doctors update

 

 

The cupboards are pretty bare. Because I can't drive, I've been clearing out the freezer and pantry all summer. I buy groceries a little at a time because I don't want to ask someone to take me. I will not turn into the twins dependent on someone else. Yes, I could do the delivery thing but frankly I'm too cheap to pay $7.95 for it. I'd kill to go to a farmers market. Eating frozen veg in the summer should be illegal. And besides that, I'm out of it. And it will defrost carrying it home in 90+ temperatures. I make do. The roomie doesn't eat real food anyway.

Saturday was my annual doctor's appointment, though it was more like 18 months. Ever since I had the blood work taken my phone has been dinging with test results. I didn't think they were good. But what do I know?

Megan drove me. I would have had to leave Thursday to get there by bus. I'm only half joking. My appointment was 8:20, we arrived at 8:15 and they took me fairly quickly. Then after the nurse did all the intake I waited. And waited. At 8:38 I was just getting ready to text Megan that the doctor still hadn't arrived when she walked in the door.  She asked 'how are you?' I said, 'I've had better years. I've basically been stuck in the house all summer with vision issues, ended up in ER with AFib, and had cataract and glaucoma surgery. So to compensate I'm getting no exercise and eating like garbage'. I think she was looking for "okay".

She didn't seem phased by the blood work. Thankfully my A1C only went up one point. She said since you've been eating like garbage we'll let it slide this time. But next time it need to go down two points. (The sweet spot.) She was thrilled with my blood pressures and at a quick glance did an average of 130. She submitted an rx for both a dexa scan and a FIT test (aka Cologuard). I have to go back in six months. 

Before I was to the exit my phone started dinging. I checked out and they gave me a stack of paper. (Which I still haven't looked at.) We headed to Panera for breakfast—it's just on the other side of the highway—and as Megan pulls into a space my phone rings. I think it's the roomie. I look to "ignore" it and it's the doctor's office. I answer. I need to come back. They didn't give me the FIT test. I told them we were eating first and we'd be back.

We get into Panera and I look up at the menu board and couldn't read a damn thing. I said to the clerk do you still have the ... Thankfully she said yes. Tuesday I get my glasses RX. I cannot wait.

We eat and head back to the doctors. I grab the FIT test and they also gave me a "hat". Finally we head home.

Sunday Bonnie picked me up and we did the lunch shift at the shelter. I manned the "farmer's market". It's not really a farmer's market. It's just fresh produce from the supermarket wholesaler. They take what they want. The lemons were popular. "Lemonade!" Cabbage not so much. I brought home a few leftovers so now I have fresh veg in the house again. Sweet corn will wait till Wednesday after I get me new glasses. Maybe peaches too. I may have to go back Thursday.

the almost 4-hour trip for blood work.

With my vision still recovering, I won't drive. I was cleared to drive during the day but honestly if I can't read the subtitles on the tv from the couch, I can't see to drive. Everything is blurry. So I need to get a ride everywhere, or stay home. Mostly I stayed home. I'm using up all my favors (paybacks will be hell) just to get the twins to where they need to go. I knew I drug them around a lot, but I didn't realize how much. 

In order to not not ask for a ride for blood work, I decided to take the bus and walk. I knew I couldn't walk to 5th and Broad. A simple walk a year ago.

Basically I'd need to take the 327 and transfer to the 107. It looked like those were a half hour apart. I could walk that faster. Now I haven't been on a local bus in a long time. I've spent the last two days on their app and website trying to figure out times and places. It's an awful app. It doesn't help that I can't actually see the streets on the map. Really, the type is like 30% black. (Who designed that?) I asked it from home I wanted to go to 8th and Broad. I didn't put in a city. Turns out it's a national app. It took me to NYC.  Then I put in the BTC and I think it took me to central Ohio. Clearly this wasn't working. I finally put in a full and complete address. That worked. Damn I wish I had old fashioned paper that you stuffed in your purse. Life was so much easier.

