fossilfreak

What a waste of a month May was!  I got home, all bruised and miserable, on the 2nd, took Alicia home, then sat and vegged and tried to heal up.

 

 

 

I had an appointment with Dr. Ullery on Friday to try to figure out what caused my fall. I got the nurse practicioner (about half my height) and she had me go for a head CT scan and a 24-hour cardiac monitor (which was a pain, but I managed.) In the end, all is normal, so no explanation of my sudden reacquaintance with gravity.

 

And then, suddenly, a letter from Dr. Ullery, who is closing his practice. I wasn't heartbroken, since I've only seen him for all of 10 minutes, but I WAS suddenly panicked. Where to find a new doctor, preferably a female, who takes Tricare, and by preference would have privileges at Mercy San Juan (the other doctors go to Sutter, which is downtown)? Who was accepting new patients. I had a couple of leads, but it didn't look good. Then I went online again in a different direction and found an internist (male) who's just around the corner, a doctor who specializes in over-50s, takes Tricare, goes to Mercy San Juan.. in fact, the only thing wrong with him is his gender, BUT the practice also has a female nurse practioner if you feel embarrassed. She also specializes in diabetes and pre-diabetes care. Perfect.  So I first off applied online, but when I didn't hear for a couple of business days I went over and talked to them. "It's not about this!" I said, pointing to my face. So their system was down but they photocopied my medical cards and gave me the intake paperwork and said they'd call when the system was back up.

 

Carolyn called, then, about a week later, in relation to my online application and I told her I was signed up, so she made an appointment for me, June 7, with the nurse practicioner!  I've since disconnected from Ullery, told them to send the records to Dr. Young. 

 

I also finally filled out the paperwork for my upcoming intake interview for my colonoscopy, a year late. Dr. Camisa, in July, had ordered it, but no one called, and when I tried calling, had no response. So I figured it could wait and then I heard from this doctor (possibly the person I had 10 years ago) just before Thanksgiving. I finally called back in the spring, then had to delay it (it was supposed to be the second week in May, but I was fed up with doctors at that point). They wanted photocopies of my medical cards, which took some time. Finally I finished it, folded it up, then couldn't find the envelope and was out of business envelopes. So I had to go buy some. At last it's been sent off. That appointment is July 2.)

 

Two days after I got back Laurie called to ask when I was going. Since I saw her two days before I left, she should have known.  So I told her about my accident. Then she went off on vacation in the  east, and then saw me when I got the envelope.  Finally beginning, after 3 weeks, to look human.

 

 

I got back on a Wednesday, but wouldn't go down to see the kids for a week, because it was too scary, especially for Padreic.  When I did go down, I still wouldn't take Padreic to Wee Wednesday for a couple of weeks.  My first appearance in public was for Joanna's First Communion.

 

I was disappointed in that. With my unerring instinct for what's really important, I didn't like the dress Joan had picked. I'd have thought it would be all frills and furbelows, but instead she chose a simple plain dress, with a jewelled headband.  All the other little girls in their fancy Communion dresses (the last time till they're married or at least quinceañera) and there's Joanna in her "skimpy" (B's word) dress. Of course, *she* was OK, she'd have been happy in a burlap sack if Grandma gave it to her. *I* was the one who was sad about it. Bernadette's only little girl, and her only chance. This all gets back to "she stole my daughter's wedding." I guess since Joan is a convert, she didn't really understand the tradition.

 

    

But I was griped enough I decided not to go down for Mother's Day until Bernadette called and begged me. I really didn't want to go, but it was fine. And Rob put together a great meal.

 

I went to breakfast with the ladies on the 8th, mostly because I had to go on out to Easter's to buy a present for Joanna. I got her the usual First Communion set, with the rosary being pink and the beads roses. It's lovely. I've gotta teach the kids how to say a rosary!! While there I thanked Fay for the nice get-well card from the First Saturday group.

 

I also went to the Appleby's dinner both on the 10th and the 24th. I forgot the Tuesday group on the 15th but then went after that.

