Prologue I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Day 22 Saturday 9/7
Truly a lazy day. And unhappy: that percoset yesterday - perhaps combined with the antibiotic I started - left me ... blocked up. On top of which, it was a rainy day - the kind you just want to stay in bed. On top of which - this was the day I intended to cancel flight to California (missing Darryl's wedding), car rental, and three different motel reservations. The trouble is, I couldn't find email nor documents relating to any but the flight and one motel. A long talk with Travelocity eventually resulted in no cancellation fees from them, nor from Delta because of medical necessity. Nora and I need to book flights with Delta to somewhere (together or separate) by Feb 10 in order to use the credit they extended, non-transferable. Nora already has trips planned. I'll figure out something.
I called the beautiful Best Western in Monterrey and cancelled... no problem.
Then began the odious task of finding phone numbers and calling car rental agencies to see if they had anything reserved for me. Hertz. No. Avis. No. I asked if they can check subsidiaries they own, but no.
Enterprise. No. Alamo. No. (They did check another for me.)
Each phone call required menu choices and wait times. Bloated, tired, frustrated, and puzzled and angry that I had no evidence of reservations, I took a break.
A break was looking at maps showing the dozens of motels that I might have booked at. I knew I had reserved one that was cheap, and about 16 miles south of the airport (others already booked when I did this in February for the September wedding).
I did a file search of my whole computer, searching for "Monterrey" and finally JACKPOT! - I hit JPEG's that were screenshots of my reservations.
The car rental agency was Advantage, but it had a Travelocity ID number. I called Travelocity and cancelled. Easy.
Next, a motel. It ALSO had Travelocity ID! I managed to come up with my password to log into Travelocity. Both remaining motel reservations were there, and got cancelled easily.
I don't use Travelocity as a habit, and I failed to remember that for this trip, I used it for everything except the Monterrey Best Western. I will always wonder why Travelocity agents on the phone did not see, or not question, reservations made around same date and place that I was calling to cancel.
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| My 3rd serving of Cara's vegetarian white bean stew, and there's more left. I enjoyed it cold more than hot. |
I'd been sitting all day. After some more of Cara's white bean stew - good cold - I went out, just to move. I got some spinach, Advil, cherry juice, some frozen Amy's casserole for Chris(!)
I wrote the same grocery list yesterday. It was wrong.
My cousin Debbie ordered a Wolferman's gift selection of baked goods and jellies and it arrived today.
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| Wolferman's Berry Breakfast (Plus) 22 English Muffins (4 "Cherry blossom", 6 Maine Blueberry, 10 mini cranberry), 2 apple-cranberry scones (one gone seconds after arrival), orange loaf cake, some Tiffen Ground Coffee, small jar of strawberry preserves. Plus 11.5 oz of Triple Berry preserves. |
Eating two prunes, an apple, and greens during the day, walking to Publix and back and coffee in the evening gave success to my effort at pushing things through my gut. I'm swearing off percoset...which is why I got the Advil.
Day 23 Sunday 9/8
I've hardly had the opportunity in my life to experience how sitting around makes you tired! I caught up blogging. My brother, Jody, brought chicken and rice that Linda cooked. We'll have it tonight. And - as I now know - tomorrow night too, since she sent so much.
I walked home! Less than a mile. I lay down in my own bed, just to feel how no air-conditioning felt. Since it had been drizzly and overcast, it was cool with my attic fan pulling fresh air over me from the bed-height window. I used the man-bag to take some mail, newspapers, sudoku puzzle for the dumb Excel program I once wrote, socks, T-shirts, weird thai chili popcorn (that Jamie had 8 bags of...don't ask), shampoo, and a box of sugar-free Whitmans that had sat for months in a closet.
Back at the condo, dinner for all of us was Linda's chicken and rice. She included a container of mixed green's and bottle of salad dressing.
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| Three of us had a portion as shown, emptying one of the two containers that Linda sent. We'll have more tomorrow. |
I waited awhile for food to digest before taking doxycycline antibiotic. Later, before bed, I ate more "live, active cultures" in a Stonybrook Greek yogurt.
Day 24 Monday 9/9
C&P had morning class. I spent time on-line and working on school calendar.
Sat out by condo pool for first time.
Then went into the gym where I could do some leg exercises and also used a "pec" machine, using my elbows in place of hands on one side at a time.
Napped in the afternoon.
Linda's food for dinner.
Got showered and hair washed again late after Chris finished night class.
Day 25 Tuesday 9/10
Walked home again and napped again in my own bed.
Ariel got us into movie free again. The three of us saw Blue Jasmine - a Woody Allen flick worth the view.
Day 26 Wednesday 9/11
C&P had morning class. Angela did "pin care", then drove me to 45th St for a regular annual physical with Dr. Mendelson. I'm basically healthy, though I complained I want a professional to cut my toenails, now that I can't, Because of some ugly fungus, he could send me to a podiatrist.
C&P picked me up from the doctor's office.