I left the house about 8:40 for the 8:50 #327 -- -- boy was that a high step to get on -- to the Bethlehem Transportation Center. The bus was fairly empty. One other person got on at my stop. On arrival at the BTC I exited thru the back door like I was taught, and literally had to jump off the bus and hope I landed on the curb. I did. (How do the elderly and handicapped do it?) I was walking up to the corner when the 107 arrived. Instead of walking, I took that to 8th Avenue and went to the bank. Then I started working my way back to town.

At 5th and Broad I made two big mistakes. I was carrying a bag of stuff to stop at Sharon's. I thought I'd get a few groceries at Sim's. An old-school neighborhood supermarket that appears to now be owned by middle eastern people. I haven't been in there in at least a decade ... not my neighborhood. The bag ended up very heavy. (I really need to buy a cart if I'm going to be a pedestrian shopper.)  The second mistake was not buying a lottery ticket. It's freaking 1.55 Billion--with a B--dollars. I could waste two bucks. Oh well.

I crossed the street and went to the vampire. They are in the old Bethlehem Gallery of Floors building. The other side is rehab. The tech couldn't find my RX so I was there a bit. But ultimately the blood work was done. Now the horrible (shit diet, minimal exercise) results will start coming in.

Finally, after a long time I was finally released and I headed to Johnny's bagels. I bought a half dozen which after 10 turns into 8. I leave and call Sharon. I'm on my way meet me at the new coffee shop. Now I'm carrying a bag of groceries, and a bag of bagels, plus my purse.

I arrived at Bitty and Beau's at the same time she did. She brought me a bag of crap including a Musikfest book that Pat wanted. Bitty and Beau's was packed with Musikfest volunteers. The coffee prices are very Starbucks like. No dollar Joe here. But what makes them different is the bulk of the workforce is has some sort of mental or physical challenge. Jarrod would have fit in here perfectly. So we are sitting there and Sharon is being Sharon, she says in full voice "I think the girl waiting on you has Downs." I want to crawl under the table.

I walked Sharon back to her building and headed to the BTC. The 327 only runs every 90 minutes. Really. 90 minutes. It used to run every 30. I discover it will be more than an hour wait. I should have checked before the coffee shop. I might still not have made it. I contemplated walking home, now with three bags. With 2% battery left I check the app. I see that the 108 goes across the bridge and up to 4th and Wyandotte. Then it continues going up toward Delaware. It will have to do.

I get off at New Bethany and hike it home. I'm really tired, and really hungry. It's past 11:30 and I haven't had breakfast yet. Just one tumbler of water.

I arrived home at 11:55. Almost 4 hours that in the car would have taken 40 minutes. Maybe.

Miles/Steps:  2.5 miles
Weather:       72, partly cloudy, wind 14mph
SLF Killed:     I killed my first one for 2023. It was on the bus post.

Oh, and the Musikfest book Pat wanted? She was excited. Picked it up, flipped thru it and was done in less than 2 minutes. Why did I carry it home?

walk interrupted

 

Earlier today I heard that they were going to come change my water meter to a "smart" one between 12-4. I wanted to keep the walk short because Pat doesn't deal with repair people well. She doesn't trust any of them. (She watches too much news.)

I need to go for blood work before my doctor's appointment on Saturday. I'm prepared to fail it all. I'm eating like shit. Anyway, the vampire is at 5th and Broad in the old Bethlehem Floors building. I'm not going to use a favor to go. I've used a lot of them for Sharon and Pat, and will need more for the fall academic year. Sharon's appointments in October are enough to make you go bonkers.  So I decided to take the bus. But I have no idea how the busses run anymore. Or even what the numbers are. I'm used to the old system of letters. ("The G bus goes to Grammies".)

Therefore for today's walk I decided to walk down to Broadway, take a pic of the numbers and then look up a schedule online. Then go finish my walk. That, at least, was the plan.

I arrived at the bus stop at 1:05. I pulled out my phone to take a pic and noticed that I had a text message sent at 12:57. Like Pavlov's dog, I looked. It was the water meter company. The tech -- there was a pic -- is on his way. Shit. I turned around and headed toward home. I turned on to Fiot Street and called Pat. The tech is on his way. He's wearing a grey t-shirt, has a small beard. Let him in. I'm on my way home.

