Mt_Rider

Ach..Miki, it's too bad your dh couldn't travel right now. It helps to gather with the whole family at these times. Can he "be there" on zoom? Is his health is doing better? Sheeesh, Becca Anne! I hope you're compensated for your double duty! Glad you can work from home....or Oregon! C0v!D did move remote-working into the 'normal' category. Yeah, that would have been an idea, Jeepers. But electric is all done....and just in time for running the ceiling fan in this heat. So today DH had to travel an hour to the surgeon's office to get last of stitches removed. It went well and he's glad to be done! Driving hurts his back too tho. But we didn't want to have him straining those stitches with heavy lifting or maneuvering. I was feeling pretty good today so before the heat climbed over the ridge too far, I went to the basement [which is accessed by the outside stairs ] and ....ahem, burrowed my way into where we store the A/C box during winter. Not bad, really. Also rearranged some things. A/C unit is in a big, awkward, heavy box. BUT.....years ago I grabbed a couple of light 2-wheeled dollys after suitcases began coming out with their own wheels. Those things are The Best for those of us who don't necessarily wait for someone bigger/stronger to get something accomplished! Hmph! Or when it's a toss up - who's in better physical shape today?? Right? Well I huffed and puffed and got the box onto the dolly and wheeled it right out. There are 15 open steps up to porch. Fortunately, the only window that would work with the air conditioner is on the porch. Better than ground level! 'Course I had to clear out stuff on porch from my reorganizing earlier this summer....things still sit there that would go to the dump if it didn't cost and arm and leg! Don't get me started. No...I did not attempt the stairs myself. After DH was home, ate, relaxed his back, we went down to pull that up the stairs. I'd grabbed a couple of my leather belts, hooked them together so that DH could use that to help lift from the bottom without bending over. I was on the top...definitely bending over, but one by one we rather easily [and safely] got it up the stairs. We didn't get any further. Both kinda spent and ...it's HOT. But clouds were coming in. I could see us with the awkward thing half in the window and the thunder starts to rolllllllllll.... We live way too high to chance lightning. We'll probably finish on Thurs. cuz DH is taking extra hours for a while. Won't be home til late tomorrow. It does take some maneuvering from outside and inside. Gotta move my big heavy chair outta the way....{and the stuff I stash behind it} But with the cloud cover, evening has been much better. Still had to take a shower after being TOWED like I was on water skis....down the road behind several feet of the strong ribbon of the retractable leash. Dog isn't getting out enough with heat so she's been speeding down the road....with me as anchor. Cardio indeed! Last night, with the same scenario there was a problem. As I took dog retractable leash handle and ski pole [aka: hiking stick] in my right hand....and following "orders" to not take the stairs without hanging on [see previous unfortunate collision of my eye socket with aforementioned stairs] my left hand was on the railing. Dog was up ahead on leash, on the porch already. Two steps from the top, I misjudged lifting foot and tripped. I have ALWAYS tripped going UP stairs! Well, yes. The left hand did hang on and all I got was a barely skinned R knee and elbow. Did not fly off the edge. One drop of blood. Cool in house now. Sleep soon! MtRider

My doc informed me that I have to get the tetanus shot [or probably the whole D-tap] from a pharmacy. She isn't allowed to give those. Turf Wars? Still praying Miki! Glad you're not in pain! HOT today. I was actually wearing a chilled gel pack under my baseball cap, ice packs moving around my torso, Chilly Towel strips around my neck and wrists......while DH drove me in for Cognitive Therapy. Soooooo DH and I decided I need to curtail expeditions until fall. Our car's A/C just isn't strong enough. L understood since he actually poured water and squeezed out my Chilly Towel strips so I'd be comfortable during our hour. Said he has a shirt of that hydrophilic material for bike rides. So he gave me the cognitive test again and I scored 27 out of 30... Previously it was 23 or something. All these appointments = Improvement cognitively and certainly physically - walking my tenths of mile daily. Since heat drains me so badly, I didn't think I would be cognitively great but ... I didn't remember the 5 words tho. I've scheduled the next appts in Sept. And I've got homework. And I'll have my hearing aids next week. So I'll be used to them by that time. He warned me not to get frustrated and give up on them. Give the brain time to adjust to hearing/processing the high tones again. Hmm....this should be fun. With DH's back so bad and working and driving too much, I hate to even try to get our window A/C unit in......carried up the stairs from basement. But...we're gonna die here without it. House is not even cool tonite....and just heats up from there in the mornings. DH leaves the back door open at night.....{lions and coyotes and bears....OH MY!} Dog would alert tho....hopefully. She is not Koa. She did alert me that someone was bringing a package today. Right outta the shower with no nuthin' on So I jumped into a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt only. Gracefully accepted package and went back in house. Sheeesh! 'Course I coulda been IN the shower.... MtRider ....ya all take care in the weather ...

