Childhood Memories/Old Photos

Me (age 3?) at Christmas

My mother and I began reminiscing during my daily telephone call to her. I described the old picture (above) and mom told me that it was taken at my Aunt Alma and Uncle Frank’s house when they lived two doors from us. She thinks that I was about three years old.

Uncle Frank (Frankie Joe to me) and me

She remembered that Uncle Frank Chickens and ducks in his back yard at that house. I was frightened of them when I was very young. By the time I was or so I had lost my fear to the point that I would go into their pen and feed them.(See below).

Frankie Joe's chickens and me

We also talked about the first dog that I ever knew. He was named by my sister, Debbie close, Boo-Boo.  Boo-Boo was quite protective of Debbie and me. Mom would put Debbie into a playpen on our front yard and I would play in the yard beside her. Boo-Boo was always there and put himself between Debbie and me and anyone walking on the sidewalk in front of our house. If someone came into the yard Boo-Boo would stand between them and us, growling.

Sister Debbie and me

I wish I had a photograph of Boo-Boo, but I don't

27 December, 2012

I have been journaling for more than 40 years and have completed more than 30 blank books filled with journal entries. In writing this blog, I frequently forget that it is a journal. I shall try to remember to use it as a journal with Nick’s Bytes being for other types of blogging.

I spent last night in severe pain—my head, my shoulder, my arm, my hand, my leg, my ankle – all on the left side of my body. Neither ibuprofen nor topical pain relief medication helped.

Obviously, I did not get much sleep last night; it is now after 1:00 PM and I’ve only been awake and functional for about half-an-hour. At least most of the pain is gone; but I remain exhausted.

The Kitty Kids have been well behaved today – very helpful to me with their cuddling and much less demanding than usual. It is almost as if they know that I am ill. 

The pains in my body lessened this afternoon to the point that I have been able to do some of the housework that I have been unable to complete while so  agonized. I am praying that such afflictive discomfort doesn't return!

The pain has returned to my extremities—especially my left hand and, to a lesser extent, my right hand. This is preventing me from grasping things, such as my cup and flatware. I have already had dinner and am glad. However, I had serious problems taking my evening medications; I kept dropping the two pills I need to take. (Finally got them into my mouth along with water).

Next week, after I have money to purchase gasoline, I shall go to the VA ER to request help.

26 December, 2012

It is the day after Christmas and all through the house all three kitties are running because there is no mouse. In other words, the Kitty kids are looking for treats and have been hassling me for more and more treats for the past hour.

Christmas day was again a sad one for me; alone here with my Kitty kids was okay, but I know that I need to be with human beings. I must get out to do some shopping today – primarily Kitty cat treats – so I will at least have human contact with a sales clerk.

The first winter storm of the season is forecast to begin early this evening. The forecasters indicate that the heaviest snowfall will take place north of the Ohio River. Supposedly, I can expect no more than an inch or two of snow. That is not enough to even waste time reporting here in my journal.

It's bedtime for all 4 of us. Sugar is already asleep. I have renewed pain in my left leg and hope the prescribed medication reduces it so I can get some sleep.

Many blessings to you, my dear friends.

25 December, 2012: Christmas Thoughts

Me

Today my earliest Christmas memories have been flowing through my mind.

Family gatherings were central to my Christmas celebrations. Christmas Eve was spent with my mother’s family, rotating each year through the homes of my aunts and uncles. Christmas morning was reserved for exchanging gifts at home. The afternoon of Christmas Day was always with my father’s family, initially at Granddaddy Nick’s house until he had a stroke.

Just after Christmas Day we would visit my mother’s sisters, Abba (Alma) and Frank and Lill and Otto. Our unmarried aunt, Dorothy (Aunt Dot), was usually at one or both of the gatherings. The presents we received at these homes were always more in number and nicer than the ones we received elsewhere.

23 December, 2012

Today has been another is weakness and pain. I have lacked the energy I need to live alone and I have been further hampered by arthritis pain in my left arm and hand. I am tired of feeling this way. Very tired.

That's not to say that neat stuff hasn't happened today. All three kitty kids have been unusually active, running around and chasing each other. Even Alex joined Sugar and Little Girl in their play. They entertained me a lot.

What didn't entertain me was watching the Ravens wipe out the Giants in this afternoon's NFL game. I do not know what was been wrong with the Giants the past two weeks, but they have certainly not played like last year's Super Bowl Champs.

Early this morning I created a Nick's Bytes blog post centered on this video prepared by numerous artists for Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

I also created this graphic for the blog post:

22 December, 2012

I feel like I am losing my mind along with my health. Very severe depression, anger. Lots of tears. My logical minds tells me it is normal for one in my situation to have such feelings at this time of year. That doesn't help. I don't not know how much longer I can go on like this. I rather wish that the world had ended yesterday.

