Month: February 2024

9 February 2024

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I know better. I was feeling really good this morning when I got up and decided I wanted to do my morning walk. While on the walk, I ran into an old friend. I haven’t seen this bloom in a while.

I did OK (1.2 miles) but my legs and feet were giving out on me by the time I got back to the house. I had my half of grapefruit and a second cup of coffee and knew I needed to clean the pool filter.

Well, before I cleaned the pool filter, I raked leaves. Then it was tough to get the debris out of pump strainer. Some leaves get caught in the impeller. That meant stooping down for way too long. My quadriceps were screaming at me near the end. At least I could sit when I washed the filter.

When they came to repair the filter system, I asked about a small, flat piece that had two holes in it. He explained it went over the steel rod and the plastic tubing in the filter housing. I guess over the years, that piece had worked its way down to the bottom of the filter housing and I’d never seen it. When he put it on, I had a eureka moment. From the time I bought the house and started maintaining the pool (30 years) I’ve had a devil of a time putting the filter back in the housing because it was difficult to align the plastic tube close enough to the steel rod for the filter to fit.

Next up was water the flowers. It’s been a while since we’ve had some rain and they looked sad. After the flowers, I hosed down the patio deck. Then it was time to check the chemicals. By this time it was 10 am, I was dead on my feet and I had an 11:50 am physical therapy appointment where Shannon was going to put me through exercises that would rework all the muscles I had just worked out.

After canceling physical therapy, I added to my misery by spraying for weeds in both the front and back and then checking out the sprinkler system. It’s been over a month since I’ve used the sprinklers because Joel’s Camry was sitting in the drive (it was too long to fit in my garage). Our well water has a heavy amount of iron and if you let it hit your car, you get an orange tint that is really difficult to get off.

About six of the sprinklers could use a complete reworking but I didn’t have the energy. They work – just not as well as they should. I’ll do those another day I don’t have physical therapy. They’ll go off tomorrow morning around 5 am.

I made a quick lunch of scrambled eggs and toast and promptly crawled into bed. I was exhausted. I dozed for about 1 1/2 hours. You’d think I’d be smart enough to learn my lesson, but no!

They did deliver one of my western shirts with snaps instead of buttons. It’s a good fit in the shoulders but a little tight around the torso. I may change the next shirt to a large instead of a medium.

I like the snaps better than trying to fool with buttons. I’m ready for the rodeo!

Stay tuned!

8 February 2024

So far, it’s been another good day. I even felt like walking. I managed 0.9 miles but I was definitely huffing after I got home. My feet just don’t seem to want to cooperate.

As I mentioned, last night was movie night. I let Chris choose among a stack of DVD’s and she opted for Big Eden. It’s filmed in one of the most beautiful places in the United States – Glacier National Park. I was fortunate enough to see Glacier in 2016 and I recognized some areas within the park from the film. It’s kind of a Rom-Com/Drama film with a lot of feel good to it, a tear jerker scene or two and plenty of laughs.

After the movie we finished off the bottle of wine and then caught up on each other’s week. Chris and I are a lot alike in a lot of ways and we always enjoy each other’s company and conversation. The movie nights are a hit.

I ordered some Western shirts today with snaps instead of buttons from Coevals Club Men’s Western Wear on Amazon. With the neuropathy in my hands, I find it very difficult and frustrating to try to button pants and shirts. I thought I would try the old fashion snaps found typically on Western wear and see if that helps. The shirts were reasonably priced. The drawback is they are 60% polyester and 40% cotton and are made in China. The reason China is a problem is the size chart is totally different from the ones I’m used to and the description on Amazon is, to say the least, interesting. I’ll see (1) if they fit and (2) if I can stand the polyester and (3) the fabric is not inlaid with a secret recording device. One of the two is supposed to arrive tomorrow which is good because if I don’t like it, I can cancel the other one and return the first.

I called Hollywood Chrsyler/Jeep today and asked for the parts department to check and see if my sensor came in. I was only looped through the phone system once and then fed over to the parts department. I got Chris on the phone and he asked who my service rep was and I said Neyma. He didn’t say another word and asked how to spell my name. He looked it up and said there are three parts ordered for my jeep.

One part is due in Wednesday and another on February 19th. I assume the third part is already in. Chris was very accommodating and courteous, totally unlike my experience with the service department. I think when I said who my service rep was, he realized he needed to handle it and not Neyma. I await their phone call. And wait, and wait.

