Category: Everything Fred

26 October 2024

The week caught up with me and I crashed today. My energy level is low and I seem to be depressed. I slept until 9:30 this morning and then had a 1 1/2 hour nap. What can I say? Bipolar disorder runs in the family.

The house didn’t get cleaned but I can live with it for another week. I did strip the bed, remake it and washed, dried and folded clothes. I told Jimmie I wasn’t up for FaceTime today nor tomorrow but we plan to connect sometime this week.

Yesterday, I did stop at Whole Foods and purchased a few heirloom pumpkins for the front porch to encourage Halloween trick or treaters.

Who knows? I might cut out the light and move the pumpkins inside and eat all the candy for myself.

Next week looks a little busy. There’s a play tomorrow, dinner with Michel and Nancy on Monday and a doctor’s appointment on Friday. Then there’s Halloween to consider.

While folding clothes, I managed to watch the last half of the Ole Miss/Oklahoma game which Ole Miss won 26-14. There was an article in the New York Times on the 24th that talked about how the college built a $10 million fund to “compensate” athletes for a run at the college football playoff. That’s the effect of NIL (name, image, likeness) that allows college athletes to be compensated for their time. It’s not quite like the football of the 50’s and 60’s. It’s more like semi-professional football.

Something like this has always occurred. It’s rumored that Adolph Rupp, the famous Kentucky basketball coach sent players to Itawamba Junior College in kind of a farm team system. The result was IJC had some pretty talented basketball teams for a small community college who just coincidentally transferred to UK and became superstars..

When the television did panoramic shots of Oxford during today’s game, I could tell the leaves had not changed on campus. Everything was still green. Usually, the first frost is the last of October so they should be getting close.

My freshman year at Ole Miss, I had a thermometer outside the window to check the temperature so I would know how to dress for classes (before cell phones and Apple Watches). It was in April and there was a Red/Blue spring football game scheduled for the day. When I checked the temperature, I did a double take. It had snowed! Not only had it snowed but it was about 6 inches of snow. Classes and the game was canceled (that was back when they had Saturday classes).

There’s not much more to tell from Fort Lauderdale. Stay tuned!

25 October 2024

I was so tired when I wrote yesterday’s post I forgot Wednesday night was movie night with Chris and Tucker. It was my choice so I went with Christmas in Connecticut (194 5) with a very young Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginal Gardiner and S.Z. Sakall.

Stanwick portrayed Elizabeth Lane who writes of her farm home in Connecticut and publishes recipes for Smart Housekeeping. What her readers don’t know is she has no farm and Felix (S.Z. Sakall) does all the cooking and recipes. Reginal Gardiner (John Sloan) plays her love interest who is constantly trying to get her to marry him – who coincidentally has a farm in Connecticut.

Enter Dennis Morgan (Jefferson Jones) a sailor stranded at sea. The owner of the magazine that Stanwyck works for is Sydney Greenstreet and thinks it’s a great idea to invite Morgan to a country Christmas at Stanwyck’s nonexistent home in Connecticut. Gardiner rallies to save the day to provide the farm and Felix the cooking. There’s multiple babies involved, a judge for a marriage ceremony and Machusca the cow. It’s a great rom-com.

Sakall and Greenstreet are prominent in Casablanca. Tucker had a great time and Chris and I had a great time after the movie with great conversations. We always talk about what’s going on in the neighborhood.

I admit to being very tired after yesterday. I slept for over 8 hours and I needed it. I actually feel pretty good this morning and need to clean the pool filter. However, Don Hillman, Inc. has sent a person to service my generator. I don’t think it’s a good idea to be spraying water while he’s operating the generator. Once he leaves, I’ll get to the pool cleaning. It’s an absolutely gorgeous day outside and I don’t plan to be anywhere near a hospital.

I do have several things I want the dermatologist to freeze off when I visit today at 1 pm. Once that is done, I’m heading back to the house and crawling in bed with a book.

If any of you wear a continuous glucose monitor (cgm) you know they can be a pain. Mine lasts 14 days. If you are too far away from your phone, it loses signal and the phone starts beeping like crazy. This current one went off line and didn’t come back on until I rebooted my phone. Sometimes the monitor simply comes off. It’s just another thing to cope with when you are diabetic. Some argue it’s better than pricking your finger every day. I’m still undecided on that.

As far as my diabetes, my glucose and A1c seem to be under control. However, that’s because I take metformin and insulin daily. I admit to not being too cautious about eating sweets, especially this time of year.

Speaking of Halloween, I hope to buy a few pumpkins today after I leave the dermatologist to put on the front porch as decoration. Apparently parents with kids don’t stop by unless you decorate the front. I have Snickers, Baby Ruth, and Butterfingers to hand out (or eat myself if no one shows up).

