the morning as possible and mid to later afternoon is how I am doing it. The lift I get is comparable to soda, which is to say not a lot, but it allows me to stay conscious without being completely out of it while awake. I can also do small things, such as shopping and shooting and such again, if it can be done only occasionally that is enough for the moment. This dose will allow me to get back on some schedule, take care of myself, the house, and business minimally, and then it should set me up for a higher dose and nearly actually living again.

I have quit the sugar. Juice mixed with CO2 water, plain water, and soon tea, along with milk of course, are on the menu. I still have a great thirst as diabetes is still probably out of control and in the 300 range. One thing at a time. One piece of it all at a time. Once I am functional again, we move on to that stage, and I could see that happening by my next visit. I need to call and make sure my medication is set to be sent out. I only have a few weeks supply and that makes me nervous. Other than that, it looks like I am set to get back into taking care, being on the right medication, being off soda, and living fairly well again.

Not much else of news. Then again, I am just learning how to walk again. But the prognosis is good. Have a great night.