Saturday 2/26/22

5:07am I was up late last night. I spent my time reading Crosswinds of Freedom by James MacGregor Burns. I was reading about the second Roosevelt administration, the election of 1936 where he won in a landslide against the Republican Landon. I read how he passed,in 1935, what became known as the second New Deal. I was up until about 10:30 when the aids put me to bed.

I had some arthritis pain last night that kept me up. It was a three on a one to five scale. But eventually it subsided. I had some weird dreams last night. I remember waking up screaming at one point. I’m glad I don’t remember any of them I did manage to get some sleep. Aids came in at five to get me out of bed at five.

I had nice aids this morning. They helped me out of bed and into a clean gown. I’m half awake but I’m above the dirt. As usual I feel sluggish and tired. I will not be able to face my day until I have my caffeine fix. That will not be for at least two hours from now when they serve breakfast. I just can’t get used to not having coffee when I need it.

I also chatted with Chocolatechip last night. She was telling me how she thought about going to Bingo. Then she decided against it. Chocolatechip said she hadn’t been to Bingo since January. The last time she went left a bad taste in her mouth.  Nobody talks to her and she always sits by herself. Besides that it throws her off schedule all weekend I said if you do not enjoy going why bother? She agreed with me.

Chocolatechip also wondered if it was time to go to a nursing home or assistant living. She is faced with a problem in the morning. She has her coffee first then does her housework. The problem is she gets too tired after finishing everything to take a bath. If she takes a bath first she is too tired to do her work. This makes her think she is ready for a nursing home.

You are only sixty-one I said. I said you need help and you get that with your worker. I do not think you are ready for a home yet because you still take care of yourself and keep your apartment immaculate. She said her place is a mess. I think she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. She always steps up to the plate when it matters.

We talked on the phone and chatted on messenger for the longest time. I had to cut our conversation short because I had to take care of business. After that I played a couple hands of Solitaire then started to read.

Well that about sums up my day so far. Right now I feel pretty good.  I am not in any kind of pain. I feel awake now but still could use the coffee. I know it will be coming shortly. Life is good.

8:05am I had scrambled eggs, a coffee cake and hot cereal for breakfast. I had my hot coffee, oj and chocolate milk. Breakfast perked me up and I was feeling great until I tried to call Chocolatechip. My phone would not work. I could get a dial tone but could not make a call. I got very frustrated because I had to ask several people for help. I was wheeling myself up and down the hall asking everyone for help. I finally got an aid to come in and fix the phone. The jack wasn’t plugged all the way in. Then I called Chocolatechip and didn’t get an answer. I left a message for her to call.

The phone is working now but I am not. I’m still a bit upset. It seems I have a hard time getting help whenever I have a problem or need something. The phone incident was but one example. Then I was out of water when I got up this morning I felt I had a mouthful of sand. I ask an aid for a glass of water. She was busy. I didn’t get any water until two hrs later when they served breakfast. These are but many examples of the lack of care I get sometimes.

I do not mean to be bitchy. I’m ever mindful that I get good care for the most part. I also know I need to have patience. I’m not the only client in this place. But still I get upset when things don’t go right such as the phone not working.  I don’t know. I just wish this matter could have been handled better. Hell. I could use some extra attention once in a while.

I’m done with my rant. It did me good to let it all out. I feel better already. This is what I like about keeping a journal. I can come here and bitch. It is anonymous and I can say what I want without ruffling feathers.. It is a great outlet.

4:09pm I did a lot of reading today. I finished the rest of Chapter 3 in Crosswinds of Freedom. The author wrote about Roosevelt’s second term. FDR just wom a landslide victory against the Republican contender, Alf Landon in the 1936 election. Dems had huge majorities in both House and Senate. On the surface it looked like FDR would have a very successful second term. But the author points out that Roosevelt would not have it all his way.

I thought this was a pretty good chapter about Roosevelt, the New Deal and the Great Depression. James MacGregor Burns ,points out that the economy was improving by 1935. Employment improved greatly as well as real wages. It was thought that the depression was over. Then Roosevelt cut back on public spending The recession of 1935, or Roosevelt’s Recession hit. Still, FDR was still popular to win a second term.

I also talked with Chocolatechip. She found out that our friend Tim is now in the same nursing home as I am. He is in pretty bad shape with serious lung problems. I said smoking did him in. Chocolatechip also heard from Kathy,Norman’s ex girlfriend. He is in serious condition at WMC and that he might end up in a home. I said that was too bad and it seems a lot of people from Overbrook end up in this place.

I told her about my morning. I said I was pretty frustrated. Told her about the phone not working and how I couldn’t get water for two hours. She said that was terrible. I asked how she was doing today. She was good and got most of her cleaning done. I am glad to hear that she is having a good day.

I am having a good day for the most part. I had a lot of incontinence episodes this afternoon. One time I got pee over the floor. I got good care though. The aid mopped up the mess and cleaned me up. She was nice and didn’t yell at me.

I also had a good lunch. I had  slice of ham, sweet potatoes and green beans. For desert I had a cup of pears. For drinks I had two cups of hot coffee and a glass of fruit punch. Lunch was pretty good and I ate it all. I was pretty sleepy and struggled to stay awake but lunch and coffee perked me up. A good meal always makes me feel better.

They will be serving dinner soon. For dinner I’m having a Philadelphia cheese steak sandwich and tater tots .This is not my favorite but I will eat it anyway. I am very lucky that I have three meals a day. Life is good