 

As for Wee Wednesday, I took Padreic on the 24th. I didn't go before that because I still looked awful. 

 

My water pipes finally went in on Thursday and Friday the 18th and 19th.  The plumber surprised me... I had thought my water would be off those two days but he didn't do it that way... instead of replacing the pipes right where they were, he dug a new trench. He discovered the water enters the house in a different place than we thought, so they had to demolish a little of my patio.  They dug the trench on Thursday, including going under the roots of the mulberry.  I could see a damp patch on the side of the trench, indicating the swiss cheese pipe was leaking again. Friday was exciting... they put the pipe in, and the water company came through and attached the new main. (Still turned off.)  This was great timing... they had been going to do it a couple of days previously which would have been troublesome. When David (my guy) finished attaching everything but the house inlet, that's when he turned my water off and attached the new system.  I was maybe without water for 30 minutes, though I didn't even realize it till I went out to check what he was doing.  Then he turned on the meter and we poured water from every faucet, hooray.  He also replaced both the hose bibs in front and back.

    

Initially Bernadette had planned to go to Gilroy Gardens on the 20th for Gareth's birthday, but I was concerned about the dog (I'd thought he'd have to be at the kennels for the plumber and didn't want to add more time for the weekend.) It was lucky we put it off, anyway, because the trench was open all weekend for Monday's inspection.  This county inspector really did his job (unlike the windows guy last year) and checked everything. Then when he was done, David and his helper filled the trench, and I had water! They cleaned up most of the rubble, though I see I will have some stuff for my hauler. The next week I put bricks down in the hole in the patio.  

 

So, instead of Gilroy, we took a day trip to Angel's Camp for the jumping frog jubilee. It was hot but fun. I mostly sat around keeping an eye on Padreic while Bernadette stood in line for herself and Joanna, and eventually Gareth, to jump a frog. Gareth's frog in particular really jumped.

 
I took Padreic to Wee Wednesday on the 23rd, because while I still had some bruising and the bump, it was a lot better. I was trying to finish Charlotte's Web with the kiddies, too, before they headed off to Oregon.  Gareth had already read it, but he was polite about sitting there with me. They were out of school on the 25th.  

 

So, Saturday the 26th I drove down to Elk Grove and parked my car in Bernadette's driveway. We stopped at Panera for bagels (I got a breakfast meal... this was using my Panera gift card anyway) and then when we got back in the car Gareth opened the door too wide and banged a guy's truck. It was a little ding but he got all annoyed so he and Bernadette had a long conversation and I talked to Gareth about being careful (since Daddy's truck has a row of these dings.) Finally we were able to get off. 

 

She took a route I didn't expect (which we apparently did 2 years ago, too) and we got to Gilroy Gardens just as they opened. But here's where it got hairy. Monica had given the family passes to Gilroy Gardens for their Christmas present, but she hadn't realized they were for the winter festival and expired on December 31.  I had to go back to the ticket booth and pay the difference for the summer pass.  Initially he told me $28 (each) but there was another option of $15 but we wouldn't get the option of converting them to season passes. No problem there, at our distance we wouldn't be coming back this season anyway. So I was immediately down $60 before even getting into the park. (I had, wisely, left everything but my credit card back with Bernadette so I didn't have to go through bag check again.) Gad. 

 

We all rode the train around first, then Bernadette figured that if I took Padreic it would be easier than chasing after the big two. It sounded like a good idea, but I ended up having to go on a lot of rides with him, and they are kids' rides so I had a hard time getting in and out. My biggest mistake was going into the Apple Worm ride.. the operator had to help me winkle out. This was after I'd stood in line with him for driving the old-fashioned car (with him insisting he wanted the new cars) because Bernadette wanted a picture of him in his '20s straw hat driving a '20s car.  He discovered immediately that it wasn't important that he should try to follow the track because the car would go along the track, so he enjoyed turning the wheel back and forth and bumping into the side, and I got SO bruised and battered.