I'm surviving our heat. Wearing a Chilly Towel (damp, hydrophylic cloth ) around my neck. And shower/wash hair. Left hair wet - put in a bun and it will be a curly MESS that I'll deal with tomorrow. DH isn't really able to get the A/C window unit up the stairs and into the front window this year. Back hurting from long ago injury and more recent re-injury. Also, he hasn't gotten his stitches out from his surgery on back yet. So....I'm working around this heat. Like an idiot, I baked scalloped potatoes and used the last of the ham two days ago. Add to the heat in the house?? Sheeesh! We did switch very quickly from being on the nicely chilly side to Way Too Hot For Me! But I've learned ways to beat it here. And once the sun dips below the ridge west of us, we're good. Cools down and fans keep going to draw it into the house. Going into town tomorrow tho...... My cognitive appt for which I've spent several interesting hours on 'homework'. Our vehicle does not have strong A/C...... so I'll be bringing the large and small ice/gel packs. And I really can't go with DH to his In-Town surgeon follow up appt on Tues. It's too far with low functioning A/C. He gets the final stitches out tho. The long drive is bad on his back. for Miki and GS to get thru this painful stone issue. Haven't experienced it. Is there a way that you don't get a repeat? I'm envious of Kappy/CSMary and Becca Anne and Little Sister for the fresh garden eating they can enjoy. Jeepers..... I'll just pray everything for you. Health. Banking. House ...both of them. Just ready to call it DONE in Ohio.....just a little longer..... Glad you were able to have some fun in Amishland tho. MtRider

Good to hear from Kappy/C.S. Mary. So sorry you had to do the back surgery TWICE! I'm sure rehab was just as "fun" the 2nd time around. Hope your hand can be rehab-ed too. Total envy of your own garden produce, of course. Chickens in the bathtubs..... Yeah, we had them in the basement but ...they are messy cute critters! A puppy, Ambergris? You're settling in, aren't you? Glad you'll have a dog then. Yay for the new freezer, Annarchy. Especially in this so called "Heat Dome". Can't imagine what it's like to walk outside for even a minute in your heat. Dry heat or not! for Jeepers' house repairs/maintenance.....and for just the right people to absolutely LOVE their new home! Soon! for GS and Miki ......to be relieved soon! So glad, LittleSister, that you could normalize your relationship with your GS!! that he never goes back to the drugs that warp his mind/emotions!!! I 'bout had a heart attack when Doggie Dear was barking on the porch this morning...at the lone duck on the pond quacking her head off. WHERE is everyone else down there? We've had a couple indications there might be a predator but.... I'd just staggered out of bed so had to change clothes and get some shoes on...and grab phone [cuz w/o DH home, I really should never go without it...even with life alert device] Had to go way over to see the near end of the pond and .... The rest of the crew was there on the bank sunning and preening. Loud Mouth had joined them by then and all was well. So starts the day with critters! Have been trying to do my Cognitive assignments but kept getting interrupted. I did walk dog. And keep whacking off the flower heads of the gigantic thistles growing along the road. When we first moved in....long long ago, DH and I uprooted SO many of those from the berm and ditch and around everywhere. Took years to get rid of them. Digging them out by hand. So while they have a lovely purple flower, the spikes on those things are nasty. My old horse used to chomp off the flower and eat it. Welcome to it. Then I didn't have to lop off their heads with my aluminum walking stick [aka: old ski pole] . So yeah, the walk was cardio too. Have primary doc appt tomorrow. 'Bout every 3 months check-in since I'm now actively doing things regarding M. S. Sheeeesh. It consumes so much time...and sometimes co-pay. $$ But.....I'm in much better shape than 3 months ago!!! MtRider