The  deep depression of earlier yesterday evening -- deeper than I have felt in a very long time -- is over. Thankfully, via meditation and taking time to be with the kitty kids, I am OK now.

21 December, 2012

It is December 21^st here and thus far the Mayan prophecy has not proved to be true. I suppose one needs to wait until December 22^nd before one celebrates.

Yesterday I posted on Nick’s Bytes about this idiocy, quoting scripture and tying in into T.S. Eliot’s poem, The Hallow Men. I even posted a video of me reading the poem.

In the process of gathering data for the post, I discovered that, like the majority of events today, there were many people, from TV specials to "end of the world insurance" sales, who attempted to profit from it.

Until this morning I did not realize that one could ingest food into one's lungs. However, a while ago I did just that. I believe I have spit it all up; but until I did the pain in my chest was horrendous.

At the moment it is quite cold (31 F, feels like 20 F), windy, and beginning to snow, the first in Louisville of the season. 

It's 6:40 AM and the world still exists, although I just learned that "the end" is supposed to take place at 11:11 AM. 

The kitty kids awoke with me at about 5:45 AM and now, have breakfasted, have returned to sleep:

Alex, on the floor by the warmth of my oxygen concentrator

Little Girl, on top of the back of my lift chair

Sugar on the floor between my bed and the wall.

because

20 December, 2012

A hard cold rain with strong gusty winds is outside. I drove to the pharmacy to purchase more nausea medication was my last three dollars. Now I am at home, still feeling nauseous and children to my bones.

I am very sick of being sick. Moreover, my apartment is a disaster and needs major cleaning that I feel too ill to do. I do have medications awaiting me at the pharmacy which I shall purchase with the money that is the Christmas gift from my mother. I pray that her Christmas card is in today's mail and that I have the energy left to check the mailbox this afternoon.

The way I feel at the moment, if tomorrow is the I really don't give a damn!

December 19, 2012

I am still not feeling well. My body aches, I am very very thirsty, and have had a recurring headache. The good news is that my vital signs are all back to normal, including my blood sugar and my blood pressure.

I have been tired and nauseous most of today; so I've been sleeping a lot. That means that I have not gotten much done today. I have been taking anti-nausea medications for the past two weeks. Unfortunately, yesterday I ran out of the Nauzene as well as the money to purchase more. My mother says that my Christmas card within which I shall find my monetary Christmas present should be here in a few days; then I shall purchase the nausea medication and some more wet cat food so that Alex stops putting his claws in my leg! 

The good news is that the woman who delivered my Meals on Wheels today helped by carrying out the three bags of garbage I had ready to go to the garbage compactor.

I am blessed by knowing many compassionate people.

I am using Dragon to dictate this post. It seems that Dragon is better at recognizing my speech than I am at dictating. For example, phrases get added that I don't intend to add such as a few moments ago when Alex clawed my leg and I responded with, Dammit, Alex, that hurt!

December 17, 2012

I couldn't get my shoe on this morning. Investigating I found this small, cloth, catnip-filled mouse in it:

I love these Kitty Kids!

I received some new nose hoses for oxygen delivery today. I was on my last (repaired) hose when they arrived. 

I have been thinking about the murders  at Sandy Hook Elementary School  and have concluded that they are forcing lots of sane folks to reevaluate their views on guns and gun control. I wonder even that will do much good. Guns are a multi-billion-dollar-a-year business and, like the oil industry, it owns a lot of politicians.

Rest in Peace, Congressional Medal of Honor winner and the  Senate's second-longest serving member, Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. He died at age 88.

I've not been feeling well for the past two weeks or so. One of the problems has been elevated blood sugar. Since the beginning of being diagnosed with sugar diabetes and beginning oral medication five or so years ago, my blood sugar has average between 120 - 130. Since the beginning of December, the readings have been much higher

Date	Time	Method	Blood Sugar Count
12/17/2012	06:20	Sterile Lancet	272
12/16/2012	06:50	Sterile Lancet	179
12/15/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	180
12/14/2012	09:00	Sterile Lancet	146
12/13/2012	09:50	Sterile Lancet	141
12/12/2012	10:00	Sterile Lancet	164
12/11/2012	09:10	Sterile Lancet	225
12/10/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	178
12/09/2012	09:00	Sterile Lancet	128
12/08/2012	08:00	Sterile Lancet	126
12/07/2012	07:40	Sterile Lancet	168
12/06/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	182
12/05/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	153
12/04/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	202
12/03/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	113
12/01/2012	07:00	Sterile Lancet	131