 

 

OK, one more time in the flower boats before we catch up with the others... and the line was so long!  There was a large family with a little girl who cried a lot, and a boy about Padreic's age and they were on the verge of blows. They were in front of us. At one point the baby was tantrumming and I "sympathised" with her... "I know, it's the worst thing in the world. When you're an old old lady you'll still be bitter about the total injustice that they wouldn't let you throw rocks." The adults were cracking up and the little girl was totally puzzled.  Behind us were some pre-teens with a pop gun. If they make it to 16 with intact eardrums, it'll be a shock.  Every time we thought we were getting close the fast passers got through. But, after about 45 minutes (Padreic was such a good little boy all day!) we got to ride the boat, and then we went looking for Mommy. We walked all the way around, and I saw a nice little garden it would have been nice to be alone in, and finally found the kiddie-only rides!  I called Bernadette with no answer and I was in tears. Fortunately Padreic wanted to ride these over again a few times, which simplified life. And finally Bernadette found us, and eventually (I forget what happened in here) we met up at the water park. OK, I could sit, in the shade, with a book and an adult beverage.  I talked to an Indian lady who had been visiting since February.  
 

 

After a couple of hours, we dried them off and went on a couple more rides, and stretched pennies for Padreic and Joanna (Gareth doesn't want them any more) and drove into town. This time we stayed at the Econolodge, with three beds (one in a separate room, where we put all three kids. We had to put them in three different rooms till Padreic cried himself to sleep. (I loved this suite, which was not near any other room or over one, so their noise wasn't so bad) Then Bernadette and I each had a queen bed to ourselves.) We ate at Black Bear (which was better service this time than 2016, but the food's not so much.)

 

They were awake at 7 so we went to breakfast, then they mostly had a pillow fight until it was time for church. Timing was such that it was the Spanish Mass and a First Communion, which was lovely but lengthy so we left after Communion so we could check out in time.  

 

We got a bad start at Happy Hollow, because when I went to pay for parking Bernadette locked up the car and went to a shady spot to apply sunscreen to the kids. I walked back to the car and I couldn't put the parking ticket into it. So I tracked her down and sent her back to put the ticket in, and she didn't bring my pack. She told me the code to get into the car, but I couldn't find the numbers, so I was in tears again, so tired, so hot, so convinced that my main function was to pay. 

 

This time B. took Padreic and I was with the others, but after the zoo part they mostly were at the playground. My book in the car, I was bored and hungry so took a lunch break for about 45 minutes. When I got back Gareth was walking around and around, and Joanna was up on a rock coloring flowers.  I kept asking G. if he would like to go on the roller coaster that he loved so much last time, and he said "no, I think I wore myself out." You and me both, kid, but it's a lot of money to walk around and around. We caught up with Bernadette and the three rode on the helicopter, and again we stretched pennies and the kids who wanted to  (this would not be Gareth. He only rides in the chairs if he has to) rode on the merry-go-round, and then we went home.

        

My phone started ringing. It was the woman behind me who had heard Pharaoh crying and wanted to go in and comfort him. She said she'd sit with him, because he was much happier when they were there. She said he'd knocked over his water, and not touched his food, and apparently ignored his bed. Anyway, she rang about 4 times as we drove home, but the dog was actually fairly happy to see me. I guess I can't leave him alone any more now that he can't demolish the gate.

 

I took her a box of Girl Scout cookies the next day as a thank-you.

 

Then on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, Bernadette came by here and picked me up and we went to the light rail station and rode the train downtown. An adventure!  They've changed the route a little so we got off at 7th and Capitol, then walked to Old Sacramento. We were looking for the sea lions that came to town, but didn't see them. The kids liked the old school, and I was disappointed that the hardware store wasn't open. Joanna was interested in the whole concept of jacking up the buildings a story so the city wouldn't flood.  She says we have to go back to Old Sacramento. 

 

And I took Padreic to Wee Wednesday, a comparatively lame final meeting of the spring. Joanna's was better. However, he enjoyed it.  

