Rob's surgery

I honestly try to not make everything about me, but Rob's surgery has taken a toll on me.  First, I had to get up early to take Rob to the hospital. I grabbed a quick breakfast at McDonalds which took me a half hour and two floors of the hospital to eat. While they were preparing Rob for surgery, I tried to make myself comfortable in the waiting room.  I set up my lap top, book, the rest of my breakfast and picked a comfy chair.  I thought I was good to go.  NO!! No internet access, so I walked to the nurses station and asked for the pass code.  I assumed since everyone from Motel 8 to McDonalds has wireless access that the hospital would. The first nurse said she didn't think they had wireless service. The physician sitting behind her on his mini lap top obviously on wireless, interrupted and said "Yes, we do, I'm on it now." The other person at the nurses station thought they had wireless but didn't know the access code. She said she could call the tech person but that they were really mean to everyone.  The physician said, "She is nice to me." I thought but didn't say.  " No shit, everyone is nice to doctors at a hospital, because they can get your ass fired." Anyway, they said they would check about the access code. I told them to let me know and that I was going back to the waiting room. I went into Rob's room to complain about the internet access to him.  He was hooked up to an IV and had his body shaved clear up to his chest, which I thought was a little ridiculous since his incision would be down south. Anyway, Rob informed me that I was being insensitive and making his surgery about me. Rob will be heavily medicated the next few hours.  I needed something to do. I went back to the waiting room.  The lady came and informed me that there is no service for patients or family members.  I suggested that it was the 21st century and they might want to rethink that.  She said I could fill out a complaint form.  I asked her if it was on line. I went back to Rob's room, gave him a kiss and sent him off to surgery. Back to the waiting room.  Thank Goodness I brought my book, "Listening to Prozac" to read. I'm reading it to find out everything I can about Prozac since my shrink prescribed it for me.  Some people aren't big fans of it but I am and everyone who has to live with me always makes sure I take it every morning. Some people tend to think I need medicated.  I have no idea why.  Oh, yea, I forgot this was about Rob's surgery. Did I mention it was hernia surgery. I try to prevent hernias by doing as little as possible. I read my book for awhile, but grew tired so I took a little nap.  Big mistake!  For the next two days my upper back was in spasms from sleeping in the chair. The doctor arrived in the waiting room about two and 1/2 hours later to inform me Rob was fine. Great, because his list for summer house repairs  isn't even half complete. I knew Rob was awake when I heard him yelling, "Is any one home?"  I let the nurse cover this one and a few more because I knew what was in store for me the next week or so. 

Lunch With David

Mom and I traveled to Morgantown today to have lunch with David and Kayla.  First we checked out the house Mom and Dad will be residing in during the harsh winter months beside David.  David and I were in a discussion downstairs when Kayla showed up. Kayla immediately irritated David which made me happy. I honestly don't understand David.  He explained to me that the refrigerator wasn't working properly but the freezer still worked but he unplugged it so he could take the food out of the freezer. That made no sense to me but since David is Mom's favorite and she was sitting there in the kitchen.  I kept my mouth shut.  Kayla on the other hand, opened the freezer door which allowed all the self contained odors of the heated up freezer to penetrate the house. David began to yell at Kayla. Kayla yelled at David. Kayle asked David why he unplugged the refrigerator.  Bingo I thought. Kayla and I walked out on the deck. Kayla preceded to tell me she had thought about teaching at the same school as David but she didn't think she could share the same school with him everyday.  I asked her how should would like to share the same womb and bedroom until we turned six. I think I have suppressed memories of trying to suffocate David but I'm not sure.  Maybe it will come out in therapy someday.  On to Bob Evans for lunch. I let David drive my car because I didn't want to listen to how much better he can drive than me.  So I put Mom up front with her favorite child and Kayla and I set in the back with our designer purses and sunglasses and pretended David was our chauffeur.  Kayla and I got Mom inside and David joined us. We had a nice lunch.  David ordered double mashed potatoes. I had a grilled cheese. Mom had fish. Kayla Chicken Parmesan. David left the table frequently to visit other guests eating. This bothered Kayla but I was just glad to get a break from David. Kayla felt sorry for the people David kept visiting.   Lunch over it was back to David's house. David has a dog named Owen.  Owen and David both need therapy. One main reason I stopped back at David's was to use the bathroom. David wouldn't let me use the bathroom until he gave me a lecture about how to flush the toilet. I would of just used the other bathroom but Zoey was taking a shower.  Once in the bathroom, I was confronted with a sign (written by the toilet) that said this toilet does not accept poop.  I'm totally serious. What is with that?  I don't know if it is just that toilet, all of David's toilets and I really didn't want to know. Which gets back to David and his dog, Owen, needing therapy.  Owen is afraid of everything, a bath, being brushed, the air, etc. He also kind of looks like David.  I suggested to David owner, pet therapy.  Kayla liked the idea.  Zoey finally made it out into the living room and we discussed our up coming surfing lessons, which David is jealous of because he is  not invited. Spiker kept calling David about golf clubs, so Kayla, Zoey and I discussed purses and the beach.  Owen kept jumping all over everyone and Rosie the other dog was equally annoyed. Nikki and Zoey have beautiful cats that look at David and Owen like they belong in a mental institution. Needless to say when Mom and I got back to Rowlesburg an hour or so later, I dropped Mom off and retreated to my bedroom with a bag of M&M's, a diet Cherry Pepsi, a Xanax and Midnight. Three hours later. Life is Good, again.

