Blog Archives
Frog songs and gardening
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It was such a lovely night tonight that instead of watching TV Dear Hubby and I sat out by the pond listening to our bullfrogs sing. No, they didn’t sing The Michigan Rag. Gosh darn it, we could’ve made a fortune if they had—no, wait they’d only sing for us and everyone else would think we were crazy. Think? Heck, I know we are.
I spent most of the day pulling weeds, dead heading flowers, cleaning algae off the waterfall and rocks, backwashing the filters, and cutting back overgrown plants. DH spent the morning with his mother and then rode the mower around our yard. I think I got the better part of that deal.
We have a ground cover growing near the waterfall. I spent several hours thinning it out. I have no idea what its name is. What I do know, is that it hides the wild strawberries and those, ever so devious, hummingbird vines until they are well established and difficult to remove. I thought I liked hummingbird vine, well I did actually, until I planted it in my yard. Now it is a curse. It’s invasive as hell, as difficult to control as a fresh from the wilds mustang, and a real pain in the aster to pull out.
Posted in my garden
Tags: Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Never a dull moment
Posted by doggonedmysteries
There are days when I swear I own two baby elephants and not two Bull Terriers. When they decide to tear around the house, they rock the joint. Two wooden camels, Don Quixote, William Shakespeare, and a few other carvings on the top shelf of the curio cabinet walk from one side to the other. On the top of my desk, my computer speakers do a square dance with pictures. Ganesh swings his partner gargoyles and they promenade left and right.
Patty loves to dive onto the couch and race from end to end slamming her butt against the arms to stop and turn. Sometimes she races along the back of it—my poor, worn out couch. I don’t care, she’s having fun, and that’s what matters. Gavin’s favorite dash takes him from the living room to the kitchen where he uses the cupboard to stop and make his turn to run headlong back into the living room. Yes, this can be a lively house.
What I don’t understand is why they wait until I get up to expend all this energy. When they are alone downstairs with Dear Hubby, Gavin is asleep in a chair and Patty is unconscious on the couch. At least that’s what DH tells me.
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Keep medication lists handy.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you live with an elderly parent, someone who is chronically ill, or have a medical condition of your own, keep a list of their/your medications handy at all times. Dear hubby is on so many medications for his MS that I keep a list on my computer so I can print it out right before a doctor’s appointment. If we had to sit there and write them all down, it would take an hour so under ‘list medications’ we always put see attached. I also keep a print out in my purse, another taped inside a kitchen cupboard door, and one in each car.
The one inside the cupboard is in case of emergency—say needing EMS, then I can hand them the list of medications as soon as they come through the door. I keep his medication list updated monthly or as prescriptions change.
On more than one occasion, having a print out has saved us from forgetting some important medication that a doctor needs to know he takes. The last thing you want to do is forget to tell them about one. With our luck, that one interacts with whatever they decide to prescribe.
Posted in Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Elder Care, Family, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Writer, Writing
A klutz’s guide to yard work
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby finally listened to me and bought a weed whacker that isn’t too heavy for me to handle. I really like this one. It is battery powered. There’s no electric cord to drag around or heavy gas tank to struggle with or refill.
Today was sunny and warm. I decided to trim around the yard and gardens. I was blithely trimming away then I stepped backwards and tripped over a couple of bricks. As I looked at the sky, I pondered. Why was I seeing the sky? Gee, the hummingbird vine on the arbor needs trimming. I hoped none of the neighbors saw me do that double deluxe flip. Maybe I could tell them I was trying some new gymnastic move. Yeah, sure. They’d believe that.
Time to take inventory. Hey feet, you okay? Yeah, we’re fine. Ankles? Still here. Legs and knees? We’re a go. Hips? Not a problem. Back? Spry as ever. Shoulders, arms, and head? Ready. Whew.
Okay, the human was fine, but how was the machinery? I stood, picked up the weed whacker, turned it on and it worked too. What a relief. I shut it off. Then I heard my neighbor yell from her bedroom window, “Glad you got up. I was ready to send my husband over to check on you.”