And while I'm still bruised, I'm nowhere near as bad as I was.

 

369 recordings of 72 types, 3 old SVU, 48 old CPD, and 61 Last Man Standing. 21% clear. (I particularly went mad over Christmas movies.)

 

 

Tuesday morning (the 19th) I went to the Widow's Breakfast, and Fay had again crocheted kitchen towels for us, and also did a needlepoint indicator of "clean or dirty" for the dishwasher. It's rather an ugly color, but I believe I'll use it anyway. She also put cookies and trail mix in the bag, but I put them too close to the edge of the table and Pharaoh got them. At least, no temptations for me.

 

In the afternoon Laurie came by. Her car was in the shop so Father Delgado gave her a ride over, and after a couple of hours with wine and cheese and great conversation, I gave her a ride to the shop. I realize I actually LIKE entertaining and I haven't been doing much of it. Or actually, any at all the last 6 years.

 

I got a notice from Social Security, a 2% raise... which somehow comes out to the exact same amount I've been getting the last three years! I may actually write them about this. Meanwhile, it looks like the tax cut will actually be good for me.

 

I asked Frank if he had a drill, because I can't get the hangers into the frame (I really should find Rich's drill and learn to use it. But it's only been 6 years!) He agreed he'll help me, after Christmas.

 

Wednesday I told Bernadette I would stick around so she could go see Lady Bird. First I took Padreic to Wee Wednesday. This was the least successful of the month... they had lots of kids, and they went through the galleries looking for winter pictures. A lot of this was over Padreic's head. The craft was making icicles from glittery pipe cleaners and beads. He very carefully put 4 beads on, was done, didn't want to twirl it, didn't want to make another. When we got home he put it on the tree. I wish Bernadette had displayed Padreic's tree that he made at my house. Heck, I wish she hadn't lost the alphabet board books, which were hard to collect.

 

I read to the kids, and then they played with their iPads, and I read, until Bernadette got back. I'm glad she had this chance, as she's been so excited about this movie. I know why I wasn't all that thrilled... I graduated from a small co-ed high school 40 years before Greta Gerwig and her character graduated from a larger all-girls' Catholic high school. Our experiences were totally different. Meanwhile, my girls were less than 20 years different, and from all-girls' Catholic high school, so they had more points of reference.

 

At home I had boiled that pork shoulder to get the last of the meat off, and used the broth to make 15 bean soup. It was good and I had enough to make two bricks for the freezer as well as this dinner.
 

 

 

 

 

Thursday Pagan came and we went to lunch at Fahrenheit 250. Yum. I had the One Meat lunch with cole slaw, as low-carb as I could manage. As I said, Yum. Then we went thrift shopping. I was looking at stereo slides and horrified to see Hawaiian natives referred to as "bucks." Oh, my goodness. Then, in South Sacramento, we were at a Goodwill dump-off station, all the stuff in bins and you buy by weight. I had seen a little penguin to stick in Gareth's stocking and a horse for Joanna's (I'd already given B. a notepad with a candy-cane pen for Joanna, too) and I saw a Thomas train for Padreic's, but then I saw more trains, all magnetic so they fasten together and don't need a rail, and got 13. So I called Bernadette. I thought they'd give him them from themselves, but at least on Facebook she said it was from me.

 

I was packing up the bean soup for the freezer and noticed the answering machine looked odd. I tried pushing buttons without luck, and thought at first it was broken, but then I picked the phone headset up and discovered the landline was down. I checked all three phones, making sure they were cradled. Nope.

 

Willie said he was homeless starting in mid-January. I dithered about it for awhile, then told him that while I really like living alone, if he needed to, he could stay here as plan B. He says he has a plan A but it's nice to have a backup plan in case. OK then. (I feel like I owe him for his willingness to house-sit while I was in Africa.)

 

I was watching Roots and Ed Asner talked about people making adjustments to maintain an evil... like, say, "body autonomy" to excuse the evil of abortion. I'm sure my great-grandchildren will look back on the likes of Planned Parenthood the way we look at slavery.

