The clocks went forward this morning for Daylight Savings Time. I'm both happy and sad. For the last 15 years, it signified the longer days of camping season. I loved to camp...with Mike. I'm going to keep the camper and the site for now, but it will be hard.
I'll be returning to work tomorrow. I've been out for months. I was pretty happy to find out that I'll be working in another position (at least temporarily). It's a job I've done before and really liked it. So I'm looking forward to it.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Did I say Easy?
I thought the remodel of mom's room would be easy. Yeah, right.
I own a very old 2-family home. One of my sons lives downstairs with his family, and the room under my mom's belongs to his daughter. Somehow, we (me, and my 2 boys) decided that we should just do it right. So, the walls in both bedrooms have been taken down, we've hired an electrician to run new wiring, new windows will be installed in both rooms, and the outside walls will be insulated.
I can hear Mike "Why do you want to do that? I don't know why you just don't sell and get the hell out." He would then realize that I never listened to him before so why would I start now.
All of this work will push back mom's ability to use the room of course. So, I may have her move in to another room temporarily.
The second condo didn't work out. The asking price was ridiculous and didn't give me much negotiation power. When it's right, it's right...and this one wasn't.
Exactly one week before I return to work.
I own a very old 2-family home. One of my sons lives downstairs with his family, and the room under my mom's belongs to his daughter. Somehow, we (me, and my 2 boys) decided that we should just do it right. So, the walls in both bedrooms have been taken down, we've hired an electrician to run new wiring, new windows will be installed in both rooms, and the outside walls will be insulated.
I can hear Mike "Why do you want to do that? I don't know why you just don't sell and get the hell out." He would then realize that I never listened to him before so why would I start now.
All of this work will push back mom's ability to use the room of course. So, I may have her move in to another room temporarily.
The second condo didn't work out. The asking price was ridiculous and didn't give me much negotiation power. When it's right, it's right...and this one wasn't.
Exactly one week before I return to work.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
One Down
The condo is done! I must say, it looks amazing. My boys did a great job getting everything done.
(For some reason, the pictures on the finished condo came out looking pink. It's white.)
On to the next project -- the room that mom will occupy. That should be easy, with the exception of a couple of replacement windows. Well, even that will be easy 'cause my boys are pretty good at that kind of stuff.
The guy who owns the condo where the estate sale was called me last night. I was a bit surprised at what he wants for the place considering the amount of work that's needed. I have to keep telling myself that this one is not a foreclosure, so if I want it, I may have to pay a bit more. He said he'd like to get together to talk specifics. So, we'll be getting together tomorrow morning to have that discussion.
Mike would tell me I'm crazy.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Estate Sales
I was driving by the complex that my condo is in yesterday and noticed a sign out front for an Estate Sale. Immediately, my little brain starts sending me messages. So, I pulled in, found the condo where the sale was taking place, walked up to the woman running the show and asked her to give the Executor of the Estate my name and number. Maybe I'll buy another condo.
The one I already own is almost done. Good thing, since tomorrow is the 1st. The carpets will be put down tomorrow morning, and the new tenant will be ready to go.
Yay for me.
A month ago, I couldn't even make a phone call.
The one I already own is almost done. Good thing, since tomorrow is the 1st. The carpets will be put down tomorrow morning, and the new tenant will be ready to go.
Yay for me.
A month ago, I couldn't even make a phone call.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Three Months
I can't believe it's been 3 months. Feels like yesterday. Feels like a hundred years. At least the pain isn't constant anymore. It just comes in little waves of extreme sadness.
..and forward I go.
The boys are still working on the condo. The carpeting for the bedrooms has been ordered, and will hopefully be installed before the tenant moves in. Lucky for me, the tenant is relocating from another state and won't be here until the around the 3rd. Then, we start working on my house.
I asked my mom to move in. I sure hope that was the right thing to do. Mike used to visit her every day after work. It was the only thing she looked forward to. She hates living there now...and I hate visiting her there. Mike was the maintenance supervisor of the building and everytime I go there to visit my mom, I feel like my heart is being squeezed. I hope she'll be happier with me. I hate to think of her last years here on earth being sad and lonely ones. I also hate the idea of her smoking in my house...she's like a chimney. I asked her not to and she said she wouldn't, but truly...I know her. This is a woman who would sneak smokes in her bedroom when my dad was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I should probably not project into the future when daily life is still such a struggle. I love my mom.
..and forward I go.
The boys are still working on the condo. The carpeting for the bedrooms has been ordered, and will hopefully be installed before the tenant moves in. Lucky for me, the tenant is relocating from another state and won't be here until the around the 3rd. Then, we start working on my house.
