BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again

Subject: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:19 PM

Curmudgeon, home again, home again, lickety splish...

Okay! Last post here and I'll start another thread...

Previous thread here

Tom is HOME! And got safely into the house (plastic bag around his cast, cat in the cellar) despite the general dampness. At least it wasn't actively raining when we got here.

Took a little maneuvering, but, despite slippery steps and deck (geez, isn't where this all started seven weeks ago?!?) he's in the house and only slightly winded.

Rufus is vacuum cleaning the wheelchair...walker...rollator...and more or less ignoring Tom. I'm sure Tom will have two cats fighting over him tonight.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:26 PM

I'm so happy to read this--though not nearly as happy as you two must be! Hooray for you both--and the cats.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: GUEST,Jennifer, knitpick
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:28 PM

YEE HA! Glad to hear this. Sorry won't see you guys next weekend! Hugs to you both!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:46 PM

Well done. Welcome home Mudge, all the best from me and mine.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Jeri
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:49 PM

You need a raincoat for your butt.

Welcome home, Tom!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:56 PM

I think there is a song in that Jeri.
Welcome home, Tom.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: GUEST,Pam Biggi
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:57 PM

YAY!!! Congratulations on finally getting Tom home!!! Tom, you stay in the house until things dry out outside!! Love you both!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 12 - 03:59 PM

Sniff...

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Nancy King
Date: 04 May 12 - 04:10 PM

Excellent news! May all go well from now on!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 May 12 - 05:49 PM

Just what I was hoping to hear.

Have a wonderful evening.

Charlie and Judy

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 May 12 - 06:40 PM

small case......large smile........


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: jacqui.c
Date: 04 May 12 - 06:46 PM

Great news. Be well Tom.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bill D
Date: 04 May 12 - 07:38 PM

Great news... for Tom, you...and the cats!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 May 12 - 08:50 PM

fantastic

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ranger1
Date: 04 May 12 - 09:43 PM

Welcome home, Tom!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 May 12 - 11:02 PM

Welcome home AND to your Mudcat home, too, Tom.

Linn, now you can breathe!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Amos
Date: 04 May 12 - 11:11 PM

So glad you're back, Tom!! Tell your cells thanks for getting through!! Enjoy being home!

Warm regards,

A

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 12 - 07:58 AM

It's GREAT to have Tom home. That being said, It's ony 7:45 a.m. and I already feel a bit run ragged.

I've stolen some time to just sit in bed and read with the cats, but I've got too many things still crashing about in my brain. The reading is interrupted by list making and bringing stuff to Tom.

He's needing to familiarize himself with what I have in freezer and larder. We just decided on dinner. And in a few minutes we'll cooperate on breakfast -- he'll toast the English muffins and I'll make the scrambled eggs with cream cheese.

Before I go out on a round of errands, I need to find some smaller boxes for the books I'm dropping off for the library sale. Then off to pick up some of his Rxs, drop those books off and pick up a few items at the other grocery store. And, most importantly, stop at Radio Shack and see about a pair of walkie-talkies or something so Tom and I can communicate between upstairs and downstairs.

After I get home, the project is to rearrange EVERYTHING in the room with the computer so he can get himself and his wheelchair in here. And that project actually starts outside the door. I'm certain that every box, etc. will be moved at least twice...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 12 - 12:32 PM

Back from errands...but, before I left, I took a nap. (At nine o'clock in the morning! After a decent night's sleep!) I'm still very very tired, but a lot has been accomplished. (I hate to think of how I'd feel without that nap!)

Walkie-talkies achieved, too, very economically. Spent half again as much on AAA batteries, as this is the model that doesn't come with rechargables. This should save a lot of running up and down stairs. (ME running up and down stairs...)

Still have to open up an avenue to the computer for Tom...but I've got all afternoon to do that.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: gnu
Date: 05 May 12 - 01:59 PM

Another sniff... guess I really AM just an old softy. I hope all goes well with recovery... for you both.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 12 - 05:24 PM

Walkie-talkie situation not exactly taken care of. Tomorrow on my way to work (or maybe on my way home) I have to stop at Radio Shack and see what go accidently turned on on Tom's unit that it makes static for no apparent reason. I pulled the batteries out of it to get it to stop.

But because of it, Tom interrupted my already several times interrupted nap. It's okay, but, well, I'm still too tired to clear out the stuff I have to for Tom to access the computer.

I just reassessed the situation and I can't do anything until I can do it all -- things have to be moved (and then they'll be majorly in the way), things on the bottom have to be REmoved, then those things that were moved have to be stacked in a better place. Oh, and the stuff behind the door has to go somewhere else, too, and I don't know where...

Meanwhile, Tom can't get to the computer.

I need to go call my mother.

