August, 2001

Nature Songs ~~~~continued ~

August 2, 2001 - That first day of the month traveled through in triple time. It was one of those blurs - like a wild animal dashing for safety after it spies a predator. The highlight of the day was getting to relish the succulent tree ripened peaches I bought Monday. There is no comparison to the taste of a tree ripened peach with its rich sweetness to the taste of a peach purchased from the store that had to be picked before it was fully ripe. The sweetness is lacking in those picked too early and they never get the same softness and juiciness that enhances the flavor. No peach should be picked before its time.

The boys here with me, I decided not to go workout yesterday (or today). I had done double workouts on Monday since we did a series of exercises during the Better Health session using dumbbells. These are some that should be done twice a week with a day’s rest in between. Rest? Just from repeating the same movements so the muscles stretched will be able to rebound from the stress.

About midmorning BingoKid arrived to spend the rest of the day with us. Since Wendy brought him by on her way to the library to work on the genealogy of her family, I asked if she minded stopping at a store for me. I had bought some more picture frames to use on the wall in the hall where the family pictures were once up in place. They were never put back in place after Wes took them down to fix the water lines for the bathroom which are located in that same section of the wall.. I bought some el-cheap-ohs to use since there are so many different types and sizes used jointly. Looking at the receipt I saw where I had been charge nine dollars too much for two of the frames. That much money is worth a trip back to the store for restitution.

We loaded up to make a trip over to NascarKid’s new school to meet his Mom and pick up his schedule for the school year. They had to check on the bus schedule. If he should ride the bus that come to the elementary school in the afternoon, it will be 4:30 before it should arrive. hat’s a fraction late and makes for a dilemma of what to do. Oh, well, it will all work out in the end.

We drove up to Morganton to meet for supper and had a small problem. The Blueberry Grill had closed down apparently, as it was not listed in the telephone directory - which was choice number one. I drove the boys up to Uptown, another popular place to eat. I would go ahead and order while Tbird picked up Giggles and drive back to meet us. One BIG problem! The whole complex of buildings on the block were gone and several bulldozers were still at work removing rubble! We knew not where Uptown had moved to, so we ended up eating at Western Steer which is very near the daycare center. (That shows how long it’s been since we have eaten in the city of Morganton!)

Mother sounds horrible today. Her cough is getting worse and the cough syrup they are giving her at the center is not helping any at all. I was told they faxed the doctor yesterday to try and get more medicine for her, but as of midday today, nothing has changed. I suggested calling the doctor’s office, but Mother does not want me to. Her comment when I told her on the phone I would see her later was, “Well, if I’m dead you can look at me when you come.” She feels bad.

All systems are “go” for the boys. For now all is going well with their interacting with each other. I had a talk with DynoKid yesterday and told him that he was going to have to start taking up for himself when his brother comes along and hits on him. Later yesterday when NascarKid “kiddingly” pushed his brother he was in for a surprise. He got hit - hard - and was not expecting it. A strong impression was made and he got the idea that the rules had changed - so far, he has done much better with dealing with “little brother.” Little Brother is not that little any more. (I don’t approve of bickering and fighting, but things are to the point that the younger brother has to prove himself to his older brother in order to earn recognition of his place in the pecking order.)

I broke down and baked a cake this morning to add to it all the goodies we used in our last cooking class at Quest. It is low calorie and low fat, so I should not feel guilty for having baked it. only need someone to help eat up what is put together and not have it left here at home for me to contend with. Pina Calota Cake with the non-alcoholic fruits juices, pineapple and coconut topping sounds good, but it will be a while till it sits and the flavors all blend to improve the final product.

The boys have to be back in Morganton to have their hair cut at five this afternoon. Guess I will take them and wait to bring them back home with me. It’s no need for Dad to have to bring them over here in the morning and also make the trip to Morganton to take Giggles to her daycare before he goes to work. I’ll have them on Monday of next week. Their school starts on Tuesday. BingoKid’s school begins on Thursday here in Caldwell County.