 

Friday I got in touch with AT&T and got a repair scheduled. I saw the "Friday at 8 PM" but glossed over the "29th" the first time. I made a quick dash to Raley's for pies. Then I realized I probably wouldn't have a phone for a week. I turned the cell phone on, and got a call... from a telemarketer!

 

In the afternoon I got the rest of the beds covered with leaves out of the bin. I thought the gardeners wouldn't be here the next two weeks (I was wrong. They came on Saturday. Fortunately, I left a note to stay out of the back yard.) Each wagon load took three scoops from the bin, and I moved 8 wagon loads, so I was tired when I was done.

 

My neighbor LaVonne brought over taffy. I've been terrible this year. I learned two things this week, that I've got to be better prepared for my neighbors and that I like entertaining.

 

I watched "Jailhouse Rock" (for the first time) and saw Knott's Berry Farm! The way it was on our honeymoon, before it stopped being a nice little frontier park and turned into a glitzy huge amusement park.

 

368 recordings of 27 types, 23 old CPD and 4 SVU. 23% clear.

 

Sunday Laurie called, because her car was stuck at the mall. I gave her a ride to church (she'd called just in time.) I gave the Sharing God's Bounty donation to Jim.

 

Afterwards I went to Petsmart for dog food (for some reason, Pharaoh keeps eating!) and also got a cat toy to play with Spooky. He's enjoying it.

 

In the evening, Helena called, to commiserate. Nice lady, nice to hear from her.

 

Monday the cleaners came. They were pretty late, and of course after 4 weeks, there was a lot for them to do. When they left, I heard water running. I checked all the faucets in the house, out in front, and then glanced out the window in back... uh oh! The pipe had burst! Such timing.

 

I called the plumber and nobody could come out until the next morning.

 

 

Tuesday Brian came out about 9 and had nothing but bad news. Because it's galvanized pipe, it will all need replacing, about $5K. Furthermore, he doesn't have the tools to fix it, and he was NOT willing to dig down where the leak was because he couldn't be sure he'd find the pipe. He was just a barrel of rainbows, but fortunately he didn't charge me for the visit.

 

So I googled "electronic leak detection" and found American Plumbers, practically in my neighborhood. I called them. I had to tell my story to about 4 people, but finally got Monique, who told me their two emergency plumbers were out on calls but maybe she could get someone between 2 and 4. OK, I figured I had time to make my quick trip to the commissary. I did turn on my cell phone, fortunately, because the phone rang while I was on base. I pulled into a parking lot, too late, but I called back and a plumber was available could be at my house in an hour! I told her I'd be home in a half hour, dashed through the commissary and got home after 31 minutes. I could see the plumber's van in front of the house. Dave had arrived about a minute earlier! "Thank you for waiting!"

 

He immediately stuck a probe near where I said the leak had started and created a small geyser, then probed around till he found the leak. Then he turned off the water and went to make his estimate... digging out a 2x3 square, and replacing the leaky area with PVC plastic, then clamping it on and refilling the hole, 3 hours, $678. I signed, and he got to work.

 

 

 

 

The amazing thing is that even though he had to go to the store for a part, he still was done in 3 hours. He's related to my neighbors and was at the Hallowe'en party!

 

 

   

We talked about the next step. After the water company does their thing, he will replace the whole pipe from the house to the riser. This will take two days, so I will have a motel stay in there, and cost $4K. Sigh. I'm trying to get back to my pre-Africa money and was thinking earlier on Monday that I was closing in on it. But at least I do have the money for these emergencies. Also to be thankful for was the good weather, and that I was at home when all heck broke loose, not off on a trip.

 

 

Today, in my 6 years ago memories, "A lot of these tears are leftovers from the last few weeks. I didn't want him to see me crying. He did once, last week, I was sitting next to him on the bed rubbing his back and I just couldn't help it, and he looked over and saw me. I don't know if he understood or not."