I asked my mom to move in. I sure hope that was the right thing to do. Mike used to visit her every day after work. It was the only thing she looked forward to. She hates living there now...and I hate visiting her there. Mike was the maintenance supervisor of the building and everytime I go there to visit my mom, I feel like my heart is being squeezed. I hope she'll be happier with me. I hate to think of her last years here on earth being sad and lonely ones. I also hate the idea of her smoking in my house...she's like a chimney. I asked her not to and she said she wouldn't, but truly...I know her. This is a woman who would sneak smokes in her bedroom when my dad was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I should probably not project into the future when daily life is still such a struggle. I love my mom.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Pills and Weight Loss
I debated long and hard about writing this blog. This is a story about my husband's death, doctors, and pills. If you have a problem with any of these things, you'd better get out of here now.
My husband loved to camp. On the night before Thanksgiving, he decided to stay at our camp up in the country. He was supposed to pick up my mom on the way home the next day for dinner. He never made it. When my mom called to say he was late, we (my daughter and me) drove straight to camp where we found him. The stillness slammed me in the face the minute I opened the door. He looked like he was sleeping...like his spirit just floated away.
After the police did their thing, I went back inside and that's when I noticed it. Sometime during the night, he used the toilet. Because the water had been shut off for the winter and he would have needed to use the pump for the holding tank, he didn't flush. The urine was dark brown. I mean really dark brown. Yet, the medical examiner refused to do an evaluation.
At one time, Mike was 250 lbs. On such a short man, that was pretty heavy and he was on a prescription blood pressure medication. His doctor then put him on water pills because of some swelling in his ankles. Mike decided that it was time to lose some weight and liked the water pills because they helped the weight come off quickly. At 180 lbs, Mike got gout. One of the side effects of the water pills...gout. Did his doctor make the connection? No. I told Mike he should get off the pills, but he kept saying his doctor put him on it and his doctor would take him off.
He started to get very thirsty and couldn't get water in fast enough. He saw his doctor one more time 2 days before he died. At that point, Mike was 170 lbs. I asked Mike if his doctor thought he should stop the water pills. Mike didn't ask...the doctor didn't mention it. Because there was never an autopsy done, I can't prove that the medication was a catalyst for Mike's death. What I do know is that Mike dropped from 250 lbs to 170 lbs in 3 months and used the water pills as a diet aide. The prescription was never altered for weight loss or for gout.
My purpose for posting this is this: If you are losing weight and are using medication of any kind, make sure that your doctor is staying on top of it. Research everything. Question everything. And, if you're not happy with how your doctor treats you, find another one. We are all responsible for ourselves. Don't give away your power! It could cost you your life.
My husband loved to camp. On the night before Thanksgiving, he decided to stay at our camp up in the country. He was supposed to pick up my mom on the way home the next day for dinner. He never made it. When my mom called to say he was late, we (my daughter and me) drove straight to camp where we found him. The stillness slammed me in the face the minute I opened the door. He looked like he was sleeping...like his spirit just floated away.
After the police did their thing, I went back inside and that's when I noticed it. Sometime during the night, he used the toilet. Because the water had been shut off for the winter and he would have needed to use the pump for the holding tank, he didn't flush. The urine was dark brown. I mean really dark brown. Yet, the medical examiner refused to do an evaluation.
At one time, Mike was 250 lbs. On such a short man, that was pretty heavy and he was on a prescription blood pressure medication. His doctor then put him on water pills because of some swelling in his ankles. Mike decided that it was time to lose some weight and liked the water pills because they helped the weight come off quickly. At 180 lbs, Mike got gout. One of the side effects of the water pills...gout. Did his doctor make the connection? No. I told Mike he should get off the pills, but he kept saying his doctor put him on it and his doctor would take him off.
He started to get very thirsty and couldn't get water in fast enough. He saw his doctor one more time 2 days before he died. At that point, Mike was 170 lbs. I asked Mike if his doctor thought he should stop the water pills. Mike didn't ask...the doctor didn't mention it. Because there was never an autopsy done, I can't prove that the medication was a catalyst for Mike's death. What I do know is that Mike dropped from 250 lbs to 170 lbs in 3 months and used the water pills as a diet aide. The prescription was never altered for weight loss or for gout.
My purpose for posting this is this: If you are losing weight and are using medication of any kind, make sure that your doctor is staying on top of it. Research everything. Question everything. And, if you're not happy with how your doctor treats you, find another one. We are all responsible for ourselves. Don't give away your power! It could cost you your life.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Deal or No Deal
After Mike died, we had to clean stuff out of his office at work. He was using a desk that he built, so I decided to take it home and set up an office here.
I finally got around to going through the drawers yesterday. Mike was a huge fan of Deal or No Deal. Inside one of the desk drawers was a small tin shaped like the cases used on the show. I made the mistake of opening the case, and ended up crying all day.
I finally got around to going through the drawers yesterday. Mike was a huge fan of Deal or No Deal. Inside one of the desk drawers was a small tin shaped like the cases used on the show. I made the mistake of opening the case, and ended up crying all day.
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