Monday 1/31/22

5:53am The aids put me to bed by 9:30 last night. I had some weird dreams. My mother was in the park dressed in her nightgown. She was standing at the end of some kind of ledge. I think she was about to jump. Anyway I talked her down. I lifted her up on my shoulders and was about to take her home. She started rambling nonsense about my dad.she was able to break free and started running. She fell at one point. I ran after her but couldn’t lift her. This was all I remember.

I had another dream. This was about Overbrook Towers. I was walking through the parking lot There was this man sitting on the benches. He was being an asshole talking shit about me.He was talking to this girl sitting next to him. Theywere laughing and my name was mentioned several times. I wanted to smack them across the head but Ikept on going to my apartment.

Other than the dreams I had a decent night. I slept well. Aid came in and got me out of bed around 5;45 She changed me,gave me a sponge bath and put me in a clean gown.She was extra nice and did a good job.

I’m up but will not be ready to face the day until I get my coffee. That won’t be for another hour when they serve breakfast. I wish to heck I could make my own coffee in the morning. Like I keep saying the time between getting up and that first cup of coffee is the longest part of the day

Chocolatechip called. She was worried about payday. She said nobody knocked on her door. She sounded kind of sleepy I told her about the dream I had and dirtying myself. She said I can’t help that. We didn’t have talk too long. Her coffee was ready. Wish I could have a cup with her

I’m doing pretty good this morning. Arthritis pain level is down to a one I feel fairly awake. No incontinence episodes, yet. If only I could get coffee I would be able to kick ass today. Life is good

11:55 am I had a busy morning. First, I had a physical therapy session. I walked fifteen feet down the hall. I did better than the last time. PT guy said that was great. I guess you have to take baby steps before giant strides. Then something happened to my old phone I called Chocolatechip and we had a lousy connection. I got a new one but it is ten times worse . I am basically without a phone. I’ll have to talk to somebody about getting a new phone.

I had another bout of diahreà this morning. I didn’t e ven know about it until they changed my briefs. It is pretty humiliating because I can’t control myself. Nurse gave me a pill for it with my morning meds. Thank God I only had that one incident.

I did a lot of reading today. I started to read chapter five of Vineyard of Liberty by James MacGregor Burnes. This one is about Thomas Jefferson and his administration. I was reading a section on the Louisiana Purchase andhow that came into being. Then he was writing about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Now I’m reading a section on John Marshall and his decision in Marbury v Madison. I love reading about early American history.

Right now I’m waiting on lunch. They usually serve it by now. It is either late or I didn’t get it. I got my drinks and the coffee was hot but no lunch. I hope I get my lunch soon or something to eat. I’m getting hungry. The staff must be having an off day. I get a new phone that doesn’t work and now no lunch. Wait a minute. It is only 12:24. They should be bringing it soon. I must be having an off day.

Well I might as well go back to my book.

3:01pm I had lunch after all. I had Salisbury steak, scalloped potatoes and mixed veggies. I had a nice desert,not sure what it was. Then I had two glasses of fruit punch and a cup of hot coffee. I ate everything on my plate. Good thins come to those who show patience.

I did a lot of reading today?bi finished shed chapter five in my book Vineyard of Liberty by James MacGregor Burnes. In the last section Burnes writes about the feud between John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson. It came to a head in the case of Marbury v Madison. If I remember right this was a landmark Supreme Court Case that established the right of judicial review. I thought this case to be very interesting.

I started to read Chapter six but didn’t get very far.vi lost concentration. I’d like to finish this chapter tonight. After all my reading goal is two chapters a day. But shit happens that often interferes with glad. For one I started to think about my busted phone. I pay my bills by phone and will need one on the third when I get my SS check. I started to worry that I will not have a working phone and will not be able to pay bills. Instead of doing what I wanted to do I started to think about my finances. I was obsessing.

