ravena_kade

A weekend of visits.

Friday I went over to DQs and put up a bunch of her framed art for her. I also brought home an antique lamp. It looks art deco bu it's probably from the 50s if I look at the wiring. It's lovely. I have always admired it. I may go over next Friday and put in her bedroom a/c because she keeps tripping on it. She said that she would watch my Dad if my sister bails on me. I may be able to even get her to stay over and sleep in the guest bed in my craft room.

Saturday I went with Dad to see his Sister before the surgery. She's 86 and isn't in great shape. I enjoy her a lot. I like talking to her husband, but he can be an old fart at time .hey wanted to go to eat and picked place in Salem. The food was excellent, but since it was Valentine's Day we had a wait. They said they wanted to help in case my Sister bails. I will take it in the Summer when I need a beach Day. At that point if something goes wrong it's just a call to 911 and send him to Boston.

Yesterday I went to the cousins just to fill them in and see my Aunt. She's 97, and while healthy, she is a fall risk. When her time comes I will never hear my Mother's voice again... Her and my Mother sounded a lot a like. The cousins told me they would help in case my sister bails. It's hard though. They are still dealing with stroke cousin whose behavior is deteriorating.

Stroke cousin's doctors have told her that she will never be able to drive and that she needs to live in assisted living. She refuses to sell her car and is over spending. Her Doctor's actually told her to stop listening to the crappy advice her friends are giving her and listen to her med team. It breaks my heart. She was smart, planned for her retirement, independent and travelled. Now she doesn't bath, won't change her clothes, has burned through her savings account buying junk on Amazon, and argues with her friends and family.

My sister has decided not to bring the dog. Their dog trainer felt that the dog wasn't behaved enough to go for such a long trip. She needs consistency. The dog trainer will take the dog and work with her. While my Sister and her partner are sad they will come home to a better trained dog. The dog will be with 6 other dogs and horses. She will be in a home and just sleep in her crate. It's better for her.

My sister is staying in Braintree. From Braintree to Boston will take them a few hours because they will leave at the highest commute time. All I can say is MORONS. Her partner will not want to come and get her and she will be a giant ball of anxiety when I dig her home on the train. I reiterated the help that was needed. Is she going to be able to get to the house by 5:30 when he comes home? That and on Sunday nights I will require her to sleep over. She will be here a month before Dad can even think of coming home. That is no help. I told her that I will need to beg for help the second month he is home and she leaves.

Today I have to figure out if he can get paid family leave from Massachusetts as his job does not have disability or workman's comp. Someone of the LVad face book page from Massachusetts said I need to create an account with the state before I can even see any of the forms. The Lvad team just told me to go to the website and they should help me. I went and no help. I can't call today as it is a holiday. That and the office closes by the time I get home from work. I need some Money to cover his car, and the various insurance bills. They are about $1000 a month.

I am working from home today. Not really great in my headspace, but the boss will take it away from me if I don't use it and fawn over the ability.

Part of what set me off yesterday was posting my Boss's $35k bonus..but yet I can't get her to her and train me.

I am looking forward to spring. This is always a thing for me. It's why I enjoy doing trips in March. The single digit temps are giving me cabin fever and making my skin so uncomfortable. By May I should know what life will entail and get to my garden. In the meantime I think I want to renew my aquarium membership after school vacation so I can get some humidity and just find peace with the giant tanks. I used to enjoy that a lot.

In a plus thing I found a bunch of low sodium recipes that look good and freeze. I will be making Dad chow and freezing so I can feed him at the hospital and free me up later so I can make meals for me that I like. I like making Asian style foods for me...quick, yummy, and chock a block full of sodium. I also bough some of those super cube freezer things so I can portion Dad's freezer meals.

I sent my sister the contact info for her to send in her FLMA paperwork. She is sending it in tomorrow.

I found out that they are still looking for a house to rent...but if they can't find one they will stay at the Hotel in Braintree. Ummm... traffic. Ummmm... there is no way for my sister to get anywhere on her own from there. There is no way she is going to be at the house for me to leave to go to work. I'm going to have to have dad be alone from 5:30 AM until she gets her ass here. He partner does not like to wake up early, never mind just to drive her here and then the partner go back to Braintree. And when Dad is in the hospital and my sister wants to hover over him...they won't leave Braintree until 11 or so and will get stuck in 2 hours of traffic so no one will be with him until I am done with work...anyway.

I asked if she looked at the hotel across the street from the train station that is a mile away from the house. They take pets for $100 extra a day. That and she can walk to the house...and no one will bother her with a Great Dane. She said it would be too early to walk. Ummm...just how do you think I have gotten myself to work for the last 43 years?

Normal people would just stay in my apartment.

Part of me thinks I should strip the place just in case they figure that it will cost way too much money. My Texas Uncle pays $6000 to stay for 3 weeks when he is here.

Today I warned the boss that my sister may flake out on me. I can't tell.

The hospital called today.

The neurosurgeon said that Dad's big eye veins were unremarkable and cleared him for Heart Surgery.