But the good news is the sun finally came out while I was napping!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ranger1
Date: 05 May 12 - 05:29 PM

I wonder if anyone has a laptop that you could borrow while Tom convalesces, might save you a lot of unnecessary work.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 12 - 05:36 PM

Yes, but two things: we not only aren't networked, it's not a wireless network, and, two, because of his sight problems, Tom's had keyboard and screen problems with laptops.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 12 - 07:45 PM

Besides, all that de-cluttering has been put off waaaaaaaay too long. In a way, it's good to have an excuse to accomplish it AND a deadline.

I think I've done the minimal so Tom can indeed get in here tomorrow and Monday.

Then I'll see what I can get done on Tuesday.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 May 12 - 09:06 PM

Because Tom is home, you won't have to spend time driving to see him. That is time you can spend on other important things like clearing a path to the computer. But remember to BREATHE.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 May 12 - 11:37 PM

IS there someone who can come help you move all that stuff, Linn? Doesn't seem as if you shoud have to do it all alone, not after the past seven+ weeks!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: mouldy
Date: 06 May 12 - 04:36 AM

Sounds like you've been running on adrenaline for a good while now, which is why you crash when you stop. Have you a neighbour who can help you move stuff? The last thing you need now is to put yourself out of action!

Still, lovely to have Tom home!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 May 12 - 06:56 AM

I've been moving stuff for the past seven weeks.

Yes, a neighbor and several others have offered to help, but it's actually less aggravation to do it myself and at my own pace...and it involves constant decision making.

I got help with the things I needed help with.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 May 12 - 08:14 AM

Visiting Nurses make their first appearance this morning -- I'll be at work.

I'm looking forward to one of these days feeling a bit rested...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 May 12 - 08:33 AM

Just a report on Tom's computer use -- I managed on Saturday to clear a wheelchair avenue to the computer, but Tom found Sunday that he was unable, even enlarging the screen quite a bit, to read much. And, as he kept losing sight of the cursor, he couldn't access his long- neglected emails...

Not sure whether his vision has deteriorated or if it's a temporary condition caused by not using the computer for two months.

Tomorrow I intend to do a major de-clutter of this room -- and also I can help Tom (especially if I can get the wheelchair and a chair for me at the computer) do what he's two months behind on.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 May 12 - 08:52 AM

god luck for the decluttering (I really must do the same one day)

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 May 12 - 09:49 AM

Is there a god of declutering your house? Really? No shit? If so, I might just get me some of that religion!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 May 12 - 09:58 AM

Linn, try reversing the screen - make the background black and the letters white. At one time you used to be able to emulate the old black or amber screens - probably in the accessibility settings.

If you don't solve the walkie-talkie question by the end of the week, let me know. I think I have a pair in my eBay stash that works fine up to about 1/4 mile that I used when the kids were younger (they'd take one with them when they went to explore the woods across the road - half of the fun was reporting back to home base with the walkie talkie.)

As a note to those not familiar, the decluttering threads have been running for a while, as a general public service to all and sundry at Mudcat. ☺ Drop in and make yourself at home (that is, dig your home out from under to find it with the encouragement of the declutter crew! We're all at some stage of making paths through, rearranging, or planning for more efficient operations.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 May 12 - 10:05 AM

The largest possible script might help. There are special screens for the vision impaired available. Thomas had one. Maybe a local group working with the blind could help.
Meantime, how is Tom feeling now that he is at home?
M

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 May 12 - 07:58 PM

Yeah, Tom regularly blows up the screen -- larger, not with a big bang. The light on dark doesn't work, but I changed some colors for him (months ago) and that helped him be able to see things. I also googled a simple fix for the cursor problem -- and learned how to make the pixels larger in the cursor so IT'S larger and he can see it.

Got the walkie-talkie problem ironed out. Turns out our neighbors up the hill got a similar pair of 2-ways over the weekend and I was picking up their transmissions just fine in our living room. After a bit of back and forthing, they changed the channel they were communicating on. I wonder if we'd have had this problem with a baby monitor...

Tom is sooooooo pleased to be home. Last night he got the best night's sleep he's gotten in over seven weeks. He's a little frustrated that cooking is not that easy for him from a wheelchair, so I'm doing most of the cooking for awhile and letting him do what he can. (Such as grate the romano for tomorrow's dinner...)

I'd love to loll in bed tomorrow morning, but the VNA will be back tomorrow morning to get the release form from Langdon Harbor that was on top of the pile of papers on my side of the table, but Tom couldn't see well enough to even look for. Ah well. The earlier (after I get back from paying the mortgage and other errands) I can start on the major demolition and reconstruction of that room the better. And, besides pulling two large pieces of cubic footage out of that room for deaccessioning, I'll be able to FIND the other boxed antique-ish things that we can call in a dealer to take a look at.

Now all I have to do is get another decent night's sleep tonight...

