What Ancient Rome Tells Us About Today’s Senate [Click] Certainly a striking comparison. What it neither asks nor tells us is what a baker in Apulia, for example, could have done about it. Because the answer is obvious: nothing. My apologies for being so morose.
Sounds real good. Illinois cases have been below 1000 for six of the past seven days; just over 600 today (Sunday is always low). Adjusting for population, that would be between 30 and 50 cases in Vermont.
My beloved Mom-in-law was born 101 years ago today. Later this year we will mark 40 years since her death from pancreatic cancer. In her lifetime, she gave birth to 10 children and raised them all to be smart and good people. She also worked as a legal secretary and was a very much loved Grammie. She still shapes our lives.
Hopefully,* this week will be better than last. Over the weekend there was a problem with the drain in the bathroom sink. Dad tried to fix it and, unusually, couldn't do so. In fact, his efforts only made matters worse. Naturally, this happened on a Saturday, so he had to wait for Monday to call the plumber.
Well, the plumber came fairly promptly. But - there's always a 'but', isn't there? - the job proved not to be the easy, in-and-out job everybody anticipated. At one point water started pouring out of the kitchen ceiling! So, the plumber and his assistant had to come back the next day, Tuesday.
So, they finished up on Tuesday and Dad paid the plumber, Mr. King. He was very pleased to get a discount. Naturally, everything was fine when Mr. King tested before leaving. About five minutes after he left Dad tested again, and, you guessed it, Old Faithful! Sis and I thought Mr. King wouldn't come back, seeing as he had been paid, but we were wrong. He turned up on Friday for a look see. That was nice, though not terribly reassuring. First of all, this is a holiday weekend, so the earliest he will come back is Tuesday. Secondly, Dad has amazing skills at tracking down odd and discontinued parts. If he hasn't been able to find the pipe he needs, my confidence is not high that Mr. King can. So, we're entering our second week without a bathroom sink.
Now, things are not as bad as they could be. The bathtub and toilet still work, thank Heaven for small mercies! And not so small. Several years ago, Dad had to spend a few days working on the toilet, during which time everybody had to go downstairs to use the half bath. While we are indeed fortunate to have an alternative, that was some years back. By now my mobility has deteriorated to the point that having to make my slow and painful way downstairs on getting up in the night - as I have to at least once a night - would indeed be a hardship. So, I'm not knocking what we have. It's just that this plumbing problem is one more problem that we, and especially Dad, do not need.
*Yes, I know this is an incorrect usage of the word 'hopefully'. Tough tamales!
Dad had to let Grace, the secondary care aid, go because, though Mom liked her well enough, she simply wasn't taking proper care of Mom. Though it's always tough firing someone, Dad seemed relieved overall. He remains concerned about Sis being able to manage, but it is only two nights a week and, besides, Mom isn't as ill as she was. Also, she has expressed a preference for Sis' staying with her overnight.
Sis' health is not robust, either physically or mentally, but she's confident she can manage. We'll see.
There was a ray of good news this past week. The physical therapist finally came by to evaluate Mom. Everyone was surprised and pleased at how well she did. He will not be coming by to work with her weekly. That was a disappointment. Still, he left a detailed list of exercises for her. He said she is to do them twice a day. Since she has been sleeping pretty much nonstop since he left Thursday afternoon, the problem is going to be getting her to be able to do them at all, much less twice a day. Sis and I have agreed, though, that the best thing is to start slowly, with one or two exercises, and gradually build up to doing the whole list twice a day.
Preventing bedsores is one of the most important things. Does Mom have one of those modern mattress thingies that sequentially inflates and deflates cells all over the bed? It's not necessary, but certainly decreases the required labor.
When I had my abdominal surgeries, they put pneumatic squeezer gizmos on my lower legs when I was in bed, to prevent formation of clots. (They had me on blood thinners as well, natch.) I thought that would make it hard to sleep, but after a while I didn't notice them at all.
I had those after my surgery too. I loved them! Seriously wished I could have some at home. The nurses told me only about 10% of their patients like them and the rest are annoyed.
Well, summer is here; hundred degree plus weather predicted all this coming week. Tomorrow we will move the epiphytic cacti that are still out in the sun to sheltered places. They can't survive full Fresno County summer sun. This afternoon we set up their summer quarters under cherry tree on the south side of the house--which incidentally has a good crop this year, with almost none of the vinegar fly larvae (worms) that have often rendered the cherries not worth picking.
And, here in northern New England it is 47ºF, though on Monday the 7th it promises to be 94ºF...with humidity ranging from 90% down to 47%. I'm so glad I have heat pumps!
High temp Mon. 105F, Tues. 107F. Humidity range 34 to 14% depending on time of day. Heat pumps do sound interesting; when our current air conditioners conk out they can't be repaired--no parts available, and they don't meet current standards, although they were the second best when installed about 25 years ago. They have variable speed screw compressors rather than reciprocating compressors, which makes them much quieter and more dependable. I don't know anyone who has heat pumps around here, but that probably says more about my circle or acquaintances than the number of people with heat pumps.
Couple of posts on the last thread (finally got there!!).
ReplyDeleteWhat Ancient Rome Tells Us About Today’s Senate [Click] Certainly a striking comparison. What it neither asks nor tells us is what a baker in Apulia, for example, could have done about it. Because the answer is obvious: nothing. My apologies for being so morose.
ReplyDeleteVT May 30th: 24,209-24,200 = 9
ReplyDeleteActive Cases (are now below 1000!): 997
Deaths: 255 (x12days)
Recovered:22,957(95%)
Hospital:5(-2) ICU:1(-1)
Tests:393,957(+287)
Sounds real good. Illinois cases have been below 1000 for six of the past seven days; just over 600 today (Sunday is always low). Adjusting for population, that would be between 30 and 50 cases in Vermont.