Felton Hill Road

Dad and I went to check out the new Felton Hill Road Sign in Etam today, just outside of Rowlesburg. The Felton Hill Road sign hasn't always been there. It is one of the new rural road signs to go up in Preston County over the last couple of years. Felton Hill Road is a very narrow, steep, mountain road that leads up to the old Felton farm place.  The first inhabitants of the Felton farm were Daniel Felton and Mary C. Lantz-Felton. They were my Dad's great grandparents and my great-great grandparents. My Dad's grandparents and my great grandparents  lived on the same farm. My great grandfather's name was Charles Mortimer Bishop Felton and my great grandmother's name was Melvina- Loughry Felton. My Dad's parents or my grandparents were Junior Daniel Felton and Ova Mary Goff- Felton. Anyway, that is how you end up related to everyone in Preston County if you stay around in the same place for a couple of hundred years like the Felton's have in the Etam/Rowlesburg area. That is why my brothers and I have all married people from out of the area or even the state.  We couldn't find anyone we weren't related to in the immediate area. Rob was really happy about this fact. A four-wheel drive is recommended for this rough, steep country road and country road driving ability. I had to pull to the side of the round one time and some one pulled over for me. The foundation to my great grandparents house is still about 3/4 of the way up the mountain. The view at the  top of Felton's Hill at Mount Sarah Methodist Church is worth the drive.  It is the photo for the definition "God's Country."  The cemetery at Mount Sarah is where my cousin Libby is buried. I'm going to do a photo journal blog of this area soon but today was just for driving and looking.

Things I've learned at Mom and Dad's This Week

These are the things I've learned at Mom and Dad's this week.  First, it is good if we are all on our meds.  Two, as you age you revert to behavior that very much resembles the same behavior you had around nine or ten. My past years of teaching elementary education are coming in handy.  I learned this week that Mom and Dad don't share very well with each other, especially food.  I learned this week to write their names of their individual meals and to divide things into fair equal servings.  Mom used to count out our family bag of M&M's into four cups for each child, and my Grandma Ova would let one kid divide and the other choose first. Then there is Rob.  I returned home from Mom and Dad's house the other day and Rob had gotten us a little meat and cheese platter to SHARE. I had a couple of pieces. An hour or so later, Rob asked for the cheese tray.  I did a couple of chores and thought I would have a piece or two of cheese. Rob had taken a bite out of every piece.  I couldn't believe it. I do not see Rob and I aging well together. I'm thinking he should just always work.  Anyway, I've also learned that if the channels aren't in a constant flipping mode that Dad is asleep, which is my chance to watch HGTV.  Senior citizens meals coming at 11:30.  The Sharpie comes out at 11:31 to label the meals with names. I have to pick out Dad's clothes if we go out just like I do Rob's and Justin's.  Actually, Cassie picks out Justin's clothes for social functions, so I get a little break there. I have to talk really loud to Mom and Dad.  It is about the same volume I use on the playground during recess duty during Buckwheat Week.  I'm not going to miss that. I'm getting really good at filling up those multiple day, week long pill containers and using a pill splitter. I've also learned to teach 83 year old people about facebook.  I think I know how Mark Graham feels teaching the middle age staff computer skills at Kingwood Elementary. Dad watches lots of stupid TV shows and he won't go outside and play. Mom still likes telling me what to do and I still don't listen. The basement is still a neat place to explore. My brothers still annoy me. Really much hasn't changed in 50 years except I don't share my bags of M&M's.

