Geographically challanged

This entry is pretty much just like the day, scattered and not so productive.

I was up at six this morning, went out into the 27 degree weather to get my morning coffee. I think I better wear a different shirt and hat tomorrow. I was recognized at the hospital Starbucks and now here at this Caribou coffee shop. When Jennifer came back from Norway a couple of years ago she brought me a very nice, very warm, hat. If I pulled it down over my face and cut eye holes it was be a bank robber hat, it would also be drafty. I was wearing a Michigan State hoody. When I wear the shirt at home people always make comments, there are a lot of people "from" Michigan. Here, no one says anything. It's not a very good ice breaker.

Just down the road someone killed a traffic sign last night. I wonder if they swerved out of the way of a bounding deer?

I got Fred up just after nine this morning for pills and breakfast. He only takes three meds which I think is terrific. I was planning on making eggs and pancakes or french toast. All he wanted was a bowl of cold cereal with sliced bananas. After breakfast we talked and set our goals for the day. I wanted him to get up and walk eight times. I don't think we will make that and tomorrow we'll work harder.

I just noticed I have 12 followers. I am listed as a follower twice so I actually have just ten.

I got lost on the way to the bank. I ended up driving six miles out of my way looking for a B of A so I could save the ATM fee. Gas is around three bucks a gallon. I'm really not sure if I saved anything, probably not. I'm thinking more and more about a "smart phone" although I am not sure I'm smart enough to manipulate one.

Cousin Marc Cohen called this evening, it was good to talk with him. He was gracious enough to offer his help and or companionship for Fred (and me if I needed a break). I do remember he called at 6:45 because I asked him if he had any plans at 7. I got his cell number and e mail and added him to our growing list of relations, friends, and assorted hanger on's. Marc told me any e-mail I sent would go right to his Blackberry.

It's been several years since I had my first Blackberry experience. At the time Jennifer was a district sales manager for First Franklin Finance. They were one of those companies that helped so many of my fellow Californians buy homes. Homes they wouldn't be able to make payments on five years later. Jenn, Wanda, and I were at a local place having breakfast when she asked if I would mind getting her "phone" out of her car. I thought at the time they wanted to get rid of me so they could plan a surprise birthday party. Anyhow, I went out, looked in her car, saw several things plugged into several other things but saw no cell phone. I came back in and told her I didn't see it, she said, "It's on the console, it's a Blackberry." I went back out to the car looked for a "Blackberry" and came back in. I never did see any fruit. I think maybe I should forget about getting a "smart" phone.


Today was not great. One of the ways a nurse assess' a patients pain is to ask them how they would rate it on a scale of one to ten. One is the least pain while ten is the most. In gymnastics (although I think it's been changed) scoring, a one would be terrible, a ten would be the best. I guess the number system is relative to what is being measured. Today then could be a one and it could be a ten. I won't say which is which since I don't want to seem like a complainer. It's currently 9:50PM, I wonder if Marc has any plans at 10?


Tonight for dinner I gave Fred a choice. The ground sirloin burgers we did not have last night. I don't think I mentioned we changed the dinner menu to breaded chicken cutlets. Or, sausages. He wanted the sausages and asked, "like Italian?" I of course said yes. I bet had I told him they were Adele's (not our cousin Adele) pineapple and chicken I would have seen an eye roll. I don't know why people think everyone in California is a weirdo. OK, so I asked if they composted at the hospital. OK so I'm looking for recycle bins everywhere I go. OK, so I asked for sprouts on my Coney Island Hot Dog. Just what is odd about pineapple chicken sausages? So, tonight we had the sausages, baked potato and applesauce for Fred. I had the same with baked beans and a green salad. He ate the sausage and about half the potato and had a spoon or two of the applesauce. After dinner as I was clearing the plates he asked what the sausages were. I told him and saw an eye roll. Actually I saw both eyes roll, tomorrow I'll make the burgers and Monday it'll be back to Lean Cuisine. I do not need to cook and get insulted. I can get insulted anytime, anywhere for nothing.

Things are not progressing as quickly as I would like. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's him or me. I don't think I'm pushing him hard enough but not sure how to do that. He knows intellectually what he should be doing, he's just not doing it. Today I am thinking I'm not doing him any favors and maybe we should talk about a rehab facility? I won't count the day we came home so it's been three days now. We were up and moving around 6 times today, may plan for the day was nine. I also wanted Fred up at his desk for an hour, that didn't happen. Like Scarlett O'Hara said in Gone With The Wind, "tomorrow is another day." I guess that's better than Rhett Butlers, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

So for now, good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.

Chuck

I like travel by train. It is so easy to strike up a conversation with anyone on a long distance train.....where are you headed? usually does it. What is the guy sitting next to you on an airplane going to say?