De-accessioned a deckload of flower pots and planters yesterday, but I have to call my friend who took them away and tell her she grabbed 4 planters under the deck that I wanted to keep.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: gnu
Date: 07 May 12 - 10:31 PM

Sounds okay. Hope it gets better.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 May 12 - 11:32 PM

Linn - years ago our govt started a new series of car licence plates in black on white. The existing series was black on yellow & was much easier to read as a friend working in Publishing pointed out. And still is as we still have both series.

Perhaps you could try yellow on black, too

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 May 12 - 07:14 AM

After a couple of twitters earlier in the evening from the 2-way, I ended up removing the batteries at 2 a.m. because of a long spurt of intermittant twitters. I don't know if it's someone else on the same frequency or a close frequency. The directions are unreadable; fine if you already know what you're doing.

I think changing to another frequency that no one else might be near might work, but I have to figure out how to do it.

Would a baby monitor have been a better idea?

I'm back -- "Can you turn on the radio...turn up the heat...bring me my coffee..." and I loaded the dishes, washed the pan for breakfast, made my tea, started getting the trash... Picked up a wine glass to bring it downstairs and it shattered in my hand. What's with THAT?!?

A couple sips of tea and I'll make breakfast.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 08 May 12 - 09:23 PM

Ouch! I hope it didn't cut you!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 May 12 - 06:34 AM

Three big pieces -- but for no reason. I just picked it up, no tight grip or anything. No shards on the floor, just the piece with the stem and two smaller pieces of glass. Easy to pick up safely.

Just never had anything like that happen before.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 May 12 - 07:07 AM

Glad to hear he's back, BG, what a relief. Re the wine glass - same thing happened to me last week -and just the same, the stem, + 2 other pieces.

Enjoy your recovery, Tom.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 May 12 - 09:58 AM

The physical therapist from visiting nurses was just here on the preliminary visit -- Tom won't need him until his cast is changed next and he can put some weight on the ankle -- Tom's next appointment with Dr. Blitzer is May 25th.

Tomorrow will be fun, with Tom "practicing" getting in and out of the house TWICE. He has a morning appointment with his dentist to get a start on the new dentures. Then back home until we go out again mid-afternoon to go to the Press Room session. Won't know until we get there whether we'll need help getting Tom and the wheelchair into the Press Room or whether Tom can negotiate that step the way he does the step into the house.

Oh, just to make life interesting, I sprained my left thumb last night -- not doing ANYTHING that you'd think might stress it. After moving heavy things all day without incident (other than some heavy breathing), evidently picking up a book and getting into bed did me in. It's not horrible, just very very annoying. I've wrapped the joint with a couple band-aids to avoid bending it, but it reminds me of its existence whenever I, say, copy and paste. Ach!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 May 12 - 11:57 AM

Press Room session on a Thursday? Something new?
Glad the dentist is finally getting started on new dentures. What a nuisance!
All good, Tom.
Is the Room Service up to par or are you missing your friends at rehab?


SINS on her way to the CELLAR!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 12 - 12:39 PM

Linn-

Oddly enough I sprained my hand as well. But I like to think it was more dramatic. I was drilling 3-inch holes into the soffits for venting the attic space and the drill bitt hit something hard and kicked back. Fortunately I didn't fall from the ladder but life is exciting up there on the roof-line.

Hope you and Tom can make it to the Press Room a week from Saturday for the usual sea music session.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 May 12 - 01:23 PM

Ach! Sins...FRIDAY. Yesterday seemed like Wednesday (because I wasn't scheduled to work) so today feels like Thursday. Alas, Thursday I DO have to work...

Then comes Friday with the aforementioned dentist appointment and Press Room session.

We should be there, Charley!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: mg
Date: 09 May 12 - 06:30 PM

I think a convenient spot with a radio, few things like kleenex, and a small coffeepot would allow for more independence and less of your running around. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 May 12 - 06:41 PM

Oh, Tom's got everything (except being able to turn the radio) close at hand. I turn the radio on first thing in the morning. I work tomorrow 10-3, but that's certainly not a problem. A friend is coming over to see Tom at some point. (Monday, yesterday and today it was the VNA.) The coffee pot is the usual one. He can reach it, and the sink, the refrigerator/freezer, but can't reach (in the wheelchair) the controls on the stove. He can get the wheelchair in to be able to use the computer, but he's had vision problems the past few days.

My running around is normal -- Tom can't drive, so I have to do all the errands, take him to his medical appointments, etc.

Things are working out fine...getting in and out of the house, though, is a bit trickier. Do-able, but a bit of a project.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: Jeri
Date: 09 May 12 - 10:48 PM

I was over briefly today, and he sure seems a LOT happier to be home! Linn seems a teeny bit happier (haha), and 50% of the cats are now fond of sleeping on the sofa, now that it's a bed.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 10 May 12 - 12:02 AM

On top of everything else, a sprained thumb! Did one of you break a mirror recently?

Charley Noble, sorry about your hand, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon, Home Again, Home Again
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 May 12 - 08:27 AM

Any chance of putting a microwave down low enough for Tom to handle?