DeleteMy beloved Mom-in-law was born 101 years ago today. Later this year we will mark 40 years since her death from pancreatic cancer. In her lifetime, she gave birth to 10 children and raised them all to be smart and good people. She also worked as a legal secretary and was a very much loved Grammie. She still shapes our lives.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Netanyahu, the longest-running Israeli prime minister, could be ousted in days after rivals agree to work on unity government
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2021/05/30/middleeast/israel-naftali-bennett-benjamin-netanyahu/index.html
It will be a good day for Israel and the world when that bum leaves office.
DeleteIndeed!
DeleteHopefully,* this week will be better than last. Over the weekend there was a problem with the drain in the bathroom sink. Dad tried to fix it and, unusually, couldn't do so. In fact, his efforts only made matters worse. Naturally, this happened on a Saturday, so he had to wait for Monday to call the plumber.
ReplyDeleteWell, the plumber came fairly promptly. But - there's always a 'but', isn't there? - the job proved not to be the easy, in-and-out job everybody anticipated. At one point water started pouring out of the kitchen ceiling! So, the plumber and his assistant had to come back the next day, Tuesday.
So, they finished up on Tuesday and Dad paid the plumber, Mr. King. He was very pleased to get a discount. Naturally, everything was fine when Mr. King tested before leaving. About five minutes after he left Dad tested again, and, you guessed it, Old Faithful! Sis and I thought Mr. King wouldn't come back, seeing as he had been paid, but we were wrong. He turned up on Friday for a look see. That was nice, though not terribly reassuring. First of all, this is a holiday weekend, so the earliest he will come back is Tuesday. Secondly, Dad has amazing skills at tracking down odd and discontinued parts. If he hasn't been able to find the pipe he needs, my confidence is not high that Mr. King can. So, we're entering our second week without a bathroom sink.
Now, things are not as bad as they could be. The bathtub and toilet still work, thank Heaven for small mercies! And not so small. Several years ago, Dad had to spend a few days working on the toilet, during which time everybody had to go downstairs to use the half bath. While we are indeed fortunate to have an alternative, that was some years back. By now my mobility has deteriorated to the point that having to make my slow and painful way downstairs on getting up in the night - as I have to at least once a night - would indeed be a hardship. So, I'm not knocking what we have. It's just that this plumbing problem is one more problem that we, and especially Dad, do not need.
*Yes, I know this is an incorrect usage of the word 'hopefully'. Tough tamales!
I thought you were going to have an elevator installed several years ago, Cat.
DeleteDad had to let Grace, the secondary care aid, go because, though Mom liked her well enough, she simply wasn't taking proper care of Mom. Though it's always tough firing someone, Dad seemed relieved overall. He remains concerned about Sis being able to manage, but it is only two nights a week and, besides, Mom isn't as ill as she was. Also, she has expressed a preference for Sis' staying with her overnight.
ReplyDeleteSis' health is not robust, either physically or mentally, but she's confident she can manage. We'll see.
There was a ray of good news this past week. The physical therapist finally came by to evaluate Mom. Everyone was surprised and pleased at how well she did. He will not be coming by to work with her weekly. That was a disappointment. Still, he left a detailed list of exercises for her. He said she is to do them twice a day. Since she has been sleeping pretty much nonstop since he left Thursday afternoon, the problem is going to be getting her to be able to do them at all, much less twice a day. Sis and I have agreed, though, that the best thing is to start slowly, with one or two exercises, and gradually build up to doing the whole list twice a day.
It's good that your mom's doing at least a little bit better. Hope the exercises help.
DeletePreventing bedsores is one of the most important things. Does Mom have one of those modern mattress thingies that sequentially inflates and deflates cells all over the bed? It's not necessary, but certainly decreases the required labor.
DeleteWhen I had my abdominal surgeries, they put pneumatic squeezer gizmos on my lower legs when I was in bed, to prevent formation of clots. (They had me on blood thinners as well, natch.) I thought that would make it hard to sleep, but after a while I didn't notice them at all.
DeleteI had those after my surgery too. I loved them! Seriously wished I could have some at home. The nurses told me only about 10% of their patients like them and the rest are annoyed.
DeleteI think I would be far more annoyed by a blood clot that finds its way to oh, maybe a coronary artery, or my lung, or my brain. . .
DeleteBeautiful photo, Listener.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cat!
DeleteWell, summer is here; hundred degree plus weather predicted all this coming week. Tomorrow we will move the epiphytic cacti that are still out in the sun to sheltered places. They can't survive full Fresno County summer sun. This afternoon we set up their summer quarters under cherry tree on the south side of the house--which incidentally has a good crop this year, with almost none of the vinegar fly larvae (worms) that have often rendered the cherries not worth picking.
ReplyDeleteMy computer says it's currently 59F.
DeleteAnd, here in northern New England it is 47ºF, though on Monday the 7th it promises to be 94ºF...with humidity ranging from 90% down to 47%. I'm so glad I have heat pumps!
DeleteHigh temp Mon. 105F, Tues. 107F. Humidity range 34 to 14% depending on time of day. Heat pumps do sound interesting; when our current air conditioners conk out they can't be repaired--no parts available, and they don't meet current standards, although they were the second best when installed about 25 years ago. They have variable speed screw compressors rather than reciprocating compressors, which makes them much quieter and more dependable. I don't know anyone who has heat pumps around here, but that probably says more about my circle or acquaintances than the number of people with heat pumps.
ReplyDelete"circle OF acquaintances"
DeleteI cannot recommend them highly enough! Best of all, ours are powered by solar.
Delete