We ate Caribbean lunch from Jerk Chicken on 45th. I had and enjoyed oxtail.
After nap, we used Restaurant.com coupon to eat at Bistro Ten Zero One in the Marriott again. Just great stuff. September is Mushroom month, and my fish came with local grown (Jupiter) mushrooms and chickpeas.
Then met Ariel at his other job - Sloan's Ice Cream.
Chris treated me to Rum Raisin - while he and Paige shared a banana split.
Day 27 Thursday 9/12
Late morning. I spent a lot of time writing instructions for issuing textbooks to a class. Also created and forwarded sheets with student barcodes to help Mr. Seepersaud issue Human Geog books in Mrs. Levy's two AP classes.
Went to gym again for 20 minutes, then upstairs for a shower. Preparing to drive up to Nora's home in Jupiter for dinner.
A little background for some on who's Nora. Nora taught chemistry for years in a classroom adjacent to mine at Palm Beach Lakes and we're friends. We both stay friends with the Darryl character - whose California wedding we skipped b/c of my wrists. Nora "moved" many years ago to teach at Jupiter HS - near her home.
Oh- Cousin Debbie - I must confess we brought 3 of your Wolferman's English muffins, and 3 mini-English muffins as a gift to Nora. Thanks!
We took no photos...but here's one about a year ago when Darryl, is fiance and I were up there.
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| Sitting on the window-box seat. Year old photo when I had dinner at Nora's with Darryl and Summer. |
Wonderful food again, including two things I need the name of. Chris commented on how - as before - everything had its own flavor. We're advised to shop 45th and Military for ethnic foods. Meanwhile, Nora packed us with food for more meals.
Afterwards, C&P had evening classes at PBSC PGA campus. I sat and read in the campus library.
Stopped at Publix on the way home...needed sugar, greens. Atkins frozen meals were buy one get one free. I got 4. Will get more.
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| Renate's favorite is Beef Merlot. I think best-tasting is Italian Sausage Primavera |
Day 28 Friday 9/13
Had to be ready for appointments that my brother Jody is taking me to. Navarro, plastic surgeon at 10:45. Once again the receptionist wanted co-pay. Challenged, she checked records and reported that United Healthcare only granted 10 days "grace" period. I paid it, but the report was "fighting words" for Jody.
He spent 30 or 40 minutes (lots of hold time) talking to United, finally persuading them that my surgery was in an emergency room, in a hospital and NOT in-office - presumably the reason for only a 10-day grace versus 90-day grace on co-pays.
My next appointment that day was for blood-work ordered by GP Dr. Mendelson. Stupidly (again) I forgot to bring the "order" from his office. I tried to call, seeing if they could fax it to Labcorps, but I only got a machine. An hour later, moments after I had returned to condo to retrieve the order, Mendelson's office phoned and confirmed they faxed it for me. Well - one positive result of the extra trip to condo: Jody came upstairs with me and saw the place.
After bloodwork, went back to condo. I'm working on flashcards for Chris' microbiology class - time consuming and of course I over-do it. In fact - days later he clarifies a MUCH simpler format that he says would be more useful. C'est la vie.
Dinner - Nora's leftovers! Mmmm
Day 29 Saturday 9/14
Four weeks! The constancy of pinch-like feelings on both wrists have finally reduced me to taking an Advil about 4 times a day. It slightly dulls the feeling. I'm such a non-druggy - I speculate on a psychological addiction. Not really likely: remember the two bottles of red wine I bought at Costco 3 weeks ago (because I believe in health benefits of red wine)? After three weeks, half a bottle is gone - and others drank some of it! I think I wrote this before: "I'd be an alcoholic if I could just remember to drink."
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Sam Joke #1:
Sam sat outside on a bench, enjoying some fresh air at Senior Living. He started leaning a little to his right but his faithful nurse pushed him back upright.A minute later he was drooping over to the left, only to be straightened again by a firm, gentle hand.
Sam's old buddy, Abe, dropped by for a visit.
"So how's it going, Sam?" was the polite, cheerful question.
Sam uttered a sigh and sad reply in a tired, crackly voice. "Oy. Not so good."
Abe was genuinely surprised. "'Not so good'? How can you not be good! It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining. You're breathing clean, crisp air, sitting next to this beautiful nurse. What could be wrong?!!"
Grimacing, Sam bent his head to Abe to confidentially relate his troubles: "They won't let me fart."
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Today is Yom Kippur, and I'll go to Temple Shaarei Shalom ("Gates of Peace") in west Boynton with Jody, Linda, and more family. An annual income source for most synagogues, my ticket is $18. It's a (blessedly) short children's service...attended by at least a hundred children ages 1 to 10, and about 200 adults. It's a noisy, but joyous affair with lots of guitar-accompanied, learn-on-the-fly responsive singing. And also several of the traditional Hebrew prayers some of which - to my surprise and delight - are set to the traditional tunes I learned 50 and 60 years ago. (Sh'ma, Adoration, more).