Rats.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
High Fashion, high heels, a klutz, and Bull Terriers
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m no fashion plate. I wear jeans and T-shirts all the time. When you have dogs, fashionable clothes shred easily if worn anywhere near them. I own a few dresses but they seldom see the light of day or moonlight for that matter. One of my dresses almost killed me. I caught the heel of my shoe in the hem and went ass over tin cups. It was a good thing that I was outside and had a soft landing on a nice, thick lawn. The shoes didn’t have much of a heel and still I fell. Okay, so I’m a klutz. I admit it. I have the T-shirt that says so.
I can’t wear high heels. Hell, I don’t even own a pair for fear of falling off them. That’s why I live in flip flops or, when I have to wear shoes, sneakers. The highest pair of heels I have are about two inches and I’ve only worn the shoes twice—I don’t get out much.
I have two Bull Terriers—not the best choice of dogs for a klutz to have. My dogs are walking road blocks. Occasionally, they seem to take great delight in tripping either Dear Hubby or me. Gavin’s paws often aim for my feet when I’m not wearing sneakers. Lately, since it is flip-flop season, the most often heard expression with the properly added expletive is, “Ow! Foot! Get off my ******* foot!” Patty doesn’t aim for my feet as frequently but she’s managed to get a paw in from time to time.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Patty as Esther Williams
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Patty hates baths, rain, wet towels, washcloths, and squirt guns. I’ve spent hours and numerous cookies trying to coax and or trick her into the bathtub to give her a bath. Once I get her in the tub, she cringes in the corner, tucks her tail, ducks her head, and looks pitiful. You send her out in the rain and you get the same reaction. You would think you were killing her if you try to wipe her face with a wet paper towel or washcloth. That is if you can catch her because when she see’s you coming at her with one she runs, hides in the back of her crate, and plays invisible dog.
Now if only someone could explain her fascination with the pond. Why is it, that when I turn my back for a second, I’m certain to find her standing on the rock ledge readying herself for an Esther Williams swan dive? Maybe she does this to make me yell. Could it be that she thinks my blood pressure needs a boost? She’s never actually gone in. However, she occasionally takes a drink while teetering on the edge just to make me crazy.
Posted in Dog related, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
I hope that’s the last I ever see of Liberty Nursing and Rehab/ HCR Manor Care
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This morning Dear Hubby called Liberty Nursing and Rehab, he spoke to the head honcho about sending me in to pick up the remaining money in his Mother’s account there and she told him it would be ready when I arrived. I didn’t want to go back there. Oh, whom do I think I’m kidding? I couldn’t wait to go back and raise some hell.
I went into Liberty Nursing and Rehab/HCR Manor Care all set to pick up the money and, knowing them, expecting the worst. I found out I was right. I told the receptionist who I was and why I was there. She told me to take a seat and she’d have someone come to talk to me directly. Soon afterwards, Al showed up. Al told me, he didn’t have a check ready and that he’d mail one to us.
“Well, now aren’t you precious. No, you won’t mail us a check. You’ll get yourself back to your little office and you will cut a check NOW.”
“But, I’m busy doing payroll.”
“You have my deepest sympathies. However, I was told to come in and pick up the money and I’m not leaving here without it. How about this, why don’t you call your supervisor?”
“You want to talk to my supervisor?”
“Was I speaking in Latin? Did you misunderstand me? Let me say it again, nice and slow, so you can understand. G e t y o u r s u p e r v i s o r o u t h e r e.”
Al disappeared.
His supervisor arrived a bit out of breath and tried to explain that Al was busy doing payroll checks, and did I really want him to stop what he was doing to cut a check for us?
“Yes I do and yes, you will. I don’t care what he’s busy doing. I was told to come and get the money from my Mother-in-law’s account. I’m here and I’m not leaving without it.” Then I went on to say, “I’m a freelance writer, and this won’t be pretty.” (I didn’t mention that I was a mystery writer.)
She scurried away.
I sat in the lobby putting pen to paper while eavesdropping on conversations around me. I can’t help it I’m a writer. I do believe that when I flipped over my third page of the legal pad and began to write on the fourth the receptionist was getting quite nervous. On the other hand, could her nervousness have been caused by my making a point of reading the identification badges of every person who walked by?