The cardiac surgeons office called. I wanted surgery in March. They booked it for February 26th. Not quite, but close enough not to change. They will want him in on the 24th. I've got 2 weeks of his pay to work with for his bills.

So much to do... glad I am clearing the cold.

Trying not to go into panic mode.

My head is being held hostage by my sinuses. Joy...not. My lungs are good. This is unusual. I've covid and flu tested and I am negative for both. No fever, but sometimes dizzy. Bah.

I am happy that the recent N'or Easter has headed out to sea. There has been no measurable melt from last week's storm as the temps have been arctic. I expect to see polar bears when I look out my window at the frozen bay.

I really need it to warm up a tad. I have to drag out a spot to put trash cans. I also have to dig out the oil fill pipe that is buried .

Hoping my sinuses clear for tomorrow. It's time again to do month end and the boss is only gibing me 6 days to complete as she is going on vacation. Hopefully I can have all the statements by Friday. I have no control over when they become available and it seems like they are not bound by any investment guidelines/deadlines to have them printed since they are participation loans and not CDs or other types of investments.

Friday is the young temp's last day. The Boss blew it by not offering her full time earlier so she left for higher pay. I wish her well as I like her, but she will not last as a teller at Bank of America as she won't hack their retail quotas. It's a shame as she got along well with the team. The boss told me that she was just about to offer her the job and let he train on being my back up.

Sad she blew it because things are changing with Dad and a back up would be good. The guy I was hoping to train has deliberately dropped the ball on a few things now so I dont think he's a good fit. Oh well.

Yesterday I went to Ipswich with Dad because he wanted to lunch at the bar. We may not be able to get up there before his surgery.

My plans for today have changed as the cousins told Dad that he needs to stay home because the heavy part of the storm will hit when the football game is on... so he's here...board... I am roasting a chicken and we will hive a sit down lunch. Once football starts he is on his own. I made deviled eggs for a half time snack.

Dad's boss also called and his job is closed tomorrow. At least I won't have to shovel before 6 AM.

Friday I stopped at an art store and picked up some new brushes. I am planning to do start a painting after I finish the sit down lunch and the laundry I have started this morning.

Today I worked from home. First time in over a month. The boss asked if it was because I was not organized enough to work from at home. Um..no... My dad's cardiologist is in the building on Wednesdays so has had appointments and then stayed 2 weeks in the hospital so I came to work as heading here from my house on 3 pm on a Wednesday would take me 2 hours. Oi. She let me work today. I am going to ask if I can WFH Monday since we are getting snowmageddon.

I did work at my new desk set up in the craft room. So much nicer than being in the kitchen. I still found my way to the fridge, but not as much as when I am at the kitchen table.

One thing that is a distraction is the cold. The kitchen does not have a radiator so it's the coldest room. The craft room is a bit warmer, but not as warm as wool. This is the first job I have ever had where I don't need a space heater. Since I sit in front of the server my desk temp is 77 degrees F. I wish I could heat my house to that, but I can't afford that. My thermostat is at 65F now, when Dad goes into the hospital I lower it to 63F. 58 days until Spring. Yay.

Last night I went over to DQ's place to help her get her place set up. Last week when I was there she had people there and the place was stacked with stuff like a hoarders garage and she tripped over things. As I reached her door I could hear voices. Turns out that Evie's New Jersey brother and family were there... all trying to sit and visit. The brother makes me tense. He is a Trumper and racist and I wished he wasn't there as I wanted to work

At one point DQ got up and then slid on a tote lid and sliced open her arm. Luckily the daughter was a nurse and went into nurse mode. Her husband seemed nice.... I never met him before...so I asked him if he would help me for a few minutes. I told him that I came over to move an a/c, a recliner, and the curio cabinet. Once they are placed we can clear the floor for her. I have been afraid that she would trip again and it actually was good that people were here with her when she did. He said "let's do it" and we did. So much easier with help. Now all. she needs to do is hang her artwork.

Today is the celebration of life for Evie. She's been gone for 2 months. I just feel off about it. There were only 4 people that saw her the last 6 months of life...but the vultures will come out for a free meal at a restaurant. I have put together photo boards and I am going early to help set up. It's from Noon to 3.

Yesterday I did get the home work station moved into the craft room. The work desk is nestled in between a shelving unit and a chest of drawers. It's like a little work nook. I think this will help me not get distracted by all my fun things. Hopefully I can work remote on Wednesday.

Tomorrow Dad and I get to meet a 78 year old who has had an LVad for 3 years. I know Dad won't say much, but I will ask questions. The big one is how many times have his alarms gone off.

I found some LVad support groups on Facebook and introduced myself. I was happy to have a woman reach out to me whose husband had the LVad surgery at 84 years old (so Dad is not the oldest) and he is now 90 years old and very independent. His wife is the person who helps clean the drive line cord and such. She is 88 years old. IT makes me feel less anxious.

Still jonesing for a new small camera. I should just take the old one and go for a photo walk.

I have an elder lj friend whose situation hit my heart.

I have teeth issues so I know the pain. I fear it may be my future as well.

She goes by SeaIvy over there.

I have given and I am sharing her go find me.

https://gofund.me/79053eb62