I saw why we couldn’t locate the grill yesterday in the phone book. As I drove by this evening, I noticed that it is the Huckleberry Grill. Having the correct name would have helped bunches! I was on my way from the barber shop to pick up the boys’ guitars at home so they could practice them some at my house before their lessons. NascarKid has his lesson tomorrow afternoon and needs to know what he is doing ... We ran in a few minutes to see Mother. She had just gone to bed and I had stopped to buy bagels before getting to the center - somehow two cartons of ice cream managed to get in the shopping cart as I came pass the frozen foods ... I could only stay a few minutes this time.

Another average day in the days of my average life .....

August 3, 2001 - All righty ... there are things to do and places to be again today. I decided last night the time has come to rid the house of a few spiders. I am well aware of the beneficial qualities of having a few in the house, however the time is here that there are more than a few literally hanging around. I’m almost afraid to take another look at the house. If I do, I might discover that I am in a Halloween Haunted House instead of home. The lace decorations of the spiders certainly give that appearance. I tease not. Webs are knocked down only to reappear almost as quickly as the first ones disappear. Word was that insects and such would be worst this summer because all the conditions would be conducive to the over abundance. Is it just another summer, or would this be a plague that has befallen us? (That goes along with all the hornet nests, yellow jackets and bees which are also overly abundant. - snakes, too!!!)

I’m off to the store bright and early to buy four of the spray bombs to use throughout the house this afternoon. One of them will go to the basement. I figure we will take the dogs with us to Hickory when NascarKid goes for his guitar lesson. It shouldn’t be too hard to idle away several hours while waiting for the house to get fumigated. I might take the boys up to the walking park and let them walk the dogs around the pond a time or two. Who knows, I could try walking around once with them!

Mother needs some more Cokes, so some time could be spent with her when we take them to her. She and the other residents enjoy the dogs. That would have to be done before we go to Hickory. I don’t plan to bring NascarKid and DynoKid back home with me. They will be at their house until Sunday evening. Tuesday they begin school, which is the earliest I’ve ever known for a school year to begin.

Sometime very soon, the dentist’s office will be calling to remind me of a dental checkup I’m due to have. Hopefully, it will only cost $10 after my dental insurance is filed. That makes going a little easier. Allan wants me to make him an appointment while I’m there and see if they will take Buddy Boy as a patient. He has never been to a dentist. That means I should come out with three appointments after my teeth are cleaned and checked.

It’s time to officially begin the day. Now to see how much of my planning is carried out and how many side trips are thrown into the schedule of events.

So, ... the day began ... par the course for me ... it all became topsy-curvy ... notes jotted down early this morning never left the drawing board .. Of all the things I intended getting done, little was actually accomplished. Around one p.m. I tossed the towel unceremoniously into the imaginary ring admitting defeat and stretched out on the bed to rest a spell before heading toward Hickory for the guitar lesson.

The stuff to be bought was not bought - I didn’t leave the house until time to take NascarKid to his lesson. He couldn’t find his Gameboy or collection of CDs to take with him. They are yet to be found amid the mysterious wonders stored within the realm of my domain.

Dad met the boys in Hickory instead of Mom. He drove up beside my car and reaching into the back of his truck as he alit, he picked up a gallon plastic ziplock bag full of freshly picked homegrown blueberries to present to moi. Guitars took over the truck bed as the boys climbed in the truck behind the front set and they all headed homeward. BingoKid and I headed to the gas station to fill up on the lower priced gas before we, too, headed homeward.

Allan was mowing the yard as we drove up the driveway. He was more than happy to turn the task over to BingoKid (who is supposed to keep the grass mowed this summer, anyway.) He has Buddy Boy with him, who enjoyed searching through the toybox for any new finds to delight his fancy.

Since it was a quarter of eleven this evening before Wes and his crew headed toward their home, there was no time spot available for visiting Mother. She was feeling lousy again today and we only talked a short time on the phone. She relayed the message to me that the doctor is out of town until the first of the week. That translates into, “There will be nothing done to make her feel better!” At least I took her some cherry-flavored cough drops to suck on yesterday. Maybe that will help some with the spasms of coughing.

August 4, 2001 - I was covering a shoe box with contact paper yesterday. It was a larger sized shoe box my water aerobic shoes arrived in, and just what I needed to store the collection of six-inch charm squares exchanged and amassed during my tour of duty with the Quilter’s guild. In the process of stretching the paper and pulling the protective covering off the back of the paper, my finger became entangled with the sticky side of the paper. In the end, the acrylic part on the finger popped loose along the back edge. Now, I desperately need to go by the shop and get my nails worked on today. I’m already pass three weeks since the last time my nails were filled in. (Two weeks pass much too quickly for me to be running in and out of the nail salon.)