About twenty minutes later, Al appeared with a check. It was for a mere $42.02. Which for many people wouldn’t be a big deal, but for us, what it came down to was the principle of the thing. It also felt real good to make them jump through my hoops.
As you can guess, there’s another Doggoned book in here somewhere and Linnie will be in the thick of it. I just need to think of the right title….
Posted in Misc, My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Elder Care, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Physical Therapy, Writer, Writing
Balance has returned to our pond
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve been hoping to have breeding Koi again. A couple years back someone got into our yard, dumped a car battery in the pond, and killed all of our Koi. I was heartbroken, they were our pets, they had names, and they ate food from our hands. We had to work hard to clean out the pond, replace all the plants, snails, frogs—everything and get the pond back into balance. Some of our baby Koi had gone to friends’ ponds over the years and they very graciously gave a few back to get us going again. We also bought a few small Koi.
Late last night I took the flashlight out to the pond. A couple of weeks ago one of our Koi laid eggs and at night, shining a flashlight into the water, is the only time you can spot the fry (teensy newly hatched babies for those of you who don’t know fish terms.) Yes, we have babies. At least one that I know of and it looks like it might be yellow or white.
Proof to me that our pond is finally back to where it should be. We have nine frogs that we’ve seen, there could be more. We have eight large Koi about four or five years old and one that is small and is probably two years old. There are snails, the water lilies are blooming, and I’ve even spotted a few salamanders. Life in the pond is back to normal now if only we can keep Patty from trying to dive in there.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Good friends, good weather, a very good day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I hope everyone took the time to say thank you to a soldier today. And what a glorious day it was! The temperature was perfect, the sky was clear, and Dear Hubby came home from his mother’s early enough for us to spend some time together outside in the yard. He puttered around in his fold and go scooter while Patty and Gavin raced about the yard. We were all enjoying the afternoon.
I cleaned the grill and readied it for the steaks I planned to grill around six. A few friends stopped by to chat—always a fun thing in my book. However, we lost track of time and didn’t get the steaks on the grill until after seven. That’s okay. We didn’t mind because our stomachs weren’t growling for food. Talking to friends we haven’t seen for a while, seemed more important at the time.
The pups weren’t thrilled that their dinners were late, but they survived. A few steak trimmings in their dinners gained forgiveness. The games of hoops and hide and seek helped too. DH and I are too easy to find but they do love to play.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
How security conscious is Liberty Nursing and Rehab–HCR Manor Care?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
One of the first things that Dear Hubby noticed about Liberty Nursing and Rehab (whose parent company is HCR Manor Care) was their complete lack of security. DH, a former police officer, is retired and on disability. With his certification as a crime prevention officer, it was his job to point out breeches in security. It angered him to see such an utter lack of or concern for the security and safety of the patients.
Half the time the main entrance door was unlocked at night and there was no one on the front desk. The door was always unlocked in the day time whether there was someone on the front desk or not. The facility is in a neighborhood plagued with documented criminal activity and vandalism. DH was quick to voice his concerns to the building director. Gosh darn it; his mother was a patient in there.
The building director spoke to him about various options that they had considered but had never implemented. Security cameras, security guards, yada, yada…. She then pooh-poohed all suggestions he made as unnecessary. Yeah, I too said, “what?”
The only change since his meeting with the building’s director was that they now never manually unlock the front door by key and they rely on the timed magnetic lock. He had watched many visitors and persons applying for employment try to open the door during the morning when the business was open. They would try turning the lever, it wouldn’t turn, so they’d walk away confused and muttering. They now rely on the timed magnetic lock When DH would be around the outside and saw the people he would stop them and explain that they simply had to pull on the heavy wooden door. Yes, I said a heavy wooden door, yet another obstacle for someone with a disability.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Disability, Doggoned, Elder Care, Family, Healthcare, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Nursing, Nursing Homes, Physical Therapy, Writer, Writing
MIL sprung from substandard nursing home/rehab facility
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Thursday Dear Hubby and I went to the HCR Manor Care Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to spring his mother from the facility. We had an appointment for 1:15 to sign her release forms. How unfortunate that they kept us waiting for a good 45 minutes. During that time, the staff began to get the idea that I was somehow not pleased.