Since I wrote the last sentence, I’ve received a text and email from Hollywood Chrysler/Jeep asking me to review their services. The email said I would receive the review in the mail from a third party but to feel free to contact them directly if I had any issues that could be resolved prior to filling out the review. Hmmmm!

I made it to my 2 pm massage appointment at 5 Points Massage in Wilton Manors. Tom does an excellent job of loosening up those muscles and making sure you walk out of there relaxed. After the massage, I met Tom and Kurt at Spencers Corner Bar. The bar is named after the owner’s dog Spencer who looks remarkably like Rocky.

Tom and Kurt treated me to an early dinner. It’s a nice neighborhood bar that’s quiet enough you can have a conversation with the people at your table and you are not shouting to be heard over the music. It was within walking distance of the massage place.

Tomorrow, it’s back to physical therapy and then I need to get ready for the Super Bowl.

Stay tuned!

7 February 2024

If I keep feeling as well as I am, I may have to start traveling again. This is several days in a row.

Since I had this burst of energy, I cleaned out the pool of large pieces of debris from the wind the last two days. Next was to scrub down any algae growing on the steps and sides of the pool. Then I put the top of the filter canister back on and turned the pool pump back on after a week or so. Everything seems to be working fine. The Great White is working perfectly so far. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Still no word from Hollywood Chrysler Jeep as to the missing part. I’ll call them sometime today or tomorrow. I’m sure it’s “out of sight, out of mind” with them. It’s really nice to have my Jeep back but, if you can believe it, I’m having to readjust to driving it because I drove Joel’s Camry for so long. I forget all the bells and whistles on the jeep. For example, I noticed that for all this time, the steering wheel seemed too far away. I only noticed it because the Camry was perfect for me. I fooled around on the steering column and found a button that lowered the wheel and actually brought it forward for a more comfortable grip.

Shannon put me through my paces at physical therapy. She rolled out some new exercises on their very expensive equipment. I did OK and felt pretty good during and after the workout. There was nothing too strenuous and she’s trying to build my strength slowly.

This cooler weather is nice. Next week we’ll be back into the more “normal” range for South Florida. We’ve been below normal in temps for the last couple of weeks. Towards the end of February, I’ll probably turn the pool heater back on and try to get back to some exercise in the pool even if it is not swimming. Just call it water aerobics for the physically challenged.

Tonight is movie night with Chris and Tucker. Hopefully they will not be too mad that I looked at some old movies this week in their absence. Movie night always results in a couple of glasses of wine and good conversation.

Tomorrow I have a 90 minute massage scheduled with Tom at 5 Points Massage. He does a great job and I’m completely limp when he’s through with me. I knew it was good for me but even Shannon, the physical therapist, wanted to know if I was getting massages.

The first time I ever had a massage was around 1991 when I lived near the old YMCA in Fort Lauderdale. I could walk the two blocks there. I mainly used it for the junior Olympic size pool and the weight room. One day I noticed they had a massage therapist that came in two or three days a week. On a whim, I scheduled a 60 minute massage with Scott and since that time, I’ve sought out massages everywhere I can, especially on my long trips. It’s a great way to get the knots out of your muscles after sitting so long or after a long hike.

To this day, I’ve never had massages as good as the ones Scott gave at the Y. He had magic hands. He could find knots in my muscles I didn’t know I had. Back then I was teaching and after class sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end and my muscles were a mess. I generally go with the deep tissue massage and really appreciate it when they really work my muscles.

Friday is another physical therapy day. The following week is two more physical therapies and the follow up with Dr. Chamley where he sticks needles in me to see the muscle response.

Stay tuned!

6 February 2024

The pool guys showed up a little after noon. Actually, it was pool guy, singular, and a trainee. It was the same guy that showed up late last year when I was having trouble with the filter canister (when the top blew off and almost took my head with it).

They took the top of the canister back to the shop at Pools ‘n More to work on. As they started to leave, I asked if they would take my Great White in as well. They did. I didn’t expect them to return with it fixed. I had intended to go in and pick it up. That’s the type service Pools ‘n More gives.

In any case, they brought the canister top back with a new wing nut for the top and epoxy for the steel rod. I can’t operate the filter until tomorrow because the epoxy needs to set. They also brought a new pressure gauge and offered to install it if I so desired. There was no pressure to purchase the gauge, they just noticed the old one was broken. My gauge had been broken for years. I told them to go ahead and install the new gauge as well.

