Weather and Preparedness

The weather here has been spectacular.  So very pleasant.  Cool dry air with the temps barely reaching 80 but mostly in the 70s.  Sunday brought 58 for the first time since April and it felt sooo very good.  I felt comfortable enough to wear a tie to church for the first time in a while.  Today, Monday, it is getting a little warmer, 63 for a low and our walk was actually a little chilly for shorts.  It doesn't take much for my hands to get very uncomfortable and they did.  But I am not complaigning at all.  Our road trip we will take into even cooler temps.  They have been having temps about 15* lower there.  We whould see some fall color too.  Which really isn't a thing here.

We will begin prepping for our trip soon.  Making a list of things to do before we leave instead of leaving it for the last couple days and then last minute things.  I forget too many things when that happens.  It causes to much stress to do it like we did in our youth.  Something I decidedly try to avoid.  Plus, at my age, there are so many more things I have to add to the list to get done or remember to take with us.  At least it seems like it.

Shifting gears a bit.  Take this as a caution.  I see a lot of speculation and even out right predictions of things that will or might occur here due to the things happening in Israel.  In concjuction with what is happening at the border this heightens my awareness.  Let me explain very briefly.  I have seen many many reports from all sorts of sources about what is and has been coming across the border just 150 miles South of us for the past three years.  Among those that have been apprended and released are military age males, traveling solo, from countries that hate us and have said they will destroy us.  We live in the largest metropolitan area that is closest to the border outside of El Paso or San Diego, but I'm focusing on Texas where the border is longest and most are entering.  There are thousands of these illegal immigrants already here.  I'm not naive enough to think we are safe from nefarious activity.  Yes, we are on heightened awareness and other steps are being taken to protect ourselves.  It may be prudent for you to take some measures also.  These illegals have been moved into the interior all over the country.  Being aware and prepared may save your life or that of your loved ones.  I pray for our country.

Happy Trails

Fall is Promised

We still haven't seen any hint of Fall but at least the temps have been in the mid 90s instead of 100+.  But they say that a cold front is headed our way and will finally bring some wide spread rain Thursday and Friday.  That will be glorious.  They also predict the highs for the weekend to be in the 70's with lows in the upper 50's.  I can hardly wait.  

'K' took my Mother to a cardiologist finally.  She had been told she should see one by her previous doctor.  The current doctor didn't think so but agreed to refer.  Once they were there she couldn't remember what she needed to tell him what she had been experiencing.  'K' didn't remember either but that is understandable with her trying to remember everything else for her and us.  Mom couldn't remember family history either.  Fortunately the doctor checked her out and found no issues and said she is the healthiest 91 year old he has ever seen.  This still might not be enough to keep her from obsessing over her heart.  Like most everthing she doesn't remember things correctly and has told us things she suffers from with her heart that I know good and well isn't anything she has ever had.  She has transposed some of her Mothers heart issues upon herself and claims her sister has the same things which we know she doesn't.  Unfortunately her memory and her reasoning ability has not improved.  I know it never will.  We have been forced to take precautions with her finances.  She agreed but she may not even remember which is actually a good thing.  She has a suitor.  He is my age.  It's more complicated than I feel comfortable sharing here.  Just know that she makes it difficult for us to be able to help.  

Soon we will head out on a week long road trip. The weather there will be much much cooler.  This Saturday when Son#1 comes to watch the Red River Shootout, we will talk about the details of the trip, i.e when we leave, route, etc.  We are all looking forward to this trip the closer it gets.  This is much needed.

Happy Trails

Hot Still

This comes a little later than I intended to post this morning.  I took my sweetie out for tacos/breakfast this morning.  I get tacos she gets a full Mexican breakfast plate of which may vary with her.  Chiliquiles this morning.  It was pretty great so that will always take precedence.

I see that other parts of the country are getting some Autumn weather.  All we are getting is Hotumn.  But 98/99 is better than the 102/105, until it gets as humid as it has been the last few weeks.  Apparently there were stroms in the area last night.  We got a lot of lightning and barely any rain sadly.  The cloud cover is hanging tough and should keep temps down but it is so very humid, about 80%.  That road trip we are planning is getting closer and it will definately be cooler there.  It can't  come soon enough.  Sadly this will take the place of our Bluegrass Festival trip we like to go to.  Some really great stars that we will be sad to miss.  But hope to have an even greater time with family.

