Friday 10/13/23

8:09a.m. I had another hellish night thanks to weird dreams and muscle spasms. In this one dream I was a Mexican revolutionary general. I was about to lose the war. My forces were outnumbered, surrounded and bogged down by torrential rain.  To make !atters worse I wouldn’t listen to my subordinate generals who tried to tell !e the true situation. I wanted to attack the enemy but my army was too weak. Just when in was about ready to shoot someone the aides woke me up to change my briefs.

Then I had constant muscle spasms all night long. Pain level was a five on a one to five scale. I asked the nurse for a Tylenol but it didn’t help. The spasms must wouldn’t go away. They me up most of the night

Just when I got to sleep aides came in to get me up for the day. This was around six. They were nice and did a good job. I talked with Chococolatechip after I got in my wheelchair.We talked about different subjects for thirty minutes. She mostly talked about getting a caregiver and the meeting she had with case managers. Chococolatechip said she didn’t get good vibes from one of them.i said maybe she just had a burr up her butt.

We talked until the nurse came in with morning meds. I told the nurse about the muscle spasms. I said I get them in my left foot. I also said the Tylenol didn’t help. I also said I’ve been getting them almost ever night. She said she would let them know.

Then they served drinks and breakfast. Breakfast was delicious. I had three slices of French toast. Then I had my coffee and orange juice.  Coffee and breakfast got me off to a good start. So I’m above the dirt and blessed with another day. 

9:35a.m. I’m at the Coffee Social now. I hope the second cup of coffee will make everything better. At least the muscle spasms stopped. But !y foot is still hurting. I just got my second cup. After I drink this I’m going to read my book The Drawing of the Three. 

12:26p.m. I didn’t get paranoid at the coffee social. I got lost in The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. I got cought up on my reading finishing Chapter Two. I also had a nice cup of coffee. I was having such a good time I wanted to stay until after lunch. But the cleared the dining room. So made my back to my room.

I continued to read. I finished another chapter in my book. I also talked briefly with Chococolatechip. I  went back to my book. I read until lunchtime. They served some !ind of gumbo, rice, sweet potatoes Angel food cake. I hope I don’t get sick.

I’m going back to The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. 

5:00p.m. I started to get muscle spasms in my left foot after lunch. I was sleeping in my wheelchair and they woke me up. I cried out in pain. I had several spasms for about an hour. Aides finally came put me to bed, cleaned me and changed my briefs. They also elevated my legs. I haven’t experienced any pain since.I did a of of reading in my book The Drawing of the Three. I’m almost finished with Chapter 4 . I had a good time reading this story. That Stephen King has one hell of an imagination.

I had a hard time getting hold of Chococolatechip. She was outside a lot. They had a Bible Study in the Community Room. She went to that.Friday night is Bingo night at OT. Chococolatechip said she was thinking of going. She is feeling better. Chococolatechip said she is feeling more like socializing. I said that is a good thing. I also said I hope you have a good time at Bingo.

Then she said she was talking to a group of people in the parking lot. Some guy was saying that a kid up the street was abducted a couple days ago. But there wasn’t anything on the news and no Amber alert on her cell. If this did happen it is a terrible thing. Stuff like this just doesn’t happen in Weirton. When I lived there anything I heard I learned to take with a large grain of salt.

I’m looking forward to supper. They are serving three cheese pizza tonight. And I could always use the coffee. 

6:36p.m. I ate the pizza. I didn’t eat the salad. Also had fruit punch but no coffee. I called Chocolatschip. She decided not to go to Bingo. It wasn’t anything I said. For one thing she likes to get up early to do laundry on the weekend. Then in the past something happens s that left a bad taste in her mouth. She would be upset all weekend. Chococolatechip said if she goes anywhere it will be to Mass at St Pauls on Sunday.

I finished Chapter 4 in The Drawing of the Three. I’m enjoying these Dark Tower novels. I get lost in another world and I care about the characters. I read these novels a long time ago but this is like the first time. The Drawing of the Three is the second volume in this series. I’ll try and give a full report when I’m finished

Thanks to my reading I had a good afternoon Chococolatechip asked me one time why I like to read so much. To !e reading books is my therapy. It helps me block out unwanted thoughts that only cause depression. Also, I forget about my problems as I get lost in a good plot. Then as I get involved with the characters they become real to me. They almost become friends and I care about their fate. I must say books have always been my friends. I just cannot live without books. 

One thing about being in a nursing home is I have all the time on the world to talk with Chococolatechip and read. There are no schedules or deadlines to meet. I don’t have to worry about a job , paying bills,  dealing with bed bugs or putting food on the table. All I have to do is sit on !y lazy butt and read when not talking to Chococolatechip. In this respect I’m very lucky. 

That was the good part. The bad part is dealing with physical illness. I can’t walk anymore. I have a  of physical illnesses such as incontinence and severe arthritis  Then pain from the arthritis can be unbearable as it was today..Then the care in a nursing home is not that great a lot of times.  It’s no picnic being here. But it is a lot better than living in the real world of today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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