Stay tuned!

24 October 2024

It’s been a long day. I drove to Hollywood Memorial Rehab Hospital – South to pick up Tom. I got there at 10:30 and I think they released him around 12:30. Tom came home with a lot of equipment, prescriptions, and dirty clothes. A little after 1 pm I headed to Judith’s to pick her up to carry her to Hollywood Memorial – Johnson St. to see Chris. He was doing better.

The air conditioning finally drove Judith away and we got back to her place around 5:30. Just as we were walking out of Chris’ room, Jim and Holley appeared to take our place. Holley taught all day and had a late afternoon class so I bet she was exhausted.

I got home around 6:30 and noshed a little and then decided to call it a night. I’m too tired to write much any more so this will have to do until tomorrow.

Stay tuned!

23 October 2024

I took Chris to the emergency room at Hollywood Memorial on Johnson Street last night. I don’t know if his GP called ahead or his son Alex at Tampa General called, or that he had an obvious case of jaundice, but they whizzed him through admissions and took him right back to an ER bay. I’ve never seen any who wasn’t brought in by ambulance be processed so quickly. Before you know it, he had a nurse (Daneb) and a doctor (Dr. Rubin). Blood was drawn and he was scheduled for a CAT scan. Hopefully, they will diagnose his condition, treat it and get him back home. Hollywood Memorial, in my opinion is one of the best hospitals in Florida. Holy Cross is another one.

I waited with him until 8:45 for him to be given a room but they were backed up and didn’t have one ready by the time I left him. He should be ensconced in a room today.

In any case, I slept late this morning and soon received a text from AJ that he would be delivering the Christmas goodies around 11. He actually was early and he just kept bringing boxes in.

I was mistaken. The tree is not a Belgium fir but a Royal fir. There’s a great difference in the price, so the price AJ charged is not too out of line. There were several spools of ribbon, glass balls ($62 for 9) and a lot of pic – which means sprays of cranberries, poinsettias, holly, etc. I’m learning new terminology.

The tree weighs a ton! Well, 40.9 lbs in the box. I got everything in the overhead of the utility room except for the tree. I looked at a video on how to disassemble the tree and store it in the bag that comes with it. I may de-box it sometime and store it in the overhead in its bag. Either that or get Trevor to give me a hand in getting it up there. The other option is to lay it flat in the box in the closet of the guest bedroom.

I’m taking the rest of the day off. I’m tired. Tomorrow, I pick up Tom and take him home. Friday I have a dermatologist appointment. Sunday I have a play. Monday is an iron infusion and dinner with Nancy and Michel and on my birthday, I get to go have injections into my hand for arthritis. Life is good!

Stay tuned!

22 October 2024

There were several rain showers this morning, none of which were predicted by my weather app. At the moment (5:45 pm) it’s overcast and very windy and spritzing rain. I wonder if any of it is due to Oscar out near the Bahamas?

I headed to Kurt’s at 12:30 this afternoon and was there for him to safely take a shower. From there we headed to Spencer’s for lunch. We both had the corned beef on rye. I think it’s the best I’ve ever had. It had some secret sauce and Cole slaw on it. I could only eat half and took the rest home for lunch tomorrow.

After lunch we picked up a prescription for Kurt at Walgreens and then we made a stop to pick up his mail at the complex. It pretty much filled a tote bag. Hopefully, Tom will be coming home Thursday. Before I left Kurt, we pulled out a wheel chair they have in case Tom needs it when he gets home.

I got some bad news after I got home. Judith called and said Chris’ bilirubin levels were really bad and he may be headed for another hospital stay. Poor guy can’t catch a break.

I ran across another Christmas ornament on the L.L. Bean website. I don’t really need another but I couldn’t resist.

Too cool! I doubt I’ll do much more camping since I got rid of all my tents but I certainly intend to continue to explore.

Supposedly, A.J. is delivering the Christmas tree, ornaments, ribbons, and “pic.” I found out what pic means in the industry. It’s the extra stuff you stuff onto a Christmas tree like flowers, birds, or anything that isn’t really an “ornament.”

I’m having nightmares about where I’m going to store this stuff. I can always do a short term storage contract to get it out of the way for Thanksgiving but after the new year, it means more ruthless removal of stuff I no longer need.

My very long time friend (since 1972) Joyce turned 90 today. Amy took on the role of compiling videos from everyone and putting them together into a video for her where we all send salutations, reminisce, and say happy birthdays.

Joyce and Fred pretty much adopted me when I was stationed at the Coast Guard Communications Station in Belle Chase, LA in 1972. I ate many meals at their house, slept over several times, and survived a wallpapering episode and a banquet building episode. I’ve maintained the friendship ever since. After Fred passed, Joyce married Alfred and I got to know him. Sadly, Alfred has now passed but Joyce has her son Reed close at hand in Asheville. I think making 76 next month is an accomplishment, I can’t image 90!