'K' has headed out to get the Granddaughter to stay a couple nights.  She will leave early as 'K' has a couple Doctor appointments she needs to get completed.  

Sadly another one of my coworkers passed away Sunday morning.  Lost his battle with cancer.  I had just found out a week earlier he was having these issues.  There have been several over the last couple years that came as a surprise.  But this one hits harder.  I had a lot of respect for him.  I was trying to count up the number that have passed since I worked with that particular group.  11 that I know of out of the original 21+/-.  Most of us were all within a couple years of age except the bosses and secretary.  Only one of the original supervisors still survive and he is not well.  Most of the  others passed fairly early in years.  More than should have.  Not being in touch with them, these things come as a surprise most times.  I do have one or two that will let me know about things like that.  Or an email will go out from the retirees group.  Fortunately I have good memories of this one.  

Happy Trails

Weather Gets Cooler-Only the 90's

Finally a turn in the weather.  The relentless scorching heat seems to be gone finally.  We have a had a couple days in the low 90's but the humidity has risen considerably due to rain in and around the area.  It just misses us every time so far.  But we hold out hope since there is still a chance.  

Mom's doctor did give her some meds to help prevent any more mental decline.  But as we feared, what's lost is lost.  Can't be fixed.  The meds she got are somewhat complicated to take for the first month.  They have a color coded package that should make it easier.  But she confuses days now to.  So I have bought her a didgital calendar that has the day prominently displayed.  She got new glasses and those are now a problem and she calls continuously about them.  It is an involved subject as most things are with her.  For such a simple life she has the complaints have increased exponnentially.  Things come out of her mouth now that most polite folks would never say in public.  Nothing vulgar yet but mostly critical of others.  Although she has said sh-t while talking to 'K'.  She has never used foul language before.  It seems to be something that is increasing.  She would be horrified if she was aware. Fortunately she doesn't get out much.  We did check with the assisted living section and memory care area of her facility.  They were very helpful and like I had thought she is not at that level care yet.  She is healthy as anyone at 91 years old could be.  So she wouldn't be approved for a move, even though she wants to.  They have no room anyway.  And they are even more expensive, prohibitive in fact.  So that is something on the horizen that will have to be dealt with.

I met with my doctor again regading the issues I have with my cervical spine and left arm and shoulder.  He is refering me to a Pain Management doctor.  He tells me we will try injections to help alleviate the pain and is getting me an anti inflamatory  that should help some.  He says it is sort of a trial and error with how effective the injections are.  We will have to wait and see.  The next step is neurosurgery.  I will do all I can to avoid that.  

Happy Trails

Dentist Again and Mom Doctor Visit

Not a lot going on for the last week and have nothing of signifcance for this week.  I do have an appointment with the Dentist Wednesday.  I have had a couple teeth that have had the enamel just fall off.  Not chewing anything hard so not real sure what happened.  One will get bonding and the other two some minor grinding.  The Xrays did not reveal the crack I am sure I have so we wait until it gets worse it appears.  Just like the last one that became so painful.  

My Mother has an appointment with the doctor Wednesday also.  She has suddenly agreed to see him about her memory.  Every appointment has been about her memory but she doesn\t remember that.  The sudden interest is due to a long time friend that has been visiting her and asked her why she wasn't on a particular medication.  Of course she had no idea why she wasn't.  She has refused to take the MRI that would determine the course to take.  Now she is all about taking it because she got this suddenly new information from a trusted friend instead of her own children.  And that's the key I think.  We are just her childrenm what do we know.  Frustrating to say the least but we are taking advantage of it and preparing her for the visit and that an MRI will  be required.  She says that it won't be a problem.  She has no memory of all the trouble she gave us about taking the MRI it first time around.  IF there is a long enough wait between the doctor visit and the MRI she may change her mind again.  The friend is frustrated with us as she thinks we didn't know about this medication or were just not giving it to her or  seeking help.  We explained to her what has happened in the past but it seems to make not make it in to her brain either.  She got involved with my Mother's dog problems we have addressed in the past because she wants to help but only hears Mom's side.  I appreciate her concern and only wants the best for her but she needs to learn to listen to us and understand she doesn't get the full story from Mom.  We realize she only hears the very emotional side of Mom.  Yes, we know it's none of her business but we try to be kind to others.  But there may come a point.  