As they were working they said they had stopped off for lunch before they returned to my place. I was going to offer to pay their lunch but since they had already eaten, I simply gave them $50. They were so very appreciative. As they finished up, it started to rain. I think the last time he was here it was pouring down rain as well. He goes above and beyond what is needed – unlike a Jeep dealership I know.

I went to Pools ‘n More today and purchased some chemicals and paid them for the service on the pool filter/canister. Believe it or not, they didn’t charge me for labor. What they charged me for was $34 for a skirt for the Great White and $15 for the pressure gauge. That’s it! They didn’t charge me for the epoxy nor the wing nut. These are great people. I’ve used this business for the last 29 years so I think they appreciate repeat customers!

On the way back from the pool place, I stopped by the new Spin Car Wash. They have a section if you want to do your own pressure wash but I did the drive through. Their automated device to select your service and use your credit card wasn’t working but an attendant showed up to work it for you. His name was Fred. When he commented on how rare our names were, I told him about the Mango Strut in Coconut Grove that has a parade contingent of “Friends of Fred.” He had not heard of it.

Anyway, I chose the deluxe $25 that does everything: wash, wax, wheel shine, etc. There was even a $3 discount on that. It came to a little over $23 with tax. It did an OK job. After I got home I cleaned out the floor mats. I do a better job hand washing but I’m not physically up for that yet.

Last night was The Man Who Came to Dinner with Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Monty Wooley, Jimmy Durante, Richard Travis, Billie Burke and Reginal Gardiner. I came to this movie late in life and really enjoyed it the first time I saw it – so much so that I purchased the DVD. Wooley is fun as the insufferable guest and Davis is the super efficient secretary that keeps him in his place.

I guess it’s technically a Christmas movie with a little bedlam associated with it including a sister who murdered her parents. There’s name dropping from Eleanor Roosevelt to Somerset Maugham (mispronounced by the wife of the house) by Shelton Whiteside (Wooley). If you haven’t seen this, you need to. If you have seen this, it’s worth another look.

I believe I feel better today than I have since the infusion last Tuesday. A week makes a big difference. The neuropathy is still a pain – literally and figuratively but I do feel good. Hopefully that will continue.

Stay tuned!

5 February 2024

The pool guy is supposed to come by sometime today, either late this morning or early this afternoon. Hopefully, he’ll be able to repair the filter canister and I won’t have to buy the entire thing. They run around $739 and that’s not installed. After that issue is resolved, I need to figure out what is going on with my Great White pool cleaner. That thing has been rebuilt so many times that the only original thing on it is the body. When it works, it works great but when it doesn’t leaves build up in the pool quickly.

Of course, I can use the net to remove the leaves or even the vacuum but that’s a lot of work. I’ll get everything running and then get the leaves out and then let the Great White do its job. Hope springs eternal that I’ll one day get back in the pool and begin to swim again.

I’m managing to do the physical therapy exercises. I won’t admit to doing them twice as day as recommended but I do get to them at least once a day, sometimes. I have no idea if they help. I still have twinges in my lower back and on occasions, it feels as though my left leg is about to collapse.

I also seem to be holding steady at 18 units of insulin. I suspect that will creep up eventually but right now it seems to keep me within the 90-110 range fasting, morning that Dr. Jellinger wants. The prescription gave me two pens and I’m still on the first one so they seem to be lasting quite a while. Today is also the first day on Tamoxifen. I’ll be curious to see if there are any side effects after a week on this new drug.

I did not walk this morning. When I got out of bed I was a little unsteady on my feet and after the physical therapy routine I was really unsteady. I had to hold on to some furniture for a while until the vertigo passed. Otherwise, I feel OK – again, not great but not bad.

I cheated on Chris last night. I watched Now, Voyager with Bette Davis, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains. It’s basically an ugly duckling into a swan role for Davis in spite of her Mother’s controlling character. I think the most famous line in the movie is at the end when Davis says to Henreid “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.”

Prior to that scene, Davis and Henreid agree to let Davis keep his younger daughter Tina in spite of her real Mother still married to Henreid. I think Child Protective Services and the courts would have something to say about that today. I think the concept was even more unusual back in the day when the movie was made (1942).

These old movies are really great. I remember one time coming into the den at our house in Morton and catching Mother crying. I was alarmed and asked her what was wrong. She said “Nothing.” I kept pressing and she eventually pointed to the TV and said it was the movie. The movie was An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. If I can pull it up on streaming, I’ll watch it tonight. Years later I saw the movie on cable and I can understand why Mother was crying. It’s a real tear jerker.

