Observations

[pjthompson]

Feb 15
And then there’s my shredded Achilles tendon…People grimace when they see me limping down the hall.

Feb 15
“Seek simplicity and distrust it.” —Alfred North Whitehead said. Simplicity is sounding real good right about now. Mom’s escalating pain issues have led to a rush MRI this afternoon, maybe a bone scan.

Feb 15
New favorite indie bookstore name: Libros Schmibros

Feb 16
Back in the ER with Mom. I think I’ll start bonking my head now.

Feb 16
They admitted her. Not life threatening, I don’t think.

Feb 17
Is life anything more than a series of disappointed hopes?

Feb 17
I turn on the TV to distract myself and the first thing I hear is Sally Kirkland saying, “She died at 97.” The opening to Paper Hearts.



Feb 18
Medicare not seizing our asset vibes would be nice, too. I’d rather not be homeless.

(Note: I got this wrong. It’s MediCal/Medicaid that seizes your assets.)

Feb 19
Mom is going back to the rehab today, perhaps permanently. They finally found that her terrible pain is from severe spinal stenosis. They may try to do an epidural nerve block if nothing else helps. Her spirit is good, her fighting spirit undiminished, so we’ll see how things go.

Feb 21
I’ve been sitting here all afternoon saying “Oh my God” over and over to myself. Rollercoasters suck.

(Note: I learned that my house might be protected after all.)

Feb 24
It may be a measure of my worry that I was seriously listening to Joel Osteen this morning. Not any crazier than my previous money making scheme: buying Lotto tickets. Both Lotto and Osteen require unfettered faith, something I sometimes have in microbursts.

Feb 25
No matter how bad it gets, my life is not as bad as Fantine’s…or millions of other people around the world. Everything is relative.

Feb 28
Heard Jimmy Cliff driving to work so “The harder they come, the harder they fall, one and all” is the theme of the day.

Feb 28
There’s a difference between taking off your shirt while running to show off your manly chestal pulchritude and taking off your shirt while running and having manly chestal pulchritude. We can tell the difference, guys. And not just cynical old broads like me.

Mar 1
I am so tired of grown up stuff.  Can I run away now?

Mar 2
At home nursing a strained back. Life is good.

Mar 2
Why is it in movies and on TV when a scientist sees something unbelievable he removes his glasses? It’s become a total visual cliché.

Mar 3
The strain has progressed to spasms. I’m at urgent care.

Mar 3
Back still very unhappy and so am I. Two muscle relaxers at least make things bearable.

Mar 4
Back doing better but I’m still spending the day with my heating pad and my drugs. What part of driving with a strained back is not good did I not get? Pass more muscle relaxers.

Mar 5
I’m beginning to think the main job requirement for weather “girls” is “Must wear at least a C cup and adore tight clothing.”

I’m definitely watching too much TV since the back injury.

5 Mar
OMG the political phone calls the last week!  Once or twice an hour sometimes on two phones and me a couch prisoner! Just got another an hour before the polls close. Argh! Very hotly contested mayoral campaign.

8 Mar
Since hurting my back and unable to reach the floor without pain I’ve turned into a ham-handed bumbler constantly dropping things on the floor.

11 Mar
*sigh* I’m sitting at my desk at work with a pillow and a heating pad tucked behind my still-spasming back.

12 Mar
My new favorite bumper sticker: “What would Scooby do?”

12 Mar
I don’t want to be a grown up anymore. Can I crawl into a hole instead?

13 Mar
White smoke… Bring on the papas and beer.  Always thought it amusing that in Spanish and Italian pope/potatoes are the same, with only the article differentiating. Las papas de El Papa.

13 Mar
The Queen of Clueless Privilege strikes again: http://bit.ly/WnGOex   Yes, Amy F. Grant and Katie F. Couric are also queens of clueless privilege, but Gwyneth Paltrow is the original Clueless F. Queen.

14 Mar
Mom called twice this morning to check the time of her doctor’s appointment and once for me to tell her how to fold boxes from paper. Both equally important.

15 Mar
They found the violin that Wallace Hartley played as the Titanic sank:  http://yhoo.it/10XBK4u 

15 Mar
Some good news yesterday: Mom is responding so well to therapy she won’t need an epidural and may be coming home soon.

Also, my back is slowly getting unstrained. Driving still remains a painful challenge, but I can sit at my desk with only occasional spasms.

With all the drugs I’ve been taking for the back my Achilles tendon isn’t hurting at all anymore.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

So sorry hun. I wish you were in Canada, where all this med stuff is free. I wish Obama's universal health care package hadn't gotten a pasting and you could all live without the worry of sickness bills. I really hope your mom and you get better soon.

{{Hugs}}

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thanks. There have been times I've wished I lived in Canada, too. Obama's health plan is currently still in place, but it doesn't take effect for a few years yet. And I'm not sure about the nursing care coverage. Currently, if you're destitute, you can get help, but those of us in the middle class can't get help until we're made destitute by medical bills. A horrible Catch-22.

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

I am with Elizabeth there. I am sending you some good vibes, because you need them.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Take care!!! Both of you.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Having Internet friends is grand, but it is times like these that make me wish I could be around my friends "for real" to help out.

*hugs*

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* back at you and thanks. I appreciate it. :-)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'm so, so sorry things are so hard. I wish you could be visited by birds bearing small gifts.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Things have improved somewhat. It's day to day.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

*BIG HUGS*

I really don't know what to say. It doesn't seem fair that someone has to have the added worries about bills and paperwork when all they should be thinking about is getting treatment and getting well.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's the American way. :-(

[frigg.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Our system is not perfect, but I would get very stressed about health care if I lived in the U.S., I think.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as things stand now you never know when it's going to go south on you and take everything you own.