Happy Trails

The Blessing of Rain

Finally got a little rain last week.  Just short of one inch.  This was due to a storm that came in from the Gulf of Mexico.  We were hoping for much more.  We were on the outer bands of storms that came through North of where the storm hit.  It was ever so good and it cooled things down a bit too but not for long, nor was it near enough rain.  We have been back up in the 100+ temps since then with Sunday being a scorcher at 103 with dead air and high humidity.  Then a weak cool front moved through in the evening threatening rain.  It cooled down quickly from 103 to 78 a couple hoours later.  Very welcome relief but '0' rain.  All we got was the pleasant smell and the cooler temps.  The rain we did get last week came the day before it was my 'allowed' watering day.  I watered regardless of the rain.  It helped green up the little grass I have left.  With that the deer that have been very scarce were out in force, eating the newly green shoots.  The habitat is severely stressed after at least 2 years of drought and severe freezing temps in the winter.  Everything gets eaten by the deer, even the deer resistant plants if they have any green on them.  I have put out a tub in the yard with water in the yard fo the deer.  I rarely see them use it but it will be nearly dry come morning.  The wildlife are stresssed.  More high heat is expected this week also but some rain is possible.  Fingers are crossed.  

They are predicting a very cold winter for our area this year.  It includes a lot of moisture also.  Having gotten one major concern taken care of with the trees and their limbs resting on my roof when they get icy, we are looking to get a generator.  I have one picked out,  It won't run the whole house but at least we can run some small heaters and the refrigerator.  Having a place to store it and then run it when needed is what we are working on now.  It is a dual fuel and has a CO2 sensor that shuts it off.  With the grid here in Texas not being reliable and even less so in the winter, this will be a good investment.  At least that is what I tell myself.  

Happy Trails

Trees Again

I had been concerned about the trees at my house for awhile.  We have between 40-50 Live Oak trees.  They range in sizes and all were here when we moved in 30+ years ago.  About 5 years ago I hired a guy to trim them up.  Layed out some serious cash to get it done.  We were pretty happy for the most part, but he did short the job.  He needed to be somewhere else and rushed to finish.  So I have been shopping around for folks that would trim them again.  After the 3 hard freezes, especially last year, they were in some serious need.  I was mostly concerned about cutting back the large trees that were growing over my house.  These are really big trees with some very large limbs.  They were bent down and laying on the roof with heavy ice cover this past winter.  I wanted to get that stuff cleared away.  They came out this past week and oh my, what a great job they did.  They certainly didn't short me.  And last week was the hottest temps we have had so far, 105+.  It was a crew of 4.  Two cutters and two dragging and cleaning up and throwing everything in the chipper.  The two were apparently husband and wife.  Yes, wife.  She did most all of the climbing going up and down with a rope harness.  To say the least I was very impressed.  They cleared enough limbs that it should last much longer than the last time.  They found an old hollow limb that was huge and was eaten up with ants.  It humg driectly over the house and would have caused some seriouos damage.  It may have been 24" in diameter at the trunk.  Seeing the cut logs I am very surprised that it didn't fall during the ice storm last winter. 

The teenage Grands were here for two nights and it went very well thankfully.  'K' has gone to take my Mother to the doctor.  She will take notes for her since she never remembers his intructions etc and always argues with whoever goes with her about what was said.  Hopefully her notes will help.  Next option is to video the appointment if this doesn't work.  The doctor will allow that.  Hopefully it goes well and she can remember some of it.  But that seems unlikely as her memory seems to be fading even more.

Well, it's lunch time and I am going to eat some left over Carne Guisada I made.

Happy Trails