The special 20-page (?) booklet printed in-house for children's High Holiday services was de-sexistified. (Yeah, I made up that word). For example, I learned years ago that Adonai was the God of Abraham , the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, now I'm informed that the very same Adonai is also the God of Sarah, the God of Rebecca, the God of Leah, and the God of Rachel.
Who knew?
(In case you're counting, Jacob had two wives).
After the service, Linda drove Jody and me back to their place in Lake Clarke Shores - with vigorous discussions over the values of taking I-95 versus city streets (which avoid back-tracking from Forest Hill). Google Maps indicates I-95 is 1.7 miles longer but 6 minutes shorter. 
I was intrigued because Linda's GPS said that the times were about the same. Perhaps it was considering traffic issues that might have occurred on I-95 at that time.
Anyway...
Anyway...
Jody, Linda, Betty, Larry, Jason, Cara, William, Ella, and I broke our Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) fast with wine (or juice) lox, bagels, cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, tuna salad, egg salad, Betty's Apple cake, and coffee.
I have a confession: I didn't fast. I don't want to do anything that risks making me "irregular". I depend upon someone in the morning to, uh, clean me. I'd hate to have to deny the urge at some other time of day because I'm not in the condo, or they're not in the condo.
We watched recording (til we caught up to "real time") of Alabama Crimson at Texas A&M. It included this shouldn't-have-tried, lucky 2nd quarter pass:
Note - enlarge video by holding Ctrl while tapping + symbol. Ctrl - makes smaller
Ctrl 0 returns to "normal" size.
Note - enlarge video by holding Ctrl while tapping + symbol. Ctrl - makes smaller
Ctrl 0 returns to "normal" size.
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| Manziel’s jaw-dropping scramble and pass to Edward Pope on 3rd down to Alabama’s 22-yard line. |
(It was to little avail as there was a turnover a little later)
Jody drove me home and I finished the evening working - also to little avail - more on Microbiology flashcards. Truth be told - I was intrigued and working on Excel format and programming that I was creating to produce flashcards.
An email from Brigit via PenPal informed me that I suddenly had a few hundred dollars in a PenPal account - a gift - organized by Brigit - from Barbara Dale McCall, Brad Hunter,
Brigit Fasolino Vucic, Danielle Brian, David Mann, Liz Walker, Paul Bland, Renate, Axel, and Peter, and Steven Kapner.
I sent out an emotional (for me) "Thanks" and promised to spend the money as a true "gift" to myself. By the next day I was true to my word.
Day 30 Sunday 9/15
Another slow, rainy Sunday. I got my gifts from the PayPal "Get Well" account (described yesterday). Here's my account to the people that sent the gift:
One thing in this condo that I liked, but would probably never buy (because coffeemakers I already use at home are relatively new and work fine) is the Keurig 75 Platinum single-cup coffee maker.
It has a 72 oz reservoir and delivers 5 sizes of single cups. You CAN use your own ground coffee. At Costco, the little K-cups are 45¢ each for Newman's own...which are pretty good.
What happens in my house is a pot of coffee gets made and drunk each morning. But then later in the day someone wants more, makes a whole pot, drinks one cup, and the rest gets wasted. Sometimes that person is me. (And sometimes I'll pass b/c I don't want to waste)
This purchase should cure that. It really is simple to operate. We picked it up today at Costco for $150 including 60 K-cups of coffee. To my way of thinking, it was FREE! Thanks guys.
I also ordered a pair of loafers from Zappos. I'm tired of tying laces. I have a narrow foot and most department stores carry only wide...esp in loafers. Odds are I would not have gotten these without the PayPal credit.
Chris had plans for cooking fish for dinner, and we drove US1 to Costco (Northlake Blvd), hoping to find a real fish market. The one I know of Fresh Catch on Dixie near Northwood was closed.
I thought Riviera Beach should have a market, esp on Blue Heron, but we didn't see one. We didn't try the docks b/c too complicated...esp since never done before.
We wasted time in the new Riviera Beach Publix.
And finally continued to Costco.
And finally continued to Costco.
By the time we were returning from Costco, all agreed it was just too late to still shop for fish and cook. This decision formed quickly as we drove by Hook's Fish and Chicken on Tamarind and PB Lakes. I ordered fish and shrimp. Others had chicken, shrimp and hushpuppies. All good enough - all fried.
Anthony called asking about mechanics of delivering food that he, his friends Molly and Mary Jane had spent hours creating at Mary Jane's house - Chicken Parmesan with home-made marinara.
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| Strictly a photo-op that I engineered. No way am I capable of holding this large, heavy serving of chicken parmesan and pasta from Anthony. Paige carried it after taking the photo. |
Around 9:30, Anthony showed up and Paige and I met him at his car to get the main entree, plus a bag of salad, home-made salad dressing, and some home-made mini-muffin shaped brownies (which already got a seal of approval).
We will eat well tomorrow, and probably Tuesday!!
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