Wednesday, the 13th was a year since my sister’s death. I was awake in the wee hours right about the time her heart stopped. Hard to believe it’s been a year already. Robin brought me these pretty lilies.
I made a key lime pie last weekend.
Well, just a regular lime pie since I didn’t use key lime juice. I’m going to make a chocolate fudge pecan pie next week. Mary Moon has inspired me so I dug out my Aunt Mimi’s recipe.
As usual I’m out of pocket on Thursdays since I have to leave early to get to Share then take the cardboard to the recycling container and then lunch and walk the dog and feed the outdoor kitties and then get ready for yoga and then go to yoga. No time for reading or writing blogs and Friday was busy too.
Thursday was a madhouse at SHARE, not just with food orders but clothing, diapers, housewares, blankets, whatever they need that we have to give, and sorting through and putting away the donations that come in. Every year Jan orders turkeys from the food bank to give out the Thursday before Thanksgiving and two of the churches made up and delivered bags with other stuff with which to make a Thanksgiving meal (don’t know exactly what because I had not one minute to look and see what was in them). The turkeys and bags are first come first serve for those that are eligible for the full service food order which people can only get once every three months. When I got there at 9 the little area where people wait to be interviewed was already packed. Last I heard the sign-in list had 45 names. I have no idea how many food orders we filled because I never left my station except to get stuff from the back storeroom if there was no one not busy to get it for me. We started with 32 turkeys and at some point Jan left to buy more though I’m not sure how many, over a dozen certainly, and we still ran out before the last few food orders. Word must have gone out that we were giving away free turkeys because we had a number of people pull up to the back where we load cars asking for the free turkey. Nope, sorry, doesn’t work that way, you have to qualify at the front. Anyway, the ladies up front usually lock the door at 12:30 to give us enough time to be done with everyone by 1 pm when we officially close. And so they did yesterday but there were still enough people waiting that we didn’t fill the last few food orders until 1:30 and Jan and Patti helped with those. And then I flew out of there.
My PC doctor had ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound on my left boob because I’ve had a persistent sore spot there. Isn’t sore every day but when it is it’s always in the same spot. She did a hands on exam. Do you feel anything I asked, maybe she replied. She didn’t seemed all that concerned, relieved my fears of cancer saying cancer doesn’t cause pain (well until it’s so far advanced you’re dying and why it’s called the silent killer) but she ordered the tests to check things out. The imaging center is in Sugar Land about 30 minutes away with clear traffic and still have to find a parking spot and they always want you there early so I had made the appointment for 2:30 Thursday afternoon thinking I would have plenty of time after SHARE closed to get there. I did get there in time and after a half hour or so after I checked in, a tech came out to tell us in the waiting room that their entire computer system had gone down and they didn’t know when it would come back up but they were working on it and there was nothing they could do until it came back up. I waited about 40 minutes and then left, they would call me to reschedule when the system came back online. I hadn’t been home long when they called to reschedule and fortunately they could get me in at 1:30 Friday. I’m happy to say both tests were clean, no evidence of cancer or anything else I should worry about, so yay!, but the doctor who came in to talk to me had no real explanation for the sore spot. Could be hormones even this far after menopause or transferred pain. I have had a lot of tinkering done this year. And I notice it less as time goes on.
I used the bathroom there in the waiting room before I left and this sign was on the inside of the door.
Who sticks their hand down the toilet in a medical facility?
Here's one plausible answer to your "who puts their hand in a toilet' question -- it's the person who didn't put their phone away while they tended to business, and then dropped it into the toilet. I haven't done it, but I've heard stories.
ReplyDeleteI've heard those stories too. you'd think people would be extra careful about it away from home.
DeleteGood efforts paid off, the SHARE volunteer work, the poor medical system's computers finally working, and especially your sore spot on breast being nothing to worry about. I do hope it's little pain subsides too! I stood outside a rest room door once while a teen said she was trying to dry off her phone which she'd dropped in the toilet...it was frustrating to have to wait for her attempts, and I'm sure she was dismayed in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a new system that the Memorial Hermann facilities is using, only been on it about 6 weeks so I guess they're still working it out. good news for them is that it came back up fairly quickly and only a few people had to reschedule.