Stay tuned!

21 October 2024

Today was iron infusion day. Pat, bless her, was my nurse again and she hooked me up early. It must be the Tootsie Rolls.

Pat neatly inserted the IV and hung up the bag of iron and I noticed she didn’t put a bag of saline up. They use saline to flush the line to make sure all of the iron goes into me. Apparently the saline dilemma has hit Holy Cross. Pat said that 80% of the saline produced in the U.S. is by that company in N.C. that got hit by the flood. She was reduced to using to saline syringes to flush the rest of the iron into me.

AJ texted and wanted to drop my Christmas goodies off today and I told him only if after 4 pm. I got home at 3 and told him it would be OK to come early but we both decided to postpone until Wednesday. I can just imagine 40 boxes of stuff and no where to store it.

Tom called with the anticipation he would be discharged on Tuesday. After that, I think he changed his mind and was going to contest their letting him go too early. It now looks like he will come home on Thursday. I’ll pick him up and drive him home. His Jeep is already there compliments of Holley and Jim. We seem to have a tight healthcare network going on here.

Michel had a birthday today. I quickly informed her she was older than me – by 11 days. I moved into my house in 1995 and Michel lived kitty-cornered across the street from me. It took us a while to warm up to each other – about 5 minutes. Michel is like having an older sister. She and I both share a cautious gene where we look around to see what things might go wrong. Saying she is a good friend is an inadequate description of what she means to me.

We went in together to have a 60th birthday party and we both were asked to speak. I’ve never had anyone say the wonderful things she said to me. It almost brought me to tears.

The party was at the Hi-Life Cafe and they closed it for our party. We each invited a select number of friends and had a ball! Sadly, the Hi-Life went out of business (but not because of our party).

I also had the privilege of introducing Michel to her wife, Nancy. It wasn’t hard. Nancy was my book rep at the college and I’ve known her since 1985. Michel, very simply, is good people. Happy Birthday from your younger brother.

Tomorrow, Kurt and I will go to lunch at Spencers in Wilton Manors. He’s Jonesing for a corned beef sandwich.

Stay tuned!

20 October 2024

I knew it was too good to be true. Yesterday afternoon my innards begin churning and around 11:30 last night they decided to empty with some force. I’m back on Depends and nervous anytime I have gas. What’s probably worse is the belching. I took the Walgreens version of Imodium and have taken one since. I got around 4 hours of sleep last night. I’ve spent most of the day in bed.

I needed groceries and put an order in through Instacart for Publix. It’s more expensive that way but at least I don’t have to walk up and down the aisles with my low energy state. Of course, I did buy some Halloween candy (only what I like: Butterfingers, Baby Ruth and Snickers) so that means I will not have any trick or treaters and my blood sugar will stay high for a few months.

My passport expires this November so I spent some time yesterday applying for a new one online. If you meet their qualifications, you can do everything from home. The only real problem came with the photo. It has to be “just so” and no more than 4 months old. I asked my neighbor Trevor to take the photo and after a little slight of hand with the editing, I finally got one that the government accepted (until it could be further reviewed).

I think I was upset I had to shave for the photo. You cannot smile and you cannot wear glasses. The government wants to see the color of your eyes (green) but I don’t know how you take a close enough photograph to see that. Maybe if I put toothpicks to prop up my eyelids. They were more than happy to accept my $130 for renewal.

The passport office, is, of course backed up and I should hear back from them in 4-6 weeks. You can sign up for email notifications if you so desire.

Happy Birthday to my cousin Jimmie! I won’t tell you her age but let’s just say we’ve been close for more than a few years. She was my first friend, playmate, confidant, and co-conspirator. It’s only luck we survived childhood from some of the stunts we pulled. We managed to stay out of jail (barely) and I must have married her twenty times (Sorry Stephen – now you know the truth – she’s a bigamist).

Her Dad chewed cigars (never saw him smoke one) and he saved the cigar bands and gave to us as “wedding rings.” We even had “official” ceremonies. We played hard and had an outdoor life most parents would be locked up for today. Our only rule put on us by our parents we had to been in by supper. We took that to heart.

She’s accomplished so much in her life (PhD) raised a great kid (who is not a kid anymore) and she and Stephen are doting Grandparents. Jimmie, here’s to many more years and many more cigar band weddings!

Stay tuned!

19 October 2024

It’s another windy, blustery, fall-like day with threats of rain here and there but no delivery. You’d think that pretty much anything that can blow off a tree has blown off after four days of this but something still gives way and blows across the patio on occasion.