Hmph......I'd whine about how HOT it's been but I've seen the map. I KNOW the Annarchys are sweltering. La Hai Na = cruel sun {also the name of the town we lived in on Maui. } As was suggested by L - cognitive therapist, I picked up my 3-ring binder from 3 yrs of studying Hawaiian language on DuoLingo. I just started reading and pronouncing for a while. L said I hadn't lost it - not doing it for the past 2 yrs. It's still there, he said. Yeah, when I try to think of something in Hawaiian, nada! Blank. I mean aloha and mahalo and stuff I actually used on Maui. But ....nothing else. And YET....it's familiar when I'm reading all my notes. And believe me, I recorded all the vocab and sentences and my notes in that binder. I don't even have to get on line yet. I'll just review at my own speed. Languages are a great way for exercising cognitive - which was why I was doing it! That...and I just enjoy languages. I have a friend who is helping to translate the New Testament into a South American people group's native language... that hasn't ever been translated. People from her church have lived down there a long time and the folks would like the Bible in their own language, and not just reading in Spanish. So while she doesn't know the language, she can pick out nouns and verbs to be translated with the dictionary. Sentence by sentence. Her friends have been there for years and do know the language. Soon she'll learn how to conjugate the verbs. She does speak some French and Norwegian. That's my entertainment for this hot day.....but if we can get enough outside air INSIDE, we'll be fine. Gotta love the mountains for that factor! MtRider ....G'night all

Wow, Miki. Hope yours moves along quickly and quietly. Yeah, L's enthusiasm for my brain reclamation is contagious. I'm usually: Let me see it first. Prove it. But...I'm getting hopeful. Jeepers! I found an article that while it may not apply to you, it will give you some satisfaction. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/bank-america-ordered-pay-100-million-double-charging/story?id=101088255 MtRider ....heading to the back rooms - getting hot up in the south-facing rooms!

Wow....all you gals are so ambitious. Praying that GS will pass that thing and get well again. Ow! Adding Miki to that list as well! Interesting what you said, Becca Anne, about the probably cause of being more prevalent in the summer.....dehydration. I took another drink of water just then. I'm trying to keep hydrated! Today I went to the last P.T. at 2pm and stayed around for the cognitive at 4pm. I didn't get all of the BIG stack of memory homework done but I did about half. L was quite impressed cuz I think a lot of his cognitive clients are less motivated. Perhaps older and more impaired in body as well as brain? While he was looking thru the first pages of homework....where I'd written "hopeless" and "I couldn't have done this 25 yrs ago!" ....he was trying to figure out some encouragement. Then I pulled out the later ones and showed him I changed up how I was trying to remember the data at the top to answer the questions pertaining to that data on the bottom of each sheet. Like TV programing or ads for 3 theaters ....and you have to remember who's showing what/their address/phone/ other stray data cuz you don't know what questions will be asked. I kinda slid back into college era studying and improved a lot. The ones that are nearly all numbers {channels, times, etc} ....I just have never done numbers. Not too worried about losing something I've never had and have lots of work-arounds already. Anyway, he got all excited about my switch in approach. He has noted that I'm quite detailed and creative. Uh, yeah. THEN he asks about the five random words he had me try to remember ...weeks ago. A HA! I knew he'd do that so I kept remembering the 3 that I got home with from that appointment. But never did recall the other two but he told me. Then of course he gave me the new 5 words. Then immediately - before I could play memory games with those words, he set me to count backwards by 7s from 100. Since he already knows I've never been able to do numbers in the air, he gave me pen/paper. I can do that but I'm counting on my fingers (or rather with domino dots on the side) While I was doing that, he engaged DH in conversation to see if I could hold focus. LOL I actually got down to the last 7.....and it was correct! Kinda surprised me. Yay, domino dots... to count it down! THEN he immediately asked for the new 5 words..... Uff tah! Blank! Zero! Brain Search but NADA! Then as he gave me the clue of category { a type of fabric } "velvet" came to my mind. I DID NOT REMEMBER that was the correct word! But I threw it out there and to my shock, it was correct. A flower ...."daisy"....was also correct. A building: I did actually remember "church" and the color "red". Velvet and Daisy still have me intrigued tho. He was excited...telling me the brain is waking up. I'm improving. Wellllllllll? He's leading this so I'll take his word for it. But ....I think I'm getting excited too. I've got 2 more sessions with him but will likely continue with another 'script for it. But I'm tellen' ya! I'm more fatigued with this mental focus than with the P.T.! MtRider ..... I think I really might get my brain back....

