Quick Update in Day by Day

Waiting on my husband to finish up a job then we head to Tampa to see my younger brother. Step mom has arrived and we’re going to do a tag-team push to get him to agree to go by ambulance to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. The hospital here is treating his symptoms, but not getting to the core of his trouble. AND he’s now developed yet another blood clot in the other lung. I also suspect that they think his convulsing stomach is psychological. If that’s the case, you’d think the anti-anxiety meds AND the muscle relaxers would have alleviated his distress, but it hasn’t. His doctors don’t seem to consult with one another. Instead they rely on my brother’s wife to tell them when he’s had a procedure and what was done, results, etc. I ALSO don’t like that they tell HER to find thus and such specialist and make an appointment. Whenever my husband or I needed another doctor, our doctor made the appointment for us. Otherwise, they treat you as a new patient and make you wait a month. I am less than impressed.

So that’s younger brother. Last night’s board meeting was productive but poorly attended. Everyone liked the meal I brought and I was able to send home LOTS of leftovers with Stan, who recently lost his wife and Katie, who is struggling with health issues. Lance (in his mid 30s) scarfed up the rest of the chocolate chip cookies, which made me laugh. I was up until midnight with follow-up work so that I wouldn’t be stressed today and I’m glad I did. I made two quick phone calls this morning and all loose ends are tied up, so nothing is going to interfere with my visit to the hospital.

I’ve been asked to speak on behalf of the family at my older brother’s funeral tomorrow, a task I am NOT looking forward to. Normally, it should go to younger brother, who was far closer to my older brother, but with him out of commission, I’m the only one left standing.

Sunday is the drive to Orlando to see Nick’s ex-girlfriend and give her some of Nick’s things. My youngest suggested I put it off but I said it was going to be a crappy weekend all around, so might as well get it over with rather than drag it out. I love the ex-g/f, don’t get me wrong, but she broke his heart and it sent him in a downward spiral, so it’s emotional.

How about some GOOD news?

Well, the non-profit funded a young woman by paying her past due preschool bill and buying new tires for her car. She hit on hard times after a bad divorce (he took everything, but she doesn’t care because she wanted the kids, whom he’d mistreated) and is trying to build her painting business. She’s going to be a success story, I think. We also had two more successes: two different people we’d helped in the past are now financially stable and don’t need further assistance! YAY! We also approved funding for some free counseling sessions for a combat vet.

A kitty cat adopted us. She’s almost like a dog in that if we don’t pet her enough, she stands on her hind legs and bats at our hands. She’s putting on weight, now that we’re feeding her regularly. She’s still leery of coming in the house, but her skittishness is slowly easing. She’s now sleeping in a lawn chair out by the pool. I swore I’d never have another pet after the pain of losing Ferocious, but this one warms our hearts, so I guess it’s meant to be that two old gray-haired people take in a stray cat.

Other good news: my bills are paid, my kids are happy, my husband is a good partner.

Every life has it’s joys and it’s obstacles. Life WILL throw curveballs at you. How you catch them speaks to who you are, so my advice, to anyone who’s interested in the ramblings of a cranky old lady: don’t get bogged down with the fact that curveballs are being thrown at you. Concentrate instead on dealing with each one as it comes at you and know that at SOME point, the pitcher’s gotta rest his arm. :)

Love you all. Thank you for being there for me. I appreciate it more than you know.

Last updated March 25, 2017