2014-06-11 Wednesday

Rain has begun to come down again. It seems to be getting harder by the minute. I feel for the grounds maintenance to have been cutting grass and trimming during the lull in rain. I remember my college summers when I worked as a Greensman on Louisville’s Shawnee Golf Course. If I were cutting a green when the rain began, I would do my best to complete the job before moving to shelter. Usually, my clothes ended up soaked. When the rain stopped and the sun began to shine, it seemed that steam arose from my wet clothes as they dried.

Shawnee Golf Course: one of the greens for which I was responsible

Having my toenails from yesterday was a wonderful experience. Considering my initial Veterans Affairs medical appointment for toenail trimming was last February, were extremely long. So long that my right big toe punched a hole in my house slippers. And, the only shoes I could get into the go outside were opened-toed sandals. The podiatrist who trimmed my nails did an excellent job. Because I am diabetic, she will return on a monthly basis not only to check my toenails, but the condition of my feet. I wish I had known about these service years ago.

I wish the rest of me felt as good as my toes feel. I’m still almost constantly nauseous. The only thing that helps is a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water and drunk. My left leg remains painful and weak. There are a lot of shores that I have been unable to do, including washing clothes, putting dishes in the dishwasher, general cleaning, and fixing myself good meals. I have plenty of food; I just am unable to get to it.

The Kitty Kids have been quite happy since I was able to purchase their favorite wet cat food and treats on June 2^nd. Unfortunately, the food will not last until the end of the month and as of right now I have only about $15 in the bank. 

Sugar with her favorite treats

Alex with his favorite treats

Midnight would prefer to run and play than eat treats. (Not all the time, of course)

I am unable to pay my electric bill. Today I finally got to talk to someone at Louisville Gas and Electric. She told me that I cannot make any arrangements now but must wait until after June 17th (when the payment is due) and I receive a “disconnect notice.” That makes absolutely no sense to me. I would much rather make arrangements now without risking having my electricity and thus my oxygen got off.

My hope in all this financial shit is that the United States Department of Education will refund me all of the money they have taken from my social security check this year once my disability is recognized. Of course, I don’t really expect that the bureaucracy will do that with lots of negotiation. I have tried several times this week to reach the D.O.E. by telephone and on the Federal Student Aid website without finding out anything. ‘[SIGH]

One final comment: I have been having extreme difficulty breathing the past couple of days. Between that and my weak leg, I have spent most of my time connected to the CPAP, sleeping.  It isn’t that my blood oxygen level is low—the pulse oximeter read 95% most of the time—it is that I have difficulty breathing through my nose so I’ve breath through my mouth. I have been doing that almost all of my life. I suppose it has to do with the allergens I have been exposed to in the many river valleys in which I have lived.

Please

We are in serious need.

I Am Back

A few years ago I created this Journal as a place to post personal stuff about the Kitty Kids and me that I had been posting on Nick’s Bytes. Then at the end of last July (July 25^th, to be exact) I began sharing that information on Facebook, thus neglecting this blog.

I was basically quite please was posting personal stuff on Facebook. Lots of very neat folks responded to my posts, I received a lot of support, and some tangible assistance. However, a few days ago, I was attacked by a troll—a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people (Wikipedia)—a very nasty troll who flamed—flaming… is carried out by individuals known as flamers, who are specifically motivated to incite flaming. These users specialize in flaming and target specific aspects of a controversial conversation (Wikipedia)—me time and time again.

This experience shook me. It was the first time I have encountered a truly vicious troll since the late 1990s and it was totally unexpected. After evaluating the situation and praying for guidance, I decided to return to full-time blogging. Nick’s Bytes will be as it once was, with both serious and humorous posts. This journal will be what it was originally intended to be, a place to share a personal happenings in my life and the lives of those I love, including the Kitty kids.

I can’t catch up with all that’s happened since last July. I will share one of the things that I did  today.

That is all for now. I'll post again tomorrow. Please come back when you were able.

Shalom, dear friends.

July 16, 2013

My jaw pain returned massively this afternoon. I have spent the time since trying to reduce it without noticeable results. Thankfully, I have a dental appointment at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning.

I missed taking new photographs of the kittens today. When I finally went back into the walk-in closet all three were huddled together beneath the hanging clothes. I decided not to awaken them with the flash from my camera.

I am beginning to miss not having a television set. In recent days I have been watching the BBC series Wallander on Netflix. Actually, at a cost of less than $9.00 a month, Netflix is much superior to Direct TV at over $100.00 per month. I do miss some cable programs, such as Chelsea Lately, baseball, and soccer.

In the last episode of Wallander that I watched, his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, says to him: Find someone to sit with. You’re not strong enough to do it alone. Nobody is. Those words struck a note, if not a chord, within me.

I have now been living alone for about 16 years. I joke about being a hermit and perhaps I have become one. A gentleman hermit, I would like to think: a cat gentleman. A gentleman hermit living with cats. That’s me, I suppose.

Little Girl licking my forehead

Alex and I touching foreheads

Sugar snuggling

Donate a penny 

to help support SSN, 

his 3 Kitty Kids, 

& LG's kittens?

Sleeping Beneath Kitty KIds

This is generally what happens when I sleep in my lift chair:

That is the Little Girl sleeping on my chest and Alex between my legs. At times Sugar also comes aboard my body; however, then a wrestling match usually breaks out between at least two of the Kitty Kids.

The Kitty Kids being on top of me isn't really uncomfortable, except when Little Girl intertwines herself into my beard or sleeps on my face. She also tries to lick my face, an act with which I do not accept.

Tests

I feel as if I am being tested:

• I have been quite ill—nausea, body aches, headaches, muscle weakness, exhaustion, sore throat—for the post three weeks.
• I have not had a VA-supplied—or anybody else supplied—care giver in 3 months; I thought that I could do it all by myself, but being ill haa gotten me far behind.
• My hearing aid has fallen from my left ear and I haven’t been able to find it.
• For each of the past two months, unexpected (once a year type) automatic withdrawals have been taken from my back account leaving me overdrawn and without funds for the last three or so weeks of each month.
• Today my 14-year-old washing machine began leaking.
• My 11-year-old TV is losing its picture.

Those are the issues. I am handling them the best that I can, which hasn't been too great thus far.

Kitty Kids Update:

Alex is now nesting on the comforter that I keep on the floor beside my lift chair, leaving me kinda cold.

Little Girl has recently been following me everywhere, including napping on my chest and/or face when I sleep.

Sugar is well-named: all she wants to eat these days is kitty treats and Catmilk

I have decided that I shall be victorious over these challenges!

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.

December 13, 2012

I am using Dragon software, my only Christmas present, for the first time. This is a very enlightening experience. While using Dragon I am having to rethink how I write. 

This is a very interesting situation in that I can usually think faster than I can type; however, to make sense of what I'm doing, I really need to have a full sentence in my mind before I start to dictate. 

I'm really glad I have at the moment. With the On my desk eating treats there is no room for my keyboard!

My buddy Alex had a problem last night. It was a real dramatic experience for him; he was sleeping underneath my lift chair while Sugar and I were in the chair and when I tried to set up the little fella got caught between the foot of the chair and before. Alex is okay now, but it was really scary for both of us.

I forgot to purchase treats while I was out; now Sugar is expecting some. So I now must go out and get some treats for the Kitty Kids.

Little girl has just awakened from her afternoon nap; I think that she wants some kitty treats, too. I really must get going if I am to keep the kitty kids satisfied!

December 11, 2012

Sugar Video:

Alex loves it when I stroke his chinny-chin-chin:

At the moment my buddy is using my hand for a pillow, which makes typing quite difficult.