The rules on how to deal with incompetent people who think they are superior:
- Be prepared to use police methods of interrogation and intimidation body language.
- Arrive early
- Have your verbal ammunition primed
- Stay cool and calm
Upon entering the facility I said loud enough to make certain everyone around the reception area heard me, “The ADA should see exactly how handicapped accessible this place is—NOT.” I had to wheel my MIL’s new wheelchair down twelve steps to get into the building. In the elevator, I voiced a few complaints about accessibility again. DH was enjoying this.
I roamed the hall for a bit, asking a few staff members if they knew where this meeting was to take place. No one did—what a surprise. Finally, a woman showed up in my MIL’s room at a quarter to two apologizing for running late. Before she changed the subject, I told her that the least she could’ve done was send someone in to us and let us know. I mentioned that it was rude to keep us waiting for as long as she did but knowing the facility, I gathered that rude treatment was par for the course. I hadn’t begun to tell her what I truly thought of the place and she was already stuttering. She beat a hasty retreat telling us she’d send someone with my MIL’s release papers.
An open letter to Healthcare workers,
If you don’t have any compassion or empathy for your patients, find another career. Why did you choose the job in the first place?
If you are burned out, quit and go into another field. When you are having a bad day don’t take it out on your patients their best day is probably worse than your worst day.
Always keep in mind that person in the bed could be you one day and treat them as you’d want to be treated. Do treat their family members, as you would want yours to be treated.
The person you are caring for is not a side of beef, no matter how far gone you think his/her mind is, you have no idea how much they really know about what is going on around them or what is being said.
The best thought to keep in your mind when working with a patient is “This could be me, my mother, father, daughter, son, or grandchild.” I’m betting, with that always in mind, you’ll treat your patients better.
You chose the healthcare field so do your jobs without neglecting, abusing, or belittling your patients. Do not treat elderly patients like children; they’ve earned the right to be treated with the respect due them.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Elder Care, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Nursing, Nursing Homes, Physical Therapy, Writer, Writing
When the owl goes home, you let the sleeping owl sleep in.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Who gets up before six a.m. on a Sunday? Under normal circumstances, it certainly wouldn’t be me. Oh, but there I was at the Pennwriters conference and my roommate, bless her, was up by five which meant so was I. Then Dave knocked on the door promptly at six. “Yes, Dave. We’re up.”
After we had breakfast, we all made one last ticket buy for the Chinese auction and then some of us headed off to the first of the morning sessions. 9:15 to 10:15 we had our choice of Susan Gable—You say tomato, I say to-motto: How Character motto influences plot, conflict & other story elements, Bobbi Carducci—No means nothing, finding yes in rejection, and Lucienne Diver—trends in publishing.
10:30 to 11:30 Uwe Stender—Writing non-fiction from query to publication, Don Helin—You landed that Publisher…now what?, Tim Esaias—point of view. I sure that if more people had known that in Tim’s session you got chocolate for participating we would’ve had more than the SRO group we did have in there. I know I enjoyed the chocolate.
10:30 to 12:30 closing ceremonies and the Chinese auction. I took two baskets home. Upon arriving home, I was abused by two Bull Terriers for hours. Their tails wagged so hard that I have bruises on my legs from being thwacked by them. Dear hubby let me sleep for an hour or two when I crashed on my chair (with two sixty pound dogs on me.)
It was good to see so many of my fellow writers whom I’d not seen for a year and renew friendships. It’s always fun to meet new people and make new friends.
There was one member of our group, who we all missed terribly—Debbie, are you reading this? Debbie was in a bad auto accident two years ago and there has been a hole in our little gang of rowdies without her. We missed hearing her laugh and after something bawdy was said, chime in with, “And I write for children.” We do hope to see her next year. Her recovery has been slow and her medical expenses–atrocious enough to keep her from attending again this year. We all send prayers that you will continue to recover—but at warp speed now, and that your finances improve greatly over this year.
{Note to Valerie Malmont} Valerie we missed you too!
See you all in Lancaster next year!
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 