It's the first time I walked quickly since all this medical crap began. And it was uphill. Thankfully it was only about four blocks. He didn't arrive until 1:25.

Pat asked if I was going to go back out. I said no. I lost my mojo.

The new water meter. I haven't gone in the basement to see what is there.

Miles/Steps:    1/4 mile. Seriously.
Weather:          mid-70s, partly cloudy
Money found:   6 cents 

8/8 update: The water meter in the basement. They replaced brass with a shit piece of plastic. Someone call Saturday Night Live. There's a cone-head missing.

a short walk

I have a fascination with faded signs. And alleys. I am so weird. 

Since I'm still not driving Bonnie took Pat for bloodwork today. We were going to meet at Perkins for breakfast. Pat's appointment was at 7:30 am, so I left the house at 7:45. They called at 8 to tell me they were on their way. I was at CVS.

I cut thru CVS's parking lot and headed to the alley behind it. I looked up at this crumbling garage that I've seen a million times before and said, shit, there are letters on there. So I went to investigate, and take pictures of course. It says "Frank A. Scattene Plumbing and Heating Supplies." What's really interesting is at places the board is peeling up but by the out line of the letters. Maybe i'm spending too much time prepping for the fall term.

Anyway, I got to Perkins about 5 minutes before they did. Bonus: I had zero trouble crossing the intersection. I've already waiting 5+ minutes to cross that street. And more than once.

ps: after lunch I went out and ran the car for five minutes. Then I opened the garage door, and moved the car forward a few feet, and back. Just to rotate the tires. I was terrified.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 1 mile
Weather:          mid-70s, partly cloudy

on the road again ...

It's weird not being able to drive. And Pat is starting to drive me bonkers. I am also not comfortable asking people to do stuff. 

I'm horrible about money. I give. I loan. I sometimes lose. And heaven knows I will never have a receipt. I also trade. An author, RC Thom, who I do work for needed a quick update on her titles late in spring. Prices were changes because the cost of everything is going up. We decided to do all 7 ... 9 of her titles. She asked what she owed me and I said, a drink when you head north. (She's now in Florida.) The project got a little more complex and she added I'll buy you a meal as well. Saturday was the day. I had to ask for a ride. It was weird. We ended up getting poutine. We would have walked but it was 110 in the shade.

Sunday, I had to ask for a ride to go to a bridal shower. I haven't been to one in decades and this one was beautiful. Right out of a design magazine. And a lot was DIY. Apparently the theme was a tea party, and we made the little tea cups above. Until present happening occurred I kind of forgot I was at a bridal shower. Sadly I didn't take a present. I need to handcraft something and frankly I need at least one working eye to do that.

Yesterday Bonnie had to take me to the eye doctor. My vision is improving (couldn't prove that by me) and still no glasses. The eye is healing. I'm allowed to drive if it's important, local, and daytime. No random trips to the mall. We're going to the theatre Saturday and meeting here.

I don't think I can see well so I'm trying not to drive. I ordered some groceries yesterday and we picked them up on the way home from the doctor. Of course I screwed some things up, so I had to walk down to the old Ahart's today.

On the way to the store I realized that my curbs are not that bad after all. Take a look at this one. It's at Fiot and Itaska, but there are a lot. Many are worse. Walking down I only stopped for lights and to take pictures. One the way back I stopped more. But not as much as last time. And I think if I was carrying stuff I would have not stopped at all. Maybe. I hope so.

I took two bags, mostly to balance the load. I noticed they were making cool shadows. So I took a shadow selfie. 

I'm still learning the layout of the new Aharts. One day I might even call it the Ideal Food Basket. But that's a few years away. Hell, sometime I call it Food Fair and it hasn't been that since the 70s. I was looking for a toothbrush and it turns out all the "health and beauty" stuff is behind the counter. Basically the easy to shoplift stuff. As I was waiting I notice the sign for the billion dollar lottery drawing. I bought one. I'll recycle it tomorrow.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 2 miles
Weather:          72, sunny