I'm WAY late for bed and have P.T. and Cognitive appts. tomorrow. But I haven't been here so stopped by to say Wow...GS and LittleSister are having harsh times. Glad your exam went well, Jeepers! We're doing fine and my low back stuff is greatly improved. Not doing anything in P.T. to aggravate it. AND I get to graduate from that cuz I finally was able to do the whole Mile walking dog. Cognitive....likely do another round. Don't see much progress....tho I didn't do all the pile of homework he assigned. Couldn't sit with my low back issues. { lol excuses for homework at my age...} We are finally HOT! 93* today. Glad the electric is finally fixed so the LR ceiling fan can be on. But we do cool down drastically every evening. Got ears tested. Yeah....not much hearing in the upper tones at all. Moderate loss in medium. Not really any loss in low tones. Not sure how that turns out in the real world. Yemmmini! Hearing aids are $$$$$$. MtRider finally cooled down in house!

Aw heck....we're still partying! Come back and visit Dogmom! MtRider

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOGMOM How are you? Haven't heard from you in a while! MtRider

Happy Bday Miki!!! MtRider .....are we too late for cake?

Hey Madison. Hope your mom let's you know we remember you! MtRider ...

I wish I'd thot of that one! Sorry you're missing your "favorite comfort item"..... MtRider

Wow, Becca Anne! Your timing was perfect. I miss not having veggie options near to hand. Gotta rely on grocery store. Or farmers market but they aren't open yet. I think my low back pain is from lifting the under-bed totes. To make a way for the poor electrician to access the first outlet. I remember now that I felt the pull. So...I'm applying arnica gel. That seems to work for me but not DH. He uses these Chinese somethine in a tincture drops bottle. I'm also shifting positions with laptop from living room chair to hospital bed set upright. And my back felt even better when I walked the dog. Oh yay! It felt better after riding horse too. Jeepers ...I'll bet you can barely recognize your house by now. So glad the junk guys were kind and efficient. You're knocking 'em down one by one, gal! Recovery day around here. Other than DH's usual MWF for 4 hrs....the only thing we have this whole week is my hearing appt. That will be a journey over to the city again...in a vehicle without strong A/C. I'm voting for rain. Whew! ....the next week however... I have 3 appointments. But....P.T. is helping and the third is my primary doc...checking in with her. Little Sister, my mom's in northern VA. She took a look at her 2 pots of petunias today and gasped. Ran to water them. Totally dry and laying over. She enjoys them so much but tends to forget if she doesn't go out to sit on her patio cuz it's HOT! She said they came back up, tho a bit bedraggled. They've only had rain one day recently. Had some of Canada's smoke tho. MtRider