Chris, I promise I’ll rewatch Now, Voyager and An Affair to Remember with you if you want to see them. They never get old.

Stay tuned!

4 February 2024

I had a good day yesterday. John came by and we ate our BOGO Honey Baked Ham sandwiches (turkey). We visited a while and then Whole Foods delivered my groceries. I had used one of their recipes to shop and while John was here, I started the pork butt for pulled pork barbecue.

I cooked it for around 3 hours at 325°F and it was indeed pull apart tender. The recipe also called for slaw so I made that as well. It’s kind of convenient to use one of Whole Foods recipes which self orders the exact items you need (and allows you to uncheck items you already have).

While the pork was cooking, Chris stopped by to deliver me some Honeybells.

Like me, she had some sent to someone and instead of delivering to the person she was sending, they sent them to her house. The company admitted their mistake and told her to keep the ones sent to her. She graciously shared them with me. In my case, the gift I sent to my brother was sent to Dallas instead of Brandon, MS. Also, Harry and David sent a new box to my brother without charging me. Someone in Dallas had a nice Christmas.

The pulled pork barbecue was a success. The recipe is a keeper. I’ll finish up the Honey Baked Ham sandwich for lunch and do the pulled pork again for dinner. I sent John home with enough for him to make a sandwich. It was a good visit with John and I really appreciated him stopping over. He even got to meet Chris and Tucker.

This morning I got up and felt even better than yesterday – and then tried a morning walk. That was a mistake. I had no physical stamina. I did manage to walk around 0.4 miles but it was a real effort. I’ve got to learn to take it easy when I first start to feel better. At least I now know the effects of Herceptin last about 4 days and begins to wear off after that. Monday I start the Tamoxifen so that will be a new variable added into the mix.

I got news that my cousin Charles came through surgery and is now back home recuperating. It’ll take a while but I’m sure being home will speed his recovery.

Stay tuned!

3 February 2024

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood with temperatures in the high 60’s. As we say in South Florida, “It’s a Chamber of Commerce day.”

I feel marginally better than yesterday which was a pretty rough day. I managed to get the linen changed on the bed, a wash on, and complete a set of exercises the physical therapist wants me to do. She wants me to do them twice a day but I’m not sure that is gonna happen.

John is bringing a BOGO from Honey Baked around noon. I didn’t know if I would be up for it until I got moving this morning. I’ll appreciate the company as much as the sandwich. I’m a pretty boring person and I even get bored with myself so it’ll be good to talk with him.

Talk about good neighbors! I was struggling with cleaning the pool filter yesterday (and I do mean struggling) when I heard what sounded like a garbage bin being rolled up to the fence. Stacey, a neighbor three houses down, saw me one day last week and she wanted to do something for me. She suggested when my bins were out, she would be happy to move them up to the fence to save me some effort. Everyone has offered help in every way possible and I do appreciate it. I have good neighbors and good friends. It’s pretty humbling.

After the laundry is done, I plan to take it easy for a while and not overdo it. The only real pressing thing is to pick up a prescription at Walgreens and on Monday, take my pool cleaner in to Pools ‘n More. Right now, when the pump is on it stays in one place. There’s some part that needs replacing and Pools ‘n More is pretty good about repairing it, even with used parts to help keep the cost down.

Cleaning house is going to take a back seat. I’m slowly but surely learning to clean a little bit each day and not try to do everything on one day. I’m slow but I eventually get there.

I listened to an episode of Diane Rehm on Artificial Intelligence and how pervasive it is and how it has the potential to be very beneficial as well as very destructive. AI has been with us a while. When I begin to type either a text or a document, AI anticipates the word or words and makes the suggestion which you can accept or reject. Amazon makes shopping suggestions based on your browsing habits.

I viewed a vlog last night where on the new iMacs, you can run an app on the Mac that allows you to read out loud various sentences provided. It then takes your pronunciations and allows you to type a text that will send your voice reading the text via phone or whatever medium you wish. It sounds exactly like you to the point that the person listening to it doesn’t know it is AI talking to you.

The “expert” on the Diane Rhem show was explaining how AI allows people to make a view of Joe Biden saying something he didn’t say. Right now, the expert says certain words you have to either pucker your lips to pronounce or certain positions of the mouth when pronouncing, allows him to determine if the video is a real one or one generated by AI. Then he gave an example of a student of his giving him a video and asking him to determine if it was generated using AI. He failed the test.