I had a nice chat with Chocolatechip on messenger. She was a bit upset. She said she got a very long and very nasty email from her sister Kathleen. We talked about that for awhile. We were wondering if Elaine was somehow involved. I said maybe Kathleen had a burr up her butt and is taking it out on you. She said she has some family, one sister dead and the other two hate her. I said we are in the same boat as far as families are concerned. Then I said families are the source of more problems than anything else. We talked about different subjects until she had to go watch Dr Phil.

I started reading other people’s diaries and leaving comments. I should do that more often. I find it a fascinating glimpse int another person’s life. One really touched my heart. She was going on about one of her friends committing suicide Often thought of suite myself in the course of my life. I couldn’t do it because I didn’t want to cause pain to others. Anyway I really felt bad for this person and what she is going through.

Since my phone isn’t working right Chocolatechip and I are talking via of messenger. We agreed to a chat session at two, four and five. It sucks but it is the best arrangement possible. All I can say is thank God for this tablet.

Well back to my book

8:11pm I had mashed potatoes with gravy, a hot turkey sandwich and jello for desert. For drinks I had the all important hot coffee and two fruit cups. I ate it all and felt stuffed.

Before supper I chatted with Chocolatechip. She went on about the spat with her sister Kathleen it is over thirteen she something Chocolatechip didn’t do, remember This Kathleen’s birthday and not responding to a picture Kathleen sent. There were other things involved but I think these are the two main issues. Frankly, I think Kathleen is making a mountain out of a mobile. I told Chocolatechip knot to worry about that stupid email.

We talked about other Chocolatechip’s plans on the first. She is going to take the 8:35 bus to the bank. She is going to get her check and go to Krogers where she will get her money order. I’m kind of glad I’m not going with her because it is going to be cold and icy.

We didn’t talk too long. She wanted to go to bed at five we said our goodbyes and then I read until supper.

I did a lot of reading .I finished my second chapter completing my reading goals. This one dealt with the War of 1812 it was pretty interesting. In the last section he wrote about the demise of the Federalist Party. He also wrote about the Hartford convention where some extremists called for succession. I thought it to be very interesting.

Well tomorrow is the first. I used to get an SSI check on that date Chocolatechip and I would have so much fun. We would go to the bank together,get our checks then go to WM to get money orders and do grocery shopping. Sometimes we would walk to the Diner and have breakfast or stop at Tudors I will never forget those days.

Tney will not be putting me to bed until late.. The aid was in and she asked me what time I wanted to go to bed.vi wanted to stay up and read so I said around ten. She said shift changes at that time so it will be a little later. She asked if I was ok with that and I said yes. I’m kind of wound up anyways and I could spend the time reading

This was a very good day. I had no pain in my legs. My mood bead overall good and I didn’t find myself down. I had one or two incontinence episodes but got attended too. Life was pretty good.

10:10 pm I’ve been working on a budget to see if I can afford all the books I want to buy. It looks like I will have to scale down my purchases. Here is a list of books I’m thinking about buying on the fourth:

R B Bernstein

The Founding Fathers Reconsidered. $13.49
The Education of John Adams. $12.99
Thomas Jefferson. $10.49. $37.47

Dallek, Robert

An Unfinished Life: John F Kennedy. 1917-1963 $2.99
Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power. $7.99
How Did We Get Here. $11.49
The Lost Peace. $8.99
Flawed Giant:LBJ and His Times. $17.94. $49.40

Hannah Arnett.

The Life of the Mind. $14.49
Crisis of the Republic. $14.99
On Violence. $11.49 $40.97.

David O Stewart

George Washington $14.99
Impeached. $13.99. $28.98

That is over $156″in books. Let’s see. I I think I will have $849.46 available. I Wii pay the nursing home $483.00 This leaves me with $369.46. Tablet will cost $129.00′ I should have $240 left for bookks. I think I can swing it but it isn’t a done deal.

11:21pm I got the call light on. I want to go to bed. I’ve been in this wheelchair for seventeen hours. I could have gone to bed earlier but I wasn’t ready. I wanted jto work on my budget. I got that out of the way so I’m ready to be put in bed. I’m very tired.

Well, goodnight.