I did get to ride today. I didn't hear from them til this morning so I rode in afternoon. The forecast says thunderstorms in afternoon all week....have been saying that for days. Hasn't done more than sprinkle a bit yesterday...tho it was cloudy and cool for our electrical issues. Today was pretty warm. Shorts and tank top. Trying to stay cool but the ride was wonderful. Helped the 'kink in my low back'. Figured it would help or harm....didn't know which. It was even to hot to bring the dog. She stays in car while DH grocery shops. Then they come back for me. Not this day. My mom misses the much cooler weather out here. But she's got A/C and can have whatever temp she wants. They've got more oxygen out where she lives now tho. DH and I are finding that we're a lot more drained than it first appeared. Uff tah! So we're making everything as simple as possible. This too, shall pass. Only thing we have to do next week is audiologist for me . Can ya hear me now? No....I'm missing too much. Would love to get rid of the constant HISSSSSSSSSSSSSing in my ears. We'll see what happens. MtRider

I'm a weather person, as y'all know. I keep files on computer about different weather events. The scale for hurricanes. Full moon nights. Etc. I just picked up this definition when looking at the effects of this recent derecho. The site said this defines them: ==-==-== A derecho is a line of strong thunderstorms that produces frequent wind gusts of at least 58 mph over the span of at least 400 miles. During particularly dangerous derechos, wind gusts can exceed 100 mph. =-=-=-== I neglected to note where I got that.....some weather site. MtRider ....glad you were able to sit this one out, Mother.

We've been so wet, my guard isn't tuned this year as much. But there's aways stuff at the ready and things that stay in the vehicles. Plus we've already had a fire near enough to be at the edge of EVAC zone. Then we went back into winter! Then we rained for a month. WEIRD year. At the moment the weather is predicting rain every afternoon but it's been a no-show for 3 days. We have VERY tall grass from the earlier rain.....along the roads and everywhere the creek waters. But now the pond is a lot lower now than just a few weeks ago. I rode today in shorts, tank top, wet over shirt to keep from getting too hot and sunburned. Last time I rode, I was in a coat and jeans. Flipped the calendar and Gotta stay on your toes in this life! Becca Anne.....is your area getting the bad air quality from the Canadian fires now? That would be rough! Yeah, wildfire can be truly a Rip & RUN !!! situation. MtRider .....I hate fire season.....

Anyone hear of the DERECHO that mashed across mostly Illinois? Mother....looks like it was just getting started south of you. Hope you didn't get hit again. There were heartbreaking pics of farmers looking at corn at a very low angle. Possibly they might come back more upright but ....it will be so very rough to harvest the corn that lays over that much. Not quite completely flattened. Not like we need corn in many of the products we use, right? MtRider

Oye....y'all have had some unpleasant events too! Miki.....I LIKE Mother's idea of the solid I-beam. Little Sister...I'm envious of your gardens! But you're really working hard for them. But do be careful not to overdo! Jeepers....what can I say? BOA will have no one's business here on this board! So glad your main guy is so sympathetic to your interests! MtRider ...whew....I'm TIRED!

I dunno about rest. J and electrician came today so I've been clearing the path to the outlets again. The thing he thot he found earlier turned out { he searched on Internet} to be connected only with the baseboard electric heaters....which we never use. So I was up early enough to clear the spaces again. Lifted two rolling tote under-bed containers. OW! I'd filled one with the books I'd removed from the bookshelf where he has to crawl under bed and across the bottom book shelf to reach outlet #1. (He put the totes back in place for me) Found he'd left a light that he'd been using under there. I never saw it. Then he went to outlet #3 and didn't find anything. But indications that it's got to be outlet #2 .....BEHIND THE DESK. Realllly? So J and I began moving the sewing machine cabinet - which is in the way of moving desk. Then ....as I planned months ago when I cleared / sorted desk and sewing machine...took the heavy stuff off the desk and shelving above the desktop. I'd put some things in a large box with one side cut out. Whole thing just goes in on the bed. The heaviest was an old battery backup and surge protector. It had been there since the 1900s ... { well, 1995 or so...} But it was still plugged in cuz it was like a power strip but no battery working. HEAVY! When I reached behind to unplug it from the #2 outlet we were trying to reach, the living room light came on! Whoa...we've had no light there for 2 months. FOUND THE PROBLEM. If not for trying to AVOID moving of the desk, we would have found that the first time he came. So yeah, we all pitched in to move sewing machine and desk [ and contents] out of the way. He changed out the outlet - yes, wire was broken - and put in a new&improved version. Said mine was antiquated. Tell me something we don't know. Everything in here is antiquated...including us! Got everything zipped up and electric back on. Everything works. Have outside light again too. J and Electric-guy both helped me move stuff back. I was tremoring badly by that time and they kept telling me to sit down. I did ....and got back up in a few minutes. Should I even tell J that the #3 outlet with all the wires congregated in there - has a problem? The top plug-in doesn't work but the bottom one in the same outlet does work. Hmph. I just set up the shelves for that corner that had to be taken out to the porch/out of the way. Put the food back in place and forget it. The lamp is plugged into the bottom plug-in. No more bringing the big spot light back to that corner to find the food. Living room light is on....ceiling fan works again. We're getting back to "normal".... ...what's "normal"? MtRider