AI also allows politicians who don’t speak a language to make a political statement in whatever language they desire. The expert’s opinion is this is OK as long as it is prefaced by saying that the person speaking really doesn’t speak the language.

At the closing of the show, Diane always asks her guests if they have anything to add. He said there needs to be better legislation governing AI, that companies that generate AI media need to do a better job of policing themselves but most importantly, we as consumers of media need to educate ourselves to the possibilities. He advocates not using social media for any news source and that we need to use various forms of media, as in newspapers and news programs, to form our opinions.

It’s kind of like when I told my students you had to be careful when using the internet as a source. Every a**hole has an opinion and the internet allows them to broadcast it. It doesn’t mean it is a valid opinion. I tried to teach them to use reputable web sites like Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, Scientific American, and others.

I don’t believe anything I see on social media – conservative or liberal opinions, texts, or videos. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the posts, it simply means I don’t accept it as fact.

I read several newspapers a day online: The New York Times, Washington Post, The Clarion Ledger, and online scientific and news journals. I do read conservative op-eds and liberal op-eds and realize that the “op” stands for opinion. We all need to be more educated consumers of media.

Enough of the soap box. Stay tuned!

2 February 2024

Happy Groundhog Day! To us Southerners, it’s always been a strange observance since we don’t have groundhogs in the South and winter is pretty much over with by the end of February. I never can figure out what the prognostication is if he sees his shadow. Here in South Florida it means 12 more months of summer.

Tuesday’s Herceptin infusion is the first infusion I’ve had that was free from the effects of Taxol. That allows me to see solely what effect Herceptin will have on me. The day after the infusion I was good. Thursday I was dragging a bit and today I’m really dragging. Fatigue is the most common complaint from Herceptin and I have that in spades. I’m curious as to how long I’ll have the effects and when I’ll start feeling more energetic.

AAA Modern Air came by this morning for my semiannual service on the AC. The technician said the capacitor was showing it was about to fail and he replaced it with the discounted price (with the service agreement) of $236. Apparently, the capacitor provides the energy to kick the motor over and if it fails, it puts undue stress on the motor and can cause it to fail.

It seems like there’s a lot of outgo these days with the Jeep headlamp, the capacitor of the AC – who knows what is next.

Movie night with Chris on Wednesday was Casablanca. I think it’s my favorite movie of all time and I can almost give you the dialog word for word. It has that je ne sais quoi about it where men wore double breasted suits with broad lapels and women dressed to the nines and you were courteous to your enemies even when disagreeing with them. It has some of the best “one lines” in all moviedom.

There are several favorite scenes in the movie for me. You don’t even see Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, until several minutes into the film and then you don’t see his face for a few seconds. At one point Paul Henreid, who plays Victor Laszlo, is so outraged at German officers singing a German patriotic song, he insists the band at Rick’s to play La Marseillaise. So much for the Vichy regime. Then when Rick shoots Conrad Veidt, who plays Major Strasser, at the airport to prevent Victor and Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman from getting on the plane, Claude Rains says the famous line “Round up the usual suspects.” Rains plays the Chief Inspector of the Prefect of Police Louis Renault.

Added to that all star cast are Sydney Greenstreet as Signor Ferrari (there seems to be a lot of car names in this film – Ferrari, Renault) Peter Lorre as Signor Ugarte, S.Z. Sakall as Carl the Waiter, and of course, it wouldn’t be Casablanca without Dooley Wilson who plays Sam. The theme of “As Times Goes By” plays throughout the film. By the way, Ilsa never says “Play it again, Sam.” She simply says “Play it Sam. Play As Time Goes By.”

Click on some of the names above and see how many famous films they’ve been in and how many you remember.

One of the last scenes in the movie is where Ilsa finds out she is staying with Sam but getting on the plane with Victor. It’s considered one of the best scenes in film history. Wikipedia reports at the last moment, Rick makes Ilsa board the plane to Lisbon with Laszlo, telling her that she would regret it if she stayed, “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”

Every time I watch this movie, I see something new. I can watch this movie over and over and over again.

Today was clean the pool filter day. After cleaning it (I was exhausted) I could no longer thread the steel rod into the bottom. I’ve called Pools ‘n More and they are sending someone out on Monday to see if it can be repaired. If not, it’ll need to be entirely replaced.

Stay tuned!