The fourth day was not a charm. I don’t feel poorly but I don’t feel as well as I did for the previous three days. Even so, I managed the bare minimum of cleaning the bathroom, sweeping a little along the floors, and mopping here and there. Life’s little rituals also got me to thinking about housecleaning services again.

John and Joel came over around 11:30 for lunch with John delivering the BOGO mini-bundt cakes. Joel got a lemon and I went for the pumpkin spice. The next decision was where to eat. We started to order from Sassano’s but when I dialed, a recording let us know it was closed for renovations. The next choice was the Georgia Pig for barbecue but before we got out the door, we changed to Flanigans.

John and I both got burgers and Joel got the chipotle salmon sammich which led to a constant bantering as to whether or not the “l” in salmon is silent. I was raised to sound out the “l” and John said it silently. Joel bought lunch as a treat for both John and me.

Back home we gathered around the lemon and pumpkin spice mini-bundt cakes trying our best not to dive into them without success. They were, as expected, delicious. Joel ate half of his and mine didn’t withstand my assault. I don’t expect to eat anything for dinner tonight. My sugar levels must be off the chart.

I’ve always had a rule not to call anyone after 9 pm (as per my parents) but haven’t really thought what is the earliest to call someone? I really think 10 am is better but I called and left a message for Kurt around 9:45 and then called my long time friend Jenny to wish her a happy birthday. I’ve been negligent on sending out birthday cards but I do try to remember to call.

Tomorrow’s easy. Jimmie’s birthday is tomorrow and we always FaceTime on Sunday’s whenever possible. Regardless, we always try to touch base with each other on birthdays. I like to remind her she’s older than me – by one year.

After Joel and John left, I headed to bed and went into a food coma for a nap of around 2 hours. Since I washed, dried, and folded clothes yesterday, I have the rest of the afternoon free. I’ll probably watch a ballgame or two and then tonight continue my binging Emily in Paris.

Stay tuned!

18 October 2024

Winter lasted one day. The low this morning was in the 70’s and the humidity was back up. It is very windy (like the last three days) overcast, and threatening rain. It reminds me of winter in Mississippi where we would get similar conditions, even the temperatures.

Even sunset made me think of winter weather.

I’ve had three very good days with high energy levels and sense of accomplishments. That is my usual system operations and then I crash on the fourth day. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I don’t crash tomorrow.

I cleaned the pool filter as per usual Friday, hosed off the iguana poop from the pool deck and washed down the patio. After a shower to get off the insect repellent, I stripped the bed, washed clothes, dried clothes and I’m now in the process of folding them. That’s usually a Saturday chore but I figured strike while the iron is hot and when I feel like doing it.

I checked in with all my “patients.” Kurt is doing well and Chris is still in the netherworld of having tests and getting the results so there can be a plan of action. At least he’s out of the hospital.

Joel and John are coming over for lunch tomorrow. We’ll either order pizza or sandwiches. John is doing the bogo for the mini-bundt cakes. My choice this time is pumpkin spice! These are really delicious cakes and I usually finish it in two eatings or, if I’m really hungry and my sweet tooth is aching, in one.

I think the rest of the afternoon will be taken up with folding the last load of clothes, reading a little more, and having a pumpkin spice muffin from the last batch I made.

Stay tuned!

17 October 2024

The temperature dropped down to 69°F last night. Winter is officially here! OK, maybe not but it’s the first time in the 60’s in a very long time. We’ll probably see our “winter” more likely in November but the rest of October may be tolerable.

Movie night last night was It Happened on 5th Avenue, a 1947 release so it’s officially one year older than I am. It stars Don Defore, Ann Harding, Charlie Ruggles, Victor Moore, Gale Storm and Alan Hale (Gilligan’s Island fame). It’s considered a classic Christmas movie (we started a little early) and it brings home the story of no housing available for veterans of WWII at the end of the war. Charlie Ruggles (one of my favorite actors) plays Charlie Ruggles. Tucker got sufficient treats during the movie and I got sufficient wine. Good selection, Chris!

I took Kurt for his wellness check with his GP this morning. He’ll get blood results tomorrow but things look good. Afterwards, we had lunch at J Marks. For an appetizer we had Bam Bam shrimp which came out the size of an entrée. I had chicken fingers and Kurt had the Oriental chicken salad. Both were supposedly “lunch” size items but Kurt’s salad was huge and I was fully stuffed with chicken fingers by the end of the meal.

Kurt needed to pick up a prescription at Walgreens and unfortunately we drove by the drive through at the time they are closed for lunch. We then took a leisurely drive down A1A until the time the pharmacy reopened, picked up the prescription and then got him home in time for his physical therapy appointment. It was a great morning and early afternoon. Windy, decent temperature, overcast.

After I got home, I took a nap and I plan a binge of some of Emily in Paris.

Stay tuned!