DeleteI'd have told that teen that won't work, your phone is toast so let me in.
Interesting that they've installed an anti-wipe device. "Flushable" wipes really are the work of the devil, ask the sewer guys in Britain having to dislodge the fatbergs. Glad the mamo was benign. I have on next week, similar issue, weird spot, hurts when I push on it, maybe if I'd leave it alone it wouldn't hurt anymore.
ReplyDeleteright? when I don't feel the soreness I push on it to see if it's still sore and yep, still sore.
DeleteWoe be to the poor soul who drops their phone in that commode........ Funny, back in the day when I was working, one of the biggest causes of lost cellphones and pagers was when one or the other took a suicidal plunge in the toilet.........
ReplyDeleteI keep mine in my back pants pocket or skirt pocket and have heard too many stories so have a firm hand on it while shifting my clothes around.
DeleteWow! I have never seen a sign like that! I guess if someone dropped their wedding ring or something, they might try to retrieve it -- but yeah, it would take a major loss to get anyone to make that attempt! Glad the breast check turned out clear. My boss had an infection in a breast that caused her some pain and there was some concern it could be cancer, but it turned out to be just an infection. Your situation might be similar.
ReplyDeleteyeah, might just be a swollen lymph node or something. don't know if that would show up on either of the tests. but the good news is it's nothing life threatening.
DeleteGlad you got a clear mammogram, Ellen. I go for mine (and the bone density test) in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that your SHARE has so many people in need of help but I'm glad you guys are there to help them. Thanks for your volunteering!
I wasn't due for mine until next year. I guess I'll still need the bone density scan. this was the most people we have served in one day since I've been there. I expect it will get worse if Trump does all the damage he plans.
DeleteBetter safe than sorry, glad this was followed up so speedily! There is money to be made for someone to invent a gadget for the phone to stay safe while dismounting a toilet seat . . .
ReplyDeleteI was a little surprised that a doctor came in right after both tests to tell me the results for which I was glad.
DeleteI keep a firm hand on my phone which is usually in my back pocket while sitting and getting up but yeah, some sort of clip to a belt loop would be handy.
I lost a phone in a toilet once. My sister lost her keys!
ReplyDeleteLaura was suspended from school once, and among other things had to complete a lot of hours of community service. I sent her to volunteer at the food bank. She did a lot of stepping and fetching.
we have we have two 'elders' and two 'sisters' from the Mormon church here that come in to help and basically that's what they do. they're generally only there for two hours and they rotate. about every six weeks we get new ones.
DeleteI was in line at Publix the other day and turned around to see the guy behind me had a cart FILLED with turkeys. Overflowing with turkeys. Packed with turkeys. He was collecting for a food drive and had spent all day going from one store to another to buy canned yams and cranberries and all the things needed to go with the turkeys. e t
ReplyDeleteSO glad the mammogram was clear. Did you get results right away? The part I always hate is that you have to wait. Ugh. It's sad that we have to worry so much about our bosoms. Intelligent design? I think not. .
Robin's gift of lilies was incredibly thoughtful and dear. Anniversaries are hard.
I imagine that's what Jan's cart looked like when she went to buy more turkeys. we order from the regional food bank but just about every week Jan has to do a major shop from the two grocery stores here.
Deleteand yes I got the results immediately. Had the mammo and then the ultrasound and the tech left saying she would be right back but about five minutes a doctor came in and gave me the results. first time ever but I assume it was because of the ultrasound. I don't think they do that after just a mammo but maybe the protocol has changed.
I'm so glad SHARE is there for your community and that you volunteer there. If I ever am able to retire I'm sure I'll volunteer with our local soup kitchen. I've had cysts in my breast that were randomly painful - but they moved around. I was told they could be caused by too much caffeine or chocolate & I was like oh well, they don't hurt THAT bad.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been a year. Hugs to you & the rest of the family.
As always ‘Do not…’-signs generates my immediate ’Oh, I never knew I could do that’-response.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got spot seen so soon, and keep checking yourselves ladies and men.
Damn, there are so many restrictions these days. Now I can't put my hand in the toilet any more!!
ReplyDelete