2014-06-08 Sunday

Today was another day of nausea and left leg weakness. This not being able to walk is becoming a real bother. Twice today I pissed myself trying to make it to the bathroom. Somewhere I have one of those and hand-held urinals, but I can’t stay on my feet long enough to find it.

I have had difficulty getting to the kitchen to prepare my meals. This evening I did something that, considering I don’t have enough money to pay the utility bill this month or additional food for the Kitty kids at me, was really dumb. I ordered and had delivered a pizza, which will provide three meals for me and which I do not plan to refrigerate. (Anything to stay off my feet).

Again I have been napping a lot today. I regret taking a late afternoon nap that lasted until after 8 PM because I miss my time to telephone my mother. I attempted to call her after I woke up, but it was evidently too late and she was already asleep. Not being able to talk to her saddens me; at age 91, I won’t have that many more opportunities to talk to Mom.

The Kitty Kids have been real darlings today. Even Alex allowed me to nap through their 5 PM dinnertime. Sugar is unhappy that we are again out of kitty cat treats; however, she finally ate the dry cat food I offered her in their stead. With my limited mobility, Midnight no longer follows the into the bathroom but is now is there ahead of me, awaiting my arrival.

That’s it for this Sunday. I completed tomorrow’s Nick’s Bytes blog post late this morning. So I shall now meditate, attempt to massage my leg, and go back to sleep.

Up All Night, But It Was Worth It

Yesterday I was harassed by all three Kitty Kids for cat treats. We had run out of their favorite wet food as well as their treats. My pension, which is due to be in my bank account on the first day of the month, was not in my bank account because yesterday was a holiday. Thus I had to wait until today to purchase cat and people food.

Alex held on to me waiting for treats

Alex could not understand this delay or our financial insolvency and kept reminding he that he wanted treats by scratching me with his claws, drawing blood three times. He would have continued his attacks except for Divine intervention: while throwing away what I believed to be empty plastic bags, I found one can of their favorite wet cat food.

Alex's favorite wet cat food

Later Little girl and I both fell asleep – she was on top of me, sleeping on my chest – watching the Rose Bowl game on TV. I awakened about 11 PM and moved from my living room chair to my bed in the bedroom. I fell asleep relatively quickly only to be awakened by a cat - Little Girl, of course - pouncing on my chest and then walking around in circles, kneading me with her claws. Since it was then about 2 AM, I decided to get up and check my online banking account, hoping that my pension check had been credited. It had not.

Of course, once I was up all three of the Kitty Kids got up and it wasn't long before they were again harassing me for cat treats, which I didn't have. I continued to check my bank account; by a little after 4:00 AM – alleluia – the pension fund check was  credited to my account. I was out the door and on my way to the grocery by 4:20.

When I returned I discovered all three cats sitting on the window side of the Venetian blinds waiting for me. Sugar and Little Girl were at the door when I opened it, Alex had already jumped up on his eating table.

I put the carton of wet cat food on Alex's dining table, but before I could open it, Alex was trying to get into it. I opened a can of food and before I could put Alex's share in his bowl, my buddy was licking the can's top. When I pointed out to my silly cat that there was more food in his bowl than on the inside of the can top, he began chowing down. I then filled Sugar and Little Girl's bowls and went into the kitchen to put away the people food. Before I completed that chore, all three crazy cats were harassing me for treats, which of course I gave to them,

The Kitty Kids' favorite treats

Sugar & Little Girl chomping on treats

As I have been writing this post, I have also be giving Alex and Sugar treats. 

Have I ever mentioned that I have spoiled my Kitty Kids?

Just in care you're interested, these are Alex's absolute favorites:

In my half-awake state in the wee hours of this morning, I attempted some apartment cleaning. In the process, I have misplaced my reach extender which is serious because the kitty kids have spent much of this morning pushing stuff onto the floor.

A little after 2:00 p.m. I had my daily telephone conversation with my mother. She doesn't sound good. I wish we still lived 15 minutes apart. Now my sister lives 10 or so minutes from her, so I telephoned her: no answer  so I left a message suggesting that she check on Mom.

Day Forty-one

My left thigh and knee are still weak and painful. This has happened several times in the past forty years, ever since my leg was injured when I was an army officer stationed in Germany. Besides the  injury to my leg below my knee, the muscles in my thigh were torn and my knee wrenched. In time it will heal; meanwhile, I have difficulty walking and cannot drive because I can't lift my leg to engage the clutch in my car.

If you are interested in the story of how my leg was injured, it's published here: The Rogue's Tale.

My sister, Debbie, must be visiting my mother. I always end my daily phone calls to Mom by saying, "I love you." Unless my sister is in earshot, Mom responds, "I love you, too." Today she didn't say those words. I wonder why she does that?

My caregiver and I hung all but one of the remaing pictures that made it to my apartment. We also moved the location of my large dream-catcher. 

Actually, my caregiver did all of the work because I'm in lots of pain when I stand; however, I did tell her where I wanted them to be placed.

When I can stand and walk again, I'll share them with you in this blog.

I'm still reading Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums. Being unable to move around means I should be finished with it by this evening.

I don’t know if I’ve accidently taken a double dose of Furodemide, but for the past hour I have been urinating about once every 12 to 15 minutes. With this inflamed thigh, my movement is very slow, so about the time I return to my chair, I have get up and head back to the bathroom. Maybe I need to just stay in the bathroom until all of kidneys have emptied themselves?

Two of the three kitty kids are taking afternoon siestas: Alex and Little Girl. Meanwhile, Sugar is grooming herself.