Friday 7/21/23

7:53a.m. I trd to read last night but felt too sick. So I fell asleep very early. Last night wasn’t so bad. I had a good aide. She came in to change my briefs few times. I was not lying in urine all night long. They got me up at five in the morning. I slept in my wheelchair until they served breakfast.

I had French toast and scrambled eggs.Also had my coffee and oj. I tried calling Chocolatschip after I ate. She did not answer. I hope she is ok. She was probably busy doing her chores. She talked about going grocery shopping early. 

11:05a.m. I made it to the coffee social. I am already on my first cup. I’m hoping the coffee will wake me up.  I’ve been sleeping in my wheelchair all morning. I’d like to be able to stay up and read my book.

I spoke with a doctor earlier today. I think she was another psych doc. She asked a bunch of questions One of them was about the depression and anxiety. I said both were high the other day because I wasn’t getting changed. I went all day and might with no help. She will make sure that doesn’t happen again.

We also talked about the TV. I said my tv is working now but I spend most of my time reading. I told her about reading America’s Constitution:A Biography. She asked if I can retain and understand the material. I said the author writes above my head but I like a challenge.  She said it is good for me to read stuff like that. 

I’m feeling a lot better now.  I finished my second cup of coffee. I also had a donut and two g!asses of chocolate milk. The extra coffee worked its magic. I’m finally able to face my day. Life is good!

1:10p.m. I had BBQ chicken, scallops potatoes, mixed veggies, a dinner roll and Angel food cake for dessert. I had three cups of coffee and two glasses of chocolate milk plus a donut at the coffee social.  I had more than enough to fill me up and make me very bloated. Sometimes  I wish I could stop eating altogether.

I’m back in my room. I called Chocolatschip. She was able to get a ride from Healthways to the Urban Mission in Steubenville.  Chococolatechip prefers that the Grace Lutheran Church. You get more food items and you can pick out what you want. 

2:53p.m. I was having a major meltdown this afternoon. I needed changed since lunchtime. It was the same old story. The aides would answer the call light and walk away. I ended up sitting in urine for over two hours. Finally they came around 2:30 to put me to bed and change my briefs. Im calling  Michelle Richmond, the omnubusman, Monday morning.

6:11p.m. I had two slices of pizza and a cup of pears for dessert.Then I had one more coffee and a glass of fruit punch. I called Chocolatechip after I ate. Her day was ending on a very bad note. People in the building keep borrowing things from her. Earlier, Eddie the Moocher, showed her some Porterhouse steak that were worth $40 Then, her neighbor Jenn knocked on her door asking for bottled water Nobody knocks on Chocolatechip’s door unless they are mooching. 

We talked about this for awhile. Chocolatechip said she is sick of being played a fool. I said if Eddie the Moocher can afford $40 steaks she shouldn’t be giving him anything. After all Chocolatechip is struggling to get by. She has to go to food pantries to for I her groceries. I keep telling her nearly everyone in Overbrook Towers gets a check. They need to learn how to manage their money and live within their means. Chocolatechip said she is not going to answer her door.

Then the Bitch Clique decided to throw a party at 5:30. They were all out in the parking lot playing music full blast. This started around 5:30. Chocolatechip was saying they do that to prove a point which was they can get away with murder. I also said someone will turn them in. We also think it was a coincidence that two people came bumming right before the party. The loud music lasted for about an hour. Somebody must of said something.

I managed to do some reading in my book America’s Constitution A Biography by Akhil Reed Amar. I’m proud of myself . I finished Chapter 7 . This makes a sixteen day reading streak. I have five more chapters to go and I’ll be finished with that book. If I read a chapter a day I should be finished with it by next Wednesday or Thursday. This will make the eleventh book I read so far this year.

9:05p.m. I’m proud of myself . I stayed up and read half of Chapter 8. This one is about a ending the Construction. I think Article V covers this subject. Im still wide awake so I hope I can finish this Chapter tonight.

10:24p.m. I sort of lost steam. I don’t think I’m going to finish Chapter 8 tonight after all. I’ve been reading since seven . The last hour was rough. I was loosing my ability to concentrate.  Words I was reading were going through one ear and out the other. I figure I need to rest but I’m afraid I might not be able to start again.  

Im stuck on a section where the author discuses the supremacy clause. I think this can be found in Article VI of the Constitution This is what Amar had to say:

While Article V invited readers to imagine the Constitution as it might one day become, Article VI reminded readers of what the Constitution would be even in the absence of amendments. In tandem with the Preamble, this penultimate Article marked the Constitution’s most sustained meditation upon itself. Whereas the Preamble first introduced the self-referential phrase “this Constitution,” Article VI echoed that phrase four times in three short paragraphs, clarifying the precise status of the document vis-à-vis the old Confederation, the new federal government, and state governments. ,(P 299).

Article VI begins, says Amar, that the United States will stand by its debts and treaty engagements made during the Confederation period. It will stand by its financial and treaty obligations even if the new government does not include the original thirteen states. 

Then the author got down to it. Amar says that the middle paragraph of Article VI states that this Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land. He goes on to write :

Then came federal statutes and treaties that conformed to the Constitution, and below them came state constitutions, and ordinary state laws.

I can’t copy the entire chapter only the parts I found interesting and think are important.  Then again anything in this book seems important to remember, if only I can remember it all.