Wonder if I’ll hear, “Two weeks! You must come - two weeks!” If I had come back earlier, it would have been with the grandchildren and that doesn’t seem like it would have been a good idea. No, more like turning the proverbial mad bull loose to explore the unusual domain of strange bottles of colors and instruments that whirl -plus the royal throne awaiting the next customer requiring toe pedicures. Amazing how many people choose to climb up to the awaiting chair and have their feet massaged in the swirling water before their feet are buffed and toes beautified.

The picture frames that cost too much have yet to be taken back to the store so the price can be re-figured and a refund made to me for the overpayment. I’ll take them this morning as I buy the Cokes and a watermelon - among other items.

I did purchase something Thursday for Mother that should give her hours of enjoyment. Ingle’s happened to have their Kolochi plants on sell for $4.95 in their florist department. The vivid colors were so eye-catching, I had to take a few steps backward to have a closer look and choose one. Mother now has a pretty bright red one sitting on her windowsill. There was an unusual burgundy colored plant, but it was pass it’s blooming splendor.

4:41a.m. - tired, but not sleeping. Master Charlie is stretched out beside me under the blanket. He has a soft snore as he sleeps and his tongue sticks out a tad. A smile of contentment shows across his face. I have to wonder is it because he is toasty warm and comfy or is he dreaming? He’s quite the lovable rascal ...

The money was refunded to me for the two overpayments on the picture frames along with the taxes overpaid. The sales clerks couldn’t imagine how the slip up occurred, but there it was on the receipt. The UPC codes matched the ones on the frames that were marked at a much lower price. It pays to always check the sales receipt because errors are actually quite common.

Mother wouldn’t eat her supper this evening except for a few bites. Her color isn’t good and her cough is no better. I’m tempted to take in something of my own to give her and see if it helps any. My sister-in-law and I are in agreement. Mother said she would sign herself into a hospital if she thought it would help. That is way out of character for someone who doesn’t like doctors and hospitals. She has to feel rotten. Allan is sending someone by Sunday to check on her and see what they advise. This is a double problem for me. I want the best for Mother, but if she should have to go to the hospital, I’ll have to put it on my credit card. Insurance, taxes and a few other things have my finances drained at the moment. The cost of living and added medicine costs rising doesn’t help at all. I’m already paying out forty dollars a month or more on her drug bill. (I’ll have to pay extra for each day she may be in a hospital in order to hold her bed for her at the nursing center.)

August 5, 2001 - My intentions were well-intended. My heart was in the right place. My body had other intentions and won out over my head. I got up a quarter of seven and turned off the alarm when it went off and thought I would lie down for only a few more minutes. The next thing I was fully aware of, the time was almost nine! There was no way I could make it to church in Hickory by 9:30! I wanted to hear how my cousin was getting alone this morning and if she had gone into surgery to repair her broken hip. I’ll have to call and ask. At least we left a message for my Mother’s friend to call Mother and let her know how things are going for her husband and the heart cauterization he had this week. He may have had surgery as well.

If Mother felt better, I would take her a ham biscuit this morning, but I doubt if she would bother to chew the ham. I’ll take her a cup of watermelon in a little while and see if she will eat it. My brother will no doubt bring her some later this afternoon since he hasn’t been over to see her lately. It would be good if one of his daughters were to come and see what they would advise about something to do to help her feel better. The Grandkids don’t come around her much. I think they have a problem with seeing her in the nursing center and less than what she once was physically and mentally.

Best I spend the afternoon resting up and getting ready for the tomorrow. Tbird will bring the boys over this evening and I will have them tomorrow since she works and their school begins Tuesday ... Tuesday! No ! Change that to Thursday! Thursday, I’ll be back to my regular lifestyle - all the boys will be back in school. Well,.... I have offered to keep Buddy Boy some while his Dad is at work. That means I would have him for twenty-four hours - minus the time he is in daycare. He has been begging to spend more time with me. We’ll have to see how it works out.

Meanwhile, I need to get this day officially begun and some mileage behind me.

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