Three Generation Dinner

I am sharing Justin's post tonight on my blog because I'm tired but this will give everyone an idea of our Three Generation Dinners.  Justin cooked last night. I cooked tonight, well Rob actually helped some. Enjoy Justin's blog with pics.

Foggy Mountain Meanderings - Stuffed Zucchini
 
This idea started while I was still at the beach, I was reading an issue of Grit magazine when I came an article on what to do when you have to many or to big of zucchini. The one that stood out the most was the Stuffed Zucchini. After returning home and seeing I had quite a few large zucchini this recipe was a no-brainer! It turned out better than I had expected with the zucchini being very tender and the stuffing had prefect favoring to match the it.

To continue reading and get the recipe click here.

My New Job

Started my new job yesterday taking care of Mom and Dad, so far so good. Yesterday was laundry, lunch, dinner and grocery shopping.  Today pretty much the same but also prescriptions.  So, I've decided to use a few of Mom and Dad's lines that they used on us, on them today.  So I told Dad that he was watching too much TV and that I was going to turn it off and he needed to go outside and play. Mom and Dad and I basically hung out on the porch together. Then it was their lunch time. I cleaned up after them, did a few dishes.  Then it was off to Kingwood for drugs and grocery shopping.  It is kind of strange going to Kingwood to get drugs for Mom and Dad.  I really couldn't have imagined that 30 some years ago. Back home to do Dad's laundry and to deliver their groceries.  I got Dad a candy bar and told him he didn't have to eat it all at one time.  Mom and Dad like to nap and I do too so this may actually be fun during nap time. I've decided to pick out Dad's clothes because I informed him if he is going to hang with me, he has to look cool. We are going up to Cool Springs at 8:30 Friday morning if anyone wants to hang out with us. I'm going to start including photos of our  our adventures.  I introduced Mom and Dad to my blog today. They don't hear or see well but I think they were impressed.  David and I could have really used that not hearing and seeing thing when we were teenagers. I'm thinking of trying to convince Mom and Dad that I was an only child.  Dad and I are watching TV right now. Well I'm watching TV and Dad is falling asleep. More tomorrow.

The Trip Home

I always know that our trip home from Florida will resemble the Griswald Family Vacation but I eventually have to come home. This trip home was up to par of the one when I was dying from bronchitis in January. First, we had to medicate Midnight, get him in his pet carrier and into the car.  Next, we picked up Mary because she wanted to ride home with us. This will probably be the last time she asked to ride home with us.  So we are all in the car and all seems fine until Mary says "Does Midnight's medication give him gas?" OK, Midnight's gas was  survivable until the AC broke in Georgia. At this point, I medicated myself.  Mary suggested that we call Cassie and Justin so they could use their phones to find someplace that could work on the AC. Cassie gave us a place and directions so we took the exit. This plan would have worked but Rob forget to check the mileage so we couldn't find the place. At that point I suggested that we turn around and go to Walmart but before we could get to Walmart we found a Firestone Auto Total Care Clinic.  Rob walked in and they said an hour and 1/2, maybe more. It was 100 plus degrees in the shade and Midnight was still farting so inside we go. One cat in carrier, my purse full of my prescription drugs, Mary, her purse, our books, and phones, inside we are greeted by a waiting room which consisted of a rapper, a retired jerk reading a book. a nice oriental gentleman with bad knees, an everyday guy and some senior citizen form Connecticut that liked to gamble. Only the gentleman with bad knees offered us a seat so Mary and I stood. The only plus was there was a Wendy's next door so we took turns going there and seating in the AC and eating until the car was done. I think the mechanics felt sorry for the folks from WV with the farting cat so they got us out of there in less than hour.  Back on the rode, our first call was from Justin, who loves to spread the Christmas cheer in July with "We are going 5 miles per hour in South Carolina in a traffic jam." "GREAT!!!!!"  At least we had snacks. South Carolina and on to the rain storms in North Carolina. When it is 100 degrees you can't leave the cat in the car so we take turns going to the bathroom. Rob's first gas/ bathroom stop the restrooms had no toilet paper.  Thank God Mary and saved a napkin from Wendy's.  She split it with me. Rob's further choices were not better. Somewhere around Virginia we stopped for food and the only place clean enough to even think about getting food was McDonald's. I got a fish sandwich. 17 and 1/2 hours later we dumped Mary at the Goshen Road exit. We didn't just leave her.  Brad was there to pick her up. Onward home to Preston County and a flooded bathroom and laundry room. All I can say is Midnight has finally quit farting.