We are today cuz we got good news back from medical about DH's surgery. All is well! Thank you for prayers! We can finally set that issue aside. I did work on the areas with electric outlets that need to clear by late tomorrow morning. Found a couple more {modest} tank tops for P.T. Tis the season for fighting hyperthermia. We're supposed to have rain but .... haven't seen any. I only walked part way tonite. Even at that, I had to focus on making my R leg/foot walk....not scuffle along. Brain to Leg....are we connected??? But I did walk. Trying to do some of the cognitive assignments. And doing the breathing exercises. MtRider for all...

It needs to turn torrential tropical rain in Canada! Long enough with the fires. I know what it's like to live with constant stress of ....Is It Coming Our Way??? Everyone celebrates your GS's Bday, Jeepers. But having family there would be important. So sorry your dh's plans were ruined. Who has heard of airlines not flying due to smoke? Certain airports, maybe. But is the whole upper Midwest a no-fly zone? Don't they fly at night by instruments? Or is the smoke corroding something? Sheeeesh! MtRider

Jeepers, when you say "mask" ....you don't mean the stupid surgical masks, right? If you get N95 or even higher, that will keep the particles out of your throat/bronchial/lungs...tho breathing will be harder. So you just don't hurry and get breathless! I had a whole stash of N95s when the C hit cuz of our smoky times here. Or even DUST when I walk the gravel road and a vehicle goes by. I'm quite susceptible to particulates. I sent N95s over to Maui when Big Island's Kilauea was spewing VOG. Told Maui 'ohana that they should by no means think N95 is meant for gases coming down the volcano. Just the particulates! SIL was going to Big Island during the eruption....didn't know if he's try to get a closer look?? Gases wouldn't travel very far so N95 would be fine. I've experienced plenty of wildfire smoke and don't mess with it. Some folks have to wear swim goggles if they have sensitive eyes. That's a visual!! All the streets of NYC filled with people in goggles and N95 masks.....trying to find their way across the streets thru the thick smoke residue. Good shots for some ...... movie, right? [oh, don't need a movie. It's really happening! ] MtRider ...my 2 cents

Remember all the mobsters and gangsters in the roaring 20's? I think we're doing that again only electronically. UN believable! God, please shine the way for Jeepers to NOT be taken by unscrupulous banks, etc. Tired of being tired..... You said it, sister! Somehow I have to clear all the areas around electric outlets...again. And the afternoon rains are returning.... Which is good: cooler and no fires. But bad cuz I can't use the porch to haul many things out of the way. Wind blows the rain onto the covered porch. Sooooo.... Some of that is going to be Wait And See what he needs moved. Never put many things back from the first time....you can imagine my chaotic living this year with the pellet stove going out and then the electric.... CAN WE BE DONE NOW??? And I have cognitive homework to focus on!!! Breathe BREATHE ...let air out slowly. O2 for brain in high altitude. That's what I'd like to focus on. MtRider ....hang on tight, friends. It doesn't seem like it's getting any easier, does it?